Hi, Hugh! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

What’s up, y’all! This questions always sets my mind to spinning. I was born and raised in Atlanta. I mostly write speculative fiction for teens and tweens. I’m a big fan of live music and true-crime. My favorite subject in school was history. I love vegan food, WNBA basketball, and all things spooky season!

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

In elementary school! My teachers were very encouraging and supportive of my love of reading. I always enjoyed telling stories and listening to others tell stories. I used to make up stories and write them down with my friends, then draw illustrations of the characters. I also played sports, which felt like my “main thing” until I finished college. Writing was always just a fun hobby. Sometimes I think back and I’m like, I could have been making so much progress if I would have taken writing more seriously. But, I also think letting writing be a hobby for so long helped me maintain a positive relationship with it.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Impossible to remember. But I do remember reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark no less than a million times.
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones

Your latest novel, A Lake with No Bottom, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Deep, dark,  cold, and gasping. 

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Yeah! Jeremy Mackenzie is a really important character to the story. He’s young, but he has this loyal following of citizens who trust him with their lives and would do anything for him. I mentioned true-crime earlier, and one of my favorite documentary topics is cults. I studied some well-known cult leaders to develop aspects of Jeremy’s voice and personality. That’s not my usual headspace (thank goodness), so it was fun to really get into character as Jeremy.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

There are always challenges when trying to tell stories about difficult truths from the past. A Lake with No Bottom deals with some heavy events  that caused racial strife in Georgia in the early 1900s. I know that will make some people uncomfortable. But, I firmly believe that we heal as a community by talking about what has happened and how we can be better moving forward. I’m excited for people to read the book, form opinions, and start a dialogue about it so we can explore all the meanings!

What’s next for you?

I’ve got a few more cool, spooky, action-packed things up my sleeve that I hope I get to tell y’all about soon. My next big trip is to YALLfest in Charleston South Carolina, November 13-14, 2026. It’s such a cool festival. I can’t wait to meet the readers there and talk more about future projects.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

Michael Wehunt just dropped Nightjars. I can’t wait to get into that one. Same with Our Cut of Salt by Deena Helm. 2026 has been a good reading year for me. I can’t get out of here without mentioning From Our Blood by Shardai Smith, which I got to read an early copy of, and The Drakon King by Terry J. Benton-Walker, who’s co-hosting the A Lake with No Bottom launch with me!

Will you be picking up A Lake with No Bottom? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: H.D. Hunter, Author of ‘A Lake with No Bottom’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

What inspired you to write DINA GETS LUCKY?

I initially wrote this story as a screenplay, as a sort of creative exercise. It was so much fun, and I absolutely fell in love with Dina and Lucky. I knew from my work as a novelist that I could further explore their story by turning it into a book. It was a delight to revisit their love story!

You have a gift for taking tried and true genres and giving them your unique spin. What are some of your favorite tropes, and which tropes did you take on in DINA GETS LUCKY?

Every romance writer enjoys a good trope; they are the mainstays of the industry. In DINA GETS LUCKY, I made good use of one of my favs, the second-chance romance. Dina and Lucky were in love with each other in law school, but for various reasons, it didn’t work out. It was so fun to explore how they found their way back to each other over the course of the story. A few smaller tropes in the book are ‘he falls first’ and ‘wedding shenanigans.’

I love how you seamlessly interweave South Asian traditions and beliefs into the plot of DINA GETS LUCKY, especially the marriage preparations. Can you tell us what is typical for a traditional Muslim South Asian wedding? There are quite a lot of festivities involved!

South Asian weddings are as diverse as the sub-continent, and differ by region, faith, and preference. My family are originally from India, a vast and diverse country, though we have one thing in common – we all love a good party. In my experience, many South Asian/desi weddings are multi-day affairs. Three pillars of the South Asian Muslim wedding however are the mehndi, nikah and walima. The mehndi is a party held before the wedding ceremony. It was traditionally a time for the women in the family to gather, put henna on their hands and feet, sing folk songs, and dance. The event has evolved into a more elaborate party which includes both the bride and groom’s side, with no henna applied, but plenty of singing and dancing. Sometimes the dances are highly choreographed performances put on by both the bridal and groom’s party. The nikah is the traditional Muslim wedding ceremony, a relatively brief process officiated by an Imam or a trusted family or friend. This is followed by the walima, which is a large wedding reception. Some South Asian families have a rukhsati, when the bride officially leaves her family home with her new husband, as well as other smaller parties like a mayoon, and dholkis which occur before the wedding, and usually involve wedding prep, eating, dancing, and singing. It’s a lot, and plenty of fun.

You have a gift for writing laugh-out-loud moments, Uzma, and some of the funniest moments center around Dina’s baby sister and bride-to-be, Hania. Some of the scenes with Hania and her social media entourage are hilarious. Did you research Instagram and Tik Tok beauty influencers? Your descriptions are spot on!

Thank you! Like most people, I consume a fair bit of Instagram reels and videos. I think like a comedy writer, and have a tendency to find the ridiculous in every day moments. Most of my comedy comes out of my own reimagining of regular scenarios, taken to a silly and hilarious extreme. I’m glad Hania and her entourage were relatable and funny.

You don’t shy away from difficult subjects in this book. Lucky makes great sacrifices for his family, and people are judgmental of the profession he chose in order to rescue his family from homelessness. Why is this an important story for you to tell now?

Many of my stories are as much commentaries on social class, financial hardships, family challenges, discrimination and cultural expectations as they are about love and relationships. I want my characters to be nuanced, with complete lives that include family, friends, co-workers, and the realities of living in a complicated world. I hope readers will always enjoy my character portrayals of people who find love despite the challenges they face.

Your supporting characters are just as fully realized as your main protagonists. Are your rich cast of characters inspired by people you know?

I love writing side characters, and they have a tendency to sometimes overtake the main narrative with their quirks and hilarious one-liners. They aren’t inspired by anyone I know, but rather the funny things and situations I think about as I go about my day.

What were some things that surprised you while writing this book in terms of new plot twists or how the story developed while writing?

One of the things that surprised me was how different a screenplay is from a novel. I’ve had a few of my books optioned for film and tv, and the screenwriters hired have done a wonderful job, but they also changed a lot of details from my books in the process, which is normal of course. So, when I had the opportunity to turn my screenplay of DINA GETS LUCKY into a novel, I had the opposite experience – I had to add back the details that are sometimes stripped away in a screenplay. It’s really a question of math: A novel tends to have more interiority and exposition than a movie or show as a result of the word-real-estate. Full length adult novels are anywhere from 65,000 to 100,00 words or more, while feature length screenplays are usually in the 15,000 word range. One form is not better than the other, it’s just different. I enjoyed writing both versions of this story.

What are some of the key takeaways you hope readers will reap from this novel?

I always hope I leave my readers entertained. I have a soft spot for Dina, and the transformative journey she goes on over the course of the story. I also hope readers laugh at the funny beats, and perhaps even relate to the challenges both Dina and Lucky experience. Since the novel takes place over the course of an over-the-top and chaotic South Asian wedding, I hope they enjoy learning about the culture, or perhaps feel nostalgia about wedding festivities they have participated in themselves!

Will you be picking up Dina Gets Lucky? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Uzma Jalaluddin, Author of ‘Dina Gets Lucky’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, LJ! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! I live on a hobby farm with my husband and four kids. I love anything to do with mythology and adore putting new lore into my books. I have chickens who think are hilarious and goats that I pretend like me more than they really do. I have a thousand candles in my backyard cottage where I write and I definitely use reading as “working” to procrastinate doing actual work.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Oh, I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I used to write my daydreams because I was always so excited and I had to get them out of my head and onto paper. I guess I thought they’d come true if I did.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Boxcar Children
• The one that made you want to become an author: Goosebumps. Yes. You read that correctly.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Well I’m reading it right now, but This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

The Stolen Crown is the fourth installment in your Ever Seas series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Ohh, okay: Heartbreaking, heartwarming, sexy, bromance, girl squad

For those who haven’t picked up your Ever Seas series yet, what can they expect?

The series is perfect for readers who love pirates, Vikings, fae lore, and dark enemies to lovers. The found family is HUGE as the Ever Seas is a second gen from my Broken Kingdoms series (they can be read independently of each other) so expect to have a new morally gray friend squad who’ll bury the body with you and ask questions later.

And for readers who have, what’s to come?

Well, I’m genre hopping in between Stolen Crown and Book 5 and this coming June I’ll be releasing a dystopian romance titled Blood in the Ink. It’s up for preorder now. Then later next year Book 5 in the Ever Seas will be coming out. We haven’t shared the title or main characters yet, so that’s all I’ll say on that one.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

I really had a blast expanding the world. We have new clans, new enemies, and the Ever Seas world building continually grows. I’m excited for future plans and ideas that are coming in this universe.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing this new installment? How did you overcome them?

There are a lot of sensitive topics in the The Stolen Crown. I had the opportunity to work with several sensitivity readers to address some of Tait’s complex backstory. I am so grateful for their help in shaping how his character was portrayed on the page.

What’s next for you?

Blood in the Ink will be my next major release. I am so excited and a little nervous to step foot into a new world and group of characters, but they are a blast. The premise involves books that are translated in a language only the elite of society is allowed to learn. But don’t worry there is an entire criminal organization focused on stealing those books back. I mean, I think we’d all go pretty far if our books were taken from us, right?

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I’ve really enjoyed Helen Scheuerer’s Kiss of the Black Flame, Miranda Lyn’s Hide the Witches, and Caty Rogan’s Kissed by the Gods.

Will you be picking up The Stolen Crown? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: LJ Andrews, Author of ‘The Stolen Crown’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Cassie! Welcome back! What have you been up to since we spoke earlier this year for your debut novel, Meet Me Under the Lights?

ALL of the things! I drafted Book 3 this summer and just turned in edits for that one. I started Year 20 in the classroom back in August as well, so with Mistletoe Lane just hitting shelves, it’s been a kind-of full-throttle Fall!

Your latest novel, Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Hallmark, romcom, cozy, Christmas, love triangle

What can readers expect?

Small town Christmas vibes, a loud, chaotic Italian family that’s in everyone’s business, TONS of nods to Christmas movies, and a love triangle where both boys are total green-flags.

Where did the inspiration for Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane come from?

I’ve always loved My Big Fat Greek Wedding because of the multiple-generation storyline, so I thought it would be fun to take that dynamic but make it Italian to pay homage to my and my husband’s heritage! The Farmers Market focus came from places around my hometown. I love writing about small-town life and small business owners, and I wanted to show the highs and lows of trying to hold on to that kind of lifestyle in a world that’s constantly growing and changing. The idea of home being more than just a place but also a community and a form of family is very important to me.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I LOVED writing the eccentric cousins and aunts and uncles into this story—truly I laughed out loud mulitiple times with some of their scenes. There were so many moments where I stopped writing and literally said to myself, “What ridiculous, outlandish thing would Aunt Sofia say here?” I feel like we all have that one family member who is the one you want to sit next to at large family gatherings because you never quite know what they will say or do, so writing those kinds of people was an absolute blast.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Honestly, this story came together very quickly for me. I was fortunate enough to write it during the month of December last year. I mean, what better time to write a Christmas romcom then when I’m watching those movies and listening to that kind of music while snow is falling outside? It was magical.

Can you share some insight into the timeline for your two releases this year?

It was a total surprise, actually. We sent my editor two pieces as the “option” part of my contract last November, and she and her team at Viking Children’s came back and said they loved them both, but would I be interested in setting my Farmers Market romance in Christmastime? Once I agreed to that, we had a QUICK turnaround because we wanted Mistletoe Lane to be out in October of the same year as my debut.

So while I was gearing up for my debut Meet Me Under the Lights and it’s launch, I was working on edits for Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane, and while I was getting ready to launch Mistletoe Lane, I was working on edits for Book Three! Honestly, I’m surprised my brain handled all of that while teaching full time and being a mom as well.

With the holiday season drawing near, what are some books, movies, or shows you turn to for the festive spirit?

I’m a big fan of what I call “the classics,” so any of the Charlie Brown specials will always kick off any holiday season for me. I also love the movie musicals: White Christmas and Holiday Inn being my absolute favorites. A Muppet Christmas Carol is a must in my house as well, and yes, I sing all of those songs. I used to re-read Little Women every year for Christmas, but it’s been a few years since I did that – maybe this will be the year I bring back the tradition!

What’s next for you?

Book Three, a fall romance! Can’t wait to share more about that one. I also have an idea for a fourth book for the “Meet Me” universe that I’ll need to draw up and get some sample pages for sometime in the early New Year.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I cannot wait to dig into more of BK Borison’s work, specifically the Lovelight Farms series, and I’m really excited for Ally Carter’s It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder. I haven’t read nearly as much as I would’ve liked so far this year (not enough headspace sadly), but I devoured Sarah Adams “Rome Kentucky” series this year, and Our Strange Duet by Erin Craig was such a great read for this big Phantom of the Opera “phan”!

Will you be picking up Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Cassie Miller, Author of ‘Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Libby! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I’ve called a lot of places home (Washington, Iowa, Australia, Ireland, NYC, Tennessee) but now I live in a sleepy seaside village in Maine. I was a librarian for 15 years before I wrote my first novel, and without question my favorite job was driving a bookmobile through the hills and hollers of Eastern Kentucky. When I’m not writing, I spend a lot of time painting tiny portraits of ghosts, sculpting creepy-cute dolls, and sitting by the sea.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

When I was in 5th grade, I told my teacher Mrs. Guffy that I was going to write a book. 40 years later, I did! I grew up in a small Midwestern town in the 80s, so I was a latchkey kid. I spent most of my free time in the public library reading any book I could get my hands on.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading:
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (which is ironic as I now live in the town the fair in the book was set in!)
• The one that made you want to become an author:
• Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about:
• Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Your debut novel, We Sent Them Down Singing, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Family search take monstrous turn.

What can readers expect?

We Sent Them Down Singing is a cosmic horror novel that pushes back against the harmful tropes about Appalachia. Readers won’t find any inbred, toothless hillbillies (who are probably cannibals) waiting for someone to turn up the wrong holler. The horror is instead rooted in how ancient the Appalachian Mountains are, the greed of the industries that have ravaged the land and its people, and what you might unearth if you dig too deep into hills that old. At its heart, We Sent Them Down Singing is a story about family—the people we come from, the people we choose, and the people we refuse to let go of no matter how hard we have to fight.

Expect characters you will be rooting for, primordial monsters, and so much body horror.

Where did the inspiration for We Sent Them Down Singing come from?

I lived in Appalachia for nearly 15 years and raised my family there. We had to leave under some pretty stressful circumstances. I wrote this book because I needed to reckon with the things our family went through at the end, but it was also out of frustration with the stereotypes the media relies on when setting stories in Appalachia. Especially horror stories. I wanted to write a story that reflected the people and place I knew—bright and full of heart and impossibly complex.

The actual spark for the story came from listening to the podcast Start With This by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor. Each episode ends with two assignments—something to consume and something to create. The create assignment had us use a random number generator on three lists:

• Most Populated US Cities
• World’s 50 Best Foods
• 100 Greatest Bluegrass Songs

I got Mesa, Arizona, fish and chips, and Steam Powered Aereoplane by John Hartford. I started writing and didn’t stop until I had a full length novel.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

Andy Dafoe is probably the character that was the most fun to write. Andy is not a good person. He is morally grey, deeply flawed, and willing to go to really dark places to protect someone he loves. But, in the end, I really identified with his choices. If I was put in the same position as him and given the same choices, I’m not sure I’d be considered a good person, either.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Oh lordy, yes. I was lucky because I had a wonderful community of writers who gave me really helpful critique, phenomenal feedback, and who I could brainstorm with whenever I got stuck. I think surrounding yourself with fellow authors is the very best advice I have to give anyone considering writing a book. My name is on the cover, but I know how many people it took for it to be there.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

I worked in public libraries for most of my career, but my last job was as a high school librarian. When my position was eliminated due to budgeting constraints, I decided it was finally time to write that novel I promised Mrs. Guffy.

I wrote, then edited, and then RE-edited the same 20,000 words for about a year. The game changer for me was finding a writing group for neurodivergent writers. I joined in March of 2024 and, by October, I had a full length manuscript. I started querying the following January of 2025 and signed with Page Street Publishing in February. If I hadn’t joined a community of writers I would probably still be editing those same 20,000 words.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently writing my second book. This one is set in Iowa, where I grew up. It takes place in a trailer park at the edge of a cornfield and follows the lives of three generations of Iowa women who find themselves pitted against a sinister force lurking deep within the rows of corn.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I just started The Sea Hides Its Dead by Megan Bontrager and it is so much fun! I’ve also had The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones on my tbr since it came out and that will be my next read. A friend recommended This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno and that one absolutely gutted me (it is also cosmic horror which is, obviously, my favorite!).

Will you be picking up We Sent Them Down Singing? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Libby Edwardson, Author of ‘We Sent Them Down Singing’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Sarah! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I live in the Pacific Northwest with my husband, two kids, and two cats. I’ve been a flight attendant for twelve years (My usual route: up and down the aisle. My favorite place to go: home). When I’m not writing, I’m probably procrastinating by taking a nap or watching TV (Current hyperfixations: Abbott Elementary, Taskmaster, Bob’s Burgers, Derry Girls). If there’s a record for my re-listens to Terry Pratchett audiobooks, I probably hold it.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

In elementary school. I had a fantastic librarian who fed my love of reading and parents who had to ask the question “How do you ground your kid from reading?”. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was writing Unicorns of Balinor and The Jewel Kingdom fanfic during writing time.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: On my own? The American Girl Doll books, specifically the first Felicity one because I was a new kid at my school and another girl told me I wasn’t allowed to check it out because it was a chapter book and I said “watch me”.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Your latest novel, Who Needs Mistletoe?, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Charming, funny, witty, swoony, relatable.

What can readers expect?

A book that makes you feel the same way you do after watching a 90s rom-com. It’s fun and heartwarming. Readers get to dive headfirst into a second chance romance between former childhood neighbors who missed their chance all those years ago. It’s a story set during Christmas but it isn’t about Christmas. This is a slow burn that pays off (hint hint, wink wink).

Where did the inspiration for Who Needs Mistletoe? come from?

Movies! I really tapped into my love of cinema for this one. Major influences: The Family Stone, Sabrina (Harrison Ford), While You Were Sleeping.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

There’s a scene where Ivy (female lead) chases her parents’ cat Hastings through the snow in her mom’s bathrobe and the cat runs up the tree. Ivy decides to climb up after him and they both get stuck. Grant (male lead) happens to be leaving his parents’ house and rescues her and the cat from the tree. It’s peak rom-com.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

There was a period of time while writing this book where I was convinced I had been cursed by an Etsy witch. Any time I made any progress the first three months I was working on this book, something bad would happen. I got strep throat twice. My youngest got pneumonia. Our boy cat tried to shuffle the mortal coil by eating hair ties. We all got lice. I finally had to ask my best friend to fly in from Northern Ireland to meet me in Canada so I could write in a hotel room for a few days right before my deadline.

With the festive season drawing near, what are some of your favourite festive movies or books you like to turn to?

The Muppet Christmas Carol. I love it so much that I made it a centerpiece of the book.

Honorable Mentions: White Christmas, Elf, The Holiday, The Family Stone, While You Were Sleeping, When Harry Met Sally, The Year Without A Santa Claus.

What’s next for you?

I am working on the second Coeur-de-Lac/Underwood Sibling book.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I’m really looking forward to picking up Love Felt Like This by fellow Muppets enthusiast Julie Olivia and Isn’t He Romantic by Adib Khorram.

I did get peer pressured into joining the crawl and I’m on the third Dungeon Crawler Carl book.

Will you be picking up Who Needs Mistletoe? Tell us in the comments below!

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Hi, Lisa! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi there! I live in Palm Desert with my husband and two dogs, and I love cooking and gardening. My favorite hobby is miniature gardening: creating little worlds with houses, trees, tiny paved roads, etc. I’ve written romance novels for a long time, but after I realized I was getting burned out, I decided to challenge myself. So I wrote a historical fiction novel, which includes romance, but it’s a bigger story with higher stakes.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was always a voracious reader, and whenever I particularly loved a novel, my mind wouldn’t let go of it. I kept imagining new situations for the characters and wondering how they would handle this or that. When I was twelve, I went to an overnight summer camp, and instead of using my stack of letter paper to write to my family, I wrote a little novel. I don’t know why I found such visceral satisfaction in it, but that feeling has never really left me.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Practical Princess by Jay Williams
• The one that made you want to become an author: Little Women
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: also Little Women! I grew up pretty close to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House, and visited there often, and that book was everything to me. I think it’s resonated through my entire career. The interactions between the sisters, Jo March’s struggles, the question of independence vs. love (You could have had it all, Jo! Laurie would have supported your career!).

Your latest novel, Queen of Lombard Street, is out October 20^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Funny…enraging…swoony…heartbreaking…joyful

What can readers expect?

It’s a novel about outsiders, helping each other to get ahead, and becoming a family in the process. The heroine, Reina Martin, is a female economist and financial genius, who wants to start England’s first all-women’s bank. She has a household staff of paroled prisoners, all trying to make a new start. But one of them, the enigmatic butler, turns out to be an undercover detective, whose investigation may destroy Reina’s dream.

Where did the inspiration for Queen of Lombard Street come from?

The inspiration came from researching incredible and dynamic professional women of Victorian London, whose achievements were mostly ignored by historians. I realized whenever I’d read a historical novel about a successful woman, it was always “an extraordinary woman ahead of her time.” As if a successful woman back then had to be “not like all the others.” So I wanted to write a story about an amazing woman who was very much of her time—and include a lot of information about other women like her.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

I loved discovering all the creative and daring ways women managed to get past the incredible mass of obstacles that were meant to keep them quiet, dependent and housebound. But the most unexpected enjoyment came from writing all the scenes of the paroled prisoners together. I didn’t expect them to be so funny—I mean, they each come from such terrible backgrounds, and a couple of them are genuine dangers to society. But I gave them all the freedom to do or say whatever they wanted, and I think there’s a lot of natural comedy when you put people together in totally unfamiliar circumstances.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I was so accustomed to genre writing that it was scary to set the familiar pattern aside. The restrictions of genre writing are what make it great—they force you to be creative within boundaries. But when I removed the boundaries and started venturing in new story directions, I couldn’t stop worrying about people’s eventual reactions. Then my daughter advised me, “Just write it for yourself. As if no one else is ever going to read it.” And that gave me the freedom I needed. I stuck a note to the wall above my desk “This book is for me” which unlocked me whenever I got paralyzed.

What’s next for you?

I’m working on a novel about a college student who’s looking after the matriarch of a Boston Brahmin family, who has congestive heart disease. They start looking into the 1918 death of an heiress who lived in the family mansion, as well as the mysterious disappearance of the heiress’s portrait. It’s a dual timeline novel, so we go into the stories of both these young women—the college student and the heiress. There’s romance in both timelines, of course!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

Looking forward to The Gilded Rose by Joanna Shupe! And I’ve read The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett and LOVED it.

Will you be picking up Queen of Lombard Street? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Lisa Kleypas, Author of ‘Queen of Lombard Street’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Struan! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hello! I’m Struan Murray, a children’s author from the UK. I write fantasy novels for young readers, including my latest series, Dragonborn. When I’m not writing I am a lecturer at the University of Oxford, in *checks notes* biochemistry? I have two young children, who between them have become quite skilled at preventing me from doing either of these jobs.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I was actually something of a reluctant reader and writer as a child. But what I did love was comic books, and drawing too, and eventually I took to making my own comic books, which I sold to the other kids at my school to raise money to pay for a dangerous pokémon card obsession. But what began as a strictly commercial venture soon blossomed into a creative one, and my love of storytelling eventually eclipsed even my love of pokémon.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading:

Where the Wild Things Are

• The one that made you want to become an author:

The Hobbit!

• The one that you can’t stop thinking about:

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.

The Twilight Child is the second installment in your Dragonborn series and it’s out October 20^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Dragons. Demons. Scotland. Mystery. Betrayal!

For those who haven’t picked up Dragonborn, what can readers expect?

Dragonborn is about an eleven-year-old girl called Alex Evans who discovers that dragons are real, that they’ve been living secretly among humans for thousands of years, and that she is actually one of them. Alex is taken to the mysterious island of Skralla, where young dragons learn to control their powers, but soon finds herself caught up in a struggle for the fate of the world, battling against the evil Drak Midna — the largest dragon to have ever lived.

And for readers who have, what’s to come in The Twilight Child?

The Twilight Child picks up right after the first book, with Alex still reeling from a series of betrayals by those she thought she could trust. When tragedy strikes the island of Skralla, Alex and her friends travel to the magical city of Dundarrak, where humans and dragons have lived together for centuries, battling side-by-side against hordes of vicious demons. But shadowy forces are striving to undo this ancient alliance, and Alex must marshal her anger if she is to unlock her true dragon powers, and unravel a mystery that might just save the city: the legend of the Twilight Child.

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring further?

The first Dragonborn book features a young dragon called Ferox — Alex’s chief rival — as prickly and vicious in human form as he is in his dragon one. In The Twilight Child, Alex and Ferox are forced to work together to protect his childhood home from evil. This was a wonderful opportunity to take a character who seemed perhaps one-dimensional in the first book and reveal a far greater depth — a boy who has been mistreated, ignored and underestimated by his family, and has developed a thick scaly skin to protect himself. A lot of readers told me how much they disliked Ferox in book one, and I couldn’t resist challenging that by showing how those who might initially seem frightening or selfish often turn out to be carrying enormous grief, fear or loneliness. And though Alex and Ferox are constantly at each other’s throats throughout the story, they each begin to recognise their own anger in the other, and work together to understand it.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing the sequel? How did you overcome them?

I wanted The Twilight Child to take the story somewhere new, both geographically and emotionally. Moving the action to Scotland and introducing Dundarrak gave me the opportunity to explore a very different part of this magical world. But I also needed Alex herself to be in a different place. The events of the first book have left her angry and distrustful of others, and her anger is causing her to lash out, even at her closest friends. What really helped me write the story was realising that I could use the new location to mirror Alex’s own inner turmoil; a place where anger is simmering just beneath the surface, where old grievances and mistrust threaten to destroy the fragile peace between humans and dragons.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on the third Dragonborn book! What’s this one about, you ask? Well, without giving too much away, the world of dragons will be shaken up massively by the events of The Twilight Child, with many dragons now eager to join Drak Midna in his war against humanity, and an ingenious new foe rising to battle Alex and her friends.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I am really excited to pick up the third book in the Chronicles of Whetherwhy series by Anna James, as I have so adored the first two. This year I have also read the School for Thieves by Peter Burns, which was an absolute delight: clever, inventive and full of wonderful characters.

Will you be picking up The Twilight Child? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Struan Murray, Author of ‘The Twilight Child’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Helen! Welcome back! What have you been up to since we spoke last year for the release of Iron & Embers?

Thanks for having me again! I’ve been a busy bee! After Iron & Embers released in early 2025, the rest of the trilogy followed (Thorns & Fire in July and Silver & Smoke in December), it was an incredibly hectic and rewarding time. While those books were being released, I was slowly but surely working on something new in the background, and that project became Kiss of the Black Flame.

Your latest novel, Kiss of the Black Flame, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Gritty, steamy, romantic, nostalgic and adventurous.

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a brand new world and cast of characters from me, completely unrelated to everything I’ve done before. It’s about a gifted mortal bookbinder who makes a deal with a cursed immortal general, and together they have to retrieve and restore a magical book. I had a lot of fun with the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between the romantic leads and a blast with the humor of the found family/ragtag crew!

Where did the inspiration for Kiss of the Black Flame come from?

It actually started as a fae fantasy romance Lord of the Rings retelling – which is very different to the final book that is now on shelves (there are no fae, nor a one ring). But that was the original kernel of the idea and things snowballed from there. The bookbinding element of the series was a big part of the inspiration for Saige’s character and home. I loved researching the craft and trying it myself!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

The whole experience with Kiss of the Black Flame was so enjoyable! After writing in the same world for so long with the Legends and Ashes series, it was such a breath of fresh air to be able to start from scratch and build a new universe and cast.

Pretty much any scene in the bindery, the Awl & Cradle was fun to write because it has such a cosy, bookish atmosphere that’s basically my dream environment. Of course, the banter between Saige and Archer was an absolute joy to write as well.

Last year you had teased you were working on a secret romantasy project – was this Kiss of the Black Flame? If so, could you share some insight into the timeline for this novel, particularly since the whole Ashes of Thezmarr trilogy published last year!

Yes! That was indeed Kiss of the Black Flame! Essentially after I finished writing the original Legends of Thezmarr series, I had the choice of writing the spin-off (Ashes) or Kiss of the Black Flame. I felt that I wasn’t quite ready to write the latter yet and that I wanted to mull it over in the back of my mind for a bit longer. So while I was drafting and editing Ashes, I had a document where I’d drop all my ideas for KISS whether it was snippets of dialogue, setting ideas, or just a single line. Then when it came time to plan the new series, I had a goldmine of ideas to start me off.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

Every book has its own challenges and with Kiss of the Black Flame it was facing the reality that I was coming off the back of quite a popular series, so I felt pressure to make it just as well liked. The only thing that helped me overcome that was keeping my eyes on my own paper and keeping things to myself until I was ready to share more about it. I wrote it in a bit of a bubble and that helped immensely!

Could you give us a little teaser for the next installment?

Book 2 is about what happens when the person you thought you knew (including the one in the mirror) turns out to be a stranger. Alliances will be tested, old wounds will reopen, and not everyone who bleeds for the cause is on the side you think they are. Expect secrets with teeth, choices with no clean answer, and at least one moment where you’ll want to throw the book across the room, then immediately pick it back up

In summary: total emotional damage. Just kidding (sort of).

What’s next for you?

By the time I send this off to you wonderful people, I’ll be ready to start outlining the third and final book in The Bookbinder’s Bargain, which is a truly surreal thing to say considering Book 1 hasn’t been out all that long in the world.

I’m incredibly excited to hunker down and give this finale the attention it deserves and share the rest of Saige and Archer’s story with readers.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

Oh my goodness, how much time do you have? For books I’m looking forward to, I’m desperate to carve out some time to read: Daggermouth, The Washwoman at the River’s End, and Defy the Dusk.

As for what I’ve enjoyed this year, because I’ve been writing so much romantasy by day, I’ve been devouring contemporaries by night. I have loved anything by Kennedy Ryan and Tia Williams, and I absolutely cackled all the way through A Girl Like You by Gemma Burgess.

If you’re after more from Kiss of the Black Flame, you can read a free novella, The Bookbinder, HERE!

Will you be picking up Kiss of the Black Flame? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Helen Scheuerer, Author of ‘Kiss of the Black Flame’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Wanda! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

I grew up in Germany and went on to study politics in London and journalism in New York. Next to my love for reading and writing I also love to travel. I currently live with my husband and our rescue dog in sunny Southern California.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

I’ve been obsessed with scary stories since I was as a child. I wrote my first murder mystery in fourth grade and haven’t stopped wirting since. I love getting lost in a story. Writing provides the perfect form of escapism for me.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: “The Boy Who Did Not Fear” – Brothers Grimm
• The one that made you want to become an author: Lord of the Rings was my first introduction to fantasy and I became obsessed with it.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Wuthering Heights

Your debut novel, Our Dark Incantations, is out October 20^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Gothic, angst, mystery, magic, trauma

What can readers expect?

Banter! Lots of banter. It’s one of my favorite things to write. Readers can expect a rollercoaster of emotions where they might laugh and kick their feet one moment and cry the next.  I wanted to create a story that highlights the dichotomy of trauma because while Mira’s internal world is on fire, life for the people around her goes on as ususal.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

I probably rewrote the first chapter twenty times. The first chapter is so important to me because not only is it what introduces the reader to the main character and the world but also to the tone of the author. There is that wise saying to start the first chapter twenty percent later and it is so true. My first draft had Mira traveling to Ivercrest University. In the second draft she was just outside the gates. And in the final version she is already inside. There were also different versions of her entry test before I settled on the version readers can now discover for themselves.  
Instead of dwelling on the first chapter, I would continue writing the rest of the book and then keep tweaking the opening chapter in later drafts until I was satisfied.

This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?

This wasn’t my first book I wrote. While I’ve written all my life, I wrote my first novel during the pandemic. I went the indie publishing route. I hired two different developmental editors and went through numerous rounds of edits. I commissioned character art and a cover. I had even put down a retainer for a line editor. In the end, I realized that manuscript wasn’t the book I was meant to publish. I think I had so much time and money invested in it that I became determined to publish it. But all the time and money wasn’t wasted. That manuscript was a great teacher. It helped me understand my writing process and how to become a better storyteller.  No writing is ever a waste – even if it never sees the light of day.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a new project that I’m so excited for but I’m sworn to secrecy. All I can say is that it’s TRUE enemies to lovers.

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

I’m currently loving Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo. Can’t wait to devour Victorious by V.E. Schwab next. As for recent books: I loved The Poet Empress by Shen Tao, Famesick by Lena Dunham, and A Long Game-Notes on Writing Fiction by Elizabeth McCracken.

Will you be picking up Our Dark Incantations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Wanda Hellmund, Author of ‘Our Dark Incantations’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.