New to the neighborhood and reeling from the traumatic birth of her second
child, Marlowe Moore is barely holding it together. Battling postpartum
depression and anxiety, sheās desperate for stability.
But when she learns that a woman who once lived in her familyās new home
vanished without a trace, Marlowe becomes obsessed. As strange things happen
and neighborly smiles feel like veiled threats, Marlowe canāt shake the
feeling that someone is hiding something.
She spirals further into paranoia, fixated on the abandoned case and
determined to seek justice. But how can a woman who feels lost find a missing
person?
Juggling the demands of her beloved family and her harrowing mental illness,
Marlowe doesnāt realize she is caught in a cat-and-mouse game that could
cost her everything ā¦ including her life.
About the Author
Ashley Hanna-Morgan is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) certified in
perinatal mental health (PMH-C). In addition to her work as a psychotherapist,
she writes about mental health to advocate for change and inspire hope. In 2016, she wrote The Afterglow,
a mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy curriculum that supports parents with postpartum
depression and anxiety. In 2017, she published I Gave Birth to My Heart, a
collection of poems about the secret anguishes and innumerable joys of
reinventing oneself after postpartum depression.
When she isnāt counseling clients or volunteering with Postpartum
Support International, Ashley loves to experiment in the kitchen and spend as
much time outside as possible in San Diego, where she resides with her family. In Her Own Backyard is her first novel.
If you had the chance to remake the world, what kind of world would you
choose?
When tragedy strikes Lucas Mack’s young life, he desperately yearns to
escape its sorrow, and takes an improbable leap through the mythical
maelstrom. Rather than splashing down on the far side like his neighbors,
he’s transported to a magical realm where he has the power to redefine not
only who he is, but the world in which he resides.
As he stumbles about trying to find his way, he meets Mia, an equally
troubled fellow pilgrim. With the help of a mystical guide and an aging
wizard, they navigate the enchanted land while learning to control their
newfound powers. Yet this realm is more complex than they expected, with
seasoned sorcerers who’ve been corrupted by the sinister side of
magic.
Limited by natural law and seduced by magic’s power, they are tested as
never before. Will the gift of magic bring renewed hope or drive them to the
edge of the void?
About the Author
The urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter
at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the
wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights
rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with
eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry
line between reality and the fantastic.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a
day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He
paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without
prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry,
founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream,
the urge to write returned.
David now lives in the Great Northwest. He no longer limits himself to five
pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word
processor.
an old evil has found its way into McGregor Falls, and no one is safe.
Tracks
by Lyn I. Kelly
Genre: Horror
“It ain’t nothin’ like you’ve ever seen before, Sheriff.”
That was when Sheriff Cotton Briggs found the body, slaughtered beyond recognition inside a random boxcar. The trains have always moved through McGregor Falls, Texas, but now they have brought something into town, something Briggs had hoped was forever in the past.
Fifteen-year-old Travis Braniff while exploring an old trainyard with a friend, encounters that same something. Both boys escape the creature’s murderous intent, but now it is after them and will stop at nothing to prevent its secret from being revealed…too soon.
In Lyn I. Kelly’s newest novel, the werewolf mythology is explored and rewritten, as vengeance is rendered onto a small Texas town and secrets are revealed. Skinwalker. Lycanthrope. Werewolf. Whatever the name, whatever the legend, an old evil has found its way into McGregor Falls, and no one is safe.
Lyn I. Kelly is the author of the Dark Lands series and the horror novel, Tracks. His work has been published in Diamond Comics and in periodicals such as the Wichita Falls Times-Record News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Newsweek. Lyn is a member of the Horror Writers Association of America (HWA). He and his family live in Keller, Texas. He has cats that occasionally hinder his writing.
Bound by Blood
by DV Fischer & Amanda K. Mann
Genre: Dark Curvy Girl Vampire Romance
“Then buckle up, baby. It’s going to be one hell of a show.”
Carly Harris is a nobody. Sheās just a regular girl, albeit strong-willed, who lives in the city of Gravesdale with her best friend Lily. She thought Gravesdale was a regular, nothing but an ordinarily crowded city, until the day she got attacked by a tall, dark, and handsome man. A man who sunk his teeth into her neck in a dark alley. Sheās determined to find the truth about the man behind her attack because as far as sheās concerned, vampires exist. Little does she know, the truth will result in something far more complicated than the discovery of a supernatural race: she would fall in love.
Landon Creed is darkness personified. As a vampire, he lives solely for his next kill as well as his next meal, while also completing the jobs his father sends him on. That is his life and heās perfectly fine with it. Heās merciless and cold, loves inflicting pain, and does so without remorse. Until he meets Carly. Having nabbed her off the street, he has every intention of draining her dry to satiate the monster inside of him. But something happens the moment her blood touches his lips and it prevents him from killing her. A connection forms, one he does not understand, and he finds himself drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
The connection between them is forbidden and punishable by death. Both Landon and Carly find themselves facing the toughest decision of their lives; find a way to break the bond between them in order to save their lives or choose each other and face the consequences head on.
Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Blood-Curvy-Vampire-Romance/dp/B0BXN93KW9/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123277707-bound-by-blood USA Today bestselling and two-time Iowa award-winning author D. Fischer (DV Fischer) is a mother of two very busy boys, a wife to wonderful husband, and an owner of two sock-loving German Shorthair Pointers. They also have a cat named Geralt, but since Geralt adopted them and not the other way around, the cat is more of a tenant who occasionally purr-purrs for his rent, if he’s not too busy murdering nerf darts. Together, they live in Orange City, Iowa.
When D. Fischer isn’t chasing after her children, she spends her time typing like a mad woman while consuming vast amounts of caffeine. Sometimes, if her husband can manage to remind her of the real world outside her office window, they hike!
Known for the darker side of imagination, she enjoys freeing her creativity through worlds that don’t exist, no matter how much we wish they did. DV Fischer is a second pen name for D. Fischer.
Amanda K. Mann is a Cali girl, born and raised. Sheās the mother of two amazing children, both a son and a daughter, and a wife to an amazingly supportive and loving Marine husband. Which means she gets to move every three years or so.
Animal lover and Supernatural addict, she spends most of her free time with her nose stuck in a book or typing away at some new idea that popped into her brain. Her blood type is caffeine and she is a sucker for cute otter pics.
A man seeking closure after the death of his estranged brother. A woman grieving her sister and best friend. A connection they never saw coming. More than the temperature heats up in USA Today Bestselling Author Christy Hayesā unforgettable page-turning romance about two tortured souls and their collision course with love.
Megan Holloway has learned a few hard truths in her twenty-eight-years. Life isnāt fair. People she loves always leave. And sheāll be stuck on Key West running her parentsā gift store and raising her twelve-year-old niece for the rest of her life.
Thirty-year-old Bryan Westfall has come to Key West to clean out his dead brotherās apartment and search for answers about the woman who died with his estranged older brother. Bryan didnāt know the woman had a daughter and he sure didnāt expect her sister to floor him with her beauty and biting brashness.
Bryanās persistent need to help and Megās bumbling business skills create an unlikely union. The more time they spend together, the more their feelings become too powerful to deny. Meg knows Bryan is leaving at the end of the summer and Bryan knows Meg is holding back to spare herself needless heartache. When a hurricane forces them to evacuate, Meg mentally prepares to let Bryan go while Bryan wonders if home is where he came from or is with the woman who stole his heart.
Author Bio:
Christy Hayes is a USA Today Bestselling author. She grew up along the eastern seaboard and received two degrees from the University of Georgia. An avid reader, she writes romance and womenās fiction. Christy and her husband have two grown children and live with a houseful of dogs in the foothills of north Georgia.
The internet is a wonderful resource and has saved a lot of time in researching. Whenever possible, I reach out to people and ask questions. People are very generous and willing to talk when you tell them you are doing research for a book.
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
Meg was the hardest because she had so much on her plate. Iām a mother and I understand the pressure of raising a pre-teen, however Lily wasnāt technically her child and her role switched from supportive aunt to mom without any warning. When you add in her overwhelming grief, that relationship was difficult to write and keep authentic. Dustin was a hard secondary character to write simply because at the time I didnāt know what the issues were with his marriage.
Where do you get inspiration for your stories?
Often snippets from the news or traveling to new locations. Travel and new experiences really seem to wake up the creative side of my brain.
There are many contemporary romance books out there. What makes yours different?
Iām trying to bridge the gap between the ultra-steamy contemporary romance genre and the no-steam sweet romance. In my opinion, the last decade or so has seen a rise in the steam level of romance novels and I donāt think all readers want such graphic content.
What advice would you give budding writers?
The advice I would give all writers is to keep writing, keep learning, read craft books, take classes, go to conferences, and be prepared to do the hard work. Writing isnāt easy and it doesnāt pay well so if youāre looking for money or fame you should look elsewhere.
Your book is set in Key West. Have you ever been there?
Yes, several times. This idea was spawned by a trip my husband and I took with another couple. The guys are big fly fisherman and while they fished the wives shopped and walked around the island.
If you could put yourself as a character in your book, who would you be?
Iād be Meg. Like her, Iām the younger sister of a big personality older sister. Itās a unique dynamic where you idolize your older sister and resent her in equal measure.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
Being a wife and mom are my full-time profession, but my kids are both grown. We have two dogs, a couple horses, and a new brood of chickens, so my second profession is probably animal caretaker.
How long have you been writing?
I was a journalism major in college, but I started writing fiction when my youngest child went to kindergarten almost twenty years ago.
Do you ever get writerās block? What helps you overcome it?
Iām not a plotter, so I get a little off track in the middle of my stories. The best method Iāve found to overcome the muddy middle is to read a craft book. A good craft book always gets me back on track.
What is your next project?
Iām working on Dustinās story. Heās a character in The Last Lap whose marriage is in serious trouble.
What genre do you write and why?
I write contemporary romance and womenās fiction as they are the fiction genres I like to read. I donāt have an interest in researching and writing historical romance or the bandwidth to create whole new worlds for fantasy.
What is the last great book youāve read?
I really enjoyed Kate Claybornās Best of Luck, the third book in her Chance of a Lifetime series. Itās not a new book but I really admired the depth of both characters, and her writing is superb.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
Whenever someone says the characters or situations are realistic, that to me is the best compliment.
How are you similar to or different from your lead character?
Meg and I are both younger sisters, but the comparison ends there. Iām lucky enough to have met the love of my life in college and Iāve been married for thirty years this November.
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
I canāt imagine how difficult it must be to navigate dating and single parenting when you are solely responsible for raising a child. Allowing Meg take time for herself but also be Lilyās rock was a delicate balance.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
Long and winding. I had written about three manuscripts before I felt ready to query agents. I would write a book, have it edited, and then query while writing a new book. When I was done with the next book and had it edited, I would then start the cycle over again with the new book. I decided to jump off the hamster wheel of write, edit, query in 2011 when self-publishing was still pretty new. My writing friends were supportive, but they also thought I was crazy. It was the wild west back then.
What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Donāt count on paying your bills as a writer. Unfortunately, the content creators are not paid enough for what they do. My greatest fear is that AI will demolish the industry, especially romance.
Which authors inspired you to write?
Honestly, I read a book and thought I could do better. It took me a long time to get to the point where I could.
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing?
No snacking.
Where do you write?
I typically write while exercising on my incumbent bike or walking at a slow pace on my treadmill. Movement helps get the creative juices flowing. My husband works from home so I write on my laptop away from the sound of his voice so I can concentrate.
Do you write every day?
Most days, yes.
What is your writing schedule?
Whenever I can find the time. Iād be more productive with a set schedule.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
I read back through the last few pages to get my head in the story before moving forward.
Fun stuff:
Favorite travel spot?
When itās cold in the South, I like to go where itās warm. I like the US Virgin Islands because itās an easy flight from Atlanta and the weather is beautiful. When itās summer and too hot to be outside, I like to go out West, specifically Colorado.
Favorite dessert?
Ice cream. No contest.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
The Bible, a survival book, and maybe an old Nora Roberts or Susan Elizabeth Phillips book.
Any hobbies?
People think we are crazy for all the animals we have. We are down to two dogs, but we usually have three and we take them with us whenever we can. The horses came along about five years ago, and the chickens are brand new. I love caring for animals. They teach us so much about life.
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
Writers are normal people who have active imaginations. Our lives are not as exciting as the stories we write, and we write about things that pique our interest. For me, writing is a way to explore new ideas, learn about different professions, and meet new people.
What is something you’ve learned about yourself during the pandemic?
When it comes down to it, nothing matters but our health. I learned not to trust the āexpertsā and to listen to my gut.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
We love the Netflix docuseries about Formula 1 and professional golf.
What is your favorite thing to do in the spring?
I love to go to antique stores, especially with my adult daughter.
What is something that made you laugh recently?
My dogs make me laugh daily. I love watching funny Instagram videos. Our family is always sending funny videos to each another.
What is your go-to breakfast item?
Hot tea.
What is the oldest item of clothing you own?
I still own a pair of rain shoes Iāve had since high school.
Tell us about your longest friendship.
My longest friendship is with my sister and believe it or not, we still like each other. š
What is the strangest way you’ve become friends with someone?
I was the ghostwriter for a faith-based father-son memoir after doing research for a book on athletes injured playing football and stumbled across a CaringBridge page from a family in Iowa. I reached out to the dad after being incredibly moved by the entries and ended up writing their story. We are friends to this day.
