The Bookshop at the End of the Internet

Author Evan Kidwell discusses his debut fantasy novel, Timeaous Spark and the Luck Curse. This first installment in a new series introduces a world where magic is unlocked through brutal trials, and the abilities revealed determine one's place in a rigid class system. Timeaous Spark discovers his magic—known as "minor luck"—is a power society views as dangerous. His journey forces him to decide whether to accept the role he's been assigned or fight for the life he wants. Evan wrote this story with themes of bullying and self‑discovery in mind, drawing on his own childhood experiences and the advice that helped him through them. And although this is his first book, he's been inventing characters and worlds in his head since he was a kid—and some of those characters finally make their debut in this novel. In this episode, Evan chats about his writing journey, the moment at a work conference that pushed him to finally write the book, and the people in his life who encouraged him to keep going.

Author Sonia Daccarett discusses her debut memoir, The Roots of the Guava Tree: Growing up Jewish and Arab in Colombia. Sonia never intended to write a book. But as she reached middle age, she found herself looking back on a childhood that felt strangely distant from the life she was living now. Her memoir became a way to bridge those two worlds. Sonia grew up in Colombia speaking a different language, surrounded by the vibrant culture of her country as well as the traditions of her Jewish and Arab heritage. Her grandparents emigrated to Colombia and built a life there, and Sonia was always captivated by the stories, customs, and languages that shaped her family—and, ultimately, her own identity. When she enrolled in a memoir-writing class, the memories began to surface in vivid, sensory detail, eventually blossoming into the book she never expected to write.

Author Melanie Anagnos discusses her debut novel, Nightswimming. The story drops us straight into the gritty streets of Paterson, New Jersey, circa 1979. Jamie Palmieri, a young patrol officer barely three years out of the academy, suddenly finds himself pulled into a brutal double-murder investigation. What begins as a request for an extra pair of hands quickly becomes something far more dangerous, as Jamie realizes the killer may be turning his sights on him. But Nightswimming isn't just a tense police procedural—it's a sharp look at the era's entrenched injustices, including the way female victims were routinely dismissed by a police force that was overwhelming male. Melanie describes Nightswimming as gritty mystery that is definitely of its time.

Author Helen Hynson Vettori discusses her new Black Swan thriller series. The first two books—Black Swan Impact and Black Swan Shock—are out now, with a third on the way. Before becoming a novelist, Helen spent her career as a government planner for catastrophic events like pandemics. When she retired in 2018, she imagined a quiet life of travel and crafting. Then 2020 arrived. As the world shut down, Helen was stunned to see the government ignore the very plans she helped create. To cope with the anxiety of that moment, she began journaling, which quickly transformed into storytelling. The result was Black Swan Impact, set during a pandemic in the year 2113, followed by, Black Swan Shock, centered on the aftermath of a massive earthquake. Drawing on her real-world expertise, Helen writes stories rooted in disaster but driven by energy, resilience, and hope.

Author D.A. Murray discusses Dominion: Ascension, the first book in her new Dominion trilogy. The story takes place about thirty years in the future, in the aftermath of a devastating war that has reshaped society into a post-apocalyptic nation now known as Dominion. The consequences of that conflict run deep—cognitive decline, widespread infertility, and a dramatic shift in the balance of power. In this world, women now hold control. At the center of the story is Dani Matthews, an investigative reporter and the daughter of a high-ranking Dominion official. As Dani digs the truth behind the government's propaganda, she uncovers unsettling secrets—about Dominion, about the war, and about her own mother. In this episode, we cover D.A.'s writing journey, the power dynamics between men and women and what happens when those dynamics are flipped, and why the heart of this story isn't technology or politics but human relationships.

Author Bill Hulseman discusses his new book, six to carry the casket and one to say the mass. This powerful collection of personal essays grew out of Bill's experience with grief and burnout after losing several family members in a short span of time. Through his writing, he reflects on how he arrived at that moment in his life, exploring themes that range from family to Catholicism to queer-belonging and pop culture. Bill shares stories from his early formative years, the pivotal choices that shaped his path, and the moments that helped him understand and embrace his queer identity. In this episode, I'll chat with Bill about his writing journey, the influences he calls "raindrops in a desert", and the meaning behind the book's striking tittle—six to carry the casket and one to say the mass.

Author Hanna Verrall discusses one of the most delightfully unusual writing projects I've come across: The Fax Club Experiment. One hundred writers. One fax machine each. One question received by fax every Friday for a full year. Only 32 made it to the end—and together they turned their favorite responses into a book. Hanna shares how the experiment worked, why every author stayed anonymous, and what surprised her most about the answers that came in week after week. It's a conversation about creativity, commitment, and the magic that happens when writers lean into the unexpected. Tune in for this wonderfully "slightly weird… but in the best way" story.

This week on The Bookshop at the End of the Internet, I'm chatting with author Andy Honda, the creative mind behind the charming children's series Koa's Ruff Life. Inspired by her real-life rescue pup, Koa—a lovable Rhodesian Ridgeback—Andy's stories follow his adventures across New York City. From the Central Park Zoo to Bryant Park to Christmas in the city, each book celebrates the small, magical moments she and Koa share, sprinkled with fun NYC facts to spark curiosity in young readers. In our conversation, Andy opens up about her unexpected path from science to storytelling, the joy she finds in writing for kids, and the meaningful volunteer work she and Koa do in children's hospitals and special‑needs schools. Tune in to hear about Andy's journey, Koa's adventures, and the love letter to NYC behind this delightful series.

Author Jen Braaksma talks about a truly extraordinary project: Befriending Betsy. This book began with another writer—Betsy Pauly, a woman remembered for her kindness, humor, and deep love for animals. After Betsy passed away, she left behind pieces of a manuscript and a husband determined to see her story reach the world. That's where Jen stepped in. Jen was brought on to help shape Betsy's unfinished work, but this wasn't your typical co-authoring experience. She had to learn Betsy's voice, understand her heart, and honor a story that began long before she arrived. In our conversation, Jen shares what it was like to step into another writer's creative world, how her background as a book coach guided the process, and the unique challenge of capturing a voice that's no longer here to speak for itself. It's a moving, thoughtful look at storytelling, legacy, and the connections we forge through words.

Author Nancy Bernhard discusses her powerful debut novel, The Double Standard Sporting House. Set in New York City, 1868, during the shadowy reign of Tammany Hall, Nancy's story follows Doc—a sharp, fearless woman who runs an elite brothel as a covert way to fund her free clinic for women. Her world is one of grit, autonomy, and unexpected power, built at a time when society demanded "respectability" above all else. Nancy shares the surprising historical research behind the novel, including eye‑opening statistics about sex work in 19th‑century NYC and the complex reasons so many women entered the trade. We also dive into her writing journey, the family inspiration behind the book, and why she describes medicine of the era as "the wild west." If you love historical fiction, hidden histories, or stories about women carving out their own paths, you won't want to miss this conversation.

Author Joe Battaglia discusses his debut novel, Beneath the Rings. Joe is a seasoned sports journalist who spent years covering the Olympic Games. His experiences inspired Beneath the Rings, which centers around a terrorist event at the 2040 Summer Olympic Games in Doha. In this story, an independent journalist finds herself in the center of an international hostage situation and has to race against time to uncover the terrorist plot steeped in corruption, trafficking, and revenge to save the Olympic Games from international disaster. Joe has drawn upon his nearly thirty-year career in journalism, including coverage of multiple Olympic Games, to craft a fictional story based on an amalgamation of people he's known, places he's been, and events he's witnessed.

Author Susie Spikol about her books Forest Magic (For Kids) and The Book of Fairies. Susie has spent nearly thirty years working as a naturalist at nature centers and spends her time reminding people about the wonders of open-ended play outdoors. In Forest Magic, she has created dozens of activities for kids and parents that are inspired by her work and the magic of the natural world. Her latest book, The Book of Fairies, is a field guide to fairies. She began this book when she was eight years old, making up stories to explain what she saw in the natural world. The Book of Fairies includes real science peppered throughout its pages, as well as a fun and imaginative "how to find" section for each fairy.

In the conclusion of this two‑part series, The Bookshop at the End of the Internet presents four more conversations with members of the First Coast Romance Writers, recorded during their recent retreat. This episode features Melody Johnson, Leah Miles, Vanessa Victoria Kilmer, and Vickey Wollan—authors whose work spans romantic suspense, paranormal worlds, adventure, and holiday stories. From ghosts and haunted lore to treasure hunting, Navy SEALs, and the creative resilience of writing with dyslexia, these interviews highlight the breadth and imagination of the romance genre. Join host Stacey Horan as she wraps up this special series celebrating storytelling, community, and the joy of discovering new authors.

In this first installment of a special two‑part series, The Bookshop at the End of the Internet features five brief, lively interviews recorded onsite at a working retreat of the First Coast Romance Writers. Host Stacey Horan chats with Maggie FitzRoy, LaTisha Redding, Lynn Westhoff, Marie Morton, and Ann Wright—authors at various stages of their writing journeys who bring humor, passion, and unique perspectives to the romance genre. From YA themes to paranormal trilogies to Caribbean‑inspired sports romance, this episode offers a warm, engaging look at the many ways stories take shape. Tune in for books, inspiration, and a behind‑the‑scenes glimpse into a vibrant writing community.

Author Marty Neumeier discusses his new thriller, Octavo. This didactic novel delves into the nature of creativity while spinning a thrilling tale through two storylines. One is set during the Renaissance and follows the last pupil of Leonardo DaVinci who writes an adventurous account of the lengths he and DaVinci go through to get DaVinci's notebooks published. There is a mystery surrounding why and how the notebooks fail to be published, and Marty's tale shows DaVinci in the role of detective, trying to solve the mystery. The second storyline is set in modern times and features two art authenticators discover the manuscript. Determined not to let the manuscript meet the same fate as Davinci's notebooks, they hatch a plan to steal it, which leads to even more adventure.

Author Butch Phelps discusses his new book Stretch n' Release: The Missing Piece to a More Pain-Free Life. Butch knows what pain feels like firsthand. At age 18, a car crash left him with a broken arm and a broken pelvis. By age 40, he was in such terrible shape and his back pain so severe that he had to roll out of bed in the morning onto his knees and crawl out of his car, using the door handles to pull himself upright. Butch began to study muscle therapy, eventually becoming a licensed therapist and certified health coach, and developed his own stretch-and-release technique over the span of twenty years working in the field. Stretch n' Release took four years to write. The end result is a book that is part memoir, chronicling Butch's own battles with pain, and part do-it-yourself guide that helps people heal  themselves.

Author Amy Weinland Daughters discusses her book, You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened. Amy kicked around the idea for a funny little time travel story for very long time before actually writing it, finishing it, and sending it out into the world. You Cannot Mess This Up is the story of Amy going back in time to her childhood home in 1978 to spend 36 hours with her family over the Thanksgiving holiday. She meets her ten-year-old self and rediscovers what a wonderful, funny, vibrant person she used to be. By the end of writing this story, Amy wanted to be that 10-year-old self again. Amy describes this book as a "memoir wrapped in a tortilla of fictional time travel." We also chat about her her follow-up book, Dear Dana, which chronicles that time when she sent handwritten letters to her nearly 600 Facebook friends.

Author Claire Barner discusses her debut novel, Moonrising. This sci fi romance takes place approximately 50 years in the future and is set largely on the moon's first colony. Main character, Dr. Alex Cole, has spent her life looking for ways to solve earth's growing food problem. When her funding is threatened, she finds herself being thrown a lifeline by a charismatic businessman who hires her to create a sustainable food source for the moon's first hotel. While living on the moon and trying to grow food is challenging enough, back home on earth support for her plans to save the planet are being threatened by government resistance and eco-terrorists. Is she willing to die for her grandiose vision of saving humanity and are she willing to sacrifice those she loves in the process? Claire describes Moonrising as cozy and romantic with some very real science and a heart-pounding climax.

Author Candace Kade discusses her new novel, Augmented—the third and final installment in The Hybrid series. Our heroine, Lee Urban, is a Natural (someone born without genetic enhancements) who is fighting to dismantle the enhancement programs while trying to outmaneuver those who wish to erase her existence. Lee is someone who straddles two worlds—that of the Naturals and the Enhanced—but feels that she doesn't really belong to either one. Is it possible that she is the one person who can be a bridge between them? Maybe—if she can stay alive long enough to find out. Candace also shares how growing up as an expat in China and returning to the US as an adult gave her plenty of inspiration for writing about her main character's struggles.

Alex R. Johnson discusses his debut novel, Brooklyn Motto. This book, set in New York City in 1998, is Alex's take on classic noir detective fiction. In it, Nico, a disillusioned private investigator, makes his living by photographing municipal employees suspected of insurance fraud. He's approaching thirty, wondering where his career is going, and realizing he has to grow up and start making active choices about his life. During one of his PI jobs, Nico witnesses a murder involving a corrupt police officer. While he has no desire to entangle himself in anything involving police corruption, he's left with no choice but to investigate and solve the case before more people end up dead, including himself.

Author Lois Melbourne discusses her new sci fi novel, Moral Code. Lois was inspired by the idea of an ethical Artificial Intelligence that could protect children. In Moral Code, her main character, Dr. Keira Stetson, creates such an AI. Dr. Stetson begins by using it as her assistant, which she names Elly, and eventually uses it to help the FBI and other agencies identify dangers to kids. As the AI learns and grows, Elly becomes more vigilante than humble assistant. Lois admits that it took work to strike the right balance between technology and creativity when writing this novel, but at its heart, Moral Code is not really about tech. It's a story about people.

Author Geoff Loftus discusses his new book, The Devil's Vacation. It is the tenth book in his Jack Tyrrell thriller series. The main character, Jack Tyrrell, is a former Special Forces veteran and Deputy U.S. Marshall who solves crimes and rights wrongs with the help of his guardian angel. In The Devil's Vacation, which is set on a small island off the coast of Rhode Island, Jack finds his summer vacation interrupted by a brutal double murder. The deaths have familiar hallmarks, and Jack and his guardian angel are forced into a confrontation with evil in the form of a serial killer and his guardian devil. This series—its story line and the main characters—were inspired by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Author Peter Gribble discusses his new City of Magicians series. The first three books in the series—Threat, Within, and Quickening—are available now, and Peter is hard at work on books four through six. In this fantasy series, a society built on intellect and pacifism is forced to confront a brute-force barbarian invasion. Can the society survive? Peter's stories challenge the ideas of war, power and the control of knowledge as a weapon. He was inspired by his early childhood spent in France, where he was taught to never speak about WWII. This silence about the war and the practice of ignoring history's lessons unsettled him, and he decided to finally address it decades later by writing the City of Magicians series.

Author Veeda Bybee discusses her new cookbook, A Few of My Favorite Things: Recipes Inspired by Family-Friendly Musicals. Once upon a time, Veeda Bybee was a food blogger. But as family and other commitments grew, maintaining the blog became too much work, and she eventually gave it up. This cookbook marks a return to writing about food and cooking, and she admits that it is a dream come true. During the pandemic, Veeda and her family began enjoying Family Musical Fridays, during which they watched a musical together, and Veeda prepared a recipe mentioned in the movie or inspired by the relevant time period or setting. By doing this, she found she was able to give her kids a good reason to try new foods. Family Musical Fridays were a big hit with her family, and they inspired her to create a cookbook featuring her family's favorite recipes and musicals.

Author Joan Fernandez discusses her new novel, Saving Vincent. This work of historical fiction is the story of Jo Van Gogh, sister-in-law of painter Vincent Van Gogh and wife of Vincent's brother Theo. After the death of her husband, who died only six months after his brother, Jo inherited Vincent's artwork. At that time, the paintings were worthless, but Jo worked tirelessly to persuade people to take Vincent's art seriously. Eventually, people began to appreciate his art and buy his paintings. Thus, it was Jo who promoted the work, developed a market for the paintings, and rescued Vincent Van Gogh from obscurity.

Author Josh Mendoza discusses his debut novel, Shadow of the Eternal Watcher, a classic noir detective story that spirals into a sci fi adventure/space opera. The main character, Duster Raines, is an ambulance-chasing private investigator who is well on his way to hitting rock bottom when he finds himself dragged into a mystery that crosses multiple realities, and he glimpses a version of himself that is so much more than he is in this world. Josh drew upon his background as a screenwriter and filmmaker when writing this novel, and his intention was to take traditional tropes of the genres and bend them in the style of The Twilight Zone.

Author Cynthia Moore discusses her new book, Dancing on Coals: A Memoir of an Overperformer, which tells the story of her life thus far in two parts. The first is a twenty-year journey in experimental theater. She spent those 20 years traveling, performing, creating her own theatrical pieces, and literally throwing herself against walls. The second part of her story is her pivot to obtain her master's degree in clinical psychology and spend the next twenty years working as a mental health counselor. Cynthia went from living a performative and physically expressive life to one of calm, introspective reflection. She discusses her writing journey, what lead her to pivot from performing to counseling, and the meaning behind her title, Dancing on Coals.

Author Zaq Baker discusses his debut novel, Unspectacular. This family dramedy is about young people trying to balance a music career with family struggles and everyday life. The story is told in two primary narratives: Mae, a twenty-year-old music student who doesn't really want a career in music but who is expected to be next big thing; and Ajay, a software engineer and skilled drummer who struggles to balance the job at which he is expected to excel with the music career he desperately wants. Zaq Baker has written what he knows. He's been singing and writing songs since he was fifteen. A professional musician and songwriter, Zaq plays in about ten different bands, so writing Unspectacular began as a private, creative project just for himself.

Author Mima Tipper discusses her debut young adult contemporary romance novel, Kat's Greek Summer. Rising high school freshman, Kat, is dragged off to Greece for a vacation to meet her extended family, ruining Kat's own summer plans of training for the cross-country team and preparing for a successful transition into high school. Mima describes Kat's Greek Summer as high-stakes odyssey for her main character—one of pursing dreams, discovering love, owning her heritage, and finding her own voice. For this story, Mima drew upon her own memories of the summer following her eighth-grade year, as well as summers she spent in Greece with her extended family.

Author Richie Billing discusses his new fantasy novella, Together We Rise, a story about revolution against a corrupt government in a world were life has become a fight for survival. Richie took inspiration from real-world events and the plight of many around the globe. This story is told from multiple points of view—workers, healers, children, police officers, criminals, and so on. Each chapter follows a different character, and the story unfolds like a baton relay race, with each character handing off to the next, chapter by chapter, until we see the entire story unfold. Richie also used AI to create a soundtrack to accompany this novella.

Author Liz Alterman discusses her new book, Claire Casey's Had Enough. Claire Casey is a forty-something year old mom of three who is recently separated from her husband and is facing the decision of whether to reconcile or file for divorce. The book follows Claire through one thirteen-hour day in which her life feels like its spinning out of control. When an old flame gets in touch and asks Claire out on a date, she is forced to revisit her hopes and dreams and things that took a back seat to marriage and family, all while trying to deal with the everyday chaos of being a suburban mom. As it all gets to be too much, Claire has to be honest with herself, take a hard look at her life, and decide what she really wants.

Author Sara Winokur discusses her two new novels—Double Blind: The Icelandic Manuscript Murders, and Ivory Bones: The Lewis Chessmen Murders—both set in Iceland and featuring a forensic geneticist who uses her knowledge and skills to solve mysteries. In both novels, Sara blends Nordic noir mysteries with history and real-world intrigue. Sara was a genetics researcher for twenty-five years, and she manages to include genetics into her stories in a light-handed way. She also likes to weave in historical events and mysteries. As a result, Double Blind features mysterious medieval manuscripts of Icelandic sagas, while Ivory Bones includes a famous set of ivory chess pieces known as the Lewis Chessmen.

Author Brandi Bradley discusses her new novel, Pretty Girls Get Away with Murder. Brandi knew she wanted to write a murder mystery set in a small Southern town like the one she grew up in. Pretty Girls Get Away with Murder is a Southern noir novel set in a small Kentucky town in which a young entrepreneur is murdered, and everyone suspects his "crazy ex-girlfriend" of killing him. The story revolves around three women: the victim's ex-girlfriend, his best friend, and the detective tasked with investigating his suspicious death. In this small town, secrets and gossip run rampant, but the truth is buried in there somewhere.

Author Lola Reid Allin discusses her new memoir, Highway to the Sky: An Aviator's Journey. Lola wanted to write a book that was not just about aviation but also about her experience as a female pilot at a time when it was extremely rare for women to be commercial pilots. While the industry has changed since Lola started out as a pilot, women still make up a very small percentage of the world's commercial pilots, and many of the problems she faced in her career are still ongoing. Her book details Lola's career in aviation, but it also addresses issues of motherhood, divorce, single parenthood, and non-traditional careers. Lola's purpose in writing this memoir was to say to other women, "You are not alone."

Author Mark Mustian discusses his new Southern Gothic novel, Boy with Wings. In this work of historical fiction, a boy named Johnny Cruel is born with wing-like appendages on his back. Is he a miracle, or is he cursed? Johnny ends up in a freak show traveling through the South in the 1930's. While he bares his back for the entertainment of onlookers, he finds that the very thing that shocks people also gives him power. Mark had long wanted to write a book about "odd people," and he knew he finally had something special when he struck upon the idea of Johnny Cruel, the boy with wings. In this story, Mark delves into the idea of what it's like to be different, as well as issues of race and religion in the South during the 1930s.

Author Patsy C. Robertson about her debut novel, A Concoction of Lies. As an avid reader, Patsy was frustrated by the lack of representation of older people as main characters. In A Concoction of Lies, Patsy's characters range from their 40s to their 70s, and she places them in a thrilling, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse. In this story, a former FBI cybersecurity specialist becomes a cybercriminal, hacking the bank account of a notorious Guatemalan cartel member. He is kidnapped, smuggled into Guatemala, and manages to escape to the Belize border. During his escape, he crosses paths with a plantation owner who battles addiction and has been recently taken advantage of by a charming conman. When their paths cross, their struggles and pasts catch up with them, further endangering them both.

Author Keith G. McWalter discusses his new science fiction novel, Lifers, in which the solution to extending human life has been found and is secretly unleashed upon the world's population in the form of an airborne pandemic. When people stop dying, the pressures of an ever-increasing population create a whole host of political and socio-economic ramifications. Keith admits that he didn't need to make up much of the science in Lifers. The creative part was imagining what would happen if suddenly, overnight, people lived for an additional hundred years or more. What would be the effects on families, economics, medical care, politics, and so on?

Author Talia Carner discusses her new historical novel, The Boy with the Star Tattoo. This story combines two real-life events that took place in France: (1) the 1946 Youth Aliya search for Jewish orphans who were hidden in the European countryside during WWII, and (2) the Israeli naval action off the coast of Cherbourg, in Normandy, during the French arms embargo in 1969. In this novel, the assistant to an Israeli naval officer stationed in Cherbourg uncovers the truth about her boss's mysterious past and his connection to the Youth Aliya program over two decades earlier. Talia undertook years of research for this book, including interviews with the navy admiral who orchestrated the Cherbourg naval operation.

Author R.B. Kelly discusses her debut sci fi novel, Edge of Heaven, and its sequel, On the Brink. Rachael began the first draft of the story when she was only fifteen years old. Always a fan of Terry Pratchett, Rachael loves his notion of inspiration particles sleeting through the universe. What was her own inspiration particle for these books? An imaginary vision of a city built on top of another city. A long-time fan of speculative fiction and being deeply impressed by the movie, Blade Runner, Rachael set about trying to write the story surrounding that city on top of a city. Edge of Heaven went through too many iterations for Rachael to count, but she always knew it was the story she was meant to write.

Author Francine Falk-Allen discusses her new book, A Wolff in the Family. This novel has its origins in a Francine's own family history. About twenty years ago, she learned a family secret that very few of her living relatives knew. She discovered that the five youngest of her mother's eleven siblings were sent to an orphanage by her grandfather. It was Francine's mother, the eldest of the siblings, who kept the siblings in touch with each other through the years. In A Wolff in the Family, Francine explores the family's hardships during the 1920s and 30s and the circumstances that would lead a father to place his own children in an orphanage, as well as the effects that decision had on the rest of the family.

Author Rebecca Hendricks discusses her latest books, Hound Dogged and Hard Dogs Night. These first two books in Rebecca's new series follow a group of friends in a small town as they attempt to establish themselves as a rock-n-roll band called the Hound Dogs. The year is 1958, and rock-n-roll is just getting started. Rebecca's stories feature a harmonious mix of friendship, coming-of-age challenges, the notion of found families, the rolls of women in that era, and, of course, the birth of rock-n-roll. She spent a great deal of time researching 1950s pop culture, as well as the various societal influences on the musical genre.

Author Lisa Diane Kastner discusses the first two books in her new paranormal fantasy series, Cure and Family Pack. In these books, we meet Luna, a young woman who has just lost her beloved brother. She traces his movements to Sweden where she discovers that her family descends from an iconic female Viking warrior known as the Birke. Luna also discovers that her brother was a shapeshifter, a lycanthrope, and that she has begun to show the same signs of transformation. Both books follow dual timelines and narratives, which allow Lisa's love of history and research to shine through. Lisa also plans to publish anthologies of short stories written by fans of the series.

Author Linda Ambrus Broenniman discusses her new book, The Politzer Saga. Linda wanted to learn about her family history but never intended to write a book about it—until she learned the truth. At the age of twenty-seven, Linda found out that her father was Jewish, after being told her whole life that he was Catholic, like herself and the rest of her family. When Linda began her research, she uncovered the world of the Politzers—a cast of characters so amazing they seemed almost fictional. Linda uncovered eight generations of Politzers and learned a great deal about family, heritage, and history.

Author Matt Scott discusses his political thriller series, Surviving the Lion's Den. All three books in this trilogy—Surviving the Lion's Den, The Iranian Deception, and The Ayatollah Takedown—are available now. The series opens with a race against time. Can the main characters make it safely out of Iran in the midst of a political coup to overthrow Iran's Supreme Leader—a coup orchestrated by the U.S. government? Inspired by Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, Matt set about to write a series that would explore what it looks like to be inside Iran during a regime change. The books feature CIA operatives, Iranian insiders, international intrigue, geopolitical conflicts, and plenty of fast-paced tension.  

Author Margaret Dulaney discusses her new middle grade book, Whippoorwill Willingly. The story follows eleven-year-old Whippoorwill Willingly as she embarks on a magical journey to an enchanted lake in the Swiss Alps. She meets a variety of friends—humans, animals, and birds—and experiences a mystical world filled with wonder and healing. As a result of her journey, the once-cynical Whippoorwill learns patience, empathy, and a greater appreciation of the natural world. Margaret Dulaney has been writing about mystical things for nearly twenty years, and this latest book is a fun, light-hearted story that is filled with hope.

Author Kurt Deion discusses his book, Presidential Grave Hunter: One Kid's Quest to Visit the Tombs of Every President and Vice President. Kurt was just nine years old when he told his parents he wanted to visit the grave sites of all the U.S. presidents. They were happy to support him, and the family traveled around the country visiting presidential libraries, cemeteries, and other interesting locales. Kurt's quest expanded to include the vice presidents and first ladies as well. His book includes his impressions of the tombs, his escapades to reach some of the more out-of-the-way gravesites, and fond memories of his family trips.

Author David Weill discusses his new book, All That Really Matters. In this novel, the main character, Dr. Joe Bosco, is a rising star in the heart transplant field, and he's feeling all the pressures that come with the job. His professional and personal issues lead him into trouble, and he struggles to find redemption. David knows all about being a transplant surgeon, and he wrote this story to give readers an idea of the kind of people who work in the field and what it feels like to that job. While the book is a work of fiction, it incorporates real-world personalities and situations in an effort to humanize doctors and explore the high stakes world of medical transplants.

Author Doug Kari discusses his debut true crime novel, The Berman Murders: Unraveling the Mojave Desert's Most Mysterious Unsolved Crime. In this book, Doug chronicles the 1986 disappearance of Barry Berman, heir to the Kahlua fortune, and his wife, Louise, from Saline Valley, CA, located in the Mojave Desert. Their bodies were eventually discovered by the local sheriff's office, but the double homicide was never solved, and no one was ever arrested, let alone convicted, for their murders. After years of research, investigation, and interviews, Doug names the most likely suspect and details how he linked the murders to an overseas sex crimes and trafficking case.

Author Jane Buckingham discusses her new young adult psychological thriller, A Lie for a Lie. In this novel, Sabrina Richard's carefully orchestrated future is on the line when she finds herself ensnared in a series of high school revenge pranks that get out of hand. By messaging a revenge account, she and her fellow classmates can exact revenge on their enemies, but at what cost? Sabrina discovers she's being set up to take the fall for a prank gone wrong and must uncover the mastermind behind the revenge account before it's too late.

Author Evette Davis discusses her new novel, The Others. It is the first installment in her urban paranormal fantasy series, The Council Trilogy. The main character, Olivia Shepherd, is a political consultant in San Francisco who stumbles upon a secret society of witches and vampires that is actively meddling in elections around the world. While uncovering this supernatural cabal, Olivia also learns some secrets about her own heritage. Evette describes The Others as a metaphor for the ways in which women make peace with their own power in light of all the expectations placed upon them.