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What can you tell us about your new release, I Knew You Were Trouble?

It’s the final book in my bestselling Oxford series, but it can absolutely be enjoyed on its own! No need to read the preceding books. It’s a bit of a modern-day “star-crossed lovers” story. Despite getting off on the wrong foot, prickly Taylor and charming Nick are obviously meant for each other. They just can’t get their timing quite right. Until they become roommates

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Ooh, awesome question! My reading list is pretty varied, so this list is as well. I sometimes think people want/hope I’ll give contemporary romance suggestions since that’s what I write, but to be honest, I don’t read much within my own genre!

Einstein, Walter Isaacson (best biography I’ve ever read, and I’ve read many!)

It Happened One Autumn, Lisa Kleypas (hands down, my favorite Regency!)

Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand (politically alienated, to be sure, but I give the ambitious protagonist a lot of credit for inspiring me to do more with my life!)

Perfect, Judith McNaught (a tiny bit dated now, but worth it for the sheer emotion she manages to evoke)

Harry Potter, JK Rowling (the whole series is just … I don’t have words for how fantastic it is)

The Great Gatbsy, F. Scott Fitzgerald (a little cliche, but I recently reread it and think it’s one of the most beautifully written works that exists today)

Who are your literary heroes working today? Why do you admire them?

Nora Roberts, for three reasons: she’s prolific, a truly fantastic storyteller, and she’s refreshingly zero-BS, and does things her own way.

Jo Rowling. She’s so good she gives me goose bumps.

What's on your writing desk?

Ha, well … I live in a small space in Manhattan, and my husband and I are pretty minimalist! We both work from home, and our work space is actually two fold-out tables that we bring out at 6am when we start the work day, and put away at 5pm when it’s time for cocktails. I keep it clutter free. Just my laptop, planner, water bottle, and a timer I use to reset each hour to keep myself on track.

What makes your world go round?

If I say wine, will you judge me?

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An author! I was an avid reader from a young age, and I thought it sounded like the best job in the world. I was right.

What scene in I Knew You Were Troube was your favorite to write?

I hardly ever say this, but the “resolution” scene in this one really got to me. (i.e., the scene when the hero/heroine overcome their differences and decide to live happily ever after). I can’t say much about it without giving away spoilers, but it was particularly emotional!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

It changes quite a bit, depending on what part of my life needs a boost of motivation. Right now I’m really focusing on the simple concept of “Decide.” As in, to accomplish those things I want to accomplish in my life, I simply need to make the decision to start them, rather than the decision to do something else. Sounds simple, but it’s crazy how often we humans forget we have a choice!

Lauren Layne is the author of the new book I Knew You Were Trouble. 

Connect with Lauren:
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What can you tell us about your new release, More Than Need You?

More Than Need You is a reunion, second-chance romance about righting wrongs, forgiveness, and healing with that one soul mate who’s unforgettable. Like the first book in the More Than Words series, More Than Want You, this story is also told primarily from the hero’s point of view.

What's the last book you read?

I got an advance read of Meredith Wild and Chelle Bliss’s Misadventures of a City Girl. Sexy, fun, and fantastic!

What fictional literary world would you most like to visit?

That’s a tough choice. There are a lot of amazing fictional worlds. I doubt I’m alone in saying I’d love to visit Hogwarts and the amazing locales in the Harry Potter series. It sounds like the most fantastical place on earth!

What's a typical day like for you?

Honestly, there isn’t a typical day for me. That’s somewhat by design. I don’t like too much monotony, so I tend to shake things up when I’m able. I often start with some time at the gym. There’s always music no matter what I’m doing. I take care of odds and ends related to the business of writing, then I dive in to the actual production of words. I’m not much of a morning person these days, so I make

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The best part of writing is creating something that lives purely in my imagination, something I can see in my head so vividly and feel so deeply in my heart, THEN to capture all that, translate it into words, and share it with readers. I love the ability to make people I’ve never met feel what I feel. Impacting strangers and hearing that I’ve positively affected their lives is mind blowing.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Reading, writing, or binge watching all Harry Potter movies for the umpteenth time.

What scene in More Than Need You was your favorite to write?

There’s never a single scene that is the most exciting to write for me. It’s usually the last major scene I’ve had the chance to craft. So right now, I loved the ending. But I also loved the beginning. I loved all the steps along the way to getting these two back together. Overall, I love the journey. I can’t pick a single scene. It doesn’t mean half as much without all the others.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I’m not much for echoing other people because I live a lot in my own head (and according to my husband, it’s scary, y’all!), but I have a lot of respect for what Walt Disney accomplished in his lifetime. His quotes convey a lot of wisdom, but here’s one of my favorites:

"The difference in winning and losing is most often not quitting."

I’m also fond of Mickey Rooney’s quote: “You always pass failure on your way to success.”

Shayla Black is the author of the new book More Than Need You  

Connect with Shayla:
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What can you tell us about your new release, Seven Birds?

I started thinking about writing this book back in 1994. It's a story about family, secrets, heartbreak and forgiveness.

What's on the top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

• The Memory of Running
• I Know This Much Is True
• Poisonwood Bible
• Interpreter of Maladies
• To Kill a Mockingbird

Who are your literary heroes working today?

Wally Lamb, Barbara Kingslover and David McCullough. I admire them because their writing is rich and honest, and brings characters so close to me.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The time I carve out to dig deep.

If you could invent anything, what would it be?

A comfortable high-speed travel device for visiting my two daughters in Los Angeles.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it

Walking, reading, writing and/or meditating.

What scene in Seven Birds was your favorite to write?

Penny's time near the Swan Boats

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Follow your bliss from Joseph Campbell.

Amy Sargent Swank is the author of the new book Seven Birds. 

Connect with Amy:
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What can you tell us about your new release, Sugar We're Going Down?

Sugar, We’re Going Down, or SWGD, as I like to call it, is about an egomaniac, bad boy rockstar who is brought down to his knees by the feisty lead singer of an up-and-coming rock band. When they first met, it was hate at first sight mixed with undeniable attraction. Their best friends’ wedding will bring them together and readers will see that initial spark ignite.

What's the last book you read?

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas.

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

Right now is Feyre and Rhysand from the ACOTAR series. I’m seriously obsessed with them.

You are hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?

Sarah J. Maas, J.K. Rowling, and Tina Fey.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

I can stop time.

How do you like to spend a rainy day?

Reading, writing, or binge watching all Harry Potter movies for the umpteenth time.

What scene in Sugar We're Going Down was your favorite to write?

A particular scene set in Hawaii where red roses and a tie were involved.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

“The only moment that never ends is now.” - The Venerable Arjarn Ekachai

M.H. Soars is the author of the new book Sugar We're Going Down. 

Connect with M.H:
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What can you tell us about your new release, Train Wreck?

I love Pepper, the heroine from Train Wreck. She's a bit like every woman out there—fun and sweet, spunky and beyond klutzy, but deep down she's also just a normal girl. Yes, disaster follows in her wake, but I think we all have sticky situations we get ourselves into and what's special about Pepper (besides the fact that she falls for her brother's six-pack-sporting-double-dimple-wearing-of-a-hottie friend) is that she grows from her failures. As a reader and just as a person in general, I really admire that.

Which book from your childhood or teenage years has stuck with you as an adult?

I have two books that really stuck with me. Growing up, I loved Dr. Seuss's Oh The Thinks You Can Think. I remember making up my own stories from all of those fantastical names and characters. It's been a favorite of mine to reintroduce to my kids now that they're old enough to use their imaginations and make up their own tales. The other book was Pride and Prejudice. It's probably super cliche, but I love the conflict between Darcy and Elizabeth and how, while their circumstances didn't make it easy on them, a lot of their struggle was of their own making. The unfurling of the tangle between them is something that really captivated me and influenced my writing.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest. What would you want to ask?

Ah! This is such a hard question. I've been lucky enough to meet some of my favorite authors (Julia Quinn, Jill Shalvis, Catherine Bybee, Rachel Van Dyken), but there are so many I'd love to sit and chat with. I think if pressed I'd pick Kristin Ashley, because I've just started reading her books and she seems like she would have some awesome stories to tell!!

What is a typical day like for you?

I get my kids (a 1st grader and preschooler) off to school then head home to my office to work. I mention office, because I finally have one! For the last four years, I've written at our coffee table (Eight books. At a table the size of a postage stamp). So the office is HUGE! About lunch time I take off my author hat and put back on my mom hat as I pick up kiddos then play taxi driver for whatever sports activity they have that afternoon. At night, I either squeeze in some more writing time or I play ice hockey with my hubs (Funny story is that like Pepper, my hubs was my brother's friend until we started playing on the same team together. Add in an intentionally cheesy pick up line that made me both giggle and roll my eyes and—poof!—fourteen years in the books).

What's in your Netflix queue?

I've been bingeing Harlots on Hulu. OMG it's so good. But nerdily enough, I don't have a ton of time for TV. Though that being said, I always watch Dancing with the Stars (confession: I'm an 80 year-old woman at heart) and somehow end up watching way too much Tiny House Hunters.

What's the best advice you've ever received?

That I'm worthy. I think it's totally normal for self-doubt to creep in from time to time, but when someone told me I was worthy of success, that I deserved love, it really resonated. Doesn't mean it always sticks and I sometimes have to remind myself. But the words are there for me to remember.

What scene in Train Wreck was your favorite to write?

There's a scene with a certain type of bedroom aid that had me laughing out loud and cringing with embarrassment because I could picture myself making the same mistake that Pepper did. Not that I have—*cough cough*—just that I could.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Look, I'll be honest. Some days it's really "Just Make it Through Today." Life is hard and kids are tiring and this writing thing can be tough. But not every day is like that, so most of the time I try and focus on enjoying every moment because even though kids are tiring, they get big so freaking fast.  And even though writing sometimes isn't all puppies and rainbows, it's something I love (and I feel lucky to be able to do).

Elise Faber is the author of the new book Train Wreck. 

Connect with Elise:
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What can you tell us about your new release, Ruthless Kiss?

Ruthless Kiss has been one of my favorite books to write so far! I love the two main characters and how they're equally ruthless in getting what they want...and that causes such a spark between them.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask them?

I'd want to have Nora Roberts on my show and ask her how she comes up with all those ideas!

What's the last book you read?

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

What's your favorite thing about writing?

That moment when I'm writing a story and the characters just come into focus, and everything after that seems so natural!

What's a typical day like for you?

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to write books!

What scene in Ruthless Kiss was your favorite to write?

All the sex scenes. They had such a fire between the two of them!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. Ha! In all seriousness, I try to keep an attitude of always learning and improving. I want every book to be better than the last!

Amelia Wilde is the author of the new book Ruthless Kiss. 

Connect with Amelia:
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