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!

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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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About Rowan and Gemma: In this new middle grade novel by Schneider Award-winning author Sally J. Pla, two neurodivergent tweens, one of whom is nonverbal, forge a friendship against the backdrop of their feuding families. Releases October 20th 2026.

I have a new book out. Some people are calling the title Rowan PLUS Gemma, others Rowan AND Gemma. Either way is fine—once a book is out in the world, it belongs to the reader. But there’s kind of a funny story about that plus sign.

In my texts and emails, I typically use the ‘+’ key as a shorthand for the word ‘and.’ So, while working on the details of this new book with my publisher, I’d short-handed the title to ‘R+G’ in my email subject headings, etc. The cover artist noted the ‘+’ sign and assumed it was an intentional title choice, and used it in the cover design. Which I love. I think the cover is incredibly beautiful.

Anyhow. The other day, I got a Google alert: a new podcast had reviewed my book. I clicked the link, gave it a quick listen, and realized to my horror/amusement that this was an AI-generated podcast—a very sophisticated one. Two pleasant cyber-hosts were discussing the “ingenious use of the plus” in the title of Rowan Plus Gemma. They thought the choice of a plus sign beautifully summed up the relationship between the two main characters. Which they called “a bond that adds up to more than the sum of its parts.”

Hmm. That was ingenious. Or sounded ingenious. Too bad I didn’t think of it! Furthermore, is it weird to feel grateful to reviewers who don’t exist? To a computer program that made an assumption about a typography choice made based on assumption?

The modern world is bewildering.

Rowan and Gemma is a story about assumptions—the wrong assumptions we make about each other. And how there can be terrible fallout from that. Rowan and Gemma’s parents are engaged in a feud based on misinformation. It’s a public, political feud, with news bias and vitriol and nasty exchanges that almost tears apart the town—and casts a terrible pall upon our young couple’s lives, and their bond.

I am so interested in the power, and sometimes the powerlessness, of words. Gemma is non-speaking autistic. Rowan stutters and has learning delays. These two truly know the weight and value of finding the right word. They both struggle with it daily.

As an undiagnosed autistic kid, I often went mute for days. The struggle to say the right thing at the right time, to choose the right word, was too much for me. I think it’s why I became a writer. Because of all the live interactions I’d bungled, I’d learned early that I could make sense of the world only after retreating to the quiet of my room, at the end of the day, where I’d rehash all the chaotic and bewildering sensory data. I’d rewrite the botched conversations. I’d take my time to find those right words. The ones I couldn’t say at the moment.

I’d summon those precious right words, each one carefully considered and chosen. And I would put them to paper. If I couldn’t say them aloud at the right time, then at least I could write them out later. A little Wordsworthian “recollection in tranquility.”

We live in strange times, when what is real and fake and true and false is all whipped up in a digital whirlwind, a tornado blur that whirls constantly around us, blinding us.

Rowan and Gemma—or Rowan PLUS Gemma—is an innocent young love story that will hopefully convey to readers the potency and value inherent in their own words. How the right words—ones of kind intent, honesty, truth—can help to cut through the bewildering blur of bias we are all stewing in, 24/7.

Rowan and Gemma have a secret room where they go to take a breath, calm down. Maybe we all need something like that—a way to step back, recollect our thoughts, suss the truth from the noise. Hear ourselves think, again.

The post Rowan Plus/and Gemma and the Power of Words appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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.

PLUS you can read an excerpt at the end of the interview!

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

Hi! I’m Julie Hall, a USA Today bestselling author who writes fantasy and romantasy with lots of romance, magic, mystery, and usually a healthy dose of chaos. I live in Colorado with my husband, daughter, and our three very spoiled dogs. When I’m not writing, I love traveling, getting outside and having adventures, binge-watching far too much reality TV, and spending time with my family. The Secrets of Everlight is my newest release and my adult romantasy debut, so I’m incredibly excited (and slightly terrified!) to finally have it out in the world.

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

I’ve always loved stories, but I actually wasn’t much of a reader growing up. Reading didn’t come easily to me, and it took me a long time to really learn to enjoy it. But I was always making up stories in my head—especially at night. I’ve never been someone who falls asleep quickly, so as a kid, I’d create entire stories while lying in bed to pass the time. It wasn’t until early high school, when a friend introduced me to paranormal YA book, that something clicked. I was hooked. Suddenly I couldn’t get enough of reading, and that love of stories I’d always had eventually turned into wanting to write my own.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: The Boxcar Children
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Vampire Diaries (books, not the TV show) by LJ Smith
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The last book in the Night World series by LJ Smith. She ended book 9, Witchlight, on a cliffhanger and then never finished the series. It bugs me to this day almost 30 years later. (Let’s pretend this answer doesn’t date me)

Your latest novel, The Secrets of Everlight, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Bridgerton meets Bachelor with Fae Assassins (technically 6 words, but does “with” really count?)

What can readers expect?

Readers can expect a thief posing as a princess, a royal Courting Season, hidden identities, forbidden attraction, court intrigue, mystery, slow-burn romance, and plenty of twists. It’s glamorous and romantic on the surface, but underneath, everyone has secrets, and someone has come to the palace to kill a prince.

Where did the inspiration for The Secrets of Everlight come from?

The short answer? Too much TV.

The slightly longer answer: Sometimes I trick myself into writing sprints by watching reality TV with commercials. I have to hit a certain word count before I’m allowed to restart the show. It’s a pretty effective motivation for me. At the time, I was watching a lot of The Bachelor (because give me all the dating-show drama), and one night I dreamed I was a contestant, but secretly planted there to spy on the other women for the Bachelor. I woke up with my brain exploding with ideas. I was also devouring Bridgerton and falling in love with all the glamour, courtship, and social maneuvering of that world. So the two started colliding in my head: What if The Bachelor took place in a Bridgerton-esque fantasy world, and my heroine wasn’t really a princess at all? And since my first love will forever and always be anything fantasy and everything supernatural, naturally I had to add fae, magic, and assassins. And somehow, The Secrets of Everlight was born.

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

I loved writing the contrast between the glittering royal world on the surface and everything happening underneath. Rowan is a thief pretending to be a princess while secretly hunting an assassin, and nearly everyone around her is hiding something. I had so much fun peeling back those layers, and, as always, developing the romance and watching those feelings complicate everything even further.

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

The biggest challenge was having to stop writing it! I came up with the idea while working on another book, and the first third just poured out of me. But eventually I had to put it aside and return to the project I was supposed to be writing. I’m not someone who can hold multiple story worlds in my head at once, so as hard as it was, Rowan had to wait her turn.

What’s next for you?

I’m finishing up the draft of the second book in the duet, The Curse of Heartthorn. I’m actively avoiding deciding what comes after that so I can focus on finishing this one. But the second I type THE END, it’s reckoning time. I’m bouncing between more stories in this world—because I’m not convinced I’m done with it yet—or jumping into something completely new. We’ll see which idea wins!

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

I’m terrible at reading while I’m drafting because I have a hard time keeping someone else’s fictional world in my head alongside my own. It’s an occupational hazard. But when I do read, I tend to gravitate toward stories with the same things I love to write: high stakes, unforgettable characters, a little magic, and plenty of romance. Romantasy and paranormal/urban fantasy romance are usually at the top of my list, but I’m always up for a good story that keeps me turning pages. The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig is high on my TBR right now, along with The Sixth Faction, because I NEED to see Tris get her HEA! Basically, give me danger, secrets, swoon-worthy romance, and characters I can’t stop thinking about, and I’m happy.

EXCERPT

We dance in silence for a few minutes, allowing the soft melody from the music box to lead us.

“You know, there’s an element of trust in dancing,” Neo says softly.

“How so?”

“The male has to trust the female to follow his lead, and the female has to trust the male to lead her. If that’s missing, the dance won’t flow. But if there is trust between partners . . .” Lifting his arms, he spins me out and then pulls me back. I execute the move without incident and find my way into Neo’s arms with ease. “They can create something beautiful.”

As Neo looks down at me, I hold my breath. “If you follow my lead, you’ll be fine,” he murmurs, and then gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. Something about that small gesture warms my heart.

I was wrong about Neo. He’s not cold and unfeeling. He’s actually incredibly sweet and caring. I see it in how he treats Olette and Bram. I see it in how much he cares that this mission not only goes well, but that I’m protected throughout. And I see it in how he’s holding me now, and it makes a vulnerable place inside of me melt.

The music ends and we stop swaying but don’t immediately break apart.

“You’re ready,” he says quietly.

“I don’t feel like I am.”

“You are. I promise.” His stare is so intense, I can’t find the strength to break it. I don’t know what’s going on right now, but it’s something. “Prince Dryden won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”

Licking my lips, I break eye contact with Neo and slip from his grasp. “That’s not part of the plan, so that would be very inconvenient,” I say, letting my gaze drift back to him now that we have some distance.

Neo’s gaze lifts, and I flush when I realize he was staring at my mouth.

“‘Inconvenient’ is an understatement,” he says, and then clears his throat, his demeanor stiffening. “‘Disastrous’ is more accurate.”

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

Hi! Yes! My Mom is from Northern Alaska and is Alaska Native. I am in the first generation on her side to grow up fully south of the Arctic circle; I’ve lived all over the US and a few places in Europe, but was raised on my mother’s, uncles’, and grandparents’ stories. I lived with my Inupiaq grandfather in elementary school and high school, and I’m so grateful for the time he took to tell me stories from our history and folklore during that time. I’ve got six children, and I’m currently in graduate school.

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

I’ve loved stories for as long as I can remember, and have been writing them since I learned to write. My Dad told me stories at bedtime when I was a kid, my grandfather told me stories when I lived with him, and I’ve been making up stories for myself since forever.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Scared of the Dark–a Sesame Street Growing Up Book featuring Bert and Ernie. Absolutely Chilling.
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Goosebumps series by R. L. Stine. Highly formative in grade school.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett. Absolute hilarious genius.

Your latest novel, It Looks Like You in the Dark, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Realer than it should be.

What can readers expect?

They can expect a coming of age story about a girl responding to the disappearance of her sister, the worrying arrival of a mining corporation in her village, and a monster that is unfortunately, uncannily familiar looking. It’s listed as both horror and thriller. A lot of people say it “reads young,” and it does! The primary characters are 15, 19, 19, and 21, and they’re making age appropriate choices. It’s officially an adult novel in the same way a 19 year old is officially an adult.

Where did the inspiration for It Looks Like You in the Dark come from?

-An article from The Heritage of Kansas where Jim Vandergriff tells his fellow Kansans about how he went to Kotzebue and forced the story of the Kushtuka out of a teenage girl he was driving, alone, at midnight, in a rainstorm in his truck, as if this was somehow fine behavior.

-The 1970 murder of several Inupiaq elders by a young white man named Butch. My Great Uncle Lorenz Schuerch was the first Alaska Native state trooper and was called in to assist as a cultural bridge in the case.

-A wide assortment of stories and history from my family.

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

Yes. All of them. This book was simultaneously one of the easiest and hardest to write, for the same reasons–I wasn’t making a lot up; I was talking about a lot of things that are really important to me, and some that are close to home.

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

I was in night school and caring for my six children during the day, so the biggest challenge was making time to write. However, I’ve been writing novels since 2008, primarily during naptimes, late nights, early mornings around my chlidrens’ sleep schedules. I’ve had a lot of practice in locking in when necessary. It’s never totally easy, but the more you do anything, the easier it becomes. That’s all to say, the biggest challenge is usually making the time to write, and using that time efficiently. I’m never out of ideas, but I’m sometimes out of energy. Ideally, this is remedied by sleep, but sometimes it’s just caffeine.

What’s next for you?

THEY EAT YOUR YOUNG! This is the follow up novel to IT LOOKS LIKE YOU IN THE DARK, which is written in the same world with some overlapping characters, but follows Elisapie, a graduate student who has to deal with her father’s mental health problems, the brutality of academia, and the predation of the hopped up billionaire class. There are also qalupalik (which are like mermaids, but scarier).

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

Books I’ve recently read and loved:

• Never Whistle at Night 2: Back for Blood, Edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst jr.
• What Feeds Below, Tatiana Schlotte-Bonne
• From Our Blood, Shardai Smith

Books I’m desperately looking forward to reading:

• They Followed Us Home, Edited by Cynthia Pelayo
• Mazywood, by Tananarive Due
• Our Cut of Salt, by Deena Helm
• Swallerjaw, by Tif Robinette

Will you be picking up It Looks Like You in the Dark? Tell us in the comments below!

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