Tag Archives: Award Winning Author

August 5, 2026 · 5:28 am

Author Interview with Meg Benjamin ~  The Carrot Marmalade Murder #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Meg Benjamin…

 Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I grew up in the Midwest, but I’ve lived all over the country, from Seattle to Amherst, MA, to Lawton, OK. Hubs and I spent over twenty-five years in San Antonio, TX, before moving to Colorado. We live in the foothill suburbs outside Denver, but we go back to Texas often to visit kids (two sons) and grandkids (twins).

Tell us a little about how this book came about and how you came up with the title.

I wrote lots of romance novels before I tried my first cozy, The Pepper Peach Murder. I love the genre because it combines elements of romance (usually a love story is involved) and a mystery to be solved. The Carrot Marmalade Murder is number seven in the series, called Luscious Delights after my heroine’s jam making business, but like all the books in the series, it can be read on its own. My heroine, Roxy Constantine, has been working up to marrying her significant other, Nate Robicheaux, for a long time and this is the book where it all happens. Although not without a lot of bumps in the road. All the books in the series are named after a jam Roxy is working on. Carrot marmalade is actually a recipe developed in the Depression because carrots were cheaper to cook jam with than oranges. I actually made it (I make most of the jams that show up in my books), and it’s very good. Surprisingly enough, there are a lot of recipes out there, but I prefer the simple ones that feature just carrots, sugar, lemon juice, and maybe a little lemon zest.

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

I’ve gotten into the habit of doing business in the morning (emails, promo, etc.) and writing in the afternoon, usually while sitting in a comfortable chair with my iPad and my lap desk. There’s a great view from our family room; I can watch people and dogs walk by and grab a glass of tea from the kitchen when I want it. There are drawbacks: the iPad version of Word doesn’t always work and play well with the version on my computer. But I can usually wrestle it into shape, and I’m much happier writing in comfort.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

Just about anything by Nora Roberts. I don’t know how she does it—around four full-length novels a year (counting the ones she does as JD Robb), and they’re all meticulously plotted and beautifully written. The woman’s a marvel, and I’m in awe.

Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

Now I’m retired, but I taught college English and Communication for a lot of years. I enjoyed it, mostly. I taught in a professional writing program at a large state university, which meant I learned editing and document design (I actually was a copy editor in my spare time). I still know more about punctuation than is healthy for any one person, but I no longer can quote the Chicago Manual of Style from memory, which is a very good thing.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? What’s your favorite childhood book?

It’s so hard to choose just one book, but I’ll try to narrow it down. I love Sarah Smith’s The Vanished Child, because it’s a nearly perfect mystery romance that you can’t put down. All the way through the book, I kept asking myself what the solution to the mystery was, but I couldn’t quite figure it out and I was fascinated. I also love Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh—I reread it every year or so. It’s a well-nigh perfect enemies to lovers romance with a wonderful heroine and a hero who grows on you throughout Balogh’s Slightly series. My favorite childhood book is probably The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe because I was always a fan of fantasy and fairy tales.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Carrot Marmalade Murder?

I really hope you’ll all love Roxy and Nate the way I do. I enjoyed created Roxy and her world, and I wanted her to have a love who was worthy of her. I hope Nate fills the bill. I put them through a lot in this one, but I think they make it to the wedding in good shape. And they’re still friends with my favorite secondary characters, Susa Sondergaard and Ethan Fowler, although in the case of Ethan it’s a near thing.

What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?

I love regency romances (see Slightly Dangerous, above), and I’ve read so many of them that I recognize most of the period details that regency authors use—although why do characters use “stuck his spoon into the wall” to say someone died? I don’t have the patience to actually write one myself, though. The characters are necessarily hemmed in by lots of social conventions that they have to find a way to work around. That’s usually fun to read, but I imagine it’s a real chore to write.

What is your favorite quote?

Probably “Don’t look back; something might be gaining on you” from Satchel Paige.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

My characters are all imaginary, although they have elements of people I know. I don’t think you can ever create a character out of thin air (although I guess you could create one based on clichés, but it wouldn’t necessarily be a good one). A friend of mine once gave a copy of my Venus In Blue Jeans to an acquaintance, who told her “Oh, this is based on people living in Fredericksburg. We all know the backstory.” I found that fascinating, since I didn’t and don’t know anyone in Fredericksburg, TX, or any Fredericksburg stories.

Roxy’s getting married, but murder may send the wedding off the rails.

Roxy and Nate are finally getting married, but murder wasn’t on the program. In the midst of her wedding prep, Roxy has to deal with Nate’s trouble-making ex who thinks she can rekindle their romance. But things get serious when the ex ends up dead in a Shavano back alley. Now Roxy needs to clear Nate’s name, sell her customers on her carrot marmalade, and find herself a wedding dress. All before it’s time to take a deep breath and confront her own wedding jitters.

Excerpt:

I headed back to the kitchen to get the next bunch of trays and platters ready to go.

Nate and Kevin picked up the hotel pans with meatballs and filo packets to place on the hot trays they already had in place. I followed with the artichoke dip and crostini. We were making good time, and the waitress for the night, Evie, had just arrived. Everything seemed to be falling into place. I felt like patting someone on the back.

“Nathan?”

I heard the woman’s voice as I stepped through the door behind Kevin. Ahead of us, Nate stopped dead in his tracks, which made it sort of difficult for Kevin and me to get around him and put our food on the table.

“Nathan? That is you, isn’t it?”

I turned toward the woman’s voice, noticing that Nate was staring rigidly toward the side of the room near the posters. As I watched, a tall blonde stepped forward with a brilliant smile.

Calling her a tall blonde doesn’t really do her justice, though. In her stocking feet, she was probably about my height, but she wasn’t in stocking feet at all. She wore bright green three-inch spike heels with open toes that showed purple toenails. The skirt of her vividly green minidress ended a good two inches above her knees, while the neckline dipped low across her considerable cleavage. Her tumble of curly hair was a kind of honey gold that I doubted very much was natural but looked terrific.

She was spectacular, and apparently, she knew Nate.

Buy links:

https://amzn.to/4pOWut1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-carrot-marmalade-murder-meg-benjamin/1150158636?ean=9781509266340

About the Author:

Meg Benjamin is an award-winning author of romance and cozy mysteries. Meg’s cozy mystery series, Luscious Delights from Wild Rose Press, concerns a jam-making sleuth based in the mythical small town of Shavano, Colorado. Her contemporary romance Konigsburg series is set in the Texas Hill Country and her Salt Box and Brewing Love trilogies are set in the Colorado Rockies (all are available from Entangled Publishing and from Meg’s indie line). Along with romance and cozies, Meg is also the author of the paranormal Ramos Family trilogy from Berkley InterMix and the Folk trilogy from Meg’s indie line. Meg’s books have won numerous awards, including an EPIC Award, a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers, the Beanpot Award from the New England  Romance Writers, the Carly Crown Jewel of Books from the Mid-America Romance Authors, and the Award of Excellence from Colorado Romance Writers.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meg.benjamin1/ (personal)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063609878239 (author)

Instagram: @meg_benjamin

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@meg_benjamin

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/meg-benjamin.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869971.Meg_Benjamin

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/meg-benjamin

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Benjamin/author/B0030F12FY?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@megbenjamin1396

Website: http://www.MegBenjamin.com/

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July 27, 2026 · 5:00 am

Author Interview with Kay Jeffery ~ The Little Nun’s Silver Fox #HistoricalRomantasy

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kay Jeffery…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets? 

Sometimes I look at my life and think I couldn’t have written a better story for myself. I grew up in the U.S. Deep South, a theater and arts kid who couldn’t get enough historical romance and stories about women with supernatural abilities. I spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to move objects with my mind before realizing that, while that was never going to happen in real life, with words I could do anything.

British history became my jam, and a study abroad program in Cambridge persuaded me to make it my career. Through schooling and the teaching positions I took, I gradually worked my way northward to Appalachian Ohio. In my third year of teaching History at a liberal arts college, convinced I would never find my true love in such a small town, by some miracle I met a handsome, super-smart, dry-witted geologist who makes my heart thump. We married, blended our pet families, had kids, bought a house and a minivan, the whole shebang. Now I’ve got my fella, three teenagers, and three adorable and demanding cats.

Why did you choose this genre?

Thankfully someone invented the category Historical Romantasy to capture my fascination with history, romance, and fantasy in one genre. The idea for my Nuns and Barbarians series just came to me one day: magical island ruled by a mythical deity, cloistered women who are refugees from the medieval patriarchy, hot pseudo-Vikings, and sexy times. What could be better?

As a historian, I found writing accurate historical fiction to be a bit of a minefield. I wanted more freedom to invent, to blend, to be wildly inaccurate if the story or characters called for it. Romantasy allows for creative world-building, yet the historical outposts give me inspiration and structure. I love playing around with myths and legends, old rituals and vocabulary, and making something new from them. My stories are anchored in the past but have a modern sensibility. The more novels I write in this world I’ve constructed, the more depth it has, which has been incredibly rewarding. Sometimes the awful truth of contemporary reality is too much to bear, and then I tell my friends I’m headed off to my island where the women are in charge, their men support them unconditionally, and I control the weather.

Where did you get the idea for The Little Nun’s Silver Fox?

Confession: My favorite romance trope is shy librarian meets dangerous, compelling stranger. I knew the women of Adytum Abbey would have a library—it’s a convent! Old books contain so much magic in themselves, and this was a fantastic chance to delve more deeply into the island’s origin story deep in mythology.

The library setting provides access to all kinds of mysteries about the convent. Words have power, but the library assistant Grace doesn’t at first realize she can access that reservoir of strength for herself. A dreamer, she gets lost in stories and thinks of herself as small and insignificant. Her dangerous stranger, Ivar, though he’s a barbarian, had to have an interest in books himself to facilitate their meeting, and so I made him an older, wiser, cynical treasure-hunter. He knows the value of stories for showing him where to find glittery things, but the tale he and Grace uncover—and tell each other over the course of the novel—helps him see where the real treasure lies. This age-gap story is deliciously angsty with a high spice level.

What’s been unexpectedly fun about the Nuns and Barbarians series is the way the stories interconnect with each other. The Little Nun’s Silver Fox is the third in the series, though the books can be read in any order, and you can definitely start with this one if (like me) libraries are your thing. I created a real pickle for myself as an author by having all the events of the barbarian invasion occur within a three-day window. As a result, each novel is happening at the same time as the others, at least in the first five books. (The next two are in the pipeline, so stay tuned.) Readers should be able to pick up any of the first five books and start there. As they read the others, they’ll see crossover characters, different parts of the island backstory, and clues of a hidden conflict emerging. I hope readers find each book—no matter where they start—adds layers to their experience of this magical world.

What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Little Nun’s Silver Fox?

Ultimately, all my books are about the power of romantic love. When women and men come together as equals, that’s when the magic happens. The women of Adytum Abbey have ended up on the island because of oppressive circumstances. In the convent they’ve found how self-sufficient they can be—as independent, unique individuals with their own talents and desires.

When the barbarians arrive, these men realize that on this island they aren’t the ones in control. Violence gets them nowhere. Both men and women will have to respect each other and give a little in order to find how powerful they can be when they join forces. Mostly, I want readers to have a satisfying emotional experience that helps them believe that true love exists and that it can move mountains—both of which I believe with my whole heart.

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

My main trick for writing is making my body open up the laptop and click on the file without consulting whether my spirit is “feeling it” today. First body, then spirit—that has been the key to keeping writing progress going for me.

Life can be so distracting that I’ve discovered the value in retreating to what I call my “sensory deprivation chamber”: a library study room. I walk to the library with my writing materials, tea bags, and lunch; I take myself to a study room, make the tea, and open the laptop. I start with a goal of 1000 words per day. As the story takes off, my word-count goal expands. Sometimes it’s hard to get those words, and sometimes they flow. Either way, I show up and get to work. As my husband reminds me when I’ve had a slow day, it’s all progress.

A third strategy is walking a lot. Walking is conducive to thinking and daydreaming—especially if you leave the earbuds at home. If I’m stumped, I take a turn around the block or walk through the library stacks. I’m always telling stories in my head, and if I’ve got a novel underway, my brain will work on it while my feet are moving so I’m ready to write as soon as that laptop opens up. First body, then spirit.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why?

“Reader, I married him.” It’s Jane Eyre. Of course, it’s Jane Eyre. The bookish governess and the dangerous anti-hero! The angst! The redemption! Did I mention the books? Though Jane seems meek, she is the driver of her story. Her fierce, independent spirit is never cowed, even as she chafes against social restrictions and the moral compromises her lover asks of her. She never forgets who she is—even when she forgets who she is!

When I was a teenager with a taste for bad boys, I loved Mr. Rochester. As a college student growing in feminist sensibility, I hated him. As a seasoned adult, I adore how Jane navigated her tortured romance with strength, passion, and a fundamental integrity. In the end, Rochester didn’t marry Jane, she married him. Ah. That’s the good stuff.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

Any novel by Jennifer Crusie. She’s the first author I remember reading and thinking: I wish I had written this. Her stories have real emotional tension, along with relatable interpersonal conflicts. But the characters are vibrant, memorable, and so, so funny, just being themselves. The characters’ foibles drive the plot, which clips along at a brisk pace. Crusie’s sense of humor also comes through in her narrative voice, word choice, sentence structure—I’m not sure exactly how she does it, but it’s delightful. The humor accentuates the human drama. She teamed up with Bob Mayer on several books, and those two authors are a stellar combination, providing both male and female perspectives. Plus, there’s always a happily-ever-after, which is a must for me.

What is your favorite movie?

I have two favorites: The Princess Bride and Roxanne (the Steve Martin/Daryl Hannah version of Cyrano de Bergerac). I’ve always been drawn to fairytales, and these two fit the bill. Both of them are romances, in which the hero and heroine have to recognize each other through disguises necessitated by social pressures. The hero’s love in both is steadfast, as he falls for a woman who is strong, kind, and intelligent.

Both of them are comedic, not only in the sense of having a happy ending. They are genuinely funny. The humor comes from the characters’ distinct natures shining through as well as the unique storytelling tone—not to mention a good measure of slapstick. Yet these characters face real and terrible obstacles on the way to their fairytale conclusions. To me, they illustrate what J. R. R. Tolkien said about fairy stories: that they feel like tragedies until, in the end, eucatastrophe breaks through. True love never dies. Miracles can happen. Life and love can turn out …as you wish. (Couldn’t help myself.)

What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?

My love for both History and Romance often seems incongruous to people. As a romance novelist, my appreciation for the gritty realities of history— not only its triumphs but its tragedies and disappointments—can seem contrary to my penchant for a happy ending. I’m not into whitewashed histories that make everyone feel good. It’s important that we tell the truth about the past. If I tell someone I’ve just met that I’m a historian, I often get a grimace while they confess how much they hated History classes in school.

As a professional historian, I hid my love of bodice-ripper romances for a long time. When people find out I’m an avid romance reader, too, they often scratch their heads at the supposed unseriousness of my choice of reading material. Here’s the truth: I’m a historian because I gorged myself on historical romances from the time I was old enough to steal them from my mother’s bookshelf.

What History and Romance have in common is centering human relationships. I find people fascinating. We’re wonderful, frustrating, malicious, virtuous, selfish, generous, and absurd. We understand ourselves through the stories we tell, not only about what really happened in the past, but also what we wish could be true, for us and our society.

At a personal level, I’ll also say this: I dislike not knowing. Life is too full of uncertainty. I need to know the ending of the story before I begin. History and romance novels give me that.

What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote is about history, books, and magic. In Cosmos, Carl Sagan said, “What an astonishing thing a book is. It’s a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you’re inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”

Beautiful, poetic, and true. I think the library is calling me.

He’s hunting for treasure; she sparkles like sapphires.

Blurb:

Come away to an enchanted island where the nuns of Adytum Abbey have made their idyllic home . . . until a band of barbarians invades in search of forbidden treasure. 

The promise of one last treasure hunt lures experienced raider Ivar to Adytum Abbey, whose library holds clues to undiscovered riches as well as deeply buried mysteries about the island itself. Can shy librarian Sister Grace persuade Ivar that love is the greatest treasure of all—before it’s too late?

Excerpt:

Grace froze in her hiding spot, one delicate page of the book held between two fingers.

The pirates were here!

Somehow they had gained entry to the library, despite Alice locking it with the heavy key she kept tucked into her habit’s long pocket.

Over the thundering of her heart, Grace heard the two men having some kind of conversation with each other. One’s voice was quite low and rumbly; the other one was in the middle range and smooth as that second man exchanged words with the first. Hmm, nice.

His mellow voice sent a little shiver down her spine—and not from fear.

She heard the armoire door open and close with its distinctive creak, confirming that she’d been wise not to hide there. She couldn’t help but wonder with trepidation where they would search next. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

Grace knew it would be foolish to peek from her hiding spot in the low bookshelf. So foolish!

But the temptation was too much and, really, if she just pulled up this one little part of the sheet at the side and scrunched down so her head was resting on the bottom of the shelf, she’d be able to see them. If only for an instant.

Slowly, slowly, she closed the book and, holding it in her right hand, she extended the pointer finger of her left hand to raise the sheet …just …the tiniest …bit.

There! One of the men came into her view.

It had been so long since she’d seen a man that she’d practically forgotten what they were like. This one was enormous—were men always so large?—and dark haired. He had dressed entirely in black. He said more to the other man in his very deep voice, and Grace realized the smooth, shivery voice belonged to the other one, the one she couldn’t see. As Deep Voice moved farther into the room, the second man came into view, and Grace’s breath caught in her throat.

Though he was equally large, his hair was a striking silver, pulled back in a long braid woven through with a strand of leather. He spoke again in that really quite nice voice, turning his head just a bit, and a beam of sunlight lit up a crescent-shaped blue jewel embedded in his earlobe.

Grace’s eyes trailed over his body, the broad shoulders and barrel chest covered in the cream-colored linen of his shirt, open at the throat. As her gaze slipped down to his thick waist, she saw that his shirt was tucked into tight leather trousers. So very tight they are. Her eyes followed the length of strong thighs and calves that led down to booted feet. She noticed the weapon hanging from his belt, some kind of hatchet, and her blood chilled.

The weapon was a reminder that, despite his beauty, he was dangerous.

Buy links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GX2YYTX6?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks&qid=1781663933&sr=8-1

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-little-nuns-silver-fox-kay-jeffery/1149947784?ean=9781509266029

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/251387510-the-little-nun-s-silver-fox

https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Little-Nuns-Silver-Fox/Kay-Jeffery/9781509266029

https://wildrosepress.com/product/the-little-nuns-silver-fox

About the Author:

Award-winning author Kay Jeffery is a professional historian who loves stories. One day during her midlife crisis, Kay remembered that she’d always wanted to write romance novels. Her husband said, “I think you should do it.” Her kids were glad to have her (more or less) out of their business. Thrilled to have a stable lap for long periods of time, the cats discovered quickly that typing does not preclude scritches. And so Kay carved out pockets of time in between family life and her job to research such arcana as medieval love songs, Nordic swearwords, ancient Celtic rituals, obscure mythological divinities—and to weave them all together. The debut book in her Nuns and Barbarians series, Love Song for the Barbarian, won first place in the 2026 National Excellence in Story Telling (NEST) contest, in the category of erotic fiction. Her writing builds a fantasy world where strong, intelligent, loyal, and courageous heroines and heroes find their way to each other, where dreams are realized, and where love always, always wins.

Website: https://kayjeffery.com

Instagram: kayjefferyauthor: https://www.instagram.com/kayjefferyauthor?igsh=cjdnZmZmMzhmMG80&utm_source=qr

Facebook: Kay Jeffery Author: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586302221655

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July 13, 2026 · 8:48 am

Author Interview with Susan B. Nolen ~ An Uncertain Age #historicalfiction

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susan B. Nolen…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

I’m originally from Portland, Oregon. I’ve lived several places since then, but now I live in a rural area of NW Washington state with my extended family, some dogs and chickens.

Where did you get the idea for AN UNCERTAIN AGE?

Several years ago I wrote a scene for a writing workshop that featured an old woman kneading bread, mourning a recent loss, in some village a long time ago. That image stuck with me. When I decided to write a novel about an older woman, I started from that scene. She became Margaret, my protagonist, and the novel started as a way to figure out how she got there and what she would do next. That led me to research on medieval widows and on down the rabbit hole.

Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?

I’ve always loved historical fiction, especially if there is suspense or crime involved. So I thought of this novel in those terms. Then my editor sold it to the publisher as women’s fiction, which initially surprised me. But I did want to write a novel with a woman protagonist who pushed beyond patriarchal expections, who was someone to be reckoned with. So I guess women’s fiction works.

What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?

Brenda Blethyn as Margaret, please! She’s amazing. Besides, I know she can handle the accent.

What do you want your tombstone to say?

“It’s more complicated than that.” That was sort of my theme song as an academic, trying to complicate, among other things, identity development and motivation for my fellow psychologists. There’s a tendency to try to reduce human motives to a few variables, and motives are complex things that develop through interaction in cultural contexts. I think developing characters in novels is equally complex.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

There are bits and pieces of real people in all my characters, and I draw on people I’ve known and characters I’ve met in fiction when I create a character, but then they go and do things that surprise me. None of my characters is modeled on a single specific person.

How did you come up with the title?

The main character, Margaret Surteys, is a woman of a certain age – nearing fifty (in the 14th century), past childbearing when that was seen as a woman’s main job in life. But then her step-granddaughter Agnes showed up: rising 11, not a child, not a woman – an uncertain age for sure. And then the years right after the first wave of plague – the Black Death took nearly half the population of Europe – was an age of uncertainty. I wanted to play with those ideas in my novel.

How much of the book is realistic?

I hope all of it! There is a lot that is not known for sure about village folk in the 14th century. They mostly did not write, so there are no letters or diaries to read. The only records that remain are court records, but those tell you lots about the kinds of things people did for a living, how they quarreled, who they married, and the complaints they made about the people who ran the village. I’ve done my best to stay true to what is known, based on historians and near-contemporary writers.

How did your interest in writing originate?

I played around with writing poetry and songs as a teenager and was good at school writing, but never thought about being a writer. As an academic I wrote a lot and helped students improve their writing, but didn’t get into dabbling in fiction until my 50s. Even then it was hard to write for a living and write for a hobby – too much time in front of a computer. After I retired, I finally had the time to learn how to write creatively.

In a medieval village, a widow battles powerful men to retain control of her brewery and protect her found family.

Blurb:

The years following the Black Death were an age of uncertainty and opportunity. Newly widowed Margaret Surteys startles the village by taking over her husband’s brewery and seizing her only chance for independence, despite her advanced age and the opposition of the powerful Reeve. She also takes on her abandoned step-granddaughter, Agnes, who has plans of her own. As the business grows, Margaret, aided and exasperated by Agnes, must battle official pressures and a mysterious string of serious mishaps at the brewery. Suspecting organized sabotage and a link to more than one death, they hatch a scheme to catch the culprit, which ends in disaster. Margaret must risk her livelihood and newfound autonomy to save the child she has come to love.

Excerpt:

2 August, 1349; Thornham, Palatinate of Durham

Sometimes, Margaret Surteys had to admit, her age was an advantage. This afternoon, for example, while hawking ale to dirt-encrusted workmen down by the river. Foreigners, mostly, from north and south, come to build the bridge—which was, after a year and a half, starting to resemble one. All day, they’d shifted the great stones, piling block upon block to raise the piers in the thick August heat. Working up a powerful thirst. They’d no eyes for an old woman, cared only for the ale cask she trundled on her handcart and the dipper that filled their cups.

“Give us another, then, mistress,” shouted one burly fellow with enormous hands and dark, oily hair. The smell of stale sweat and stone dust made her eyes water.

“Sorry, lads,” she said, pulling the heavy cloth up over the keg. “That’s the lot.”

The workers grumbled and cursed, but gave her no real trouble. Had she been young and fair they might have pressed her for more than ale. But they’d not try that on, not for a crone with grizzled hair that might, long ago, have been the color of oak leaves in autumn. That left Margaret free to stuff their coin into her waiting purse instead of swatting away a groping, grimy hand. And she and Tobias needed every penny she could earn.

She flexed her stiff fingers, picked up the handles of her barrow, and started the push up from the riverside. Not what she’d imagined for herself after nearly fifty summers. Until last year, she’d been a Brewster, one of several village women crafting ale for family and neighbors. Back then she’d not appreciated the full measure of her husband’s grand plan.

Ah, Tobias’s plan. Well, and it had worked, after a fashion. He’d built them a brewhouse and made himself the Brewer. After a lean year, they were beginning to show a profit, becoming a serious rival to the Reeve, the most powerful man in the village, though they still walked the knife’s edge, tottering between security and ruin. And Margaret still missed being in charge, shepherding each small batch from roasted malt to final product. Now she was but Brewer’s wife, finding grain when supplies ran low or selling their surplus ale. And, of course, tending their sheep and other stock, and gardening, and spinning, and mending, and all.

But she’d no time to stand mulling her regrets. The manor had finally put in a large order that would earn enough to see them through to harvest-time, if only she could find enough wheat. If they could not supply the ale and lost their best customer to the Reeve, they might not be able to pay the installment on their debt. She must make sure that did not happen.

Buy links:

·  Bookshop.org (softcover)

·  Barnes & Noble (Nook & softcover).

·  The Wild Rose Press (softcover) – this page also has all the buy links

·  Amazon US and Amazon worldwide (Kindle & softcover)

·  Apple Books (ebook)

·  BooksAMillion (softcover)

About the Author:

Susan B. Nolen writes historical and contemporary suspense in a multigenerational, multispecies household in the wilds of western Washington. After years of studying and writing about identity and motivation in social context, she now writes novels and short stories about women making space for themselves in the world. It’s way more fun.  An Uncertain Age is her debut novel.

Visit her at http//sbnolen.com, read her newsletter on Substack (https://substack.com/@sunolen), follow her at Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/sbnolen.com), Facebook (SB Nolen), and LinkedIn (Susan B. Nolen).

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May 22, 2026 · 5:00 am

Author Interview with Maria Imbalzano ~ Sworn to Collide #WomensFiction

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Maria Imbalzano. I noticed I have a lot in common with her (favorite book, for one), but I cannot get on board with her favorite sports team. 😀

Hello Maria, welcome. Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?

I am a retired divorce lawyer. I practiced law for 38 years and found it very fulfilling in that I was helping my clients get through a very difficult time in their lives. My experiences as a divorce attorney were instrumental in writing “Sworn to Collide.”

What was your first job? 

When I was 14, I had a job as a candy girl at a movie theater. All my friends worked there and it was a blast. We saw every movie several times, ate as much popcorn as we wanted, and when all the patrons left and we were supposed to lock-up, we stayed and partied.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why?

“Gone With the Wind”  by Margaret Mitchell. I loved learning about the history of the civil war but I also loved the romance aspect. The push and pull between Scarlett and Rhett kept me turning the pages. One of my daughter’s just bought me a leather-bound version with gold-edged pages for my birthday. I just started reading it again.

What’s your favorite childhood book?

“The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.”  Although it’s a children’s story that follows a young prince who visits various planets, the author makes observations about life, love, and human relationships. We were just in France, where “Le Petit Prince” is very popular.  I bought a copy for my grandchildren.

What is your favorite quote? 

“Some women fear the fire. Some women simply become it.”

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

In the Sworn Sisters Series, the four girlfriends are based on my high school friends. I’m still very close with them today. The stories are not their stories, but some personality traits, backgrounds, and physical aspects are most definitely based on them.

Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

David Copperfield. I was at one of his performances many years ago (when he was young and very handsome) and he pulled me out of the audience to go up on stage with him. He performed some magic trick with a duck. He did give me a kiss at the end.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 

While practicing divorce law for over 35 years, I saw the many reasons why people were willing to throw in the towel. Of course there were the affairs, money problems, and marrying for the wrong reasons. But many couples grew apart because they couldn’t or wouldn’t communicate effectively with each other. The reader will see this problem in “Sworn to Collide.”  Communication is key in any relationship, and if one or both parties aren’t sharing what they need or want, the other person is never going to be able to provide it.

Your favorite…

Movie   Pretty Woman

Music    I love female artists from rock and roll (Janis Joplin, Melissa Ethridge) to country (Kacey Musgraves, Carly Pearce). My ITunes playlists are very diverse.

Place you’ve visited      Amalfi Coast, Italy

Place you’d like to visit   Thailand

TV show from childhood That Girl

TV show from adulthood   Younger

Food  Pizza

Sports team  Yankees

Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television?  Television

She thought she had it all—until she realized she’d lost herself

Excerpt:

      After they finished opening their presents, I stuffed the discarded wrapping paper into a trash bag and turned to Ben. “Do you want to help make breakfast?”

His eyebrows shot up. “Sure.”

It had been months since we’d occupied the house together. Planning for today had set my nerves on end, but I wanted Christmas to continue to be special for the kids. Including him was a must, even if his presence brought back memories that hurt me to the core.

He followed me into the kitchen where I got busy taking out eggs, bacon, milk, and butter from the refrigerator.

“Jennifer is going to want pancakes, so can you get out the mix?”

He complied, and before long we were side by side at the counter, preparing a feast.

He cracked an egg and went to drop it into the bowl, but my hand got in the way, and the egg slid right over my wrist.

“Sorry.” He laughed despite his apology.

“You did that on purpose.” My eyes widened as I looked into his.

“I didn’t,” he protested, but he continued laughing.

I picked up the measuring cup with pancake flour and held it menacingly.

“What do you plan to do with that? If you dump it over my head, you’ll just have a mess to clean up.”

Instead, I blew against the top, right into his face.

His laughter rang through the kitchen and melted my heart.

“Perfect clown makeup. Who knew?”

I dusted off his cheek with my fingers, and our eyes met, all laughter gone for the moment. He held my wrist, keeping my hand there. Turning his face against it, he kissed my palm, sending electric currents through my veins. He inched closer, and his lips were a whisper away. I held my breath. Waiting. Wanting.

“Is breakfast ready yet?” Jennifer skipped into the kitchen with Johnny in tow.

“I’m hungry, Mom.” Johnny squeezed between us and clung to my leg.

I held in my frustration as I ducked down to hug him before getting back to work. “Just a little while longer.”

Disappointment wound through my being like a snake, but I had to tamp it down. Even with my resolve, regret streamed through every cell in my body and would most definitely last the entire day.

Buy link:  https://books2read.com/u/bMj5AG

About the Author:

Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states.  Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband–not far from her two daughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.

Social Media Links

Facebook –

https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor

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Instagram

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Website Link

http://www.mariaimbalzano.com

Goodreads Author Page

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano

Book Bub Profile page

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria-imbalzano

 Amazon Author Page

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FG9RI5K

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August 27, 2025 · 11:12 am

Hobby, Career, Passion ~ Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts by Dan Rice ~ New Release: Phantom Algebra #YAHorror

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Dan Rice…

Why Zuri Loves Mixed Martial Arts in my New Release: Phantom Algebra

When I took a crack at writing Phantom Algebra, I faced a couple of new challenges. First, the novel is a horror story, a ghost tale to be precise, which was something I had never tackled before in novel-length fiction. Sure, I had written a handful of short stories that fit into the creepiest of genres, but crafting an entire book in that genre felt like a monumental undertaking. This was especially true because I also faced a deadline, which was not the self-imposed kind. If I wanted the yarn to be part of The Wild Rose Press’s series, The Haunting of Pinedale High, I needed to produce a polished manuscript in a little over a year. Such a task usually takes me at least eighteen months.

Despite those challenges, I wanted to make my hero, Zuri Williams, distinct from the characters I had encountered in the horror genre. What quintessential passion could I give her to set her apart from the genre’s many heroes and final girls?

While brainstorming passions, I fondly recalled watching boxing with my father as a lad. He wasn’t much of a sports fan, but he did enjoy the pugilistic arts. This was back before mixed martial arts (MMA) had taken off and women’s boxing was rarely televised. But times have changed. MMA fighter Conor McGregor has helped make mixed martial arts more mainstream and become a sporting superstar. Fighters like Ronda Rousey have increased the prominence of the female side of the fight game. Social media is full of videos of female fighters battling with the same levels of passion and skill as their male counterparts. I thought, what if Zuri is an aspiring MMA fighter? That struck me as a suitably unique passion for a horror hero, and raised an awesome question. What will Zuri do when facing foes she can’t punch, kick, or grapple into submission?

So mixed martial arts became Zuri’s passion imparted to her by her estranged father, a former prizefighter turned gangland enforcer. Instead of studying algebra, Zuri obsessively watches clips of her hero, The Jade Tiger, battling it out in the octagon and dreaming of one day becoming a world champion herself. She will learn just as she can’t solve algebraic equations with her fists, some enemies, namely nasty poltergeists, can’t be dispelled with a high kick alone, no matter how expertly delivered.

Zuri and her mother settle in Pinedale, North Carolina, to start over. For years, they’ve been on the run from Zuri’s father, a retired boxer and full-time gangland enforcer.

In Pinedale, Zuri finds a gym where she can train in mixed martial arts to pursue her dream of becoming a champion fighter. At Pinedale High, she discovers friends among the outcasts, academic challenges, and something unexpected…ghosts.

When Zuri encounters a tween phantom haunting the library, her life is turned upside down and inside out as she attempts to help the spirit. This incurs the wrath of devils, living and dead. Zuri will need her martial arts prowess, heart, and the aid of friends to protect everyone she loves.

Excerpt:

After being sucker punched by Mason, Zuri had executed the advice to lead with straight right hands. As the oldster had said, Mason was fast, but she was faster, and for whatever reason, be it arrogance or laziness, the boy never raised his guard high enough to block her shots. Instead, he tried to dodge them, which he did sometimes, but not nearly enough. Her right hand crunched into his face time and time again, sending satisfying jolts up her arm into her shoulder. With gratification, she watched the maniacal glee fade from his eyes, and panic set in as he realized he was getting his ass whooped by a girl. Mr. Tito ended the sparring match after one round, not wanting Mason to get beat up with the tournament only weeks away.

But the revelation after the match had doused Zuri’s joy at showing up the bully. After berating Mason for his shoddy defense, Mr. Tito ambled over to help Zuri remove her gloves. Smelling of aftershave and sweat, he spoke as he worked. “You did good in there, Zuri. Maybe too good for Mason, but you taught him a hard lesson. Something I’ve been working on with him for months. Keep your hands up!”

“He does keep his left low,” Zuri agreed.

Tito wrenched the right glove off her hand and dropped it to the canvas. “The angles you throw the right hand are unorthodox. I’ve only seen it once before.” He looked her questioningly in the eyes. “Zuri Williams. You’re not Jake Williams’s daughter, are you?”

Zuri’s mouth dropped open. “Ummm…” What to say? She collapsed in on herself, shriveling like a raisin. Did she dare lie and risk being caught? Did Mr. Tito know her father? Would he phone Big Jake as soon as she left?

Buy link(s):

About the Author:

Dan Rice pens the young adult urban fantasy series The Allison Lee Chronicles and other speculative fiction, both short and long, in the wee hours of the morning. To discover more about Dan’s writing and keep tabs on his upcoming releases, check out his blog, join his newsletter, and follow him on BlueSky. His latest novel, the YA horror Phantom Algebra, releases on September 15, 2025.

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August 19, 2025 · 5:00 am

Hobby/Career/Passion How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig with  Susie Black & Death by Dreidel #CozyMystery

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Susie Black…

How an Apparel Career Led to a Writing Gig

Like the protagonist in my Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, I am a ladies’ swimwear sales executive. The most critically important skill a sales exec must have to succeed is to be a good storyteller. Fortunately, I’ve been telling stories since I learned how to talk. One thing I was told repeatedly as a sales executive was to know your product inside and out.  I heard the same thing when I started writing cozy mysteries: write what you know. If you don’t know it, either do the research and learn it, or don’t dare to write it. Whether you’re an author or a sales exec, you’re selling yourself, and readers, like buyers, can sniff out a phony in a heartbeat, and then you and whatever kind of story you’re telling are toast.

I came to write in the cozy mystery genre because I love solving puzzles. My parents would certainly confirm I have always asked a lot of questions, and I am naturally curious (some narrow-minded people say I am nosy…go figure…LOL). So, writing mysteries was the natural next step for me to take. Since I’d never written a novel before, the only thing I knew to do was to apply the same storytelling skills I’d successfully used hawking bikinis to writing a tale. It turns out that how you present an apparel line is the same way you write a story. Both have a beginning, a middle, an ending, and a point of view.

So, where did my story ideas come from? From the start of my career, I have kept a daily journal that chronicles the quirky, interesting, and often challenging people I’ve encountered as well as the crazy situations I’ve gotten myself into and out of. The protagonist of the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Holly Schlivnik, is based on me. The journal entries are the foundation of all my writing for the stories that comprise the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series. With a dollop of imagination, a pinch of angst, and a decades-long career chocked to the gills with juicy characters, I had more stories itching to be told in my daily journal than time to write them.

Who could push a sales exec to dream of murder and mayhem? Who else but a buyer?  After completing a rather challenging conversation with an important but difficult account, I imagined how good it would feel with my hands around her scrawny neck, squeezing the life out of her. While the notion of knocking off my annoying customers was wildly appealing, a horizontally striped prison uniform making my four-foot, eight-inch body look like a barbershop pole and a fire hydrant had a child wasn’t a pretty sight. The viable alternative?  Writing humorous murder mysteries set in the Los Angeles garment center. Brilliant and cathartic! In one fell swoop, eliminate a pain-in-the-patootie buyer, avoid life in prison, and still get the order. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Very interesting article, Susie. Thank you for sharing. And now, tell us about your book…

Brings a whole new meaning to a killer party.

Blurb:

Mermaid Swimwear President Holly Schlivnik attends an industry Hanukkah party to honor Rapido Swimwear CEO Leni Waxman as the Mount Cedars Hospital Woman of the Year. The guest of honor collapses and dies in the middle of the event. An autopsy confirms that Leni expired as a result of poisoning by coming in contact with a purposely contaminated dreidel. There is no shortage of suspects—Leni had no problem destroying anyone who threatened her position as the top dog in the swimwear industry. When Holly’s business partner is wrongly arrested for Leni’s murder, the irreverent sales exec can’t mind her own beeswax. The wise-cracking snoop sticks her nose everywhere it doesn’t belong to flesh out the real killer. But the trail has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, and nothing turns out how Holly thinks it will as she takes on a ruthless killer hellbent on revenge.

Excerpt:

I leaned over to Queenie and pointed to Leni. “Take a gander at Leni. Something’s wrong with her.”

Queenie followed my index finger with her eyes. “Yeah, she’s white as a ghost and perspiring.”

Gary snapped, “Maybe the old broad is nervous.”

Buddy took his seat and pointed to Leni. “Something is wrong with that woman.”

Mira shrugged. “Or perhaps the emotion of sharing the loss of her sister took its toll.”

Gary clucked his tongue. “Don’t let her fool you with her sad story about her sister. I wouldn’t be surprised if she made the whole thing up to add some dramatic context to her acceptance speech. Leni Waxman has a heart of stone, and only ice water runs in her veins. She is incapable of loving anybody but herself. She’s probably going through menopause and having one helluva hot flash.”

Seeming to rally after taking several restorative gulps of water, Leni tottered on unsteady feet over to a large glass-topped table piled high with door prizes. She pointed to the stack and said in a remarkably normal voice, “Okay, folks, the last thing on our party agenda is the auction of these wonderful door prizes donated by all you generous vendors. Dig down deep in your pockets and let’s see some high bids. The proceeds are going to buy a library of books for the daycare center in the new hospital wing.”

She leaned over to pick up the first item, but it slipped through her fingers. Leni bolted straight up and stumbled as she clutched her midsection and let out a blood-curdling scream. She gagged and vomited down the front of her dress. Leni fell forward and collapsed onto the table. The stunned crowd went as silent as a cemetery when the glass top shattered and the door prizes scattered across the ballroom floor.

Hadassah Waxman jumped up and screamed, “Oh My God, No!” Morty and Barry rushed to Leni, but Doctor Levinson pushed them away.  Levinson yelled, “Somebody call nine-one-one!” Then he sprang into action. He carefully pulled Leni out of the glass shards and laid her stiff-as-a-board body on her back. He held his palm over her mouth. She wasn’t breathing. He pressed his thumb first on the inside of her wrist and then on the bottom of her throat, but detected no pulse. He put his ear to Leni’s chest but didn’t hear a heartbeat. He commenced CPR, but she failed to respond.

Ten minutes later, two paramedics, pushing a stretcher loaded with life-saving gear and accompanied by a pair of LAPD uniforms, rushed into the ballroom. The hushed crowd held their breath as the medical first responders reached Levinson, still working desperately to revive Leni. The two pulled resuscitation equipment out and prepared to work on the supine guest of honor. The doctor’s shoulders slumped with defeat. Levinson’s eyes filled, and his voice cracked as he waved the two off.  “It’s too late. She’s gone.”

Naturally, I burst out laughing.

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/m2jl7d

About the Author:

Named Best US Author of the Year by N. N. Lights Book Heaven, award-winning cozy mystery author Susie Black was born in the Big Apple but now calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries.

She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector and sailor. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect.

Looking for more? Contact Susie at:

Website: www.authorsusieblack.com

E-mail: mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

Contact Links:

Blue Sky: @hollysusiewrites.bsky.social

Facebook: Susie Black, author of The Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series | Facebook

Facebook: https://facebook.com/TheHollySwimsuitMysterySeries

Instagram: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) • Instagram photos and videos

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsusieblack-61941011

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hollysusie1/

X: Susie Black (@hollyswimsuit) / X

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August 11, 2025 · 5:10 am

10 Moments That Changed My Life by Mickey Flagg ~ New Release: Night of the Crescent Moon #Paranormal

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Mickey Flagg…

  1. Walking into Kindergarten. I couldn’t wait to let go of my mother’s hand and take a seat in that classroom. A love of learning led me to a BA in Music Ed, an MA in Education, an M. Ed in administration, and much, much more. Learning takes a lifetime and I’m still up for trying new things every day.
  2. The day I put my hands on a piano at age 4. I wasn’t allowed to touch the expensive piece of furniture, so I watched my sister’s lessons through a keyhole in an old-fashioned door. When no one looked, I’d run to the piano and play her lesson. I think I read music before I read words.
  3. The day the boy I had the biggest crush on taught me how to read and play chords on the piano. I was thirteen. He was sixteen. He had a photographic memory. I didn’t. He was on the football team. I couldn’t catch a football if I tried. But… Sitting so close together on the piano bench, torn between absolute adoration and a thirst for knowledge, I somehow managed to absorbed everything he taught me. Little did I know it would shape my future.
  4. The first audition for a speaking role in my high school’s musical. I had always been in the chorus, but in junior year, I tried out for a minor role. I won the lead and caught the acting bug. That experience changed my life. 
  5. The day I auditioned at NYU. On the spot, I was offered a full scholarship in music. Unfortunately, my parents wouldn’t let me go to school in NYC. But that validation of my abilities definitely changed my view of the world. 
  6. The day I stepped off the plane in London to study acting at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. After the summer session, I spent months traveling Europe, seeing places I had dreamed about, before returning to New Jersey. RADA’s classical training led to years of professional performances in the tri-state area. 
  7. The glorious births of my two children. Each one was different. My son’s labor took forever. My daughter’s was a breeze. I feel blessed that they were both born healthy and have grown into such wonderful, caring adults. I cherish them both.
  8. Taking a music teaching position in a local, large urban district. Life happens, right? I had taught in private schools and other school districts, but I needed to be closer to my two teenagers. So I took a position that had many challenges. It became a twenty-five year stay. My choruses were top-notch and a joy to prepare for performance. Then I was blessed to become an administrator in the same school for the last ten years of my education career.
  9. The day I looked at a blank word document on my laptop and decided to write a novel. Who knew, right? I thought I’d write a few pages and walk away. Instead, three novels poured out of me. They were published between 2008 and 2010 with The Wild Rose Press. But as I said, life happens, and with my new administrative duties, I stopped any form of creative writing.
  10. The day I retired. For twelve years, I’d written educational reports and evaluations. The rights for my three novels had reverted back to me. It took months of soul-searching before I opened them up ando read what I had written over a decade ago. So I cleaned them up. During those deep edits, I got the idea to continue the paranormal series. In 2022, I contracted the revised manuscripts, as well as Night of the Crescent Moon, with The Wild Rose Press, and I was able to work with my original editor. I’m thrilled that NOTCM won the Spring 2025 BookFest First Place Award for Paranormal Romance and took Second Place in Paranormal for the NEST (National Exelence in Story Telling) with the Central Region Oklahoma Writers. I never thought I’d have this exciting experience. But my life has overflowed with many blessings. I’ve had the unconditional support of family and friends through good times and bad. That kind of love is a gift that keeps on giving!  

Some wounds never heal

Martine, a good witch and ER nurse must enlist Lukas, a mystical warrior to save her patient who is under the spell of a dark witch from the Second Realm. But Martine pushed Lukas out of her life years ago, and he is the only person who can help save her patient. Martine is torn when Lukas agrees to return to the realm that holds terrifying memories for him. Even though many assist Lukas, Martine’s ask is complicated and dangerous. Can he save her patient from a fate worse than death? More importantly, can Martine open her heart to Lukas, or this time, shut him out forever? 

Night of the Crescent Moon Excerpt:

Lukas pushed off the kitchen chair, walked over with his arms wide and a warm smile complete with magnificent dimples. They held on to each other as if both had become lost in a mist of memories. Closing her eyes didn’t erase five years apart, nor the horrible way she ended their friendship. As if sensing her apprehension, his arms tightened across her back. The steady rise and fall of his chest as her head rested against him brought a strange comfort. Yet too many emotions blurred the lines, crashed into each other. Martine bit her lip, unable to focus. Lu looked happy. That’s all that mattered. And when he kissed her cheek, for the first time in a long time, she felt drawn to life again. 

“Christ, how I’ve missed you, M,” he whispered in her ear.

“I can’t believe you’re really here, Lu,” she replied still tight in his arms.

“For you, I’d have walked if necessary.”

Looking aside, she frowned. “Yeah, and swim across an ocean, too.”

“Like I’ve always said, for you, anything.” He held her shoulders as she pulled back, and his deep-blue eyes filled, his expression one of concern. “You’re so thin. It’s like you’re wasting away.” She glanced down, but he drew her close again. The last time they’d seen each other, she had been healthy and happy, convincing him how her new boyfriend would be her destiny, how they’d have a baby and live happily ever after. She hadn’t realized it until just now. “I’m so very sorry,” he whispered as if he read her thoughts.

Buy link(s): Night of the Crescent Moon (The Champion Chronicles Book 4) – Kindle edition by Flagg, M. . Paranormal Romance Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

M. Flagg Bio

Mickey Flagg writes paranormal tales of passion with a twist of fate. Her mystical warriors, witches, and not-so-normal creatures of the night speak to the heart. She is an award-winning author in the genre of paranormal romance. Also published in the field of music education and in Still Standing, a web-magazine about loss and healing, Mickey is a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, NJRW and NJ Author network. Oh, and she loves to edit, and then spend some quality down-time snuggling with her rescued Maine Coon. Find out more about her novels at www.mflagg-author.com

Social Media Links

Website info: http://mflagg-author.com

Facebook:    (1) M. Flagg | Facebook

Twitter: Michele Flagg (@flagg_michele) / Twitter   https://twitter.com/flagg_michele

Instagram: Instagram (Mickey Flagg)

Goodreads: Night of the Crescent Moon by M. Flagg | Goodreads

Amazon Author Page: Amazon.com: M. Flagg: books, biography, latest update

M. Flagg Books – BookBub

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July 19, 2025 · 8:11 am

How Two Authors Collaborate ~ New Release: Matthew: Los Angeles Quakes Series, Book 3 by Alisa Jean – #hockeyromance

Please help me welcome today’s guests, C J Bahr and Marla White who are sharing about their collaboration. I’m in awe of writers who can work together to write the same book. I am not sure I could, but let’s see how it came about…

Alisa Jean is what happens when you put two writers together who share a mutual love, bordering on obsession, of hockey.

MARLA: I’m an award-winning cozy mystery writer who prefers to kill people the old-fashioned way – on paper.

C J: And I’m an award-winning writer of supernatural suspense who wreaks havoc in ghostly, demonic, or other-worldly ways with some spicy heat for good measure.

MARLA: Our writing collaboration more or less started the day the L.A. Kings celebrated Dustin Brown’s retirement. So, thanks, Brownie! Before then, I’d seen a hockey game or two, but dang, that puck is hard to follow on TV.

C J: S**t, take her to one live game and a fan is conceived if not fully born. Already a fan of the sport, I got her to watch a season, and soon my friend turned into a shouty, screaming maniac. It’s hilarious to watch.

MARLA: So naturally, we decided to turn our mutual love for the sport into a hockey romance series. Which always invites the question, “How do you write together?” The answer is it’s oddly easier than either of us thought it would be.

C J: Being lifelong best friends certainly helps. We don’t split up the characters, with one of us writing the male hero and the other the female heroine.  Frankly, the idea never occurred to us, and now that I say it, that just sounds…weird.  We basically leapfrog off each other’s work, making changes and approving new words as we go.

MARLA: It works out well, since I prefer to write first thing in the morning for an hour or so before starting my real job.

C J: And I prefer to write in the afternoon. So I’ll read and edit what she wrote earlier, and then I’ll write new scenes or chapters for her to build on the next morning.

MARLA: After coming up with a general outline, of course. Because I’m a plotter while she’s –

C J: A proud pantser. That’s the one difference that can be a bit tricky to work through, but we compromise and make changes to the outline as characters become clearer and more vibrant. Sometimes it takes a while, and other times, the characters just click.

MARLA: So far, “Luka,” the second book in the series, took a little bit longer. Our main characters are both dealing with some darkness, and we wanted to get it right.

C J: “Matthew,” on the other hand, practically burst off the page. We both knew back in book one, when the reader is introduced to Matt as the team’s angriest enforcer, exactly where we wanted to take him.

MARLA: One of the most fun we had with “Matthew” was replaying a scene from “Luka,” but this time from Matt’s perspective because their stories run concurrently. The idea of knowing what a person is dealing with makes it easier to feel compassion for them was important to us.

C J: I mean, he is an almost irredeemable jerk to Lincoln in the first book. Largely inspired by Jonathan Quick, we both loved Linc but had a little too much fun making Matt a thorn in his side. There had to be a reason he was such an a-hole, and when we found it, we knew what his book needed to be about.

MARLA: So far, knock on wood, we’re in the midst of book four in the (hopefully) seven-book series and haven’t had any major conflicts between the two of us.

C J: Well, except for your overuse of “up”. And towards instead of toward.

MARLA: Let it go, it’s my inner-Brit, I can’t help it.

C J: Anyway…writing in a different genre has opened us to a whole new group of readers, and we just love it.

A red-hot hockey sin bin romance

Matthew Holt uses his anger on the ice, gaining him the title of enforcer for L.A. Quakes and high minutes in the sin bin. But hooking up with a teammate’s little sister may earn him the highest penalty of all.

Ever since pee wee hockey, I’ve only known one way to play the sport I love – one hundred percent all in. My focus has always been protecting my teammates, so when the only team I’ve ever played for betrays me, trading me to a team thousands of miles from the family that needs me, who can blame me for taking angry and bitter to a whole new level.

Then Phoebe Anderson, the younger sister of my new teammate, literally falls into my arms and suddenly my life takes another, weird turn. Because believe it or not, my late sister voices her approval of the adorable klutz and refuses to be denied. Or am I going nuts? Either way, will our siblings prove to be too big of an obstacle to overcome? Or am I ready to let go of my anger and do whatever it takes to earn Phoebe’s love?

Excerpt:

This is from Phoebe and Matt’s first real date, and she discovers some surprising information about him.

“You can’t be serious. The original cartoon Mulan is way better than the live-action piece of garbage.” I’ve figured out that arguing is Matt’s primary mode of conversation, but he’s doing it with a sparkle in his brown eyes and a hint of a smile dancing on his lips. He takes a bite of a tortilla filled with roasted poblano peppers, onions, corn, Mexican cream, and cotija cheese. I’ve never had Rajas Con Crema, but I think I’m in love now. I want to date it. “The animated movie features great songs. Reflection, A Girl Worth Fighting For, Honor To Us All. And of course, my personal favorite,” he grins before singing, “mysterious like the dark side of the moon.”

First, I’m not surprised he likes the song I’ll Make A Man Out Of You, but I am surprised he has a pretty great singing voice. Who would have guessed?

I snicker. “Of course, that would be your favorite song.” I hold up a finger, ready to make my own argument for why the live-action is better. “That’s one of the problems. Live-action Mulan fixed many of the cultural problems and sexism. It also is closer to the historic Mulan story.”

“And I’ll counter-argue unlike the animated Mulan, who is an active force in shaping her own destiny, the live-action Mulan joins the Imperial Army, and the rest of the plot simply happens to her.”

I laugh. I can’t help myself. It’s like he’s giving a PhD dissertation. When I finally get a hold of myself, grateful I didn’t pee myself laughing, I grin at him. “I still can’t believe you watched both Mulan movies multiple times. I just don’t see it.”

“Yeah, well, I watched them with my younger sister.”

“You guys close?”

 “Yeah.” He looks away before grabbing the last taco. For the record, I ate three to his seven. And, I also sense his discomfort talking about his sister, so I cut him some slack and change the topic.

We talk for another two hours about everything and nothing. Like his movies, he prefers classic rock like Guns N’ Roses, Rush, and Metallica over the synthesized crap of Pixel Grip or Death Comes Crawling.

 “I mean, how do people not know when the instruments aren’t even real?” He gives an exaggerated shudder, which makes me laugh again.

 “Mathew Holt, I had no idea you were so funny. And such a traditionalist. Plus, those bands use synthetic sounds on purpose. They’re not pretending a fake electric guitar is real.” I put my hand on his arm without thinking about it. His skin is warm to the touch, and the thought of how warm he’d be in bed comes into my brain unbidden. The image of him naked beside me isn’t unwanted, mind you, it just came of its own accord.

“Why are you smiling at me like that?” He raises an eyebrow at me, lip curled up on one side.

“I just didn’t know you were funny, that’s all.” I lie. If he knew what I was really thinking, we’d both be in trouble.

Favorite Lines:

“She sees rainbows and sunshine everywhere she looks, and all I see is the impending storm, flooding, and destruction.”

“I’m going to romance her so hard she won’t know what hit her. Somewhere between the front door and the bedroom last night, I decided to claim her, body and soul.”

“I need your rainbows to light my super dark world, or I’m lost.”

“I want the world to know this amazing woman is off the market and she’s mine. She’s my everything.”

Buy link: books2read.com/u/bpAR5J

Bio:

Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels.

Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisajean.author/

Website/Newsletter:  https://alisajean.com

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June 17, 2025 · 12:30 pm

Author Interview with Margo Carey ~ Demon Amulet #UrbanFantasyRomance

Please help me welcome today’s guest, Margo Carey…

Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?

Originally from Marblehead, MA, I later moved to Rhode Island with my husband and son. New England holds a special place in my heart. It’s where my imagination led me to write. Today, we live in Southwest Florida with our black cat, Sammy. Though we enjoy riding our bikes, we gave up kayaking after a couple of scaly denizens followed us around then bumped my husband’s boat. However, the positive outweighs the negative. The view from my office is always green. No ice. No snow. My latest pastime is walking and recording ideas for my next book. I enjoy reading paranormal and anything witchy. My favorite TV shows are Elspeth and Tracker. Life is good.

Tell us a little about how you came to write Demon Amulet.

Demon Amulet is set in Newport, RI, one of my favorite places. I created the Watcher Clan series around a mysterious stone tower that some believe was built by the Knights Templar. If so, I wondered if there could be descendants. Might those relatives have psychic powers? When we lived there, my husband was an offshore lobsterman, and I spent a lot of time in the wharf area with wonderful little shops. My characters also love those touristy lanes. I chose the title, Demon Amulet, to reference the story’s lethal magic trinket. Although I had already done intensive research on the Knights Templar for the first book, I found this second book more difficult because I had to discover new ideas: conflicts, story arc, and goals. I do love Google Earth for my setting research. That and Pinterest for photos of people who look like my characters and for ideas on their outfits. Each book can stand alone which means different protagonists and villains. In my first book the protagonist is a young brunette unaware of her family or powers. Her antagonist is a dreamwalker. This second book revolves around a beautiful blonde cousin and a vicious warlock. For the third, a thirty-something redhead goes up against a traitorous member of the Templar council. Of course, each story has the necessary handsome and psychically powerful love interest.

Stone Tower and Me

Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?

When I’m looking for a setting, whether it be a house or neighborhood, I always picture someplace I’m familiar with. But, if I don’t know I use the internet.  The Brendani estate in this book is in an exclusive neighborhood. Although I’ve ridden by the driveways, I had to get a view of the homes and riverfront property via Google Earth. The apartment in the next book is my sister’s former abode. That way I can picture my characters as they move around.

What book have you read that you wish you had written?

Any one of the Harry Potter books.

What’s your favorite book of all time and why? 

“The Agony and the Ecstasy” by Irving Stone. A wonderful narrative about Michaelangelo.

What’s your favorite childhood book?

Nancy Drew. The beginning of my love of mysteries.

Would you rather have a bad review or no review?

As much as I’d hate a bad review, I do want to know what I’ve done or not done to upset a reader. Critiques can be painful, but they help you grow.

What is your favorite quote? 

“Nothing you do can change the past. Everything you do can change the future.” Anon.

Your most prized material possession and why?

A beautiful wood jewelry box. My son made it for me.

If you could be a character in any of your books, who would you be?

I’d be Lia Ferguson. She is beautiful, tough, and has a great sense of humor. Oh yes, and she has awesome psychic powers.

What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

For me, a criticism I had trouble fixing was “Show. Don’t tell.” I still go back and look for it in my writing. What made me happy was someone telling me that they loved my characters. I also love my characters and try to make that come out on the page.

Tell us Your favorite…

Movie: See No Evil. Hear No Evil. A comedy with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder

TV show from adulthood: NCIS

Food: Really good french fries

Sports team: Boston Red Sox

A cursed amulet. A deadly warlock.  An impossible love.

Excerpt:

Moonlight filtered through the clouds, bathing the Brendani property in swaths of soft light. Lia inhaled the sweet aroma of beach roses carried by the wind. A perfect evening. A shiver unrelated to the weather coursed through her. Would he be waiting?

Gravel crunched under her feet and the bite of chlorine teased her nose as she neared her destination. She paused for a moment to control her erratic breathing. Nerves? Ridiculous. No man had ever disturbed her.

The glow from the changing room lanterns almost reached the pool. The flickering shadows on the liquid grew into waves caused by the powerful strokes of the swimmer. Mesmerized by Aiden’s straining muscles, desire stirred in her belly.

She swallowed and strolled closer. “I see you made it.”

He stopped and looked up, unruffled. She knew he’d been aware of her. Watchers could always sense another’s approach. As the silence lengthened, she reached around to the back of her neck, undid a clasp, and let her cover-up slide down. Aiden’s sharp intake of breath made her skin tingle.

His eyes darkened as they raked over her body. A slow smile played across his face. “Coming in?”

The deep timbre of his voice ignited her desire. She paused for another moment to enjoy the heat simmering between them. Without breaking eye contact, she lowered herself to the pool’s edge and slipped in. The warm water covered all but her bikini top.

“Ooh!” she said as she gazed at him. “It feels so good.”

Her body responded to the naked desire blazing from his eyes. She swam past him to the deep end and turned. He hadn’t moved, but she felt his penetrating gaze follow her.

Poised there in waist-high water, Aiden resembled one of the ancient sea gods.

Buy link: Demon Amulet by Margo Carey

About the Author:

Margo Carey, an award-winning author, weaves tales of romance and supernatural intrigue. She began her career trying to write cozy mysteries, but the paranormal inevitably slipped in. Rather than fight her muse, she gave in to her pen’s inclination, changed her genre to Paranormal Romance, and titled her website, My Haunted Pen.

Her gripping novel Trace of Evil, a NEST finalist, immerses readers in a haunting romance in Salem, Massachusetts. After her move to Rhode Island, she penned The Convent House, the first in her Watcher Clan series that follows the perils and romance of psychically gifted descendants of the Knights Templar. Readers’ Favorite gave it a five-star review. The second book, Demon Amulet, will be out in June, 2025.

Margo now lives with her husband Paul and their unapologetically spoiled cat, Sammy, in South Florida. Will inspiration for her next book spring from the shadowy, gator-infested swamps where she and her husband kayak? Stay tuned.

MargoCarey.com

MargoCarey.HauntedPen@gmail.com

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May 21, 2025 · 7:09 am

10 Moments That Changed My Life with Colleen L Donnelly ~ New Release: I Have a Story #HistoricalRomance

Please help me welcome Colleen L Donnelly…

Ten Moments That Changed My Life

  1. The time an angel grabbed me as I toppled over the edge of a bluff on my tenth birthday. I felt their hands, but saw nothing, and was up-righted from a free fall to back on my feet.
  2. The time when as a very young child, I shoved my little brother aside so I could have first dibs on a bowl with the remnants of cake batter inside. I realized then that I didn’t have a bully’s heart and found no pleasure in behaving that way. My brother and I still competed, and I wasn’t always the best big sister, but from then on, I knew who I was and how I was designed.
  3. The time I went to a Neil Diamond concert and realized the audience was almost geriatric. I didn’t enter leaning on a walker, but I had to face that I was no longer a spring chicken.
  4. The time I learned a new language—Sign Language—and had my world opened up to a whole new culture and wealth of friends.
  5. The time(s) I became a parent and realized I wasn’t the center of the universe and there were needs and people more important than mine and me in the world.
  6. The first loss of someone very special and their funeral I couldn’t stop crying at.
  7. The moment in adulthood when my parents suddenly made sense, and I realized they weren’t unreasonable and on earth merely to make my life miserable.
  8. The day I realized my husband was betraying me, and the long trek through the grieving process that followed.
  9. The first sip of real coffee that turned me into a coffee snob, causing me to throw out all store brands, trash my drip coffee maker, and begin to pay for good beans, grind them myself, and spend the time drizzling the perfect temperature of water over a cone of dark grounds.
  10. The moment the Bible suddenly made sense.  

Blurb:

Jim Turner writes crime but doesn’t live it. He respects his grandfather’s tales of heroes but doesn’t believe them. When his failing grandfather sends him to a remote peninsula to write the end of his own heroic love story, Jim includes a war criminal interview while there to maintain his edge.

Chastity is an anomaly, a misfit in pre-WWII culture as well as in Jim’s life. Her spritely charm and endearing features turn Jim’s world upside down, especially when she reveals his grandfather’s peninsula as the site of her upcoming wedding.

Do good journalists flee when their interviewee is murdered? Do heroes write fiancés out of another’s story and themselves in? “The End” become the hardest words for Jim to write.

Excerpt:

“So,” Chastity said. “Tell me more about the grandfather who impacted you so much.”

I felt him in the room. Or maybe it was in Grove. Mountain Grove. Or because we had been on his beloved peninsula, she with her yellowish hair. It was as if he joined Chastity and me, and she sensed it too. His hands and heart were in this decrepit building with us, his presence and hers making it feel like a castle instead.

“If it wasn’t for him, who knows where you might be now instead of here helping me.” She squeezed my hand.

How did she know? Because of Grandpa I came to Grove and searched for a peninsula that brought me to Chastity…who actually brought me to it. “My grandfather is a wonderful man… But before we discuss him, there are things you should know about.” I had to be honest. “Tasks you can’t help me with.” Like crime and violence, dangerous interviews, and the way I felt about her.

A face unlike any I had ever seen…and never would again…should send my heroic heart to the ladder where I would gather a million splinters in my hands by sliding to the ground, risking pain and infection to keep her safe by leaving.

Her features looked watery as I gazed at her. Tears? I never cried. Her pastel throw rugs turned into colorful puddles blurred by an emotion I had never experienced before.

“You are supposed to be here, Jim. And I am supposed to help you.”

For a moment, something ominous crept into my thoughts. Something of the old crime writer in me, who with several clicks of a typewriter’s keys could turn any story the direction I wanted. I welcomed him back, then set him aside. Because in the blue of her eyes, I saw something stronger—my promise.

If friendship was defined by a long period of time and a large number of interactions, Chastity didn’t qualify. And maybe my initial carnal fascination which became a pitter-patter my heart couldn’t beat without didn’t meet the definition of love. But she was at least partially right. For three days we were supposed to be together and help each other. For three days we had an eternity.

Buy link:  https://amzn.to/4lq6qGO

About the Author:

Colleen L Donnelly put her science education to use for years and then put it behind her to pursue other passions. Her first love is writing and her second is hunting—hunting for that next good story, hunting for shed antlers or mushrooms in the woods, hunting for the next good author to read. An avid believer in work hard/play hard, Colleen splits her time between indoors and out, always busy at something.

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly

Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colleen.donnelly.568/

Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/colleenldonnelly/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/37vcnO4

Twitter:   https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/

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