Podcasts about RITA Award

Join Ocean House owner and author Deborah Goodrich Royce as she moderates a conversation with featured authors. New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White will discuss their new novel, An Author's Guide To Murder. About An Author's Guide to Murder: Agatha Christie meets Murder, She Wrote in this witty locked room mystery and literary satire by New York Times bestselling team of novelists: Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White. There's been a sensational murder at historic Castle Kinloch, a gothic fantasy of grey granite on a remote island in the Highlands of Scotland. Literary superstar Brett Saffron Presley has been found dead–under bizarre circumstances–in the castle tower's book-lined study. Years ago, Presley purchased the castle as a showpiece for his brand and to lure paying guests with a taste for writerly glamour. Now it seems, the castle has done him in…or, possibly, one of the castle's guests has. Detective Chief Inspector Euan McIntosh, a local with no love for literary Americans, finds himself with the unenviable task of extracting statements from three American lady novelists. The prime suspects are Kat de Noir, a slinky erotica writer; Cassie Pringle, a Southern mom of six juggling multiple cozy mystery series; and Emma Endicott, a New England blue blood and author of critically acclaimed historical fiction. The women claim to be best friends writing a book together, but the authors' stories about how they know Brett Saffron Presley don't quite line up, and the detective is getting increasingly suspicious. Why did the authors really come to Castle Kinloch? And what really happened the night of the great Kinloch ceilidh, when Brett Saffron Presley skipped the folk dancing for a rendezvous with death? A crafty locked-room mystery, a pointed satire about the literary world, and a tale of unexpected friendship and romance–this novel has it all, as only three bestselling authors can tell it! About Beatriz Williams: Beatriz Williams is the bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including Husbands and Lovers, The Summer Wives, and The Secret Life of Violet Grant, as well as four other novels cowritten with Lauren Willig and Karen White. A native of Seattle, she graduated from Stanford University and earned an MBA in finance from Columbia University. She lives with her husband and four children near the Connecticut shore, where she divides her time between writing and laundry. About Lauren Willig: Lauren Willig is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels, including Band of Sisters and the RITA Award winning Pink Carnation series. An alumna of Yale University, she has a graduate degree in history from Harvard and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. She lives in New York City with her husband, two young children, and vast quantities of coffee. About Karen White: Karen White is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-four novels, including The Last Night in London and The House on Prytania, as well as the Tradd Street mystery series. She currently writes what she refers to as “grit lit”—Southern women's fiction. She is a graduate of the American School in London and has a BS in management from Tulane University. When not writing, she spends her time reading, singing, and avoiding cooking. She has two grown children and currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and a spoiled Havanese dog. For more information about the authors on this panel, visit oceanhouseevents.com/events. For details on Deborah Goodrich Royce and the Ocean House Author Series, visit deborahgoodrichroyce.com

This is the fourth episode in a series of episodes dedicated to a young woman named Olivea.  This episode is with special guest, best-selling author, Francine Rivers. In this episode Francine shares with Janell and Olivea about her life journey, how she hears from God, why trusting His character is so important, and how she knows He cares even when life can be full of disappointments or unexpected detours.    ABOUT FRANCINE RIVERS New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers had a successful writing career in the general market for several years becoming a born-again Christian; she then wrote "Redeeming Love" as her statement of faith. A retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush, Redeeming Love is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction and it continues to be one of the industry's top-selling titles year after year. Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numerous bestselling novels with Christian themes—including The Masterpiece, Bridge to Haven, and A Voice in the Wind —and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the world. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for Inspirational Fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine's novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. Francine and her husband live in Northern California and enjoy time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. She uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and she desires that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.  

Today, I chat with romance author Roni Loren, a two-time Rita Award winner and Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach with the Better Faster Academy.The discussion dives into the controversial advice about editing as you go and how each writer's process is unique. Roni shares her journey, her struggles with self-doubt, and how she overcame burnout. With a focus on character-driven writing and leveraging personal strengths, Ronnie offers valuable insights for her fellow writers.00:00 Introduction: Challenging Writing Norms01:30 Meet Romance Author Roni Lauren02:05 Roni's Writing Journey04:36 Discussing 'The Ones Who Got Away' Series and writing Rom Drama06:30 Exploring Romance and Character Development16:29 The Challenges of Writing and Burnout20:55 Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome28:08 Current Projects and Final ThoughtsGuest Bio & LinksRoni wrote her first romance novel at age fifteen when she discovered writing about boys was way easier than actually talking to them. Since then, her flirting skills haven't improved, but she likes to think her storytelling ability has. She holds a master's degree in social work and spent years as a mental health counselor, but now she writes full-time from her cozy office in North Texas where she puts her characters on the therapy couch instead. She is a two-time RITA Award winner, a HOLT Medallion winner, and a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is also a Gallup® Certified Strengths Coach with the Better Faster Academy.Links:Website: http://www.roniloren.comNewsletter/Substack for readers: https://roniloren.substack.com/The Nourished Writer (a newsletter/Substack for writers) https://thenourishedwriter.substack.com/Instagram: @ronilorenSupport the show To become a supporter of the show, click here!To get in touch with Stacy: Email: Stacy@writeitscared.co https://www.writeitscared.co/ https://www.instagram.com/writeitscared/ Take advantage of these Free Resources From Write It Scared: Download Your Free Novel Planning and Drafting Quick Start Guide Download Your Free Guide to Remove Creative Blocks and Work Through Fears

Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb's writing career. Thirty years, forty-plus books, and numerous awards later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. A RITA® Award winner and three-time Christy Award finalist, Deb is represented by Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency. She is a Missouri transplant, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas. They love road trips, Friday garage sale dates, time with their family, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard. Connect with Deborah Raney Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thetriciagoyershow/support

Are you looking for a captivating Summer read? Tune in for a discussion with New York Times Bestselling author Laura Griffin, on her new thriller Liar's Point. Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio affiliate! Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty books and novellas. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura is a two-time RITA® Award winner (for Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Her book Desperate Girls was named one of the Best Books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly. https://lauragriffin.comFor more show information visit:   www.MariannePestana.com  #books #bookstagram #bookish #bookshelf #kmet1490am #LauraGriffin #thriller #mustread #summerreading #reading #readinglist 

Kendra Elliot has sold twelve million books, hit the Wall Street Journal top ten bestseller list more than a dozen times, and is a three time winner of the Daphne du Maurier award. She is an International Thriller Writers' finalist and a Romantic Times finalist. She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest but now spends most of her time on a warm beach wearing flip flops. You can learn more about her at: https://www.kendraelliot.com/ Melinda Leigh is a #1 Amazon Charts and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author and has sold over 14 million books. As a fully recovered banker and a life-long lover of books, she started writing as a way to preserve her sanity while raising her kids. Melinda's debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was an International Thriller Award finalist. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame.She lives near the beach with her family and two spoiled rescue dogs. With such a pleasant life, she has no explanation for the sometimes dark and disturbing nature of her imagination. Find out more at: www.melindaleigh.com And for more about our host Lisa Kessler visit http://Lisa-Kessler.com Book Lights - shining a light on good books!  

Christian Historical Fiction Talk is listener supported. When you buy things through this site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Become a patron and enjoy special perks and bonus content.Gabrielle Meyer returns to the podcast this week, and I'm so excited to have her with us to talk about her latest book, In This Moment. It's one of my favorite reads of 2023. We chat about how she juggled three timelines in this novel, how the Mississippi River inspires her to write, and what it was like to research and include her own family history with the Salem Witch Trials in her next book. My patrons will get to hear the fascinating story behind why they just had some French people staying at their house. In This Moment by Gabrielle MeyerMaggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night, she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives--and everyone she knows in them--forever. In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of a senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she joins a hospital ship going to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she's a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon.While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer. With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?Gabrielle Meyer's writing captivates with . . ."A page-turning journey through three riveting, interwoven historical timelines."--MIMI MATTHEWS,USA Today bestselling author"Wonderful settings that brim with ethical dilemmas, fabulous twists, and an engaging heroine."--ELIZABETH CAMDEN, Christy and RITA Award-winning author"A time-traveling adventure with timeless appeal."--JOCELYN GREEN, Christy Award-winning authorGet your copy of In This Moment.About Gabrielle Meyer:WIFE, MOM, WRITER, FRIEND...Gabrielle lives on the banks of the Upper Mississippi River with her husband and four children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing historical and contemporary novels inspired by real people, places, and events. The river is a constant source of inspiration for Gabrielle, and if you look closely, you will find a river in each of her stories.When Gabrielle is not writing, you might find her homeschooling her children, cheering them on at sporting and theatrical events, or hosting a gathering at her home with family and friends.Visit Gabrielle Meyer's website.

In 2019, a well known romance writer began tweeting about other writers in her community and concerns about racism. It led to a huge reckoning within an organization called the Romance Writers of America, which is still unfolding. And although the online debate seemed to be isolated to a specific community of romance writers and their fans, it was really a microcosm of what's been happening all over the US. We learn all about romance novels and how newer writers are changing the norms of the genre, and giving it a political power it's never had before. And, we talk about what it means for organizations to change as they grapple with questions of race, including organizations such as ours, at Making Contact. This is an encore presentation of part two of a two-part series. Like this program? Please show us the love. Click here: http://bit.ly/3LYyl0R and support our non-profit journalism. Thanks! Featuring: Contance Grady Shana McDavis-Conway CJ Broderick Jayashree Kamble Jessica Partnow  Making Contact Team: Host: Salima Hamirani Producers: Salima Hamirani, Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang and Amy Gastelum Interim Senior Producer: Jessica Partnow Executive Director: Jina Chung Engineer: Jeff Emtman Music: Frequency Decree - Cenote Broke for Free- Washout Frequency Decree - Lithosphere Blue Dot Sessions - Boston Landing    Learn More: Constance Grady's Article for Vox The Romance Writers of America International Association for the Study of Popular Romance Making Meaning in Popular Romance Fiction: An Epistemología The Equity Project Smart Bitches, Trashy Books Recommended Reading list

J.T. Geissinger is a #1 international and Amazon Charts bestselling author of thirty novels. Ranging from funny, feisty romcoms to intense erotic thrillers, her books have sold over ten million copies worldwide and been translated into more than twenty languages. She is a three-time finalist in both contemporary and paranormal romance for the RITA® Award, the highest distinction in romance fiction from the Romance Writers of America®. She is also a recipient of the Prism Award for Best First Book, the Golden Quill Award for Best Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, and the HOLT Medallion for Best Erotic Romance.You can find J.T. online at jtgeissinger.com as well as on TikTok at @jtgeissingerauthor and Instagram at @jtgeissingerauthor.This episode of Book Talk for Book Tok was recorded on Riverside.fm, a cloud-based podcast recording platform.Support the show

In 2019 a well known romance writer began tweeting about other writers in her community and concerns about racism. It led to a huge reckoning within an organization called the Romance Writers of America, which is still unfolding. And although the online debate seemed to be isolated to a specific community of romance writers and their fans, it was really a microcosm of what's been happening all over the US. In this episode we learn all about romance novels and how newer writers are changing the norms of the genre, and giving it a political power it's never had before. And, we talk about what it means for organizations to change as they grapple with questions of race.   Like this program? Please show us the love. Click here: http://bit.ly/3LYyl0R and support our non-profit journalism. Thanks! Featuring Jayashree Kamble; professor of English Literature at La Guardia Community College Reagan Jackson; co-executive director, Young Women Empowered, also a romance reader and fan Contance Grady; Senior Culture Reporter for Vox Elise Staples, member of a romance reading book club through meetup.com  Making Contact Team Episode Host: Salima Hamirani Producers: Salima Hamirani, Anita Johnson, Lucy Kang, Amy Gastelum Executive Director: Jina Chung Interim Senior Producer: Jessica Partnow Engineer: Jeff Emtman Music: Johnny Ripper - Overout Johnny Ripper - Sfhk (mental breakdown) Johnny Ripper - Untitled (waking up) Johnny Ripper - In a Dream Dance of the Seahorse - Gideon Freudman Pictures of the Floating World - Waves Bio Unit - Subterannean Ketsa - you asked Learn More: Constance Grady's Article for Vox The Romance Writers of America International Association for the Study of Popular Romance Making Meaning in Popular Romance Fiction: An Epistemología Recommended Reading list Making Contact is a 29-minute weekly program committed to investigative journalism and in-depth critical analysis that goes beyond the breaking news. On the web at www.radioproject.org.

   Join Ocean House owner, actor, and bestselling author Deborah Goodrich Royce for a conversation with Two Wars and a Wedding author Lauren Willig. Lauren Willig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty works of historical fiction, including Band of Sisters, The Summer Country, The English Wife, the RITA Award-winning Pink Carnation series, and four novels co-written with Beatriz Williams and Karen White. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages, picked for Book of the Month Club, awarded the RITA, Booksellers Best, and Golden Leaf awards, and chosen for the American Library Association's annual list of the best genre fiction. An alumna of Yale University, she has a graduate degree in history from Harvard and a JD from Harvard Law School. She lives in New York City with her husband, two young children, and vast quantities of coffee. For more information or to purchase her books visit laurenwillig.com. For more information on Deborah Goodrich Royce and the Ocean House Author Series visit deborahgoodrichroyce.com

Happy Wednesday! Thanks for joining us on the Finding Something REAL Podcast! Today, Janell and Leonie have a conversation with Francine Rivers the author of Redeeming Love. Francine shares about her faith journey and how it is reflected in her writing. She talks not only about the story of Redeeming Love, but also about the Redeeming Love Foundation and the recently released Redeeming Love movie. They also discuss topics such as how Christians can still be imperfect, pushback Francine has received from the Redeeming Love movie, the Christian publishing market, and more. We hope you enjoy! ** Please note that today's episode does cover topics such as sex and sex trafficking. **About FrancineNew York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers had a successful writing career in the general market for several years becoming a born-again Christian; she then wrote Redeeming Love as her statement of faith. A retelling of the biblical story of Gomer and Hosea set during the time of the California Gold Rush, Redeeming Love is now considered by many to be a classic work of Christian fiction and it continues to be one of the industry's top-selling titles year after year. Since Redeeming Love, Francine has published numerous bestselling novels with Christian themes—including The Masterpiece, Bridge to Haven, and A Voice in the Wind —and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the world. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honors and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for Inspirational Fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America's Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine's novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. Francine and her husband live in Northern California and enjoy time spent with their grown children and grandchildren. She uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and she desires that through her work she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.___________________We would love to thank our Patrons for all their amazing support! To learn more about supporting Finding Something REAL via Patreon, click here!To learn more about Faithful Counseling and if it is a good fit for you, you can click here!FSR: Gaia's Intro FSR: Gaia & Dr. Erik ThoennesFSR Gaia & RobbyFSR: Gaia and ZachFSR s5e26 with LeonieFSR August 2022 with Leonie and Frank TurekFrancine's websiteRedeeming Love Foundation Redeeming Love (Book)Redeeming Love MovieThe Scarlett Thread (book)The Atonement ChildDan in Real Life (movie)The Chosen seriesExpository Preaching Hosea (BibleGateway)

Deepa Varadarajan lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children. She is a legal academic and a graduate of Yale Law School. She grew up in Texas and received her BA from the University of Texas at Austin. Her short fiction has appeared in The Georgia Review and Colorado Review, and her legal scholarship has appeared in The Yale Law Journal and many other publications. Late Bloomers is her first novel. In our second segment we welcome Christina Dodd Readers become writers, and Christina Dodd has always been a reader. She reads everything, but because she loves humor, she likes romance best. A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants things like a Craftsman router with attachments, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will miraculously make his bald spot disappear. So when Christina's first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to quit work and write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be? Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before her first novel, CANDLE IN THE WINDOW, was published. In the thirty-two years since, her novels have been translated into 25 languages, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards and been called the year's best by Library Journal and Booklist. Christina Dodd herself has been a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle (11/18/05, # 13 Down: Romance Novelist named Christina.) Her mother was thrilled! With more than 15 million of her books in print, Booklist praises her, “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd.”

Late Bloomers: A Novel Deepa Varadarajan lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children. She is a legal academic and a graduate of Yale Law School. She grew up in Texas and received her BA from the University of Texas at Austin. Her short fiction has appeared in The Georgia Review and Colorado Review, and her legal scholarship has appeared in The Yale Law Journal and many other publications. Late Bloomers is her first novel. In our second segment we welcome Christina Dodd Forget What You Know: A Novel Readers become writers, and Christina Dodd has always been a reader. She reads everything, but because she loves humor, she likes romance best. A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants things like a Craftsman router with attachments, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will miraculously make his bald spot disappear. So when Christina's first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to quit work and write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be? Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before her first novel, CANDLE IN THE WINDOW, was published. In the thirty-two years since, her novels have been translated into 25 languages, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards and been called the year's best by Library Journal and Booklist. Christina Dodd herself has been a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle (11/18/05, # 13 Down: Romance Novelist named Christina.) Her mother was thrilled! With more than 15 million of her books in print, Booklist praises her, “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd.” When you click a link on our site, it might just be a magical portal (aka an affiliate link). We're passionate about only sharing the treasures we truly believe in. Every purchase made from our links not only supports Dabble but also the marvelous authors and creators we showcase, at no additional cost to you.

Kait is a USA Today best selling, RITA® Award-winning Mississippi author of smart, sassy, small town Southern romance. She calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin', and can wield a 'Bless your heart' like a Snuggie or a saber, depending on requirements.

Jeff Rasley is the author of thirteen books; the most recent is A Pickleball SoapOpera: Love, Murder, and Pickleball. He has published numerous articles in academicand mainstream periodicals, including Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal,Family Law Review, The Journal of Communal Societies, and Friends Journal. He is anaward-winning photographer and his pictures taken in the Himalayas and Caribbean andPacific islands have been published in several journals. He has appeared as a featuredguest on over 100 radio and podcast programs.Rasley has engaged in social activism and philanthropic efforts from an early age.In high school he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger. In law school he was anadvocate for renters' rights as the leader of the first rent strike in Indiana, and he served asa lobbyist and president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association. As an attorney for LegalServices organization he was lead counsel on two class action suits on behalf of prisonerswhich resulted in judgments requiring the construction of two new jails in CentralIndiana. Jeff founded free legal clinics at two inner-city churches. He was the leadplaintiff in a class action requiring the clean-up of the White River after it was pollutedby an industrial chemical spill. He spent five days working for NOLA Habitat forHumanity post Katrina. Jeff is the founder and former president of the Basa VillageFoundation USA, which raises money for culturally sensitive development work in theBasa area of Nepal. He also served a term as president of Scientech, which promotesscience education. Jeff is a director of five other nonprofit organizations. In December,2020 the Rasleys founded the Jeff and Alicia Rasley Internship Program for the ACLU ofIndiana.Jeff is a partner in the eBook publishing company Midsummer Books andprovides writer-coaching services. He is U.S. liaison for the Nepal-based Himalayanexpedition company, Adventure GeoTreks Ltd. He has taught classes for IUPUIContinuing Ed. Program, Indiana Writers Center, and Butler and Marian Universities.Jeff is a graduate of the University of Chicago, A.B. magna cum laude, Phi BetaKappa, All-Academic All-State Football Team and letter winner in swimming andfootball; Indiana University School of Law, J.D. cum laude, Moot Court and Indiana LawReview; Christian Theological Seminary, M.Div. magna cum laude, co-valedictorian andFaculty Award Scholar. He has been admitted to the Indiana, U.S. District Court, andU.S. Supreme Court Bars.For chairing the Indiana-Tennessee Civic Memorial Commission Rasley and theCommission received Proclamations of Salutation from the Governors of Indiana, Ohio,Tennessee and Pennsylvania and he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp of the Alabama State Militia, a Kentucky Colonel and honorary Citizen ofTennessee. He was given a Key to the City of Indianapolis for serving as an intern toMayor Hudnut and preparing a report on the safety conditions of all Indy Parks. Rasleyhas received the Man of the Year award from the Arthur Jordan YMCA and the AlumniService Award from the University of Chicago.Jeff is an avid outdoorsman and recreational athlete. He leads trekking-mountaineering expeditions in Nepal and has solo-kayaked around several Pacific islandgroups. He also loves to read and considers completing Marcel Proust's 3600 pageRemembrance of Things Past as great an adventure as climbing Himalayan peaks andsolo-kayaking Pacific islands.He is married to Alicia Rasley, an English professor and the author of historicalromances and writing craft books. Alicia is a RITA Award winner and her novel TheYear She Fell" was an Amazon-Kindle best-seller. Son James is an officer in theNational Guard, and Andrew is a tech supervisor with a film and TV production companyin LA.You can contact Jeff here:jrasley@juno.comwww.jeffreyrasley.comLike and subscribe and follow me on instagram @wakeupwithkcWebsite: https://www.wakeupwithkc.com/https://calendly.com/wakeupwithkcMakeup provide by: https://farmasius.com/kcgingerJewelry provided by: Pretty Bling Boutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/prettyblingboutique/Logo created by: Eden Fritz AguiarProducer & Marketing Dir, Clovercrest MediaOpener created by: Zachary LaPlantCMG | Social Media Manager| Chief Video Editor Just The Way It IsAdrian WaltherSX7PA8K4SYANWVLZ

Author and Podcaster Linda Kozar chats with guests who share the story of their life and how they got to the place they are now. Stories that are sad, touching, bittersweet, and often miraculous. Everyone has a story to tell before they leave this earth and we should hear the unique story of their life. www.lindakozar.com DEBORAH RANEY dreamed of writing a book since the summer she read Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House books and discovered that a Kansas farm girl could, indeed, grow up to be a writer. Her almost forty books have garnered multiple industry awards including the RITA® Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Carol Award, and have three times been Christy Award finalists. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, shed light on the ravages of Alzheimer's disease and inspired the highly acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Deborah is on faculty for several national writers' conferences and served on the executive board of the 2500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years. She is a transplant to Southeast Missouri with her husband, Ken Raney, having moved from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard. Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.

The book of the moment for today's episode is You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria. Just a forewarning for those of you listening, this is NOT a spoiler-free zone. We will be discussing this book in all of its glory, which of course includes revealing the ending. Alexis Daria is an award-winning and bestselling romance author. Her debut novel, Take the Lead, was a RITA Award winner for Best First Book, and You Had Me at Hola, the first book in her Primas of Power series, is an international bestseller. Alexis's books have been featured on several “Best of” lists from outlets like Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Buzzfeed, and the Washington Post, and have received starred reviews from trade publications like Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal. A former visual artist, Alexis is a lifelong New Yorker who loves Broadway musicals and pizza. If you enjoyed this episode, I encourage you to leave a review on whichever platform you are listening on, if applicable. If you have any further questions regarding topics discussed throughout the episode feel free to join our Hardcover Hoes Discord Server via the link in the show notes, or send us an email at hardcoverhoespod@gmail.com. Feel free to recommend books to cover in future episodes as well! Discord Server: https://discord.gg/zpvW4FyuPF TikTok, IG, Twitter: @HardcoverHoes Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/993967071461813/

Jeffe Kennedy is a multi-award-winning and best-selling author of romantic fantasy. She is the current President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and is a member of Novelists, Inc. (NINC). She is best known for her RITA® Award-winning novel, The Pages of the Mind, the recent trilogy, The Forgotten Empires, and the wildly popular, Dark Wizard. Jeffe lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is represented by Sarah Younger of Nancy Yost Literary Agency.//Draft2Digital is where you start your Indie Author Career//  Looking for your path to self-publishing success? Draft2Digital is the leading ebook publisher and distributor worldwide. We'll convert your manuscript, distribute it online, and support you the whole way—and we won't charge you a dime.  We take a small percentage of the royalties for each sale you make through us, so we only make money when you make money. That's the best kind of business plan.  • Get started now: https://draft2digital.com/• Learn the ins, the outs, and the all-arounds of indie publishing from the industry experts on the D2D Blog: https://Draft2Digital.com/blog  • Promote your books with our Universal Book Links from Books2Read: https://books2read.com  Make sure you bookmark https://D2DLive.com for links to live events, and to catch back episodes of the Self Publishing Insiders Podcast.

THE Francine Rivers! New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine's novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. TOPIC: REDEEMING LOVE (Universal Pictures) in theaters January 21, 2022 and PVOD on February 11, 2022 CAST: Directed by D.J. Caruso (xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE) Abigail Cowen (“Fate: The Winx Saga,” “Sabrina”) as Angel Tom Lewis (GENTLEMAN JACK) as Michael Hosea Logan Marshall Green (UPGRADE, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, PROMETHEUS) as Paul Famke Janssen (X-MEN, TAKEN) as Duchess Nina Dobrev (xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE, VAMPIRE DIARIES) as Mae LINKS: Website: https://redeeminglovemovie.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redeeminglovemovie/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redeeminglovefilm/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redeeminglovemovie Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedeemingMovie YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFHo3cwDtwuadjk6i-JkOQ Francine's Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancineRivers Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrancineRivers Website: www.FrancineRivers.com

Author Colleen Thompson joins the show to discuss her newest book DANGER AT CLEARWATER CROSSING, as well as the creative process, what it takes to make it in publishing, and so much more.From the historical novels that began her writing journey (written as Gwyneth Atlee and Colleen Easton) to the riveting romantic suspense that has become her trademark, Colleen Thompson writes stories that show us that sometimes, love can kill.In 2004, Colleen Thompson's first  romantic thriller, Fatal Error, launched Dorchester Publishing's new line of fast-paced, steamy romantic suspense.  The book was nominated for the RITA Award for Best Romantic Suspense and won the Texas Gold for Best Mainstream Fiction.  Other honors received by her books include a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, a Readers' Choice Awards, nominations from the Reviewers International Organization, Top Pick, KISS awards, and a reviewers' choice award nomination from Romantic Times Book Club Magazine, and a Perfect Ten from Romance Reviews Today.Now residing in the Houston area with her husband, Colleen works with children in addition to her writing and speaking. When she's not on deadline, she can often be found hiking with her family, playing with her pets, fiddling with her computer, or with her nose stuck in a good book.For more info about Colleen, or to check out her books, visit these websites.Buy books here. Colleen's website here.Visit Creative Peacemeal Podcast on social media, browse podcast swag, and continue the creative conversations via the blog!Website https://tstakaishi.wixsite.com/musicInstagram @creative_peacemeal_podcastFacebook https://www.facebook.com/creativepeacemealpod/***To make a donation to Dachshund Rescue of Houston click here!As always, THANK YOU for listening and if you have a moment, share an episode with a friend, or leave a review on Apple by clicking here and scrolling to "Ratings and Reviews" Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/creativepeacemeal)

The Bronx-native was juggling multiple jobs when she decided, at 30, that it was time to stop playing small. It paid off: her first romance novel was recognized with a prestigious RITA Award, and her newest solo project, A Lot Like Adios, is continuing to ask powerful questions about who gets to fall in love and what love really looks like.Follow Alexis on Instagram @alexisdaria. If you loved this episode, listen to Book Editor Michelle Herrera on Finding Your Voice By Not Fitting In and Author Carmen Maria Machado on the Myth of a Queer Love Utopia. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!

USA Today-bestselling author Sherry Thomas decided that her goal in life is to write every kind of book she enjoys reading. Thus far she has published romance, fantasy, mystery, and a wuxia-inspired duology. Her books regularly receive starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications, including such outlets as the New York Times and National Public Radio. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA® Award. Sherry immigrated from China at age 13 and English is her second language. --- Sign Up for Library U to hear about the latest Lit Chats and catch them live! — https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/library-u-enrollment  Sherry ThomasRead: Library Catalog Twitter: @sherrythomas Website: https://www.sherrythomas.com/  Jacksonville Public LibraryWebsite: https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/jaxlibrary  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaxLibrary  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaxlibrary/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaxpubliclibraryfl  Contact Us: jplpromotions (at) coj.net

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers about her book and new movie Redeeming Love. Francine has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her novels have been awarded or nominated for many honors, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Francine's novels have been translated into over 30 different languages, and she enjoys bestseller status in many foreign countries. She and her husband enjoy spending time with their children and grandchildren. Key Points from Our Conversation: Redeeming Love is based on the book of Hosea in which the Lord tells Hosea to marry a prostitute. Although she resists, he continues to pursue her. It's a picture of God's love for His people. The world thinks of love as a feeling, but feelings are fleeting. Love is action. God's love is constant and it never fails, but it's up to us to choose to accept it.  The main takeaway of Redeeming Love is God's unrelenting love for us.  Take your non-Christian friends to see this movie and use it as a conversation starter about Christ. And if you can, read the book before you see it.  Resources Mentioned: Redeeming Love book Redeeming Love movie Connect with Francine: website | Instagram | Facebook Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

What happens when you skip doing your chemistry homework so that you can read historical romance novels? You might not learn about the substances of which matter is composed, but if you are Jill Shalvis it just might set you up to become a bestselling romance novelist. What proof do I have (and man, I wish proofs were used in Chemistry and not just geometry so I could keep this comparison going)? Well, Jill is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has written more than fifty acclaimed, award-winning romance novels. She is a three-time winner of the National Reader's Choice Award and has been nominated for the RITA Award and for Romantic Times' Career Achievement Award. Her latest novel, The Family You Make was released on Tuesday, January 11th.  How did she pivot from keeping track of debits and credits to being a bestselling novelist? What's so inspiring about living in a small town? What happened when her dog had a celebrity death match with a porcupine? What famous rock musician drops in from time to time to play at a bar in her small town in the Sierra Nevadas? Listen in to uncover the answers to all of these questions as well as learn which accomplishment Jill is most proud of (here's a hint, it has nothing to do with writing). Happy Listening!

HelenKay Dimon discusses her multi-genre writing career and her next novel, The Replacement Wife.  HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce lawyer turned bestselling author of more than 40 Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotic Romance books and novellas. Her books have been featured in various national and international venues and she has had two books named Red-Hot Reads in Cosmo magazine. She is a four-time RITA® Award finalist in romantic suspense (for Mr. and Mr. Smith, Facing Fire, Guarding Mr. Fine and The Fixer) and is 2018 RITA® Award winner for The Fixer. She's also a Reviewers' Choice Best Book Award winner in romantic suspense for The Fixer. In addition to writing, HelenKay is Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Romance Writers of America and frequently teaches workshops and classes on fiction writing and romance writing. She lives in San Diego where she is (or should be) working on her next series but might be streaming a show on Netflix.Apricot Lane Peoria Women's clothing and accessories

Shelley Adina is the author of 24 novels published by Harlequin, Warner, and Hachette, and more than a dozen more published by Moonshell Books, Inc., her own independent press. She writes steampunk and contemporary romance as Shelley Adina; as Charlotte Henry, writes classic Regency romance; and as Adina Senft, writes Amish women's fiction.  She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, and is currently at work on a PhD in Creative Writing with Lancaster University in the UK. She won RWA's RITA Award® in 2005, and was a finalist in 2006. She appeared in the 2016 documentary film Love Between the Covers, is a popular speaker and convention panelist, and has been a guest on many podcasts, including Worldshapers and Realm of Books.  When she's not writing, Shelley is usually quilting, sewing historical costumes, or enjoying the garden with her flock of rescued chickens. Find out more about Shelley on her website, https://shelleyadina.com.

Nicole Burnham is the RITA Award-winning author of over twenty romance novels, including the popular Royal Scandals series. As an army brat, Nicole was raised moving around the world. She still travels abroad whenever she can score cheap airfare and loves that it feeds her writing. If Nicole isn't at her keyboard, she is happiest spending time at Fenway Park or trail running. www.nicoleburnham.com   Nicole's Readings (read by Hollis McCarthy): Scandal with a Prince (Megan Hears a Voice) – 12:32 Slow Tango with a Prince (Emily Finds Vittorio) – 26:02 To Kiss a King (Expert Advice) – 45:31 Michael's Beer Pairings:  Sofie, Goose Island Beer Company (paired to Scandal with a Prince) – 10:33 Tango, Wyerbacher Brewing Company (paired to Emily Finds Vittorio) – 23:28 Ola Dub Special Reserve 40, Harviestoun Brewery Ltd. (paired to Expert Advice) – 42:45 Interview Highlights:  Struck by a voice – 14:10 What drew you to royalty? – 18:48 A man's point of view vs. a woman's point of view in romance – 30:04 Identical twins – 33:28 Law degree and writing romance – 35:35 Emotional focus of romance novels – 50:25 Fictional kingdom vs. a real kingdom – 53:02 Growing up military and writing – 54:58 COMING NEXT MONTH: Christine Husom, mystery author UPCOMING EVENTS: Gabriel's Horn is accepting submissions for its anthology Our theme music is from www.bensound.com.

Today I'm so excited to be speaking with one of my all-time favorite Christian romance authors! Please join me as I have a conversation about the writing process, character development and research with special guest Robin Le Hatcher. Robin Lee Hatcher is the author of 85 novels and novellas with over six million copies of her books in print. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA® Award for Best Inspirational Romance, Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards for Americana Romance and for Inspirational Fiction, the Carol Award, the 2011 Idahope Writer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from both Romance Writers of America® (2001) and American Christian Fiction Writers (2014). Catching Katie was named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal. Robin began her writing career in the general market, writing mass market romances for Leisure Books, HarperPaperbacks, Avon Books, and Silhouette. In 1997, Robin felt called to write stories of faith and hasn't looked back since. She has written both contemporary and historical women's fiction and romance for CBA publishers (Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, Revell, Steeple Hill, Tyndale House, Multnomah, and WaterBrook). When not writing, Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, Bible art journaling, reading books that make her cry, watching romantic movies, and decorative planning. She makes her home on the outskirts of Boise, sharing it with a demanding Papillon dog and a persnickety tuxedo cat. Connect with Robin at the following links: https://robinleehatcher.com https://www.facebook.com/robinleehatcher.novelist https://www.instagram.com/robinleehatcher/ https://twitter.com/robinleehatcher To register for the WWJ conference, visit: https://linktr.ee/wwjs support this podcast with a monthly donation: https://anchorlfm/inspirational-journeys/support or you can give a one-time donation via PayPal at: https://paypal.me/annHarrisonBarnes?locale.x=en_US --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/inspirational-journeys/message

In this episode of Tart Words, Linda Hengerer talks with Tara Lush. Tara Lush is a Rita Award finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and a George C. Polk Award-winning journalist. For the past decade, she's been a reporter with the Associated Press, covering crime, alligators, natural disasters, and politics. She also writes contemporary romance set in tropical locations. A fan of vintage pulp-fiction book covers, Sinatra-era jazz, and 1980s fashion, she lives with her husband and two dogs on the Gulf coast.Sign up for a free cozy mystery here (email required): https://BookHip.com/ZLMSVVisit taralush.com to find out more about Tara and her latest books.Facebook: www.facebook.com/LushBooksInstagram: www.instagram.com/authortaralush/Here's a link to the coffee tour mentioned in the episode: stpetecoffeetour.com/Get to know Tara - The Tart Words Baker's Dozen:1.   Plotter or Pantser? Plotter2.   Tea or Coffee? Coffee3.   Beer, Wine, or Cocktails? I rarely drink, but when I do, it's champagne4.   Snacks: Sweet or Savory? Savory5.   Indie Published, Traditionally Published, or Hybrid? Hybrid6.   Strict Writing Schedule: Yes 7.    Strictly Computer or Mix It Up? Strictly computer8.    Daily Goal: Yes 9.    Formal Track Progress: Yes 10.  Special Writing Spot? Sofa or coffee shop11.   Writer’s Block? No12.   File of Ideas: Yes 13.   Favorite Author(s)? Cleo Coyle, Carl Hiaasen, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Diane Mott Davidson

Welcome to A Time to Thrill. In this episode, I got to have a great conversation with author New York Times Bestselling Author Evelyn Adams. She’s one of my absolute favorite people. Over the last couple of years, her love and support have been invaluable. We should always be graced with friends like her. Here […]

Our most Jamaican episode yet because we barely reign in our accents. *air horns* In this episode, we discuss the controversy surrounding the RITA Awards which, before the epic fallout of 2020, had only had 2 black winners in its nearly 40-year history. Strange. We also talk about Jamaican aphrodisiacs, robot sex, and what books won the hellscape of 2020. Don’t forget to check the show notes on stacked.show for books mentioned and be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @stackedshow. Of course, as always, listener discretion is advised.

Sam is reading the Outlander novels, Indy reviews a Mugison album, and we prepare to reunite with our favourite sisters in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2!   Mugison: http://www.mugison.com/ The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gWcI4MkR3A&ab_channel=MovieclipsClassicTrailers   Outlander (published in the United Kingdom as Cross Stitch) is the first in a series of eight multi-genre novels by Diana Gabaldon. Published in 1991, it focuses on the Second World War-era nurse Claire Randall, who travels through time to 18th century Scotland and finds adventure and romance with the dashing Jamie Fraser. A mix of several genres, the Outlander series has elements of historical fiction, romance, adventure and fantasy. With 25 million copies sold, Outlander is one of the best-selling book series of all time. Outlander won the Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991. A television adaptation of the Outlander series premiered on Starz in the US on August 9, 2014.   Örn Elías Guðmundsson, aka Mugison, is one of Iceland's hippest musicians. His thundering voice and roaring blues guitar propel listeners to crank up the volume, as they fall in love with his no-nonsense attitude and experimental sound. 

Today Nic is joined by Melody Carlson, the award-winning author of over 200 books for all ages, across a wide variety of genres. She is the winner of many awards including a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, a RITA Award and a Carol Award for Young Adult Fiction. They take a look at her latest book, The Christmas Swap, and discuss her recent foray into adapting her fiction for television.

Tamera Alexander is the USA Today bestselling author of numerous books including Colors of Truth, With This Pledge, A Lasting Impression, A Note Yet Unsung, and To Whisper Her Name. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots have earned her multiple industry awards including awards include the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Bookseller's Best Award. Tamera was recently inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for excellence in Christian Fiction, an honor bestowed to an author following four Christy Award wins, and is listed among Publishers Weekly and Library Journal's Top Inspirational Fiction authors.

Best selling author Teri Wilson is the Publishers Weekly bestselling author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, The Art of Us, and Northern Lights of Christmas, based on her book Sleigh Bell Sweethearts. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA® Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise.  Teri has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses, Audrey Hepburn films, & following the British royal family.  Her newest release, Christmas Charms, is available now. Feel free to visit and connect with her on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Amazon.  

A native of south Louisiana, USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier and a Masters of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. She was named Shades of Romance Magazine's Best New Author of 2007. Her debut novel, Deliver Me, the first in her Holmes Brothers series, garnered rave reviews, earning Farrah several SORMAG Readers' Choice Awards.  Farrah is a two-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award and has been a Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award nominee. In 2015, Farrah won the Emma Award for Author of the Year.  Website: www.farrahrochon.com  

We are thrilled to share our interview with Farrah Rochon, the USA Today Bestselling author of more than 35 novels, including her latest release, The Boyfriend Project. The two-time RITA Award finalist is a native of South Louisiana. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, cooking, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows.   Bookish Check-in Ashley - Marie Lu's Wildcard Farrah - Sandra Kitt's Winner Takes All Sara - Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely's All American Boys Lia Louis's Dear Emmie Blue   Mentioned in Episode Farrah Rochon's The Boyfriend Project (check out Sara's review) and The Dating Playbook (book two in the series, coming out in 2021!) Marie Lu's Warcross and Rebel Helen Hoang's The Kiss Quotient Jasmine Guillory's The Wedding Date Alyssa Cole (An Extraordinary Union) Suzanne Brockman's SEALS series (Book 1, Prince Joe) Priscilla Oliveras (The Island Affair) K. M. Jackson / Kwana Jackson's Real Men Knit Denny S. Bryce's Wild Women and the Blues   Give Me One - Favorite Broadway Musicals Farrah - Hamilton, Aida, Dear Evan Hansen, Spring Awakening, Once Ashley - Rent Sara - Cabaret Jen - Hamilton, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Once   Interested in what else we're reading? Check out our Featured Books page.     Want to support Unabridged? Check out our Merch Store! Become a patron on Patreon.​ Follow us @unabridgedpod on Instagram. Like and follow our Facebook Page. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Check out our Teachers Pay Teachers store. Follow us @unabridgedpod on Twitter. Subscribe to our podcast and rate us on Apple Podcasts or on Stitcher. Check us out on Podbean.

The second good bit. This erotic excerpt of ‘His Billionaire Bride' by RUBY-Award Winning Author Madeline Ash shares a powerful woman opening up to a younger man, and the complicated power dynamics involved. From thegoodbits.com “Come here,” he said, reaching an arm behind him, circling her waist and sliding her bodily over his side. Suddenly, she was in front of him. Naked in front of him. Heat filled her face, her blood, as his grip shifted to caress her side. Voice thick, he murmured, “How could you hide this from me? And before you start thinking, don't.” He cupped a hand over her eyes until she closed them. “Just…” Feel. Erotic stories have been proven to inspire desire, and The Good Bits creates a new and distinct erotic world in each episode. From passionate sex to romantic encounters, from menage to masturbation and lesbian sex, these tales of audio erotica are designed to make you feel good.  The Good Bits is no ordinary audio porn. These free sex stories are written by bestselling authors, and each episode is produced to create a unique erotic soundscape. Erotic audio allows listeners to immerse themselves in a fantasy world, as it inspires desire in the real world. Enhance pleasure and improve your libido with the good bits from some of the world's best erotic literature. Madeline Ash is a contemporary romance author and two-time RITA® Award finalist. She has also won Australia's Romantic Book of the Year award (RUBY). She delves deep into the hearts and minds of her characters, creating flawed and compassionate leads—who are always rewarded with a happy ending. To read on, you can buy His Billionaire Bride here: https://amzn.to/3byo5Iv To read more good sex stories, sign up at The Good Bits and inspire your desire: https://www.thegoodbits.com/inspire-desire

My many varied and conflicted thoughts on prologues, RWA's Vivien Award rules, winning the RITA Award and how you know that book is The One. Also my travails trying to buy Windex.The blog post on needlework is here https://blog.jeffekennedy.com/2020/08/26/dear-writers-enough-with-dissing-needlework/ and the poem I reference is Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Wallace Stevens here https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45236/thirteen-ways-of-looking-at-a-blackbirdFirst Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!Support the show (http://paypal.me/jeffekennedy)

Laura Griffin is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty-five books and novellas. Her books have been translated into fourteen languages. Laura is a two-time RITA® Award winner (for Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Her book Desperate Girls was named one of the Best Books of 2018 by Publishers Weekly. Laura lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel. She is on the show talking about her latest book "Hidden" book one in her new Texas Murder Files Series. "Hidden": A riveting new thriller featuring an ambitious female investigative reporter in Austin, Texas by New York Times bestselling author Laura Griffin. When a woman is found brutally murdered on Austin's lakeside hike-and-bike trail, investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads turns up on the scene demanding access and answers. She tries to pry information out of the lead detective, Jacob Merritt. But this case is unlike any he's ever seen, and nothing adds up. Bailey has a hunch the victim wasn't who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit. When she digs deeper, the trail leads her to a high-tech fortress on the outskirts of Austin where researchers are pushing the boundaries of a cutting-edge technology that could be deadly in the wrong hands. As a ruthless hit man's mission becomes clear, Bailey and Jacob must embark on a desperate search to locate the next target before the clock ticks down on this lethal game of hide and seek.

Elizabeth Essex is the award-winning author of critically acclaimed historical romance, including Reckless Brides and her new Highland Brides series. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and Seal of Excellence Award, and RWA’s prestigious RITA Award. The Reckless Brides Series has also made Top-Ten lists from Romantic Times, The Romance Reviews and Affaire de Coeur Magazine, and Desert Isle Keeper status at All About Romance. Her fifth book, A BREATH OF SCANDAL, was awarded Best Historical in the Reader’s Crown 2013. When not rereading Jane Austen, mucking about in her garden, walking her beloved dogs, Ghillie and Brogue, or simply messing about with boats, Elizabeth can be always be found with her laptop, making up stories about heroes and heroines who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn’t always so. Long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classics and Art History, and then earned her MA in Nautical Archaeology from Texas A&M University.  While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing lush, lyrical historical romance full of passion, daring and adventure. Elizabeth lives in Texas with her husband, the indispensable Mr. Essex, and her active and exuberant family in an old house filled to the brim with books. Show notes: Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Elizabeth Essex Website/Facebook/ Instagram/Pinterest Discussed in this episode: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale Persuasion by Jane Austen The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale From Cabin Boys to Captains: 250 Years of Women at Sea by Jo Stanley Most Secret and Confidential: Intelligence in the Age of Nelson by Steven E. Maffeo Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny (Loose Ends Book 1) by Rebekah Weatherspoon Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Great Expectations by Charles Dickens After the Scandal by Elizabeth Essex Mad About the Marquess by Elizabeth Essex Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex A Scandal to Remember by Elizabeth Essex The Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas Book 1: A Study in Scarlet Women Book 2: A Conspiracy in Belgravia Book 3: The Hollow of Fear Book 4: The Art of Theft Book 5: Murder on Cold Street The Veronica Speedwell Series by Deanna Raybourn Book 1: A Curious Beginning Book 2: A Perilous Undertaking Book 3: A Treacherous Curse Book 4: A Dangerous Collaboration Book 5: A Murderous Relation Andrea Penrose: The Lady Arianna Hadley Mysteries (6 Book Series) and the Wrexford and Sloane Regency Mysteries (4 Book Series) During our conversation, we talked about a Jane Austen time travel book, but couldn’t remember the title. Elizabeth suggested it might be The Austen Project: A Novel, by Kathleen A. Flynn. When I went to research it, I found the one that I read: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler. But in case you were not aware of this, bookworms, Jane Austen time travel is a whole genre unto itself. I had no idea. But every month I send out a curated book list, and this month I’ll dive into this previously undiscovered category of books.  Go here to subscribe to my Patreon for only $5 a month. Patrons also get to hear an exclusive clip, where we discussed the following: Jane Austen Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay Jacques Cousteau Remarkable Creatures: A Novel by Tracy Chevalier (this is the book I read about Mary Anning) A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare (a Romance novel suggested by Elizabeth; has a character based on Mary Anning.) We did not discuss the following books, but Mary Anning is such a fascinating person that I’d like to point you to the wealth of books about her, including the following: Fossil Hunter by Shelley Emling Jurassic Mary: Mary Anning and the Primeval Monsters by Patricia Pierce And, there are even more options in kids/Middle Grade books, in case you are interested in sharing Mary’s story with a young person in your life. Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers and Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Gr. PreK-4) Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis by Laurence Anhold and Sheila Moxley (G.r K – 3) The Fossil Girl by Catherine Brighton (Gr. K-3) Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon by Jeannine Atkins (Gr. K-5) Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter by Sally M. Walker (Gr. 2-3) History VIPs: Mary Anning by Kay Barnham (Gr. 4-6) The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel based on the Life of Mary Anning by Sheila Cole (Gr. 4-6) Mary Anning’s Curiosity by Monica Kulling and Melissa Castrillon (Recommended for grades 4-7) Curious Bones: Mary Anning and the Birth of Paleontology by Thomas W. Goodhue (Gr. 5-6)

Elizabeth Essex is the award-winning author of critically acclaimed historical romance, including Reckless Brides and her new Highland Brides series. Her books have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and Seal of Excellence Award, and RWA's prestigious RITA Award. The Reckless Brides Series has also made Top-Ten lists from Romantic Times, The Romance Reviews and Affaire de Coeur Magazine, and Desert Isle Keeper status at All About Romance. Her fifth book, A BREATH OF SCANDAL, was awarded Best Historical in the Reader's Crown 2013. When not rereading Jane Austen, mucking about in her garden, walking her beloved dogs, Ghillie and Brogue, or simply messing about with boats, Elizabeth can be always be found with her laptop, making up stories about heroes and heroines who live far more exciting lives than she. It wasn't always so. Long before she ever set pen to paper, Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classics and Art History, and then earned her MA in Nautical Archaeology from Texas A&M University.  While she loved the life of an underwater archaeologist, she has found her true calling writing lush, lyrical historical romance full of passion, daring and adventure. Elizabeth lives in Texas with her husband, the indispensable Mr. Essex, and her active and exuberant family in an old house filled to the brim with books. Show notes: Support the Best Book Ever Podcast on Patreon Follow the Best Book ever Podcast on Instagram or on the Best Book Ever Website Host: Julie Strauss Website/Instagram/Facebook Guest: Elizabeth Essex Website/Facebook/ Instagram/Pinterest Discussed in this episode: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale Persuasion by Jane Austen The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare The Poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems, Complete and Unabridged The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale From Cabin Boys to Captains: 250 Years of Women at Sea by Jo Stanley Most Secret and Confidential: Intelligence in the Age of Nelson by Steven E. Maffeo Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny (Loose Ends Book 1) by Rebekah Weatherspoon Flowers From the Storm by Laura Kinsale The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens Great Expectations by Charles Dickens After the Scandal by Elizabeth Essex Mad About the Marquess by Elizabeth Essex Almost a Scandal by Elizabeth Essex A Scandal to Remember by Elizabeth Essex The Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas Book 1: A Study in Scarlet Women Book 2: A Conspiracy in Belgravia Book 3: The Hollow of Fear Book 4: The Art of Theft Book 5: Murder on Cold Street The Veronica Speedwell Series by Deanna Raybourn Book 1: A Curious Beginning Book 2: A Perilous Undertaking Book 3: A Treacherous Curse Book 4: A Dangerous Collaboration Book 5: A Murderous Relation Andrea Penrose: The Lady Arianna Hadley Mysteries (6 Book Series) and the Wrexford and Sloane Regency Mysteries (4 Book Series) During our conversation, we talked about a Jane Austen time travel book, but couldn't remember the title. Elizabeth suggested it might be The Austen Project: A Novel, by Kathleen A. Flynn. When I went to research it, I found the one that I read: Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict, by Laurie Viera Rigler. But in case you were not aware of this, bookworms, Jane Austen time travel is a whole genre unto itself. I had no idea. But every month I send out a curated book list, and this month I'll dive into this previously undiscovered category of books.  Go here to subscribe to my Patreon for only $5 a month. Patrons also get to hear an exclusive clip, where we discussed the following: Jane Austen Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay Jacques Cousteau Remarkable Creatures: A Novel by Tracy Chevalier (this is the book I read about Mary Anning) A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare (a Romance novel suggested by Elizabeth; has a character based on Mary Anning.) We did not discuss the following books, but Mary Anning is such a fascinating person that I'd like to point you to the wealth of books about her, including the following: Fossil Hunter by Shelley Emling Jurassic Mary: Mary Anning and the Primeval Monsters by Patricia Pierce And, there are even more options in kids/Middle Grade books, in case you are interested in sharing Mary's story with a young person in your life. Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of mary Anning, the First Paleontologist by Linda Skeers and Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Gr. PreK-4) Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning of Lyme Regis by Laurence Anhold and Sheila Moxley (G.r K – 3) The Fossil Girl by Catherine Brighton (Gr. K-3) Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon by Jeannine Atkins (Gr. K-5) Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter by Sally M. Walker (Gr. 2-3) History VIPs: Mary Anning by Kay Barnham (Gr. 4-6) The Dragon in the Cliff: A Novel based on the Life of Mary Anning by Sheila Cole (Gr. 4-6) Mary Anning's Curiosity by Monica Kulling and Melissa Castrillon (Recommended for grades 4-7) Curious Bones: Mary Anning and the Birth of Paleontology by Thomas W. Goodhue (Gr. 5-6)

A deluxe sample of Hell's Belle (Devilish Debutantes, Book 3), and interview with Annabelle Anders. Hosted, edited etc. by Tessa Candle: https://www.tessacandle.com/rrp/regencyromancepodcast.html Some of these links are paid affiliate links. Book author Annabelle Anders: https://www.annabelleanders.com Book narrator Mary Sarah: http://www.mary-sarah.com Get Hell's Belle on Amz.com: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FZP7N6H/&tag=tessacandle02-20 Get Hell's Belle on Audiobooks.com: https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/hells-belle/392596 Description: A Bespectacled Bluestocking, A Clueless Rake and a mad dash to Gretna Green Miss Emily Goodnight – who cannot see a thing without her blasted spectacles – is raising the art of meddling to new heights. Why leave her future in the hands of fate when she’s perfectly capable of managing it herself? The Earl of Blakely, London’s most unattainable bachelor, finds Miss Goodnight’s schemes nearly as intriguing as the curves hidden beneath her frumpy gowns. Secure in his independence, he's focussed on one thing only: evading this father's manipulating ways. Hell’s Bell Indeed – What with all the cheating at parlor games, trysts in dark closets, and cases of mistaken identity, complications arise. Because fate has limits. And when it comes to love and the secrets of the past, there’s only so much twisting one English Miss can get away with… Hell’s Bell is the third book in the Devil’s Debutantes Series but can also be read as a standalone novel. It has been nominated for Best Historical Short Novel as a finalist in RWA's Distinguished 2019 Rita © Awards.

Bestselling author William Bernhardt discusses the latest news from the publishing world, offers writing tips, and interviews Damon Courtney of Book Funnel on how writers can maximize sales and find “superfans.”Chapter 1: IntroductionThe Early Bird registration fee for WriterCon 2020 (writercon.org) expires on June 15. You can attend in person or stream the conference online and even have private meetings with agents and editors by Skype.Chapter 2: News1)Lawsuits between authors writing in the fan fiction “Omegaverse” illuminate how copyright law can be “weaponized” and the impossibility of owning a world that you did not originate.2)Author sues major publisher claiming AI “text spinning” was used to plagiarize original work.3)Book sales improved in April.4)In the wake of racism claims, RWA retires the Rita Award and launches the Vivian.5)Draft2Digital partners with Vivlio to distribute books to European markets.6)Kindlepreneur adds a book description generator/formatter to its webpage.Chapter 3: InterviewBernhardt interviews Damon Courtney of BookFunnel about how to maximize sales with landing pages, freebies, newsletters, mailing lists, and other services designing to help writers acquire and keep “superfans.”Chapter 4: Parting WordsRegister for WriterCon 2020 today! www.writercon.org

Teri Wilson is the Publishers Weekly bestselling author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, The Art of Us, & Northern Lights of Christmas, based on her book Sleigh Bell Sweethearts. She is the recipient of the prestigious RITA® Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise.  Teri has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses & Audrey Hepburn films. She loves following the British royal family.  Connect with her at her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & Pinterest.  You can also add and share her books on BookBub and GoodReads. We proudly interview Teri Wilson!

Where we talk about: Library happenings;  Book juries;  Becky's 58 books in 29 days February goal; Elizabeth's Panama trip;  The Romance Writers of America;  The RITA Awards;  Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O'Keefe;  Clint Malarchuk’s hockey injury; Advanced Physical Chemistry by Susannah Nix;  and more!

Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Revell. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Susan Maguire talks to romance author Irene Hannon (whose name you may recognize from our November Shelf Care Interview), a best-selling, Rita Award-winning author who has written more than 50 romantic suspense and contemporary romance women's fiction novels. Her books have appeared on multiple bestseller lists and three and a half million copies of her books have been sold worldwide and translated into multiple languages. Starfish Pier, a Hope Harbor novel comes out in March from Revell.

What will your new year’s resolution help your productivity? You’re going to learn a little more about our new host Claire. How she spends her days and what she's done this year! This week’s Happy Books Review Winner is Jerri Williams. The Top Tips of the week include how to promote your new book, how StoryOrgin can help you track yourself, and what Kells Mcphillips recommends to keep up the productivity. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why Refined Fool Beer is the place to publish, what ebooks lost out on in the 10s, what scam you need to avoid, why the Rita Awards were cancelled, and why you shouldn’t be like Laura Burton. Question of the Week: Going into 2020, what changes will you make to your routine to save more time and get more accomplished?

I wax emotional today talking about why I withdrew THE ORCHID THRONE and WARRIOR OF THE WORLD from the RITA® Awards - and why it was such a painful decision. Also my hopes for the future of RWA. First Cup of Coffee is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. You can find more outstanding podcasts to subscribe to at Frolic.media/podcasts!Support the show (http://paypal.me/jeffekennedy)

Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Morgan. A USA Today bestselling author Sarah writes lively, sexy contemporary stories for Harlequin. Romantic Times has described her as “a magician with words” and nominated her books for their Reviewer's Choice Awards and their “Top Pick” slot. In 2012 Sarah received the prestigious RITA® Award from the Romance Writers of America. Today we’ll be discussing the art and craft behind her latest novel A Wedding in December. In this episode, Sarah and I discuss: How one character inspired A Wedding in December What makes holiday romances so popular Navigating writing a story where “happily ever after” is guaranteed Developing an authentic setting Balancing family secrets in a multi-pov story Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/285

Writing Wrongs host and best-selling author William Myers Jr. welcomes international best-selling author Tess Gerritsen to the studio. Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D. While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift”, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her books have been published in 40 countries. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award and the Rita Award. After an unspeakable tragedy in Boston, Ava Collette flees to a remote village in Maine, where she rents an old house named Brodie’s Watch. In that isolated seaside mansion, Ava finally feels at peace … until she glimpses the long-dead sea captain who still resides there. Captain Jeremiah Brodie has haunted the house for more than a century. Ava confronts an apparition who looks and feels all too real, an apparition who welcomes her into his world — and into his arms. Even as Ava questions her own sanity, she eagerly looks forward to the captain’s ghostly visits. But she learns that the house she loves comes with a terrible secret, a secret that those in the village don’t want to reveal. Host William L Myers Jr. is an attorney & author that writes legal thrillers. He became one of the top ten bestselling authors for Amazon with his debt novel.

Teri Wilson is the Publishers Weekly bestselling author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy, Marrying Mr. Darcy, The Art of Us, & Northern Lights of Christmas. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA® Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel The Bachelor’s Baby Surprise. Teri has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses and Audrey Hepburn films and following the British royal family. Visit and connect with her at her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest. Share her books on Amazon, BookBub & GoodReads.

Writing Wrongs host and best-selling author William Myers Jr. welcomes international best-selling author Tess Gerritsen to the studio.  Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.   While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift”, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list.  Her books have been published in  40 countries.  She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award and the Rita Award.   After an unspeakable tragedy in Boston, Ava Collette flees to a remote village in Maine, where she rents an old house named Brodie’s Watch. In that isolated seaside mansion, Ava finally feels at peace … until she glimpses the long-dead sea captain who still resides there.  Captain Jeremiah Brodie has haunted the house for more than a century.  Ava confronts an apparition who looks and feels all too real, an apparition who welcomes her into his world — and into his arms. Even as Ava questions her own sanity, she eagerly looks forward to the captain’s ghostly visits.  But she learns that the house she loves comes with a terrible secret, a secret that those in the village don’t want to reveal. Host William L Myers Jr. is an attorney & author that writes legal thrillers. He became one of the top ten bestselling authors for Amazon with his debt novel.

Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen’s first novel was published in 1987. Eight more followed, and then she wrote a screenplay, Adrift, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her many suspense novels have been published in forty countries, and more than 30 million copies have been sold around the world. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award and the Rita Award. Critics around the world have praised her novels as “Pulse-pounding fun” , “Scary and brilliant” , and “Polished, riveting prose” . Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the “medical suspense queen”. Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the TNT television series “Rizzoli & Isles” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine. Join the Thorne & Cross newsletter for updates, book deals, specials, exclusives, and upcoming guests on Thorne & Cross: Haunted Nights LIVE! by visiting Tamara and Alistair at their websites: alistaircross.com and tamarathorne.com

Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D. While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift”, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support, Bloodstream, Gravity, The Surgeon, The Apprentice, The Sinner, Body Double, Vanish, The Mephisto Club, The Bone Garden, The Keepsake, Ice Cold, The Silent Girl, Last To Die, Die Again, and Playing With Fire (coming October 27, 2015). Her books have been published in forty countries, and more than 30 million copies have been sold around the world. Her books have been top-3 bestsellers in the United States and number one bestsellers abroad. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon). Critics around the world have praised her novels as “Pulse-pounding fun” (Philadelphia Inquirer), “Scary and brilliant” (Toronto Globe and Mail), and “Polished, riveting prose” (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the “medical suspense queen”. Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the TNT television series “Rizzoli & Isles” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine.

Kennedy Ryan, a Top 40 Amazon Bestseller, writes romance about remarkable women who thrive even in tough times, the love they find, and the men who cherish them. Kennedy’s writings have appeared in Modern Mom Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul, USA Today and many others.  The founder and executive director of a foundation, Lift 4 Autism, serving Georgia families living with Autism, she has appeared on Headline News, Montel Williams, NPR and other media outlets as an autism advocate. Her latest books Long Shot, Block Shot, and Hook Shot are out now.  You can find her at her website, Facebook,Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Book Bub.

This week Jeff & Will celebrate the 200th episode of the podcast and announce the launch of a brand new show, Big Gay Author Podcast. The guys review the Broadway productions they saw during their recent New York City trip, including King Kong, The Cher Show, Frankie & Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Prom, Be More Chill, Beetlejuice, Pretty Woman: The Musical, Tootsie, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and Moulin Rouge: The Musical. The 2019 Romance Writers of America National Conference is also discussed, including the romance podcaster panel, RWA's diversity initiatives and the RITA Awards. Powerful speeches delivered from the RITA stage by Radclyffe and LaQuette are featured as part of the recap. Complete shownotes for episode 200 are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.

I'm back from a week at Lake Coeur d'Alene, talking about taking vacations from even the work we love, the RITA Awards at RWA, my tribe there, and about podcasting in general. Support the show (http://paypal.me/jeffekennedy)

This Week's Best Thing: RWA National Conference! Mentioned: - Marjorie M. Liu - http://marjoriemliu.com/ - Monstress graphic novel - RITA Award winners - https://www.rwa.org/Online/Awards/RITA/2019_RITA_Winners.aspx -#WeNeedDiverseRomance   Subscribe and view show notes at: https://lpenelope.com/podcast Website: https://www.lpenelope.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/leslyepenelopeTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/leslyepenelopeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlpenelope  Music credit: Say Good Night by Joakim Karud https://soundcloud.com/joakimkarudCreative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported— CC BY-SA 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/SZkVShypKgM Affiliate Disclosure: I may receive compensation for links to products on this site either directly or indirectly via affiliate links. Heartspell Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Jeff & Will talk about their upcoming trip to New York City for the Romance Writers of America national conference and reveal the news that they will be among the presenters at the RITA Awards ceremony on Friday, July 26. Will reviews The Masterpiece by Bonnie Dee while Jeff reviews a book Bonnie co-wrote with Summer Devon called The Nobleman and the Spy. Jeff interviews Michael Vance Gurley about his new YA steampunk novel Absolute Heart (Infernal Instruments of the Dragon #1). Michael discusses the inspiration behind the story, what he did to build the world it takes place in and what he hopes for the trilogy. He also talks about what's coming up next for him. Complete shownotes for episode 198 along with a transcript of the interview are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Interview Transcript - Michael Vance Gurley This transcript was made possible by our community on Patreon. You can get information on how to join them at patreon.com/biggayfictionpodcast. Jeff: Welcome Michael to the podcast, or back to the podcast I should say. Michael: I'm super excited. Thanks for having me Jeff. Jeff: Yeah. We were talking before I hit the record button that we last had you on in Episode 42 and now we are at 198, it's kind of crazy. So like you did the first time we had you on, you've come up with a book that I didn't even know I needed to read when I first got to read it. So you've got this YA book called 'Absolute Heart'. It's the first book in the 'Infernal Instruments of the Dragon' series. Tell everybody what this is about, both the book and the series behind it. Michael: 'Absolute Heart' is above all else a steampunk book. It's an adventure set in a world where clockwork powered England - in 1880s Victorian era England - is at war, a sort of Cold War, when we first pick up the series, against the Magically Powered Ireland who's been kind of besieged by the Brotherhood of the mage. It's a clock. It's a warlock group that is sort of made the queen subservient to them in ways you have to find out when you read it. And it's really the story about two boys. Gavin the high councilman's son from England and his friends, following him when he has these terrible secrets - he thinks they're terrible - and when they're found out he could be executed for them, for at least one of them. So he does what all teenagers do when they have something awful happen and they think they're gonna get trouble, he runs away and his friend, his best friend Landa who's an art officer, which is a mechanic, a computer engineer and she's a powerful female character that I'm really proud of. And she has his back and challenges him and calls him foolish when he's foolish and she goes with him and some other people who have their own agendas on this quest. Then the other side, the Brotherhood, sends Orion of Oberon who is a young warlock of immense power because he's the nephew of the ailing Irish Queen. They send him off to get the most powerful weapon in the world - the dragon stones and there's a lot of mystery and history about the dragon stones and what they are and what they can actually do, but they want them to end this war in their favor. So of course they have a meet cute, or at least I hope people think it's a meet cute. They have to decide like, are they going to get together? Will they/won't they? Of course, there's the will they/won't they thing. I'm really excited about the steampunk adventure and it sets off and is set to be a trilogy so I'm really excited about that, and hopefully people will like it - the inclusion of fairies and the air steamships and all the wonder that is steampunk. Jeff: Steampunk it's so not really anything I read... I dabble in it periodically, but something about Gavin and Orion and the bad ass friend you gave Gavin. Full disclosure to the listeners, I read a very early draft of this. You have a lot going on in book one, what you've parroted back now, into a more condensed story, but how did all this coalesce and come together and what was the inspiration? Michael: You really should pat yourself on the back because your viewers should know that you read an early ARC and gave me notes, and edited, and really kind of dissected it for me - like, wherever it was messy you, like a good editor said, "That's messy." The research starts with reading steam punk books and reading a lots of YA, which is of course a terrible addiction of mine. In reading all of that steampunk and finding those characters that you like, and you want to write about - because I use Scrivener, you have the photo option to put your vision of the characters, the places, the ships - you put photos in there and I work with a split screen so I can always reference that, so I never really lose track of it. But yeah, it was great looking into all that steampunk stuff and going into like Cassandra Claire's 'Clockwork Angels' series or Scott Westerfield's 'Leviathan' series. And if I can get even a little bit of that spirit I'll be really happy. But it starts with loving steampunk. You really should write what you know and write what you love. I've never been an airship captain but I love reading about them and I love that whole idea. And you know, thinking about like 'Leviathan', that series has a powerful gender bending quality to it, with the girl because she has to, dresses like a boy and acts like a boy in order to have a career - and I love that. I hope I've engendered Landa with that a little bit as well. Jeff: What went into creating your world of magic in Ireland and steam power and clockwork in England, because there's so much that you can pull from to create the steampunk universe. What was your decision to make these things your universe? Michael: Steampunk is - one of the amazing things about it is, an amazing thing about worldbuilding as well, is you can go with historical fiction. You know, like my first book and it's wonderfully creative but you're also stuck with... you can't lie. It's historical fiction, you can make up characters and you can make up some things, but really if you get too far away from reality, people stop believing in what you're writing about with historical fiction. At least I think so. I stuck with the roaring 20s pretty well and that kind of thing. Steampunk is like a little bit to where you're in the 1880s Victorian era. But then you have these advances and you can get creative and wild and all of that. A lot of that came from traveling for me too, like I've traveled to Ireland and I kissed the Blarney Stone, which of course means I'm full of B.S. I guess, the gift gab you know. And then I went to England and I went to Stonehenge and I played around amongst all of the hinges there, because that's where they keep them, and how a lot of fun. And the idea of the magic stones and power and Irish magic and castles - and then of course the troubles with the war between Northern Ireland and England - and I just rolled that back 40 years or so, and brought all that magic and the Stones and the power, I brought all that together and that's really where the idea came from. I also wrote a comic book like 20 years ago that had a lot of the fantasy stuff in it and it never got published but I tweaked it and changed it throughout the years. You can almost say that this part of this book- the backstory, the fantasy magic side - is about 20 years in the making, which I guess makes this a labor of love. Jeff: That's very cool that it goes back quite that far. Michael: Makes me feel old saying it out loud. Jeff: You could have had the idea when you were 5 or 6. What do we have to look forward to as the as the trilogy progresses - without obviously spoiling anything necessarily - but what can you kind of hint at about the story arc? Michael: Well, you know I'm a big fan of sci-fi, and Steampunk is really an offshoot of sci-fi in a way, or vice versa I guess. But, you know 'Star Wars' originally was 'Star Wars' and then they added 'A New Hope' to the title when they were like, "Well, you know Darth Vader is still out there." I mean, you know they gave Luke and Han Solo some medals. But, you know, then you get Darth Vader out there. So I love that idea of there's always more. If you look for it, if you see the little bits, like there's actually Darth Vader and an emperor... we're still at war guys, so come back for 'Empire', and guess what, it's going to get darker and worse and that's really kind of what's happening here - the book sort of gives you an ending but - and I think so does every book [in the series]. It has an ending, but it really isn't. If you're reading it, you know there's a lot more that's about to come down, and we might lose some people along the way, and maybe find some new people that you love, who's together might not always be together. Jeff: So with everything, between the magic and the clockwork and the steam and everything, your story, your book bible for this must be huge. Michael: I used this great British author named Ellen Gregory who did some high seas adventure, and she read an early Edit 2 and gave me some criticisms - which I kept calling British-isms - and gave me some pointers in that, and we were joking about that too, that I have one hundred pages on the parts of a ship... hundreds of pages and you could just bore people to death writing about that. It's like giving that little bit to make it believable, and make it feel fantastic or whatever, and then let it go. And then I just use that incredible knowledge about mid ships and jibs at parties. I can talk about all that stuff at a party now, but you don't put too much worldbuilding in, but it is fun. I do have lots of stuff, like when I'm writing, there's fairies in the book and I did so much research about Oberon, the king of the fairies and all that history. And then my amazing editor Dawn Johnson at Dreamspinner/Harmony Ink - I mean the whole team has been amazing, and each person has challenged me. Which is really part of the deal, you have to kill your darlings right? You have to allow some of your characters to change with some of the professional feedback. And so, anyway, I was able to use that research and pull it in and I still miss stuff, and some of those editors were like, "Hey, you know the name of that person? Shouldn't it be this, for this reason historically?" I'm like, "Yep, I don't know what I was thinking." You know, And so it really takes a village, you know. Jeff: What do you hope people get out of this book? Michael: What I'm hoping to get out of it is enough people interested to get a whole trilogy out of it and to get an audio book. I really want to hear this story come alive - the swashbuckling adventure come alive. I hope people get entertainment out of it. I hope they feel empowered and maybe challenged on their beliefs a little bit, which is, you know, a lofty goal. And it sounds like hubris to say it, but I hope people read it and see the LGBTQ+ world is just like everything else. It's steeped in mystery, and history, and great characters with amazing depth, capable of heroic acts and terrible evils, and everything in between. You know, some people will write a character and be afraid to make the gay character or the trans character do something horrible, but that's wrong. They have to do everything that everyone else does in order to make it real. And so I'm hoping people will forgive me if I do something horrible to a character, or make them do something terribly wicked... you know, mustache twirling - and not, of course, hate the straight characters that do bad things as well. Jeff: Right. Now, you kept a lot of this book in your family, in some ways too, because your husband Jason Buren did the cover and interior art - and the cover is gorgeous. Michael: Thank you. I love the art. Jeff: How did he come to get involved in it an what was it like collaborating with him on those elements? Michael: Well, Jason's an amazing artist and graphic designer. We actually worked on the first one together and we worked on comic books together and what I realized through it - honestly working with Dawn and the great editors, kind of makes you realize some things - you have to back up and state your vision. Say what you want. Show covers of things you like, and things you don't like, and then not micromanage it. Because then what you're going to get is my artistry, which I'm a writer you know, not technically a graphic artist. So you really get your best work if you let the artist kind of figure it out and that's what happened. I let go of the reins of both books and I think that the covers are amazing, if I do say so myself. I think this cover is so exactly what I wanted to be, and I was unable to say it out loud. And that's what a good artist should do in the interiors too. I wanted so badly to have chapter art and I know that people don't have to let you do stuff like that, but [my publisher] Dreamspinner was so amazing. I pitched this idea of clockwork meets fantasy with the Dragon Wing and the clockwork gears together So I'm so excited to show some of that together with the dragon wings with the mixture. Anyway I'm so excited and geek about it. I even got a little gears as text breaks in the art, in the books, it's really fun. It's really gorgeous. But you, know let go and see what happens. That's the idea. Jeff: When you were here in Episode 42, we were talking about a historical m/m hockey romance called 'The Long Season'. This is a total departure. Unless you can talk about the fact that you're dealing with historical times. Had you always seen in your career switching genres so completely? Michael: You know that's a great question. I want to challenge myself to do something completely different every time. And so, like being a new writer, writing historical fiction was crazy. That's too much to take on. I said, "Well, whatever. It's a labor of love, you know?" So then for my second novel, a trilogy? Themed like science fiction? Like, "Oh you're crazy, that's too much. You're not going to handle it." And who knows what we'll see. The first one got picked up, thank you Dreamspinner and I'm super excited about it. I want to challenge myself and I love that genre. So I say, let's do something completely different. People ask me about doing a sequel of 'The Long Season'. We're doing another hockey book. You know, I'm really proud of the fact that I wrote a character, Maggie in 'The Long Season' who was Brett's best friend. Turns out Bret's best friend started off with John Paul, which I'm really proud that people want a Maggie story and I think that's amazing. Who knows when that might happen. I might do that. My grandmother certainly, when she read it before she passed away, she said it can't end here and she's right... another story. And I did all that roaring 20s research... who knows, I might go back, but I want to challenge myself to do something different. I could write another hockey book because I love it and I love the whole romance side of it and who knows. Jeff: I was thinking you need to find a way to introduce hockey into the Infernal Instruments universe. Michael: I mean, there might be some sports related in there a little bit, but like medieval hockey? That would be fun. I mean the 1880s isn't too far away from Lord Stanley, so they could theoretically run into Lord Stanley somewhere. You know that can happen. Good idea. Jeff: Do you foresee more in this universe, potentially if the if the trilogy works out and is successful? Michael: Yeah. I mean, you know, I think it's set up perfectly for a TV show. That's huge right. But I've even thought about - I have a friend who's a game designer and I even thought about... man, that would be amazing. That whole steampunk idea is a huge world and you'll see in book two, the world's even bigger than you see in book one because it's a world at war. It's a world half conquered by clockwork powered England and half conquered by magic powered Ireland. So everywhere you go France, and Germany, and Africa, and potentially the United States. Are they even the United States? It's a huge world, so the stories could go anywhere. You know I think of like, Gideon Smith books. 'Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl' I think the first is called. They, at some point, they end up in an airship going to the United States, and the Wild West, and Egypt, and all kinds of things. Steampunk is open. Jeff: I hope that just keeps going and expanding. So what's coming up next for you? Are you done with book two or are still writing on the trilogy ,and can you look beyond this first trilogy? What's next? Michael: Well, interestingly enough, it goes back to your last question. Books two and three, the trilogy, has a beginning, middle, and end in my head. Of course there could be more after that, much like 'The Long Season', but in my mind I've already started about halfway through writing a third completely different genre book, challenging myself with something completely different, which is a contemporary YA book built on my travels to Antarctica. So it's a YA, two young people who meet and fall in love on a cruise to Antarctica. Sort of a travelog and what happens, and the interesting things, and people, and penguins that they see. I won't give away too much, meaning - that's what I'm in the middle of now. Jeff: That's exciting. A little something new there. Again, totally disparate, but you mentioned what you want to keep mixing it up. Michael: So yeah. And we'll see how that works out. I'm working with a gender nonconforming character, which is really new for me, it's taken lots of research to get intersectionality in the forefront of the book, you know not as a ploy, but as a reality of the world that we live in, and people that need representation. So I'm really excited about that. Jeff: Hurry up and write that please. Michael: All right. Hopefully, if you're willing, you'll probably see it before anybody else as a proofreader. Jeff: What's the best way for folks to keep up with you online, to keep up is as 'Infernal Instruments' continues and this new contemporary book starts to take shape? Michael: If they go to my full name - MichaelVanceGurley.com. Go on there and there'll be links to my two book sites and to my Instagram, they can go to Captain Rhetoric on Instagram and find me, that's where I write self-involved book reviews where hopefully people care about what I think about these amazing books that I read, and travel pictures, and just little bits like that, not too much of me, just sort of what I see about the world. I like to do that on Instagram and that's the best way to keep up with me. Jeff: Well I wish you the best of success with 'Absolute Heart'. It's been great to talk to you a little bit about it. And when that contemporary is done you'll have to come on back. Book Reviews Here's the text of this week's book reviews: The Masterpiece by Bonnie Dee. Reviewed by Will.The Masterpiece by Bonnie Dee is a makeover story with Pygmalionthemes in a historical setting. Essentially, an irresistible gay version of My Fair Lady. The story centers on a guy named Arthur. He is the well-to-do gentleman in this particular scenario and, one day, he's out enjoying the good life with his bestie, a guy named Granville. Occasionally Arthur calls Granville, “Granny” and it totally cracked me up. Granville believes very heavily in the British class system. Arthur is a little more modern in views. He feels that if a man has the wherewithal and can pull himself up by his bootstraps, he can achieve anything with his life, no matter where he was born on the ladder of social hierarchy. In order to prove their different theories, they set a wager, and that bet involves Joe the shoeshine boy. Arthur must make Joe a gentleman in six weeks. It is there that he will make his debut at the biggest party of the social season. Joe moves in with Arthur who is very glad that to realize that Joe is not only very smart and very kind, he is hardworking and interested in bettering himself. Joe is undertaking this particular makeover because he has dreams of owning his own men's shop one day - with a focus on finely crafted shoes. They get down to work and, after spending several days studying and learning which fork to use, they decide to get some fresh air. So they go for a constitutional in the park where they unfortunately run into Granville, who's like escorting some demure young ladies. Joe does very in his first unexpected like test. Arthur and Joe now realize that they have definite feelings for one another. Their next test comes during an evening at the theater where they unfortunately run into Granville yet again (this dude's everywhere). Granville has befriended a professor of linguistics, and Arthur knows that Granville is only befriending this schlub because he plans on bringing the linguist to the party to expose Joe as some sort of lower-class fraud. Joe handles the situation admirably. He's proving himself time and time again, but Granny is not going to give up. He makes sure that Arthur's family is invited to the big soiree, and his family comes to stay, making it nearly impossible to have any alone time with Joe. Finally, the big evening arrives and everything goes swimmingly. Joe is tested but everyone is really charmed and quite taken by him. When it comes to Pygmalionstories there is usually a point in the narrative where the Eliza Doolittle character has to wonder if the professor is in love with her, or the person that she's pretending to be. We kind of skip over that in this particular story because it's really obvious that Arthur and Joe are like completely into one another. What ends up happening is that Joe feels guilty, his conscious getting the better of him. All these lords and ladies and debutantes are remarkably kind to him, and he feels genuinely bad that he's pulling the wool over their eyes. That guilt eventually leads him to leave Arthur's house sooner, rather than later. Arthur and Joe try to figure out how can they make their relationship work, but they can’t. Even though they've essentially won the bet and they've proven their point, the fact is that the class system is still very much a thing and the two of them are from two different worlds. Joe packs his bags and leaves and Arthur ends up going to India. He has been convinced by his brother and his father that he has to finally grow up and take part in the family business. While he's away, Joe uses the money that he earns from the bet and opens his own shop. When Arthur finally arrives back in England, there's a big declaration of love scene because they realize they are both utterly and completely miserable without one another. And they both vow to find some way that they're going to make it work. I really, really loved this book an awful lot. I loved these two characters that Bonnie Dee created I was rooting for them the entire time. The Nobleman and the Spy by Bonnie Dee & Summer Devon. Reviewed by Jeff & Will.Jeff: Bonnie and Summer are both new to me authors. The Nobleman and the Spy, which I would call a second-chance romantic suspense historical, was a complete delight full of intrigue and some steaming hot sex. Solider-turned-British spy Jonathan Reese is assigned to keep watch over German Karl von Binder. Jonathan knows Karl all too well because during the war Karl spared Jonathan’s life. It doesn’t take much for Jonathan to lose focus on his mission and pay attention to the man who has come back into his life. He’s also aware that he cares too much for Karl to allow anything to happen to him, despite the fact that his orders as the mission begins are a bit mixed if he should allow the man to be killed or not. Karl, despite the forbidden attraction to Jonathan, tries to keep the spy at length, sure that he can protect himself. As evidence piles up though that there’s someone on Karl’s trail, the two end up working together trying to figure out who’s behind it. It’s a tangled web that I didn’t quite believe even as it was all falling into place. The resolution was certainly something I’d never anticipated as I tried to solve it as I read along. It was quite a thrill. I loved the feel of this book. In often reminded me of a childhood favorite TV show, Wild Wild West, which was set in the same time period of the mid 1860s. While this isn’t set in the American west with some strange characters as villains, the time period comes through loud and clear in a rich setting and how the characters carry themselves. I also liked how Karl and Jonathan recognized that they couldn't give in to their attraction but the more they couldn't give into it the more they really want to. And then when they got together it was so intense. Narrator Todd Scott I have to say does a terrific job with the entire story but the sex scenes…off the charts! Will: What really struck me and what I enjoyed the most is that it's essentially a bodyguard trope and it has all the different things that go along with that but in a historical setting. So it was sexy and it was fun and there's lots of adventure and action. I really enjoyed this one as well. Jeff: Calling out the bodyguard trope is really appropriate. But what makes it a little different, at least to me, is that Karl doesn't really want to be guarded. But Jonathan certainly takes that role because he keeps reinserting himself even where he's taken off the case. He wants to keep Karl safe at all costs. So, yes, we both highly recommend The Nobleman and the Spy by Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon.

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes RWA president and romantic suspense author HelenKay Dimon. HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce lawyer turned bestselling author of more than 40 Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotic Romance books and novellas. Her books have been featured in various national and international venues and she has had two books named Red-Hot Reads in Cosmo magazine. She is a four-time RITA® Award finalist in romantic suspense (for Mr and Mrs Smith, Facing Fire, Guarding Mr. Fine and The Fixer) and is 2018 RITA® Award winner for The Fixer. She’s also a Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award winner in romantic suspense for The Fixer. In addition to writing, HelenKay is the president of the Romance Writers of America and frequently teaches workshops and classes on fiction writing and romance writing. About HER OTHER SECRET: Whitaker Island is more than a getaway. For Tessa Jenkins, the remote strip of land in Washington state is a sanctuary. Fleeing from a shattering scandal, she has a new name, a chance at a new beginning, and a breathtaking new view: Hansen Rye. It’s hard not to crush on Whitaker’s hottest handyman. At six-foot-three and all kinds of fine, he’s also intensely private. After a devastating family tragedy, Hansen finds the pebbled shores of the faraway island to be an ideal refuge. Letting down his guard for the sexy, impulsive Tessa is an unexpected pleasure. But there’s another newcomer to Whitaker. He’s no stranger to Hansen. And when he’s murdered, the crime casts a threatening shadow. As suspicion falls on Hansen, all his secrets are about to collide with Tessa’s. Now the pasts they were determined to outrun are catching up to them. LISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP.

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes RWA president and romantic suspense author HelenKay Dimon.   HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce lawyer turned bestselling author of more than 40 Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotic Romance books and novellas. Her books have been featured in various national and international venues and she has had two books named Red-Hot Reads in Cosmo magazine. She is a four-time RITA® Award finalist in romantic suspense (for Mr and Mrs Smith, Facing Fire, Guarding Mr. Fine and The Fixer) and is 2018 RITA® Award winner for The Fixer. She’s also a Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award winner in romantic suspense for The Fixer. In addition to writing, HelenKay is the president of the Romance Writers of America and frequently teaches workshops and classes on fiction writing and romance writing.  About HER OTHER SECRET:   Whitaker Island is more than a getaway. For Tessa Jenkins, the remote strip of land in Washington state is a sanctuary. Fleeing from a shattering scandal, she has a new name, a chance at a new beginning, and a breathtaking new view: Hansen Rye. It’s hard not to crush on Whitaker’s hottest handyman. At six-foot-three and all kinds of fine, he’s also intensely private.   After a devastating family tragedy, Hansen finds the pebbled shores of the faraway island to be an ideal refuge. Letting down his guard for the sexy, impulsive Tessa is an unexpected pleasure. But there’s another newcomer to Whitaker. He’s no stranger to Hansen. And when he’s murdered, the crime casts a threatening shadow. As suspicion falls on Hansen, all his secrets are about to collide with Tessa’s. Now the pasts they were determined to outrun are catching up to them.  lLISTEN ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST APP.

Charlie Holmberg reads the query that got her an agent (and some feedback from her agent about why it worked!) Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie N. Holmberg was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally adopted a dog. Her fantasy Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine and lives with her family in Utah. Charlie is represented by Marlene Stringer of the Stringer Literary Agency.

Bonus episode! Listen to our our fabulous guests at FanX (Charlie Holmberg and Brian Lee Durfee) answer questions from the audience. Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, whose debut series, The Paper Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney award for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com. Brian Lee Durfee is an artist and writer raised in Fairbanks Alaska and Monroe Utah. He has done illustrations for Wizards of the Coast, Tolkien Enterprises, Dungeons & Dragons, Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust (Denali National Park) and many more.His art has been featured in SPECTRUM: Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art #3 and Writers of the Future Vol 9. He won the Arts for the Parks Grand Canyon Award and has a painting in the permanent collection of the Grand Canyon Visitors Center-Kolb Gallery.Brian is the author of the fantasy series Five Warrior Angels. He lives in Salt Lake City. 

#1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. Tina Susedik is an award-winning, Amazon best-selling, multi-published author with books in both fiction and non-fiction, including history, children’s, military books and romances. Her favorite is writing romance stories where her characters live happily ever after. Tina also writes spicier romance as Anita Kidesu. Her romantic suspense, “Love With a Side of Crazy,” was recently named for Book of the Year in Romance with Authors on the Air Global Radio network. Your Book Garden is a copyrighted podcast owned by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network  

Have you started a novel you've never finished? Wanted to write a novel and never started? Award winning authors Charlie Holmberg and Brian Lee Durfee join us to talk about their first novels and share tips and strategies for actually finishing.  Charlie N. Holmberg is a Wall Street Journal and Amazon bestselling author, whose debut series, The Paper Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney award for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine. Visit her at www.charlienholmberg.com. Brian Lee Durfee is an artist and writer raised in Fairbanks Alaska and Monroe Utah. He has done illustrations for Wizards of the Coast, Tolkien Enterprises, Dungeons & Dragons, Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust (Denali National Park) and many more.His art has been featured in SPECTRUM: Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art #3 and Writers of the Future Vol 9. He won the Arts for the Parks Grand Canyon Award and has a painting in the permanent collection of the Grand Canyon Visitors Center-Kolb Gallery.Brian is the author of the fantasy series Five Warrior Angels. He lives in Salt Lake City.    Books and media we talk about: The Paper Magician by Charlie Holmberg The Forgetting Moon by Brian Lee Durfee A Night of Blacker Darkness by Dan Wells How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card Save the Cat by Blake Snyder Safehold by David Weber

The guys open the show with a discussion of the Netflix original Unicorn Store. Jeff reviews Bad to the Bone by Nicki Bennett. Will reviews LaQuette’s Under His Protection. Jeff & Will interview LaQuette about Under His Protection. They find out about the story’s inspiration and how it ties into LaQuette’s other series. LaQuette also shares details on her upcoming Harlem Heat series, what got her started writing romance and details about what she does as the president for New York City’s Romance Writers of America chapter. Complete shownotes for episode 184 are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Book Reviews from this week: Bad to the Bone by Nicki Bennett. Reviewed by Jeff Bad to the Bone turned out to be one of those perfect Dreamspun Desires for me. I’m a sucker for second chance romance combined with friends to lovers and this one adds in a bit from the redeemed bad boy trope as well. It all combined to give me exactly the read that I needed. The story kicks off on the eve of a high school reunion taking place in a small Oklahoma town. Alex Morrison has been back in town for several years, taking over his family’s hardware store when his parents needed him to. One afternoon, while working with his sister at the store, they witness a motorcyclist pulled over and it’s soon revealed that the man is Alex’s high school bestie, Ricky Lee Jennings. Alex hasn’t heard from Ricky Lee since he was expelled and sent away to reform school. Alex regretted he didn’t defend Ricky Lee and prevent the expulsion, but he was scared he’d lose his football scholarship if he did. Sparks fly at the reunion when Ricky Lee shows up without a ticket and Alex gets him in as his guest. What unfolds over the coming weeks is the rekindling of far more than a friendship. Nicki does so much with this rather simple set up. Both characters complexity made me love this book so much. Alex is someone I wanted to wrap up in a comforting hug. He does so much for the community that he lives in between serving on the library board, working for Habitat for Humanity, helping out with the high school reunion committee, and anything else he can do to help his fellow citizens. Yet, all he can see in himself is failure from a lost college football career because of an injury, a failed marriage, and even coming back to manage his family business is something he considers a fail because he gave up his dreams of being an environmental lobbyist. Of course, what he’s done is made the decisions that are right in the moment but he can’t see that. Ricky Lee, on the other hand, subverts every stereotype the town has for him. It’s awesome to watch as people who believe they know exactly who he is after ten years begin to see who he has become. He’s far from the young man who was abused by his alcoholic father and just wanted to survive high school. As both relive their high school times and share what they are doing now, Ricky Lee and Alex are drawn back together. Alex, however, is sure this can’t be more than a fling. He’s scared of revealing himself as bisexual to the town and there’s no way Ricky Lee will move back to Oklahoma since he’s got a life in Portland. The wooing that Ricky Lee does with Alex is outstanding. I love a good date and their weekend trip to Oklahoma City is all that. They stay at a boutique hotel, go to art museums and the botanical gardens and eat delicious food. The sizzling sex made the date all the hotter. It showed Alex in vivid detail what life could be like in if he decides to make a go of it with Ricky Lee. The other depth that Nikki weaves into this book is the town Alex lives in. In particular, I liked the local pastor, who is nothing like what you might expect a southern pastor to be. He turns out to be one of Alex’s biggest supporters in being true to himself. We also see Alex’s work with the library, which is a central subplot for the story since Alex and Ricky Lee’s high school nemesis, Odell, who wants to expand his car dealership by buying the land the library sits on. The goings-on with Odell took some wonderful turns that I couldn’t have predicted and I might’ve cheered just a little when everything was revealed and [spoiler alert] Odell gets his. It’s a great ending for a high school bully. There’s a tremendous cast of supporting characters too. Alex’s sister Alana and his best friend, local police officer Samantha, a.k.a. Sam, both nudge Alex in the right direction. Ricky Lee comes to town with Crae, who he introduces as his friend and assistant although many initially think they are in a relationship. I actually wish Crae had had more screen time in the book as they were a fascinating character. Crae and Sam develop a friendship that might be more and I’d love to see a book that explores that. There are also some townsfolk who have interesting reveals to Alex along the way that were incredibly sweet. And if audio is your thing, certainly pick this one up. Colin Darcy is a new-to-me-narrator and boy did he make me swoon with his voice for Ricky Lee–deep, rumbly sexiness. If you’re looking for a great category romance with some very tropey goodness, I highly recommend Nicki Bennett’s Bad to the Bone. Under His Protection by LaQuette. Reviewed by Will. This book literally starts with a bang when one of our main characters, assistant DA Camden, is nearly blown up by a car bomb. In order to keep him safe, he’s put in protective police custody. Unfortunately, the man watching over him is the memorable one night stand he walked away from five years ago, a guy named Elisha. Sequestered away in Elisha’s Westchester house, our two heroes must come to grips with the attraction that still, after all this time, is still there. As things start to become more romantic, the situation becomes even more complicated when Elisha’s family shows up for a weekend visit. They assume that the two of them are a couple and Cam and Elijah play along since it’s too dangerous to explain why Cam is hiding out at Elijah’s house. Over the course of the weekend Cam can’t help but fall for Elisha and his wonderfully crazy family. You might think things get a little too close for comfort with are two heroes and the family all in one house. Elisha actually has a very small apartment in his attached garage. They escape there every once in a while, for some truly superduper scorching sex. The chemistry between these characters is very real and very palatable. As the weekend winds down, there’s an unfortunate kidnapping attempt by this crazy religious group and Cam sacrifices himself in order to save Elisha’s mom. Camden ends up in hospital and, unfortunately, his father arrives on the scene. Camden’s life has essentially been controlled by his father, who’s had his son’s life planned out from my birth to death. It’s essentially how Cam has lived his entire life. The expectations of his father are actually part of the reason why he walked away from Elisha five years ago. Having a sexy one night fling and living a life with an average guy like Elisha just wasn’t in the plan. After experiencing the possibility of loving a man like Elisha and realizing the wonderful possibilities of a fun and fulfilling family life, he tries to stand up to his father. Cam’s father puts a stop to everything, setting up some genuinely insurmountable roadblocks to our hero’s happiness. But Cam and Elisha are not only charismatic and sexy, but also really super smart. With the help of Elisha’s police chief friend, Cam concocts a way to outwit his father and get out from under his thumb, so he Elisha can live happily ever after. I don’t know if I can adequately find the correct words, or enough adjectives to tell you how much I loved Cam and Elisha’s story. It’s just really damn good. One of my favorites of 2019 so far!   I hope it’s obvious that I really enjoyed Under His Protection by LaQuette and I highly recommend that everyone give it a read. Interview Transcript - LaQuetteWill: We are so pleased to welcome LaQuette to the show. Welcome. LaQuette: Thank you. Will: So I just spent several minutes praising and telling the entire world how much I loved "Under His Protection." Now, you've been writing for a while now, and I freely admit this is the very first book of yours that I have read, and I went absolutely bonkers for it. I love it to pieces. LaQuette: Oh, thank you. Will: Can you give us sort of an idea of where the concept for "Under His Protection" came from? LaQuette: Well, I was encouraged by Kate McMurray to submit a "Dreamspun Desires" concept. And I kind of read the submission guideline, and I really didn't think that the category section was for me, because I'm long-winded in my writing and there's this, you know, 50,000-word count, and I didn't know that I could meet that and make the story make sense. But I just felt like, you know, there's a lot of angst in my writing and a lot of heavy topics sometimes. And I didn't... You know, category can be light and, you know, it doesn't have so much angst to it, so I wasn't sure if it was actually the right fit for me. But she encouraged me to do it anyway. So I thought, "Well, if I'm gonna do it, it has to be, like, LaQuette style. It can't be, you know, the traditional map of a category. I've gotta throw, you know, everything but the kitchen sink in it." And I had this sort of, like, this Prince and Pauper sort of situation in my head, but in Brooklyn. And it worked out really well in my head anyway. I really enjoy the idea of Camden coming from this really, really posh existence, and then clashing with Elijah and his very loud and boisterous family. And, I think, putting those two people together and those two, you know, with their backgrounds and differences in their backgrounds and the differences in their, you know, perspectives in life, it really...it just made for a richer experience for me, as a writer. Will: I utterly fell in love with Camden and Elijah. I think they're two incredibly...they are exceptional heroes, and they're part of what makes this book really sing. But as I mentioned in my review just a few minutes ago, part of what, I think, what makes the story compelling and even more enjoyable is the sort of supporting cast that helps them along in their journey towards saying, "I love you." Elijah's family is amazing, every single one of them. But I was particularly struck by one of Elijah's co-workers, the police chief, who is his best friend, along with, you know, being a colleague. And what I was struck by is that at the beginning of the book, the character seemed, you know, pretty, you know, straightforward, it was a secondary character, and she was there to kind of like, you know, get the story moving along. But as we read further and get to know Camden and Elijah more and more, she becomes a much more integral part of the story. And in fact, she's pretty vital to the solution that Cam comes up towards the end. And I was really surprised to read in an interviewer just, I think, this last week it appeared online. I learned that one of the reasons that this secondary character is so well-drawn is because she's actually already had her own book. LaQuette: She's had three books, actually. Will: Can you tell us real quickly, for our listeners, can you tell us about the origin of this particular character and why you thought she would be such a good fit for Camden and Elijah's story? LaQuette: Captain Heart Searlington is a character from my "Queens of Kings" series, which is all heroine-centered. And she is this...you know, her name is Heart for a reason, because she has a huge heart, even though she really carries it under this gruff exterior. She's a badass, she's all about getting work done. And if you ever get the chance to read her books, you know, she's really out there hands-on in the street. And I felt like Elijah would need someone like that, professionally and personally, to kind of...to get him to the place where he could admit his flaws. Someone that's not... You know, he's a very...he's a large man, he's aggressive, you know, he carries a gun, so he could be a little bit intimidating for the average person. But for her, she's not afraid to tell him like it is to his face. And, you know, when you have that kind of a personality where people might not tell your truth because they find you imposing, having someone who will speak the truth to you, regardless of whatever the situation is, can be vital to you, you know, making the right choices in life. And I felt like having her there would give him that balance, because he needed some really cold truths told to him, for him to get his head together and do what he needed to do. Jeff: Was it always your intention to have the character crossover or did that just kind of manifest itself? LaQuette: Well, the precinct that they work at is sort of anytime I have a police situation, those cops show up in a book somewhere. So one, because, you know, the world is already created, so it's kind of easy for me to draw from that precinct, but it's also because my readers absolutely adore this woman. And so they're always asking for her, and this was an opportunity for her to show up and say, "Hi." And not in a way that overshadows, you know, the main story, which is Camden and Elijah, but just enough to make readers go, "Oh, my God. She's here." Jeff: It's always good to get those universe crossovers and little Easter eggs like that, for sure. LaQuette: It's true. It's very true. Will: Yeah. Now, "Under His Protection" is not your first M/M romance. LaQuette: No, it is not. Will: There's also "Love's Changes," which I believe came out in 2016? LaQuette: Yes. Will: And I wanted to ask you, what drew you to writing in this specific subgenre? I mean, along with all of your other books that are more traditional male/female romances? LaQuette: Well, one, I wholeheartedly believe that everyone deserves a happy ending. And when I wrote the "Queens of King" series, I always knew that Heart's cousin, because the characters, the protagonists in "Love's Changes" are Bryan, who is one of Heart's lieutenants, you met him, actually, in "Under His Protection," and her cousin, Justice. And so they get to have their own story. You get to see them a little bit in the "Queens of King" series, but they're more background. We know that they were having a hard time and they were broken up for some reason, but we don't know why. So they get, you know, readers... Which really surprised me because I didn't really believe that there was a lot of crossover between male-female readers and male-male readers. But people really asked me for a story for those two. Like, "When are we gonna get Justice and Bryan's story? We wanna know what happens to them and how they get back together." And so I that story was actually born out of the fact that readers requested it, and so I gave it to them. Jeff: That's very cool. You know, it's always nice to see as the M/F readers catch the male-male pairing to then want to know more. LaQuette: Yes, it was really a trip for me. I did not believe that they would want it at all. But it was very touching to write their story. I was very happy with how the story turned out. I was very happy with the fact that they get their happily ever after. And it's not...it's connected to the "Queens of Kings" series, but it's not really part of it. So the story kind of takes place outside of everything that's going on in that particular story. Jeff: Do you envision more, I guess, "Dreamspun Desires" books that happened in the universe you've created with everything that's going on so far? LaQuette: I really didn't, but I've been getting a lot of mail recently about this book. And, you know, people wanting to know what happens after this. They wanna see how Camden's family kind of blends with Elijah's family and how that's going to work. I'm like, "Dude, I'm not there. Like, I have so many other projects. I can't right now. But we'll come back to that maybe." Jeff: Just based on your review, I don't see how those families mesh. Will: Two different worlds. Most definitely, yeah. LaQuette: They really are. Jeff: Now, one of the things that I'm super excited about, having recently read about, is your new contract with Dreamspinner for "Harlem Heat." LaQuette: Yes, "Harlem Heat," so when stuff makes me mad, it also makes me really productive. So I was really kind of getting tired of hearing the "not historically accurate moniker" criticism given to African-American romance, especially historical African-American romance. And it just bothered me because it's not that those happily-ever-afters weren't possible. It's just people aren't really aware of the completed history. So a lot of thing...you know, a lot of people who think they know about African-American history, the only thing they know is slavery and Jim Crow, and that's it. And, you know, black people have been downtrodden since we were brought to this country. But that's not exactly the truth because even in all of the horror, there were still moments of triumph. And we didn't just, you know, survive, we thrived. We're still here, the proof that we're still here, you know, the proof that we had happiness at some point is that we're still here. So I decided I wanted to write about a time that was where to be black and to be gay wasn't something that you had to hide from the world. It wasn't something you had to...you had your own pocket of community. There was a celebration of it. And I wanted to speak to that. I wanted people to know that these two intersections of life existed with happy endings. Jeff: And this series, in particular, is gonna go to such an interesting time period in the U.S. when all of the Harlem Renaissance was happening. LaQuette: Yeah, so it's based on three actual people who lived during the Harlem Renaissance. So it's based on Bumpy Johnson, who was the godfather of Harlem for 30 years. It's based on Langston Hughes, who was a great contributor to the Harlem Renaissance as a poet and writer. And it's also based on Cab Calloway, who was sort of one of the most notable faces in jazz and jazz music and jazz performance at the Cotton Club. So we're gonna see... we won't be using their names, but those characters will be based off of those actual people. Will: Yeah, because it was...I think it was like mere moments after I finished reading "Under His Protection." I read about this Harlem Renaissance series that you were doing, and I like lost my mind. I was like, totally doing a happy dance. This is going to be so amazing. I know this is still far in the future. But when do you think we can expect this series? LaQuette: I don't know. And that's the God's honest truth. I'm actually currently writing, finishing up the series for Sourcebooks. And so "Harlem Heat" doesn't...I don't think I'm projected to start it until like the end of the year. So I don't know exactly when it's going to be ready. But I mean, you know, ready for the world anyway. But I think I can talk to someone about getting you a beta read...a copy for beta reading if you'd like. Jeff: Please do. Yes. Will: That would be amazing. Jeff: I imagine the research for that got to be a lot of fun to look at that period in history and figure out what parts you wanna take and use. LaQuette: It is. I mean, I was very fortunate when I was in college. When I did my undergrad in creative writing. I was very fortunate to have a professor who thought outside of the box, and he taught a class on Harlem Renaissance. That was amazing. I mean, it was so rich and filled with culture. And you know, not just the usual things that we see in mainstream history but, you know, getting really down to the nitty-gritty of it. And you know, showing you to...I'm sure that when you when you guys, as gay men, look at the history of the LGBT community, and you get to see it unfold, there's such a moment of connection there. And it's the same thing for black people when we're getting to experience our history because we don't often get to see it through mainstream lens. And so to see it and to see the information dispensed in a way that's positive and celebratory and uplifting, it changes your whole perception of yourself, of who you are and where you came from. And so I'm delighted to be able to dig back into that. I have Piper Huguley, who is a history professor at Spelman College. I believe it's Spelman. And she's also a romance writer, and she's brilliant. So she helps me with a great deal with telling me what books I need to read for this period, and where I need to look for information. But it's so much fun. It really is so much fun. Jeff: That's amazing. Let's talk origin story for a minute. How did you get started writing romance? What led you down this path? LaQuette: I didn't see me on the page. I started reading romance when I was about 16 years old. Way too young to be reading some of the stuff I was reading, but you know, hey. And by the time I was about 18, I probably went through every "Harlequin Presents" that my local library had. And every romance novel I read, it was never about a girl that looked like me, never about places where I lived. So it kind of pulled me out of the romance reading for a while because it was nice to read about those stories, but there was just something missing for me after a while. And I probably, at the time, didn't recognize that I was internalizing that these stories were basically saying, "Romance isn't for you. You don't look like this. You don't fit this mold, so romance isn't for you." And I kind of just pulled away from it. And I think after I finished my undergrad, I just wanted to relax and have some fun and I kind of got back into it. And at the time, I discovered black romance was a thing. And I discovered people like Rochelle Alers, and Brenda Jackson, and Zane. And I'm like, "Wow." Like, it became exciting again. It was refreshing. It was new and yet still very familiar because I could see myself in all of the antics that were going in these stories. I could see myself in those characters. And so I decided I wanted to do that. I wanted to create those spaces, create more stories like that so people could have those connections in reality, you know, reactions when they opened up a book and saw themselves. Jeff: Now that you are writing, what do you think the trademarks of your books are? LaQuette: I do sex and snark really well. Like, I do sarcasm really well because that's my language. It really is my language, and sex, yeah, that's so if you're gonna pick up a LaQuette book, you're going to get lots of sex and lots of sarcasm. Jeff: Did she meet those two in your book? Will: Oh, yeah. Just before we started this interview, we were talking about the possibilities of an audiobook for "Under His Protection." And whatever narrator lands this job is going to, number one, have the time of their life, because Camden and Elijah are very...the banter is very smart and very witty. But also, as you say, the sex scenes are...I'm not even sure what the correct adjective is. It's smoking hot. Yeah, you're gonna need a nice cool beverage after you listen to those scenes, for sure. LaQuette: I don't know that I could listen to that. I don't know that I could. It would be so weird for me. I don't know. I mean, I know I wrote the words, but to hear them aloud, I don't know that I could do that. Will: Exactly. Yeah. Jeff: Yeah, I know, you know, many authors can't listen to their own audio books. LaQuette: Especially those parts. Like I said, I do sex. Amy Lane told me, she was like, "You write sex in such a beautiful concrete way. Like, I just wanna have all the facts when I read your books." I'm like, "Amy, that is the sweetest and weirdest thing that anyone has ever said to me, and I love you for it." Jeff: That almost should be a blurb on the book cover or something. Will: Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Jeff: Is there anything you're reading right now that you wanna shout out to people as like a book to grab? LaQuette: Oh, I'm reading a few books. So I just finished Adriana Herrera's...the third book in this "Dreamer" series, and I can't remember the title because it's not actually out yet. I beta read for her, and it is fantastic. I mean, book one is great and I love it. It was so real to me that literally, I had to drive like two to three miles from my house just to go get Dominican food, because I was so hungry after reading book one. Will: Exactly. Yes. Yeah. LaQuette: And book three does the same thing. There's lots of cultural food. And it's part of the tapestry of how these two people connect and share their backgrounds, their experiences, their worldviews. And not to mention, she's so good at writing books that are socially conscious without making you feel like you're being talked down to or preached at, and I love her for that, for being... I don't know that I could do that the way she does it. She's so talented. And I'm also reading...I'm halfway through...I stumble with her name because I know her as Blue Sapphire, but she's now writing as Royal Blue for Dreamspinner, "Kyle's Reveal." Will: Yeah, I've heard of this book, yeah. LaQuette: And I'm halfway through it. And, you know, she's fire, like, she writes hot books. So I'm really excited. I can't wait to get to the end of this book. Will: What was the name of that book again? LaQuette: "Kyle's Reveal." Will: Okay. And that's the...please remind me, is the basketball book, is that correct? LaQuette: Yes. Will: Okay, yes. LaQuette: I mean, it's kind of dark because the protagonists have like a really dark traumatic history. But it's definitely deep and I'm loving it. So I'm really, really, really interested in getting to the end to see if I could just get a minute to stop writing and finish it, I'd be great. Will: Awesome. Jeff: It's such a hard thing balancing. LaQuette: It is. Jeff: "I wanna to finish this book." Then it's like, "I don't wanna read it too fast." LaQuette: Exactly. Jeff: Finding that balance. LaQuette: It's true. Jeff: Are there tropes or genres that you wanna tackle that you just haven't yet in your own writing? LaQuette: I don't know that there are any tropes, because I kind of...I throw a lot of different tropes in my books. Like, "Under His Protection" has second chance romance, it also has proximity, it also has sort of kind of enemies to lovers the way Elijah and Camden started out in the book. And it could sort of kind of be considered like a workplace romance being that they're both involved in different sides of law enforcement. But I don't know. I mean, I've done secret baby before and I love that. That was really fun. And I've done...the only thing I haven't done is like May-December romances. So I think maybe that might be something I'd might want to try. Jeff: Cool. I would read that. I love a good May-December. Absolutely. So beyond the writing, which obviously takes up a lot of time, you also are the president of RWANYC. So the New York City chapter of Romance Writers of America. Tell folks what that entails and what actually led you to running for office. LaQuette: I didn't wanna run. I had no intention of running because I have a lot of stuff to do. And it takes time away from the things that I'm contracted to do. But one of the things that's very important in romance that's happening right now is the fact that romance can be a very whitewashed world, meaning the protagonists that we see, the authors that get the most opportunities are white authors and white characters. And so if you're not white... and straight characters. If you're not writing that, it's difficult to get into the door, it's difficult to find the same resources, the same backing. It's almost impossible to get contracts. And so I ran for president of RWANYC because I wanted, in some way, to help change that landscape, to do some of the work necessary with publishers to try to change that. And it's a heavy task, it's a heavy burden, especially when we get, you know, over the last couple of weeks, we are still reeling from the RITA Awards, which is basically like the Grammys for romance. And every year, it's the same thing. It's a very, very white landscape, and very few authors of color are made finalist. No black woman has ever won a RITA in the 30 years that this award has been established. And people do a lot of mental acrobatics to justify why that is. So "Oh, maybe the writing is just not that good. Maybe that's why we've never had a black RITA award winner. Maybe black authors are not entering." You know, these are also questions that are ridiculous, because statistically, it's just impossible that no black woman would ever have won in 30 years. It's just impossible. And the reason it is, is because the judging pool, there's a bias there in terms of black women and black characters, not just black authors, but black characters. Because you cannot know who the author is, but you cannot...well, I don't write characters who are racially ambiguous. I'm proud of my blackness and my characters are as well. And so I don't try to hide that or trick people into reading my books, or make it so difficult for people to recognize who a person is or what their background is because I feel like that is an important thing. In real life, we don't really get to not know who people are by looking at them. So I don't do it in my books. And because of that, it's very difficult when you know, going into this, "I'm gonna submit this book, and it's not going to final," not because it's a poorly written book, not because I didn't do everything I could to make this book as good as it could be, but simply because my characters, especially my heroines are black. And that is just something that the judging pool cannot handle as of yet. So my work as president is a lot of, you know, being the champion for this cause and taking on this battle because it's not just about me succeeding, it's about any black author who was writing black characters having the ability to write and be supported by the industry. And if I can make any sort of headway in that and if I can help anyone along the way, I'll feel like I've done something positive with my life. Will: With books like yours, and with Adriana Herrera, who you mentioned not too long ago, do you think it's really just a matter of representation that can help build awareness for diversity in romance or is there something else that readers, specifically, should be doing or asking for? LaQuette: Well, specifically, yeah. I mean, readers have a lot of power. So if you're asking publishers, you know, "Why don't we have more diverse romance? Why don't we have romance where...you know, that shows basically the colors of the rainbow and all those brilliant facets of intersectionality in life, like, why don't we have that?" Because your buying dollars is what demands, what makes the demand. Because publishers will say, "We don't sell that. We don't contract black books because they don't sell." One of the things we discussed at Dreamspinner was the cover. That was an intentional choice. I was very clear with them when we sat down and talked about this project that Elijah needed to be on the cover. I would not subscribe to the ideology that a black man on the cover can't sell. And there are...I mean, we've seen in our writing community that some publishing houses have actually made this statement. I don't subscribe to that. So we talked about it. And then we talked about the fact that readership sometimes can have a bias. And sometimes they won't engage with the book if they feel like the person is the wrong color or wrong background. And I said, "I understand that, but we're still gonna work...you know, to work with me, this is how we're gonna work." And they were in agreement. I didn't have to convince them. I went in prepared to battle. And it was like, "Listen, I really need this guy to be black and I really need him to look like this." And they were like, "We agree. We agree." So we need more of that in the industry. And it starts with readers. It also starts with the gatekeepers. People reaching out and specifically looking for these things. It also, people who are gatekeepers also need to check themselves. So when you're reading a book and you're saying, "I can't connect to it. I didn't relate to it." Why aren't you relating to it? Is it that it's a poorly written book? I've gotten rejection letters that literally said, "This is a really well-written book, but I didn't relate to the character, so I'm not gonna buy it." That doesn't really make a lot of sense, right? So what was it that you didn't relate to? If you could see that it was a really well-written book, I mean, if it's that good, why not work with me in terms of editing to kind of get things right, you know, to where it would be something that you feel is that you could sell. But a lot of publishing houses out there don't have that mentality. And it's this sort of...it's insidious. It's not something, you know, you can actually like, look and see. Some people don't even notice it. They just think, "Oh, I don't read those kinds of books because I don't like them." And it's not that they don't like them, it's that they've not actually giving them the opportunity to be great. Jeff: So that is, obviously, great words for the readers. Kind of spinning it back to your RWA role, you're in such a diverse chapter there because you're in NYC. LaQuette: Yeah. Jeff: How are the authors in that particular region banding together to like help RWA move past the issues? LaQuette: Oh, well, a lot of my recent successes, because, you know, allies, colleagues like Kate McMurray and Tere Michaels, are like, "Listen, you're fabulous, and we want you to meet people who will also think you're fabulous. So come here." And that's part of the beauty of RWA, and that's why I fight so hard for diversity and inclusion within RWA, because my success, as I said, my recent success has all been attached to people pushing me in different directions to say, "This is where you need to be. This is the person you need to meet." And if you're not a part of the organization, you can't make those connections. And networking connections will get you further than anything you know, right? So when we cut off authors of color from that source, from the resources, from the networking connections, and the opportunities that are presented to people who are part of the organization, what we're doing is we're disconnecting them from publishing. And we're forcing them to be indie. And this is not an indie versus trad conversation. This is... some people cannot be anything other than indie, because trad will not give them the opportunity. They've been completely marginalized. And so that should not be. People should be able to publish however they choose to, whether they up to be an indie author or whether they decide that the trad route is for them, because, you know, different strokes for different folks. It is different, you know, depending on what your lifestyle is like. I have crazy children and I have to juggle being a mom, a writer, and everything else and try to keep sane. Being an indie author is a lot of work. It's a lot of effort on your end to make a book successful. I don't have that kind of time in my life, or that kind of energy, honestly. So being a trad author is a much better avenue for me and my situation. And if that is the only way that I can publish, but publishing will not give me the opportunities, then it's, you know, I'm losing out. And that's the purpose of RWA to sort of bridge those gaps. But I don't think we're exactly where we need to be yet. So we're still working on it. Will: Yeah, definitely. Jeff: We very much appreciate your efforts towards that, for sure. Will: Now, the Romance Writers of America National Conference is going to be in NYC this summer. LaQuette: Absolutely. Will: And I expect you're going to be there. LaQuette: Oh, yeah. I wouldn't miss it for the world. Will: Yeah, we're actually making a trip for the first time this year as well. LaQuette: Yay. Will: So hopefully we will... I know it's gonna be crazy busy. But hopefully, we're gonna get a chance to say hi in person. LaQuette: It is. Absolutely. Jeff: For sure. Now, we talked about "Harlem Heat." You mentioned a couple other things. What is on your docket for the rest of this year for releases? LaQuette: I don't think I have any other releases this year because I'm writing. So I've been very blessed in that I have landed these two major contracts with Sourcebooks and with Dreamspinner, both for series. So I'm halfway through Source's books. And I need to start on Dreamspinner's toward the end of the year. So there won't be any more releases from me. I mean, if I get a moment where I'm, you know, feeling really creative, I might try to get a novella together. But I'm not making any promises. Jeff: All right, so we'll look for a lot more in 2020, for sure. LaQuette: Yeah, 2020 is definitely...the first book for Source comes out in 2020. I don't have a release date yet. I have delivery dates for Dreamspinner, but I don't have release dates yet. So I'm thinking probably sometime toward the end of 2020, possibly, or maybe the beginning of 2021. Jeff: All right. Well, when "Harlem Heat" comes out, you definitely have an invitation to come back and talk, for sure. LaQuette: Oh, yay. Thank you. Jeff: Now what's the best way for everybody to keep up with you online? LaQuette: Oh, so you can find me on Facebook at, you know, my Facebook page, LaQuettetheAuthor. You can find me on Twitter @LaQuetteWrites, or you can find me on Instagram at la_quette, or you can email me at laquette@laquette.com, or you can go to my website laquette.com. Will: Fantastic. Jeff: She's well branded, and everything is the same. Will: Most definitely. Well, LaQuette, it was a genuine honor to have you on the show today. LaQuette: Oh, thank you. Will: We're so glad that you could take some time out of your extremely busy schedule that you can come talk to us. LaQuette: Thank you for having me. I mean, I was so excited and a little bit nervous also, to come on and talk to you guys because I've seen the show before. And I'm like, "Yay, I get to go hang out with them. I feel special." Will: Well, it is a genuine pleasure. We're so glad that you came. LaQuette: Thank you so very much for having me.

First off, LGBT romance authors nominated for 2019 RITA Awards are congratulated, including Layla Reyne, Amy Lane, Suzanne Brockmann, Melanie Hansen and Aurora Rey. New patron Angela is welcomed. Jeff discusses his second visit to Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen as well as seeing an immersive production of Bare: A Pop Opera. Rather than review books this week, the guys talk about titles they are looking forward to this spring: Arctic Sun by Annabeth Albert, LOL by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox, Under His Protection by LaQuette, Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston, American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera and Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee, Jeff also calls out the start of a new series from Layla Reyne that he’s looking forward to but can’t discuss. Brandilyn stops by to recommend the audiobook of Badlands by Morgan Brice and talks about some old favorites from Rhys Ford, Jordan L. Hawk and Ethan Stone. Complete shownotes for episode 181 are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com. Jeff's Musical Reviews Here’s the text of Jeff’s reviews of the shows he saw in New York: While I was in New York this past week, I caught two musicals that have the common theme of teenagers looking for a connection to each other, finding their voice and being able to live as their authentic selves. I started off with a return trip to Dear Evan Hansen. We originally reviewed our trip to see the original Broadway cast back in episode 91 in July 2017. I went back this week because I wanted to see the current Evan, sixteen-year-old Andrew Barth Feldman. Andrew won the 2018 National High School Musical Theater Award and was invited to audition for the role. Within a few weeks, he was cast. Before this, Evan’s were in their mid-20s because the role is difficult to sing and requires skills to manage the emotional arc. Andrew blew me away. I watched some clips of other roles he’s posted on his YouTube channel and a pretty good idea he could sing the right range for the show. His vocal performance though was through the roof. In the early songs, he had amazing vocal breaks that conveyed Evan’s anxiety and timidness and as he felt more emboldened by the story he waved the vocals got more confident. By the time he hit “You Will Be Found” at the end of the first act he was a different person, only to come crashing down again for “Words Fail,” which is the show’s 11 o’clock show stopper. The acting too was spot on, at times looking like he wanted to shatter into a million pieces to escape. In the moment where his mom talks to him about what he’d done, he’s pressed so much into the corner of the couch, you know he wants to be eaten by the furniture. It’ll be interesting to see how he continues to grow into the role. He was in week seven when I saw him. The producers are giving him time and training to handle the rigors of a Broadway schedule–currently, he’s playing five out of eight shows a week. Beyond Evan, I look forward to what Andrew’s future roles will be because I suspect he’ll be rocking Broadway for many years to come. The next night I went to see Bare: A Pop Opera for its first performance. I’ve been a fan of this show since the mid-2000s when I saw some clips of it’s off-Broadway run and eventually got its studio cast recording. Through March 31, the show is being presented as a site-aware production in the St. John’s Lutheran Chruch on Christopher Street as part of the church’s theater season that pays tribute to the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. I’m going to give you the synopsis the production wrote as it sums the show up perfectly: Bare, a pop/rock opera, follows a group of students at a Catholic boarding school as they grapple with their sexuality, identity, and the future. As the group attempts to put up a production of Romeo and Juliet, tensions flare, self-doubt creeps in and God’s path blurs. The students’ journeys ring with the sounds of youthful repression and revolt. With an exhilarating sung-through pop score, bare is a provocative and honest look at the dangers of baring your soul, and the consequences of continuing to hide. Peter and Jason are the core of the show. They’re best friends, roommates and lovers. Jason, however, can’t embrace that he’s gay–pressure from his parents to be perfect, pressure to follow Catholic doctrine, pressure to conform consume him and yet he can’t deny that he loves Peter. On the other side, Peter is tired of hiding and wants to be open about their relationship. Jacob Entenman and Jared Hopper were stunning as Peter and Jason. From their first song that introduces their relationship to the more difficult, emotionally charged songs were their relationship fractures I was all in with them. Jacob in particular with “Ever After” and “The Role of A Lifetime” were stunning and the two coming together for the title song ripped my heart out. Other standouts here included Noni Celine as Sister Chantelle. She knows what’s up with Peter and tells him that “God Don’t Make No Trash.” She also comes to Peter when he’s in a drunken stupor … he sees her as the Virgin Mary. Noni brought the house down with “911 Emergency” where she told Peter in no uncertain terms that he needed to come out to his mother. Jessie Rae Jordan as Ivy nailed the role of bad girl who didn’t want to be a bad girl. Her “All Grown Up” as she reveals exactly what happened the night Jason and her spent together was amazing. Beth Ann Stripling as Jason’s sister Nadia was tremendous in her portrayal of a young woman grappling with many issues at home and school. We backed this Kickstarter even though we weren’t going to get to see it. It turned out I was able to be in the city and I was ecstatic to get to see the show for the first time. It exceeded every expectation and if I could’ve been in the city longer, I’d have gone back to see it again. It runs through March 30 and you can get information at BareInTheChurch.com Spring Book Recommendations Here are the blurbs we read on the show for the books we’re excited about: Arctic Sun by Annabeth Albert (Releases April 1) Everything’s bigger in Alaska, especially the HEAs. Annabeth Albert kicks off the brand-new Frozen Hearts series with Arctic Sun, an opposites-attract romance between a rugged outdoorsman and a smoking hot former male model. He’s built a quiet life for himself in Alaska. But it doesn’t stand a chance against the unrelenting pull of a man who’s everything he shouldn’t want. Ex-military mountain man Griffin Barrett likes his solitude. It keeps him from falling back into old habits. Bad habits. He’s fought too hard for his sobriety to lose control now. However, his gig as a wildlife guide presents a new kind of temptation in superhot supermodel River Vale. Nothing the Alaskan wilderness has to offer has ever called to Griffin so badly. And that can only lead to trouble… River has his own methods for coping. Chasing adventure means always moving forward. Nobody’s ever made him want to stand still—until Griffin. The rugged bush pilot is the very best kind of distraction, but the emotions he stirs up in River feel anything but casual, and he’s in no position to stay put. With temptation lurking in close quarters, keeping even a shred of distance is a challenge neither’s willing to meet. And the closer Griffin gets to River, the easier it is to ignore every last reason he should run.  LOL by Lucy Lennox and Molly Maddox (Releases April 2) Scotty: When a gorgeous cop comes racing out of a building on 5th Avenue, hops in your horse-drawn carriage, and screams, “Go!” You go. You don’t stop and ask for paperwork. Or a badge. Or an explanation of who you’re chasing. You simply follow his shouted orders and try not to kill anyone in the process. At least, that’s what I did when it happened to me. But then it turns out that the “cop” is none other than Roman Burke, Hollywood’s hottest star, and our little joy ride gets me fired. Now I’m broke, my horse has been evicted from her barn, and I’ve got nowhere to turn. Roman: When you accidentally hijack a Central Park carriage trying to escape the paparazzi, get pulled over by the police, and your crisis manager insists you lay low for a while, you nod your head and go. And when the cute carriage driver shows up on your front step, horse in tow, blaming you for losing his job, you agree to fix it. Even if that means hauling both him and his horse along with you on your Vermont getaway. At least that’s what I did when it happened to me. Unfortunately, trouble seems to stick to the sexy carriage driver like hot syrup on a hotter waffle, making my Vermont retreat anything but quiet. Now the carriage driver is in my bed, unexpected guests are crawling out of the woodwork, and the paparazzi is on my tail. With chaos and scandal swarming around me, suddenly, it isn’t just my career on the line. It’s my heart. Under His Protection by LaQuette (Releases April 16) They can escape their enemies, but not the desire between them. Prosecutor Camden Warren is on the fast track to professional nirvana. With his charm, his sharp legal mind, and his father as chief judge in the highest court in NY, he can’t fail. Nothing can derail his rise to the top… until an attempt on his life forces him to accept the help of a man he walked out on five years ago. Wounded in the line of duty, Lieutenant Elijah Stephenson wants to ride his new desk job until retirement—not take a glorified babysitting gig with more risk than it’s worth… especially not protecting the entitled lawyer who disappeared after the best sex of their lives. The threat against Camden’s life is real, but their passion for each other might prove the greatest danger they’ve yet to face. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (Releases May 14) What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales? When his mother became President, Alex Claremont-Diaz was promptly cast as the American equivalent of a young royal. Handsome, charismatic, genius—his image is pure millennial-marketing gold for the White House. There’s only one problem: Alex has a beef with the actual prince, Henry, across the pond. And when the tabloids get hold of a photo involving an Alex-Henry altercation, U.S./British relations take a turn for the worse. Heads of family, state, and other handlers devise a plan for damage control: staging a truce between the two rivals. What at first begins as a fake, Instragramable friendship grows deeper, and more dangerous, than either Alex or Henry could have imagined. Soon Alex finds himself hurtling into a secret romance with a surprisingly unstuffy Henry that could derail the campaign and upend two nations and begs the question: Can love save the world after all? Where do we find the courage, and the power, to be the people we are meant to be? And how can we learn to let our true colors shine through? Casey McQuiston’s Red, White & Royal Blue proves: true love isn’t always diplomatic.  American Fairytale by Adriana Herrera (Releases May 20) Fairy-tale endings don’t just happen; they have to be fought for. New York City social worker Camilo Santiago Briggs grew up surrounded by survivors who taught him to never rely on anything you didn’t earn yourself. He’s always dreamed of his own happily-ever-after, but he lives in the real world. Men who seem too good to be true…usually are. And Milo never ever mixes business with pleasure…until the mysterious man he had an unforgettable hookup with turns out to be the wealthy donor behind his agency’s new, next-level funding. Thomas Hughes built a billion-dollar business from nothing: he knows what he wants and isn’t shy about going after it. When the enthralling stranger who blew his mind at a black-tie gala reappears, Tom’s more than ready to be his Prince Charming. Showering Milo with the very best of everything is how Tom shows his affection. Trouble is, Milo’s not interested in any of it. The only thing Milo wants is Tom. Fairy-tale endings take work as well as love. For Milo, that means learning to let someone take care of him, for a change. And for Tom, it’s figuring out that real love is the one thing you can’t buy. Not Your Backup by C.B. Lee  (Releases June 4) Emma Robledo has a few more responsibilities that the usual high school senior, but then again, she and her friends have left school to lead a fractured Resistance movement against a corrupt Heroes League of Heroes. Emma is the only member of a supercharged team without powers, she isnt always taken seriously. A natural leader, Emma is determined to win this battle, and when thats done, get back to school. As the Resistance moves to challenge the League, Emma realizes where her place is in this fight: at the front.

Sitting outside this morning after rain, enjoying birdsong and my RITA® Award final! Reflecting on how I got no words yesterday, but that sometimes it's good to take time to celebrate. Support the show (http://paypal.me/jeffekennedy)

Saying goodbye today to my mom's cat, Sally. Plus a discussion of why authors shouldn't rant about their woes on the internet, even "in private." Also a random assortment of news, including the release of LONEN'S REIGN! And this is late going up because OH WOW! I got a phone call and THE DRAGONS OF SUMMER, my novella in SEASONS OF SORCERY finaled for a RITA Award. Hooray!!!Support the show (http://paypal.me/jeffekennedy)

When Tawna Fenske finished her English lit degree at 22, she celebrated by filling a giant trash bag full of romance novels and dragging it everywhere until she’d read them all. Now she’s a RITA Award finalist, USA Today bestselling author who writes humorous fiction, risqué romance, and heartwarming love stories with a quirky twist. Publishers Weekly has praised Tawna’s offbeat romances with multiple starred reviews and noted, “There’s something wonderfully relaxing about being immersed in a story filled with over-the-top characters in undeniably relatable situations. Heartache and humor go hand in hand.” Tawna lives in Bend, Oregon, with her husband, step-kids, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets. She loves hiking, snowshoeing, standup paddleboarding, and inventing excuses to sip wine on her back porch. She can peel a banana with her toes and loses an average of twenty pairs of eyeglasses per year. To find out more about Tawna and her books, visit www.tawnafenske.com And for more about host Lisa Kessler visit http://Lisa-Kessler.com Book Lights - shining a light on good books!  

Our next honoree of "In Agatha's Footsteps" is Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen. Her books have been top-3 bestsellers in the United States and number one bestsellers abroad. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon). Critics around the world have praised her novels as “Pulse-pounding fun” (Philadelphia Inquirer), “Scary and brilliant” (Toronto Globe and Mail), and “Polished, riveting prose” (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the “medical suspense queen”.

Tune in from October-December, Sundays at 7pm ET to our Christmas MuVies Spotlight show where Pam and Dawn talk about the upcoming holiday movies from Hallmark, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, IONtv, Lifetime tv, etc. and holiday music from various artists. We will chat with some of your favorite actors, have giveaways, and other surprises! We'll also have special edition episodes with interviews from your favorite actors & more! Visit take2radio.com for upcoming episodes. You can listen live or to the replay with the links provided.  **Saturday, Dec. 15th at 7pm Eastern - Christmas MuVies Spotlight Special Edition show with special guest - Author/writer, Teri Wilson! We had so much fun speaking with Teri about her books she's written and some that have become movies on Hallmark loved by many!  About Teri: Author of fun, flirty rom-com novels and four Hallmark Channel Original Movies. She is the author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies UNLEASHING MR. DARCY, MARRYING MR. DARCY, THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is a double finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novels THE PRINCESS PROBLEM and ROYALLY WED. She has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses and Audrey Hepburn films, and she loves following the British royal family. Feel free to visit and connect with her here at TeriWilson.net, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. *Photo credtis Crown Media and Teri Wilson. For personal use only* Social media: Twitter @take2radio @xmasmuvies Instagram & Facebook @take2radio @christmasmuviesspotlight Websites: take2radio.com christmasmuviesspotlight.com

We're joined this week by four incredible authors who've all been guests in the past: Tessa Dare, Joanna Shupe, Sarah MacLean, and Sophie Jordan! They tell us about their stories from their holiday anthology, How the Dukes Stole Christmas, chat about some of their holiday traditions, and answer questions from our Great Holiday Debate 2018! If you want to weigh in on the debate, you can submit your votes here: WWC Great Holiday Debate 2018 Listener Survey You can check out How the Dukes Stole Christmas here! The audio book is now available as well! You can find their past episodes here: Tessa Dare Joanna Shupe Sarah MacLean Sophie Jordan Thanks to everyone who has heeded our call from the Anniversary Episode and left us a review on iTunes (or wherever you listen!)—we appreciate it more than you know! Make sure you remember to shoot us an email (wickedwallflowersclub@gmail.com) to claim your reward(s)! If you haven't done it yet, offer still stands! A signed copy of Jenny's book! A custom limerick written about you by Sarah! Name a character in Jenny's column! We're also thrilled with our new Facebook group and loving being able to connect more with listeners, so if you haven't joined yet, come be part of our Facebook club! Our first newletter will go out in December, so if you want to get it and haven't signed up yet, you can do that HERE! WAYS TO LISTEN      About the Guests Here are the links to each guest's website where you can find info about their books, social media, and more! Tessa Dare Tessa Dare is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling American historical romance novelist. She has authored fifteen novels and novellas and created four different series. In 2012, she won the prestigious Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best Regency Historical Romance for her book A Night to Surrender. Joanna Shupe  Award-winning author JOANNA SHUPE has always loved history, ever since she saw her first Schoolhouse Rock cartoon. In 2013 she won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart® Award for Best Historical. Joanna's first Gilded Age historical novel, Magnate, was named one of the Best Books of 2016 by Publishers Weekly, and one of 2016′s top romances by The Washington Postand Kobo. The Washington Post named Joanna's The Lady Hellion as one of 2015's top five romance novels. Sarah MacLean New York Times, Washington Post & USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels that have been translated into more than twenty languages, and winner of back-to-back RITA Awards for best historical romance from the Romance Writers of America. Sophie Jordan Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances.

Authors on the Air host Pam Stack welcomes author Teri Wilson, whose books have been made into Hallmark movies. About Teri:  Teri Wilson is the author/creator of the Hallmark Channel Original Movies UNLEASHING MR. DARCY, MARRYING MR. DARCY, THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is a double finalist for the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novels THE PRINCESS PROBLEM and ROYALLY WED. She has a major weakness for cute animals, pretty dresses and Audrey Hepburn films, and she loves following the British royal family. Visit her at www.teriwilson.net or on Twitter @TeriWilsonauthr About her new book:  Charlotte Gorman loves her job as an elementary school librarian, and is content to experience life through the pages of her books. Which couldn’t be more opposite from her identical twin sister. Ginny, an Instagram-famous beauty pageant contestant, has been chasing a crown since she was old enough to enunciate the words world peace, and she’s not giving up until she gets the title of Miss American Treasure. And Ginny’s refusing to do it alone this time. She drags Charlotte to the pageant as a good luck charm, but the winning plan quickly goes awry when Ginny has a terrible, face-altering allergic reaction the night before the pageant, and Charlotte suddenly finds herself in a switcheroo the twins haven’t successfully pulled off in decades. Woefully unprepared for the glittery world of hair extensions, false eyelashes, and push-up bras, Charlotte is mortified at every unstable step in her sky-high stilettos. But as she discovers there’s more to her fellow contestants than just wanting a sparkly crown, Charlotte realizes she has a whole new motivation for winning.

Donna Kauffman is passionate, driven and more than just a little bit romantic. She's also a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of more than 70 novels, translated and sold in more than 26 countries around the world. She has won multiple RT Book Awards, Readers Choice and PRISM awards and has been a RITA Award finalist. Born into the maelstrom of Washington, D.C., politics, she now lives in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains, where she is a volunteer transporter for the Wildlife Center of Virginia and Rockfish Sanctuary. She's also an avid DoItYourselfer, baker and gardener. She's been involved in paper crafting, both as a maker and a teacher, for more than 20 years.   Donna always has had a love affair with the romance genre. An avid reader, she spent her childhood poring over various types of fiction, but she later gravitated toward romance. Host Patricia McLinn talks with Donna about consistency and change in her writing process and style, throughout her career. In Donna's words: "I don't worry so much what I'm supposed to be doing with my life or with my characters[now] ...because, by my standards and by what makes me happy, I'm doing great." (8:23) You can find Donna at: Her website Facebook Instagram You can also check out her crafting works, including step-by-step DIY instructions, at www.minibooksrme.com and her YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/c/DonnaKauffman Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month -- that's only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! -- by pledging at Patreon. It's vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you! Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

After a decade spent tracing her ancestors' roots in Georgian-era Britain, Deborah Hale learned a great deal about the period and uncovered enough fascinating true stories to inspire her fiction plots for years to come. A Golden Heart Award winner and RITA Award finalist, Deborah has written more than 30 novels and novellas in the genres of historical romance, inspirational romance, historical fiction and otherworld fantasy. Host Patricia McLinn talks with Deborah about being consistent with facts and history in fantasy novels; and busts myths about historical fiction. In Deborah's words: "I find usually the heroines are really strong... and manage to forge a relationship to change their own character... and have and expect wonderful sex. What's anti-feminist about that?" (12:04) You can find Deborah on: Her website  Facebook Twitter Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month -- that's only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! -- by pledging at Patreon. It's vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you! Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.  

NYT Bestseller Lexi Ryan talks to Jess Michaels about "foolhardy beliefs" (that aren't so foolhardy), giving herself the call for the RITA awards and putting energy into the world.

A USA Today bestselling author of more than 50 novels, Nancy Warren is known for her funny, sexy and suspenseful tales. Nancy is a three-time RITA Awards finalist, a winner of the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and was featured in an A1 New York Times story on her Harlequin Nascar romance series. Her latest releases include The Daisy Games, Book 7 of her Take a Chance series, and If the Dress Fits, Book 5 of The Almost Wives Club. Host Patricia McLinn talks with Nancy about taking others' advice, starting a book in the middle, and collaborating with other writers. In Nancy's words: "I take people's advice too easily, without sometimes thinking, maybe this was right for you but is this right for me?" (12:46). You can find Nancy on:   *Her website *Facebook *Twitter Thank you so much for listening. We hope you enjoyed the podcast enough to want to support us for future episodes. You can do that with as little as $1 a month -- that's only 25 cents per episode! What a deal! -- by pledging at Patreon. It's vital to Authors Love Readers to have your support. Thank you! Please also consider rating/reviewing the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks to DialogMusik for the instrumentals that accompany this podcast.

Author of Departure, The Extinction Files and The Origin Mystery Interview starts at 13:07 and ends at 43:36 “I feel very lucky about the timing. The Kindle had just come out. I would go home from work and read my Kindle every night, and I thought, ‘There's got to be a bunch of people like me that are doing this that I could write a story for.' And that's kinda what I got to.” News “Amazon reportedly had a 300-person conference call to deal with Prime Day glitches” by Rachel Sandler at Business Insider - July 20, 2018 Tech Tip reMarkable website reMarkable tablet at Amazon.com Neo Smart Pen “How to Buy a Kindle as a Gift for More Than One Person” by Saikat Basu at Make Use of - July 12, 2018 “Why You Should Read a Book with a Stranger” by Nick Douglas at Lifehacker - July 19, 2018 Audrey “Monitor Amazon Prices on Your Mac With This Menu Bar App” by Emily Price at Lifehacker4 - July 7, 2018 “How to install a new launcher on Amazon's Fire tablet” by Chris Meadows at TeleRead - July 7, 2018 PriceAlert for Amazon app for Macintosh ($2.99) Interview with A G Riddle Books by A G Riddle The Origin Mystery series: The Atlantis Gene, The Atlantis Plague, and The Atlantis World Departure The Extinction Files series: Pandemic and Genome On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King Wool Omnibus Edition [Kindle in Motion] (Silo series Book 1) by Hugh Howey David Gatewood, freelance editor Content “Amazon Publishing's Abigail Strom, author of Tell Me, Wins Romance Writers of America 2018 RITA Award” press release July 20, 2018 “Amazon Publishing Author Christine Bell Wins International Thriller Writers' 2018 Thriller Award for Grievance” press release July 14, 2018 Next Week's Show A 10th anniversary look back at the first episode of The Kindle Chronicles on July 26, 2018, and what we've been talking about since then, with excerpts from interviews with Jeff Bezos and others.  Music for my podcast is from an original Thelonius Monk composition named "Well, You Needn't." This version is "Ra-Monk" by Eval Manigat on the "Variations in Time: A Jazz Perspective" CD by Public Transit Recording" CD. Please Join the Kindle Chronicles group at Goodreads! Right-click here and then click "Save Link As..." to download the audio to your computer, phone, or MP3 player.

Hey Esteemed Listener!!! We have a very special episode this week: an interview with author Sarah MacLean! Sarah is a best selling romance author, romance columnist, two time RITA Award winner, advocate, and hugely celebrated lady we have big crushes on. In this episode Melody got to sit down with Sarah to discuss her new book Wicked and the Wallflower, book 1 of her new Bareknuckle Bastard series, which comes out on June 19, 2018 (TOMORROW!!!!). She talks all about her inspiration for the Bareknuckle Bastard series, the parts of Englandtimes she's uncovering by stepping out of the traditional ballroom setting, and the themes of Wicked and the Wallflower. We talk her research and writing process and learn all about Ada Lovelace, who is a Regency Era woman who is widely known for being the world's first computer programmer and a mathematician, but is also LORD BYRON'S DAUGHTER. Whhhaaaaattttt? And of course we chatted about feminism in romance, how that impacts historical accuracy (spoiler: not much), and Sarah's tribe within the writing community. As an added bonus, while discussing her reading catnip, Sarah recommends novels we should read, as she is wont to do: Priest by Sierra Simone The Unrequited by Saffron Kent Unlocked by Courtney Milan (Novella) Never Sweeter by Charlotte Stein The Player by Kresley Cole   Don't worry, y'all, her love of Tom Hardy comes up, too!   Self-Love Recommendations: Sarah: Fresh Cosmetics in general, but they do an eye cream that makes her super happy. Melody: Try to overcome imposter syndrome whenever you can. If you can, you could find yourself sitting across a table from SARAH MACLEAN. **Squeeeeee!**   Be sure to get Wicked and the Wallflower for a delicious Englandtimes read that steps outside of the normal ballroom setting and into the streets of London. It's a tale of outsiders, has a bad-ass lady lockpick heroine, a scarred, deep hero named DEVIL, and all the plotting you could wish for. Plus, all the tingles in your bathing suit parts.   Check out her website and social media! Her website has an INCREDIBLE list of over 180 romance novels she recommends. www.sarahmaclean.net Twitter: @sarahmaclean Instagram: @sarahmaclean Facebook: facebook.com/SarahMacLean   Follow us on all the things as well! www.heavingbosomspodcast.com Twitter: @Heaving_Bosoms Instagram: @heavingbosoms Facebook: facebook.com/heavingbosomspodcast Facebook GROUP: The Heaving Bosoms Podcast Geriatric Friendship Cult   Thank you for being AMAZING and creating such a fun community. We love you dearly.  

Isabeau patiently explains to Morgan the Rita Awards - especially the recent controversy over long-standing, systemic problems therein. Apologies for the lack of cool tunes and sound-goodness--without Nick we really boner'd this ep. But we wanted to be timely.

HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce lawyer turned bestselling author of more than 40 Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotic Romance books and novellas. A two-time RITA® Award finalist (for Mr. and Mr. Smith and Facing Fire) and a Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award winner in romantic suspense (for The Fixer), HelenKay is the president of Romance Writers of America. She lives in San Diego where she is working on her next series…or streaming a show on Netflix. You can find out more about HelenKay on her website at: http://HelenKayDimon.com And for more about host Lisa Kessler visit http://Lisa-Kessler.com Book Lights - shining a light on good books!  

A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D. While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, Adrift, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. She has now published 27 books, and her latest book, I Know a Secret, was published this past August. Her books have been published in 40 countries, and more than 30 million copies have been sold around the world. They have been top-three bestsellers in the United States and number-one bestsellers abroad. She has won both the Nero Award, presented by the Wolfe Pack for the best American mystery, and the Rita Award, presented by Romance Writers of America. Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the TNT television series Rizzoli & Isles starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander. Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. https://www.themainemag.com/radio/radio-guests/tess-gerritsen-author/

New York Times bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels that have been translated into more than twenty languages, and winner of back-to-back RITA Awards for best historical romance from the Romance Writers of America. Sarah talks about why romance novels are feminist -- they are by, for, and about women, and they feature women finding their power.  She shares her career journey of writing her first four books as a side hustle while working full-time, the importance of finding your tribe, and how her writing has inspired women to make changes to their lives.

Awards news kicks off this week's episode with a look at LGBT finalists for the 2017 Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense and the 2017 RITA Awards, both sponsored by RWA. Will talks about new merchandise supporting the children's book Promised Land, including a coloring book. The guys also announce that they'll be attending screenings at OutFest for Jay Bell's Something Like Summer and the premiere of Eastsiders Season 3. Will reviews Stage Two by Ariel Tachna and Cowboys Don't Come Out by Tara Lain. The guys also discuss, and highly recommend, the recent ABC mini-series When We Rise, which documents the gay liberation movement from 1971-2015. Suzanne Brockmann, Ed Gaffney and Jason T. Gaffney are welcomed back to the show to continue their interview. This week they discuss their many family collaborations and what's coming up next for each of them. Complete shownotes for episode 90 are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.

Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed historical romance authors writing today, winning the RITA Award two years running, and appearing on innumerable "Best of the Year" lists, including those of Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Dear Author, and All About Romance. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and sons. How Do You Write Podcast: Explore the processes of working writers with bestselling author Rachael Herron. Want tips on how to write the book you long to finish? Here you'll gain insight from other writers on how to get in the chair, tricks to stay in it, and inspiration to get your own words flowing. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To learn more about Butterflies of Wisdom visit http://butterfliesofwisdom.weebly.com/ Be sure to FOLLOW this program https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wins-women-of-wisdom/id1060801905. To find out how Win walk and about Ekso go to http://www.bridgingbionics.org/, or email Amanda Boxtel atamanda@bridgingbionics.org.   On Butterflies of Wisdom today, Best-Selling Author, Win Kelly Charles and Juan Carlos Gill welcomes Jeff Rasley. Jeff is the author of nine books; the most recent is Hero's Journey: John Ritter, the Chip Hilton of Goshen, Indiana; a Memoir.  He has published numerous articles in academic and mainstream periodicals, including Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, Family Law Review, American Athenaeum, Pacific Magazine, Indy’s Child, The Journal of Communal Societies, The Chrysalis Reader, Faith & Fitness Magazine, and Friends Journal.  He is an award-winning photographer and his pictures taken in the Himalayas and Caribbean, and Pacific Islands have been published in several journals.  He has appeared as a featured guest on over seventy radio programs. Rasley has engaged in social activism and philanthropic efforts from an early age.  In high school, he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger.  In law school, he was an advocate for renters' rights as the leader of the first rent strike in Indiana, and he served as a lobbyist and president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association.  As an attorney for Legal Services organization, he was lead counsel on two class action suits on behalf of prisoners which resulted in judgments requiring the construction of two new jails in Central Indiana.  Jeff was the lead plaintiff in a class action requiring the clean-up of the White River after an industrial chemical spill polluted it.  Jeff is the founder and president of the Basa Village Foundation USA, which raises money for culturally sensitive development work in the Basa area of Nepal.  He currently serves as an officer or director for six nonprofit corporations. Jeff recently ended his practice of law as the senior partner of Rasley & Wood, P.A.  He is a partner in the e-book publishing enterprise Midsummer Books and provides writer coaching services.  He is U.S. liaison for the Nepal-based Himalayan expedition company, Adventure GeoTreks Ltd.  He has taught classes for IUPUI Continuing Ed. The program, Indiana Writers Center, and Marian University.  He currently teaches philosophy of philanthropy at Butler University. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Chicago, A.B. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-Academic All-State Football Team and letter winner in swimming and football; Indiana University School of Law, J.D. cum laude, Moot Court and Indiana Law Review; Christian Theological Seminary, M.Div. Magna cum laude, co-valedictorian and Faculty Award Scholar.  He has been admitted to the Indiana, U.S. District Court, and U.S. Supreme Court Bars. For chairing the Indiana-Tennessee Civic Memorial Commission Rasley and the Commission received Proclamations of Salutation from the Governors of Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania and he was made an honorary Lieutenant Colonel Aide-de-Camp of the Alabama State Militia, a Kentucky Colonel and honorary Citizen of Tennessee.  He was given a Key to the City of Indianapolis for serving as an intern to Mayor Hudnut and preparing a report on the safety conditions of all Indy Parks. Rasley has received the Man of the Year award from the Arthur Jordan YMCA and the Alumni Service Award from the University of Chicago. Jeff is an avid outdoorsman and recreational athlete.  He leads trekking-mountaineering expeditions in Nepal and has solo-kayaked around several Pacific island groups.  He also loves to read and considers completing Marcel Proust’s 3600 page Remembrance of Things Past as great an adventure as climbing Himalayan peaks and solo-kayaking Pacific islands. He is married to Alicia Rasley, an English professor and the author of historical romances and writing craft books.  Alicia is a RITA Award winner and her novel The Year She Fell" was an Amazon-Kindle best-seller.  Son James is an officer in the National Guard, and Andrew is a tech supervisor with a film and TV production company in LA. To learn more about Jeff visit http://www.jeffreyrasley.com/. To find out more about Win Kelly Charles visithttps://wincharles.wix.com/win-charles. Please send feedback to Win by email her atwinwwow@gmail.com, or go to http://survey.libsyn.com/winwisdom andhttp://survey.libsyn.com/thebutterfly. To be on the show, please fill out the intake athttp://bit.ly/1MLJSLG. To look at our sponsorships go tohttp://www.educents.com/daily-deals#wwow. To learn about the magic of Siri go tohttps://www.udemy.com/writing-a-book-using-siri/?utm_campaign=email&utm_source=sendgrid.com&utm_medium=email. If you want to donate Butterflies of Wisdom, please send a PayPal donation toaspenrosearts@gmail.com. Please send a check in the mail, so 100% goes to Bridging Bionics Foundation.    In the Memo section have people write: In honor of Win Charles.    Send to:  Bridging Bionics Foundation  PO Box 3767 Basalt, CO 81621   Thank you Win        

Kathryn interviews NY Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs on her book “Family Tree”. The most touching journey is in coming home: and no one else can evoke all the uncertainty and joys of those life passages quite like Wiggs. Wiggs, a Harvard grad and winner of a RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, is the #1 NY Times bestselling author of more than fifty novels. Kathryn also interviews Jessica Joelle Alexander, author of “The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids”. Denmark has been voted the happiest country in the world for 40 consecutive years. What is the secret to this consistent success? Alexander attributes this happiness to their upbringing: happy kids grow up to make happy adults who raise happy kids and the cycle continues. They reveal a fresh take on cross-cultural parenting advice which will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.

Kathryn interviews NY Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs on her book “Family Tree”. The most touching journey is in coming home: and no one else can evoke all the uncertainty and joys of those life passages quite like Wiggs. Wiggs, a Harvard grad and winner of a RITA Award from the Romance Writers of America, is the #1 NY Times bestselling author of more than fifty novels. Kathryn also interviews Jessica Joelle Alexander, author of “The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids”. Denmark has been voted the happiest country in the world for 40 consecutive years. What is the secret to this consistent success? Alexander attributes this happiness to their upbringing: happy kids grow up to make happy adults who raise happy kids and the cycle continues. They reveal a fresh take on cross-cultural parenting advice which will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.

We open by congratulating two LGBT-themed books that won RITA Awards over the weekend: Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy's Him, which won for Mid-length Contemporary Romance, and Alexis Hall's For Real: A Spires Story, which won for Erotic Romance. The Reebok CrossFit Games are coming this week (July 19-24) in Carson, California and we talk of our love of the competition and our CrossFit crush on Mat Fraser. Plus we point listeners to the documentary about last year's games, Fittest On Earth, which is currently streaming on Netflix. J. Scott Coatsworth is here as part of the GRL Blog Tour. He talks about his latest short story, which is part of the A More Perfect Union anthology, as well as his work in the Queer Sci-Fi community. Daniel Schloss & Charlie Sohne join us to talk about their award winning comedy pilot, Truth Slash Fiction. They discuss the origin of the show, what the process has been like to shoot and shop the show at festivals and where they hope it goes in the future. We remind listeners that there's a poll running through July to find out who listens to the podcast. Everyone should also enter the Big GRL Blog Tour Giveaway. Complete shownotes for episode 41, and the chance to enter the Big GRL Blog Tour Giveaway, are at BigGayFictionPodcast.com.

Sep. 5, 2015. NPR's Petra Mayer emcees a program devoted to romance fiction, featuring Sarah MacLean, Beverly Jenkins & Paige Tyler at the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Speaker Biography: Best-selling author Sarah MacLean writes young adult and adult romance novels. In February 2014, she began writing a monthly romance novel review column for The Washington Post. MacLean's work has been translated into more than 20 languages and has received two RITA Awards for Best Historical Romance. Her novels include "The Season," "Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake," "A Rogue by Any Other Name," "No Good Duke Goes Unpunished" and her latest Rules of Scoundrels novel, "Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover." When not writing, MacLean is an advocate and public speaker on issues of education and literacy and often discusses the role of the romance genre in gender and cultural studies. Speaker Biography: Beverly Jenkins is a best-selling author of more than 20 novels and specializes in contemporary and historical romance fiction featuring African-American and multicultural characters. Her work has received various awards including several Borders/Waldenbooks Best-Seller Awards, two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards and a Golden Pen Award from the Black Writer's Guild. Jenkins has been featured in national publications and has appeared as a public speaker at several universities. Her novels include "Heart of Gold," "Night Hawk," "Indigo," "Bring on the Blessings" and her recent romance, "Destiny's Captive." Speaker Biography: Paige Tyler is the best-selling author of over 50 romance books of various subgenres ranging from suspense to paranormal. Her work often features strong alpha males and spirited independent women. Tyler's books "Animal Attraction," "Dead Sexy" and "Good Cop, Bad Girl" are EPIC Award Finalists. Some of her recent works include "Her Perfect Mate," "Her Lone Wolf," "Her Wild Hero," "Hungry Like the Wolf" and her latest SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team book "Wolf Trouble." For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=6888

Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D. While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift”, which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson. Tess’s first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), The Bone Garden (2007), The Keepsake (2008; UK title: Keeping the Dead), Ice Cold (2010; UK title: The Killing Place), The Silent Girl (2011), Last To Die (August 2012), Die Again (January 2015) and Playing With Fire (coming October 27, 2015). Her books have been published in forty countries, and more than 30 million copies have been sold around the world. Her books have been top-3 bestsellers in the United States and number one bestsellers abroad. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon). Critics around the world have praised her novels as “Pulse-pounding fun” (Philadelphia Inquirer), “Scary and brilliant” (Toronto Globe and Mail), and “Polished, riveting prose” (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the “medical suspense queen”. Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the TNT television series “Rizzoli & Isles” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander.