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

I fell in love with reading and my local Jacksonville, Florida public library. I read Black Expressions romance all through nursing school. My craving for great books continued when I was commissioned in the US Navy. I’m one of you. I love stories. I still make time to read — more audiobooks now that I’m losing my vision. I love book clubs, book chats, all of it. I do my best to be a positive representation for women in literature and in the publishing industry. My hubby and kids support my passion for writing. So, that’s me.

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

Maybe in the fourth grade. I started with poetry. Considering my daily life was limited to school, walking home after school, and the community park, my life lacked artistic inspiration. The neighborhood kids didn’t consider my haikus to be lyrical genius. So, I returned to my first love, fiction.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
• The one that made you want to become an author: The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Your latest novel, A Hard Habit to Break, is out August 11th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Passionate. Heartfelt. Kinship. Restorative. Optimistic.

What can readers expect?

I want women to see themselves, their sisters, their friends in Rachel, Bethany, and the other women in A Hard Habit to Break. The type of men I write appreciate a woman’s worth, and they are smart enough to profess their true feelings before she exits stage right. The Calvary Brothers are good men from Chapter One. But they grow to be the best men for the women they love. As for the romance, you can feel the connection. It’s all about SEEING Noah and Rachel opening themselves to deep intimacy, which starts with trust. I show their journey to love so it feels authentic for them. I want the same for my own love affair—to be seen, heard, valued, desired, and cherished.

Where did the inspiration for A Hard Habit to Break come from?

A long drive from Virginia through West Virginia in 2021. Harper’s Ferry was so picturesque and soothing to me at the time; I had to capture the feeling in a book.

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

Knowing when to stop is always the hardest. The book has a beginning, middle, and end for the reader. Not for me. I’ve spent months, sometimes years, with these characters. I know what they eat for breakfast. The hard part is choosing which tender morsels from the buffet of situations will actually provide a satisfying story for my readers. I reread my characters’ goal and motivations statements daily. This practice reminds me that the story belongs to them. That I have to resist the urge to insert elements that confuse or minimize the conflict these characters are allowing the readers to explore for themselves.

What’s next for you?

More Cavalry Brothers, yes! Eli got book one, Noah’s has book two, and next up is Tobias, our cautious EMT and middle brother. I’m thrilled for Tobias’ story, because he has surprises for the reader and himself. Also, it’s fun to write about a bookish man. Oops, did I say that? You caught me, Tobias Calvary is a writer. And I have a holiday story coming in October 2027 that I’m not supposed to mention too much. So, don’t tell anybody else.

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

Oh, this has to be a trick question. There are so many by authors I adore: Lucy Wilson-Tagoe, Evelyn Sola, Tati Richardson, Avey Flynn, KC Mills, Ines Johnson, Mel Walker, Darie McCoy, Rose Marie, Imani Jay, Amarie Avant, TB Bond, Kassanna, Lucy Score, Nicoyan Zheng, Lee Child.

This question! Okay, I’ve read Kennedy Ryan, Lucy Wilson-Tagoe, Abby Jimenez, Evelyn Sola, Naima Simone, LaQuette, Nina Crespo, TB Bond, Tiya Rayne, Tim Tigner, Brenda Jackson, Tatianna Richardson, Tananarive Due, Talia Hibbert, and Mia Sosa this year. There have been a few craft and business books in the mix, too.

Will you be picking up A Hard Habit to Break? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Siera London, Author of ‘A Hard Habit to Break’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

About The Witch Queen: Pay the price of blood and snow: Snow White’s wicked queen rises to her destiny in the second book of a queer, witchy duology that’s hailed as “an alluring, vengeful origin story that brings tremendous dimension to the classic fairy tale” (Chloe Gong)—from the author of Malice. Releases August 11th 2026.

For as long as I can remember, my favorite character in any story has been the villain. Can you blame me? Sleeping princesses and epic quests to save humanity are boring. Villains, on the other hand, have much more fun—not to mention better wardrobes.

Which is why it’s always annoyed me that villains rarely get to leave their evil lairs long enough to tell their side of the story. Female villains, in particular, are often depicted as being youth-obsessed, baby-snatching (or cursing) homewreckers. Don’t get me wrong—I’m here for a petty grudge (I might actually be part crow), but don’t they deserve to have their say?

In my latest book, The Witch Queen, Snow White’s iconic villainess finally gets her chance to explain her version of events. Was she the jealous woman fixated on murdering her stepdaughter? Or did she have a good reason for poisoning the apple? You’ll have to find out for yourself. In the meantime, here are five novels that feature multi-faceted female villains worth rooting for.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

If you support women’s wrongs, this book is for you. A delicious mix of southern gothic thriller, Succession-style inheritance games, and debutantes behaving badly, Hawkins delivers a fantastic story about woman who isn’t afraid to take what she wants.

At her prime, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Millar Kenmore was one of the richest and most sought-after women in North Carolina. And one who just happened to leave a string of dead husbands in her wake. Coincidence, naturally.

Upon her own death, Ruby bequeaths her entire estate and fortune to her adopted son, Camden. But when Camden and his wife, Jules (who is hiding her own dark past), return to Ruby’s estate, they find more than a lavish mansion. The discovery of Ruby’s hidden letters unearths secrets that should have stayed buried forever. Camden and Jules must decide who Ruby really was—and if staying in the family is worth the cost.

This book was pure fun and I loved Ruby’s utterly unapologetic voice. Did she do some “bad” things? Maybe. But she also blazed fearlessly through a world built to cage her. Whether you condone Ruby’s actions or not, Hawkins has certainly crafted a novel which explores the lies—or truths—we tell ourselves in order to survive.

All’s Well by Mona Awad

You may already know Awad from her horror masterpiece, Bunny. This sister novel, All’s Well is just as unhinged and features a dazzling exploration of a hero’s descent into villainy.

The story follows Miranda, a former actress who suffers a debilitating accident during a performance of Macbeth. Years later, Miranda is still spiraling from the incident. Her acting career (and relationship) is over, she’s living with chronic pain (which no one believes is real), and she’s stuck running the theatre department at a failing arts school.

But things start to turn around for Miranda after she meets three mysterious men who might hold the key to a glittering new life. At first, that’s exactly what Miranda gets. Her pain suddenly vanishes, her mutinous students fall in line, and Miranda wreaks her vengeance on everyone who wronged her. But Miranda’s success comes with a cost. As events begin to spiral out of control, Miranda must decide how far she’s willing to go to be the star of her own show.  

Like much of Awad’s other works, this book is a feverish mix of supernatural, horror, and comedy (I’m still cackling at Puffy Nips). But what I enjoyed most about the book was following Miranda down the rabbit-hole of corruption. Given her excruciating pain and disastrous personal life, no one can really blame Miranda for wanting to restore her career and vanquish her enemies. But how far is too far? I’m still not sure I know—and I loved that.  

Diavola by Jennifer Marie Thorne

We’ve all heard that we’re the villains in someone else’s story, right? Well, what if that “someone” was your own family?

Thorne’s novel takes a classic haunted house narrative and drops it in the most dysfunctional family vacation you can imagine. Anna Pace is well aware of her status as the black sheep in the Pace clan. She’s not as successful as her siblings, she’s single, and everyone seems to be holding their breath, waiting her for next screw-up.

When the Pace family rents a villa in Monteperso, Italy, Anna vows to lay low and survive the week without incident. But the family drama sparks immediately, with Anna—predictably—at its center. And the passive-aggressive digs are nothing compared to the strange happenings in the house itself. Strange noises echo in the night, shadows follow Anna’s every step, and even the villagers try to warn the family to leave. As Anna investigates the history of the villa—which may be haunted by the ghost of a vengeful 15^th century Italian socialite—her family becomes increasingly unhinged and blames the mysterious circumstances on Anna herself. By the end of the novel, Anna isn’t sure if they will survive the trip—or even if she wants them to.

To be fair, Anna isn’t necessarily a villain here, but she’s certainly made out to be one by the rest of hertoxic family, which made for an interesting perspective. What do you do when you’re unwilling cast in a role? Perhaps being a villain just means choosing yourself.

Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

What if Cinderella was kind of a brat? Hochhauser executes this premise perfectly in her reinvention of Cinderella’s supposedly wicked stepmother.
 
Lady Etheldreda Verity Isolde Tremaine Bramley is in a bind. Her first marriage (a love match) ended in tragedy. Her second—which was supposed to grant her financial and social security—left her destitute and powerless. Now, living in a (literally) crumbling manor, Ethel must find a way to support herself and her daughters—including her stepdaughter, Elin, who refuses to lift a finger to help the family and openly despises Ethel. 

When a royal ball is announced, Ethel hopes the opportunity will rescue her family from ruin. But Elin swoops in, scheming to secure her own engagement with the prince and leave her stepsisters—along with Ethel—destitute. As the royal wedding draws nearer, however, Ethel discovers disastrous secrets that will doom Elin. She must decide to whether to intervene on Elin’s behalf, or to let her ungrateful stepdaughter get what she deserves.  

What made this book sing for me was how much it was rooted in reality. Was Cinderella’s stepmother a scheming fortune-hunter? Or was she just willing to do what it took for her own—and her daughters’—survival? With her grit, resourcefulness, and determination, Ethel is an achingly real person. And that humanity is what makes for an excellent villain.

Manor of Dreams by Christina Li

Part old Hollywood, part haunted house, all drama—Li’s novel is a masterful examination of generational trauma and the lengths we go to protect our own stories.
 
When Vivian Yin—the first Chinese actress to win an Oscar—dies, her daughters expect to inherit their mother’s crumbling estate. But in a surprise power move from beyond the grave, Vivian leaves the house to another family, one whom the Yin children haven’t heard from in years.

Refusing to give up their claim on the inheritance, both families move into the house, each scheming to kick the other out. But as the days pass, the walls of the estate start to close in, and its inhabitants begin to worry that they’re not alone. As paranoia rises, so do Vivian’s secrets—as well as those of the house itself. Soon, it may be too late to leave at all.

Li’s strength in this novel is the depth of the characters—each is selfish and bent on achieving their own ends, but also undeniably relatable. Vivian’s narrative is especially compelling. By the end, you’ll wonder who the real villain really is—or whether everyone carries some darkness in their heart.

The post Mirror, Mirror on the Wall—Who’s My Favorite Villain of Them All? appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from One Good Eye by Kevin Wade, which releases on August 11th 2026.

As a hurricane makes landfall on Long Island’s Gold Coast, Police Chief Jeep Mullane responds to a plea for help at the estate of his longtime friend Jenny Racine, who has been violently assaulted in a home invasion. Jenny was the girl next door growing up, is now a rich and famous entrepreneur, and has always been a compelling, infuriating, and magnetic presence in his life.

Though Jenny is adamant she wants no investigation of the incident, Jeep sets off on a lonely and dangerous path to find out who attacked her. As he makes alarming discoveries, he must pry open the secrets of Jenny’s ex-military ex-husband, a fugitive police captain, officious federal agents, steely blue-blooded women, and two local biker gangs, casting aside his protocol as a police chief to challenge the criminals himself.

All this unfolds across five action-packed days and twenty-five years of shared past as Jeep must grapple with his complicated history with Jenny, the thorny customs and secrets of his homeland, and a long-buried truth that leads him to the painful resolution.

Chapter One

The official hurricane season was halfway over without so much as a sloppy kiss for Long Island, so the meteorologists were in full cry when Tropical Depression Kyle was upgraded to a Tropical

Storm. On the television, grim Todds and tense Allisons fidgeted by their maps with telegenic alarm, chirping about “European models” and “fluid scenarios” and “Cat One potential” and all with a steady backbeat of “we’re all gonna die!” driving the updates. No one glued to the news at home dared touch that dial, and the ones on the road and tuned to all-news radio even let the “Kars4Kids” jingle play out without stabbing the volume button to mute.

Except for Chief Jeep Mullane, who scored a personal best by silencing that earworm before the second note was plucked. He was at the wheel of his unmarked department-issued Chevy Tahoe, finishing up a “good neighbor” tour of his home turf on Long Island’s North Shore. He was checking in on elderly friends of his parents and old friends of his own, doling out bottled water and batteries and advice on how to manage the drain on home generators to the fortunate ones who had them. He was on the clock as the Centre Brookville Chief of Police but also on the job as You Know Jeep, cruising the area like a trusty utility infielder. It was a role he’d grown into over his thirty-nine years of living a largely local life. It was a blessing and a curse, but he’d mostly made his peace with it. Plus, he was taking this opportunity to walk the walk for the men and women under his command; the sign on his office door read: There is no limit to what you can do if you don’t mind who gets the credit.

Jeep’s phone came alive with text alerts chiming in. He clocked the times and realized he’d been out of service for the last twenty-two minutes.

He immediately radioed in to headquarters; their comms were up and had not been interrupted. He exhaled some.

He did a retail check of his messages; there were some bulletin updates from the Nassau County PD, the usual self-serving hype from the County Executive, and nothing from his on-and- off girlfriend, Niven.

And five words from Jenny Racine’s driver, Nicole: need you at the house.

Jenny Racine was the only famous person Jeep knew. He’d known her since she was just the girl who’d moved in down the block the summer before sophomore year of high school, so keeping it real came naturally to him. A good half dozen of the usual teenage firsts, they’d made together. And after the accident, it was Jeep who had nicked her as “Pirate Jenny.” Jeep had always been pretty good at nicknames, but only that one had needed to be translated into other languages.

He called Nicole’s cell. He got her voicemail before the first ring sounded and hung up. He texted her back: on my way.

As the swinging stoplight changed to green, Jeep upped the Tahoe’s windshield wipers to max and booked down the last mile of Bayville Avenue before it turned into the main road bisecting Centre Island, where Jenny had built her trophy house, a term she loathed. It had been almost two years under construction, and he knew from pals in the trades that it was finished and furnished. But he did not know she’d moved in.

Jeep was driving east on the last stretch through his modest, working-class hometown before it segued into the emerald tunnel of old-growth trees that wound past the waterfront estates of Centre Island. He was leaving behind the taverns and markets of a usual place and crossing over to a highly unusual one; a peninsula with about four hundred residents living in about two hundred multi-million-dollar houses and where the only place you could buy food or drink or find a restroom was the members-only Triton Yacht Club, where you were not getting in.

But Tropical Storm Kyle had nothing for exclusivity. Kyle was dealing tree limbs onto beater Fords in Bayville and onto Bentleys on Centre Island without fear or favor. Kyle pushed the waters of the Sound into tired split-ranch basements with one hand and roiled the yacht club’s picturesque anchorage with the other, bumping elegant Hinckleys and vintage Chris-Crafts into the docks or each other. Kyle didn’t care how much money you had, how famous you were, or what your lineage was.

Jeep drove past the open gates to Jenny’s spread and crawled the Tahoe around some downed limbs and along the quarter mile of crushed-shell two-track that led to the house.

Her land was a waterfront ten acres she’d bought from the neighboring Peel family. Just under two acres of it was buildable; the rest was a swath of salt marshes, spartina paddies and shallow tributaries that would be a last resort for refugees or fugitives much less second-home shoppers of discerning taste and fat wallets. But the tidal scenery was magnificent and Jenny had fallen in love with the idea of her very own, very private safe harbor. It didn’t hurt that, per local legend, Captain Kidd’s wife, Sarah, had holed up in the area, back in the real pirate days. Jenny took great pride in being slyly on-brand. The house itself, considered delightful by passing boaters and obscene by its horrified Centre Island neighbors, was modeled on the forms of an eighteenth-century galleon. The master suite and study, in the back of the house and closest to the water, was the most literal and spectacular element: two bowed stories replicating the stern of a pirate ship right out of an illustrated Treasure Island or Peter Pan. Viewed from the water at night, its mullioned windows would glow amber with custom lighting that replicated the flickering warmth of oil lamps and candles.

Everything about the place, as in everything about Jenny Racine’s life by that point, was curated, positioned and presented for effect.

Everything, that is, except for the stricken look on Nicole’s face as she stepped into the drive with her hands out front pushing stop. He braked and powered down the window as she rushed over.

“You can’t tell her I texted you,” she said.

Nicole was a square-bodied woman with a diamond nose stud and hooded eyes that served her well in her chosen career as a professional shadow. She was in her late forties and had worked for Jenny for over a decade as driver, logistics coordinator, salaried friend and devil’s advocate. Jeep had nicknamed her Oddjob after the lethal bodyguard in an old James Bond movie, but that was frowned upon and rarely employed.

“Copy that. Why am I here?” Jeep said.

“You were checking on people and thought to do a drive-by on the house,” she said.

“No. Why am I here?”

“Someone was inside and beat her up on his way out the back. She doesn’t want cops,” she said.

“I’m a cop,” Jeep said.

“You’re also her oldest friend. She’s upstairs in the master,” she said.

“Is the house clear?” Jeep said.

Nicole was ex-Suffolk County PD and had a concealed carry permit.

“Clear,” she said, and tapped the roof and waved him on like she was still on the Job herself.

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About To Drown A Witch: A criminal and a royal guard are drawn into the hunt for a dangerous witch—and an unexpected romance—in this YA enemies-to-lovers romantasy, the first in a duology. Perfect for fans of Heartless Hunter. Released July 14th 2026.

Is my novel, TO DROWN A WITCH, part of a trilogy? No, it’s a duology. But it is considered young adult romantasy. As a genre, romantasy hasn’t been around for very long. The mashup of fantasy and romance as a term only started getting thrown about five or so years ago. Before that books had to be either fantasy or romance and anything in between had to choose a side. Growing up, I read my way through plenty of the young adult fantasy section at bookstores, but, most often, I gravitated towards the novels that walked the line between romance and fantasy. As a result, I think I can safely say if the below novels were published today instead of 15+ years ago (wow!) they would have been dubbed young adult romantasy.

The Darkest Powers Trilogy by Kelley Armstrong (THE SUMMONING, The AWAKENING, and The RECKONING)

Starting off strong with a trilogy that contains three beloved tropes: forced proximity, the love triangle, and enemies to lovers. Although, I would personally classify the relationship between Chloe and Derek more as haters to lovers, but let’s not get too technical here. While set in a version of our world, the fantasy elements—werewolves, sorcerers, necromancers, and demons abound—are woven throughout the novel, making it very clear why this was labeled YA fantasy back in the day. However, alongside the mystery and magic, there is a strong romance plot line (I did mention a love triangle) with the main character, Chloe, torn between two brothers. With Chloe forced to share a home with both brothers, whilst trying to figure out her own powers, I’d say the romance and fantasy plots of the story share equal weight which, today, would land this series squarely within the romantasy genre.

The Starcrossed Trilogy by Josephine Angelini (STARCROSSED, DREAMLESS, and GODDESS)

Now the romance in this YA trilogy is strong and, unlike in the Darkest Powers trilogy, this story contains true enemies to lovers with its two lovers Helen and Lucas literally starting off trying to kill each other. And I do mean kill as in dead. It takes every ounce of their self control not to pummel the other person whenever they lay eyes on each other. However, I have to say (sans spoilers), their progression into lovers is not typical of today’s enemies to lovers tropes. Still, romance blossoms between the two all whilst Helen learns of her unique, fantastical heritage and her emerging powers. Although there is a good deal of time spent exploring the fantasy aspects of the novel, the romance in it is impossible to ignore. And you know what that means—if published today no doubt about it, the world would have labeled this trilogy romantasy.

The Hereafter Trilogy by Tara Hudson (HEREAFTER, ARISE, and ELEGY).

It feels a little on the nose to say this trilogy would be considered romantasy today. The story of a ghost girl and the boy she rescues from drowning who, it turns out, is the only person alive who can see her? I’m a little surprised this series didn’t jumpstart the romantasy genre 15 years ago. The romance is easily one of the strongest parts of the series. Were it not for the fact that the main character is dead, this series might have been grouped in with regular YA romances. But the main character, Amelia, is a ghost, and, throughout the series, she and her lover, Joshua, encounter problems of a far more fantastical nature compared to those of high school lovers in contemporary romances. So, again, how was this not classified as romantasy sooner?

The Paranormalcy Trilogy by Kiersten White (PARANORMALCY, SUPERNATURALLY, and ENDLESSLY).

I read most of these books when I was a teenager (or close to it), but the Paranormalcy trilogy is one I keep coming back to. I’ve reread this series a couple of times, most recently around seven years ago. With a whole slew of fantastical creatures hiding in plain sight, I just find it so much fun! That said, this series is a little less romance heavy compared to some of the other trilogies I’ve added to this list. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still think it belongs in the romantasy genre. In fact, I would go so far as to say the story doesn’t really get going until the main character, Evie, meets her love interest. That’s right, the love interest actually sparks the plot (or at least gets Evie to start asking all the questions she probably should have been asking her whole life). While the romance isn’t as prevalent throughout the entire series, there are still parts of the story that can’t progress without the romance between Evie and Lend. And you know what that means: with a solid mix of fantasy and romance this trilogy would have to be part of the romantasy genre today.

The Syrena Legacy Trilogy by Anna Banks (OF POSEIDON, OF TRITON, and OF NEPTUNE)

A trilogy with romance and mermaids? What more could you want in a series? As anyone close to me will tell you, I have a teensy, tiny, little obsession with mermaids. I definitely don’t have mermaid bookends or mermaid art or mermaid towels or mermaid mugs, and there is no way I have mermaid salt and pepper shakers, but I do love a good mermaid story and, for me, the Syrena Legacy scratched that itch. While the fantasy elements of this trilogy speak for themselves, the romance between the two main characters, Emma and Galen, is more than evident—their connection a driving force throughout the novels. And, similar to TO DROWN A WITCH, the story is told in the alternating POVs of two lovers (more interestingly those POVs switch between first person and third person). All of this lends this series to being labeled romantasy, even if the genre didn’t exist back then.

After reading through my list of YA romantasy trilogies, can you tell I’m feeling a bit nostalgic for these books? Do you have any sweet, romantic fantasy—eh hem, romantasy—novels you recommend? And while I do recommend you read TO DROWN A WITCH, my book is definitely not sweet. But it is exciting, romantic, and chock-full of dangerous magic which is why the powers that be labeled it romantasy. So, maybe when you’re done reading through the five trilogies listed here and are in need of a YA romantasy that’s a bit darker, you’ll pick up TO DROWN A WITCH.

The post Five YA Trilogies That Would Be Considered Romantasy Today appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hi, Natalie! Welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for the release of I Hope This Finds You Well?

Thanks for having me back! Since we last spoke I’ve been navigating debut while writing my second book (and living in this world). It was all a bit of an adventure filled with some wonderful ups and a few downs. Graduating from debut author to sophomore has really solidified my love for the writing. I’m so grateful to be able to do this.

Your latest novel, You’ll Love It Here, is out August 11^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Weird neighbours find each other.

What can readers expect?

An ensemble cast with wildly different lives interacting (sometimes for the first time). There’s a romance, a weiner dog that loves to steal scenes, and a comforting diner. Also, a laundry room panty thief mystery that needs to be solved.

Where did the inspiration for You’ll Love It Here come from?

Back in the day, I lived in an older apartment building for many years. I never got to know much about my neighbours but knew of all of them. Then a  huge flood overtook the city and the building was badly damaged. When we all came together to clean up, I got to know them so quickly and intimately (it was a highly emotional time). A lot of that time was spend wondering why we hadn’t spoken before and that stayed with me and formed the root of the idea. Plus, I love writing ensemble casts that contain people forced to live in proximity.

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

Yes! It’s always fun when a character surprises me and that happened with all of the main. Mona’s bonds and hijinks with Carmen and Jane were both a lot of fun. I also loved writing oddballs interact with each other outside of the main character how so many relationships evolved. Lastly, I absolutely loved writing every scene in the diner. The ones where the whole cast is involved and the ones where it was just Mona and Sami. I truly wish I could visit that place now!

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

What they say about books twos is true! When writing I’d overthink a lot of my decisions and wanted perfection, which isn’t realistic. I think the best thing to overcome this challenge was the smart advice to write even when it doesn’t always feel right. You can always revise.

What are some of the key lessons from your debut that helped with working on You’ll Love It Here?

I love to remember to focus on what I can control. Once a book is out in the world, it really isn’t mine anymore in a lot of way. Other than chatting with readers about it (which is an unexpected delight that never gets old!), I try really hard not to focus on the book when it’s out of my hands. It’s so much more productive and rewarding to focus on the book I’m working on and the craft of writing (both of which I can control). Also, find your people: both writers and none writers.

What’s next for you?

A great question! I’m working my way through an idea (or a couple now!) that I’m really excited about and can’t wait to explore more and hopefully share someday soon.

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

I’ve excited to read Let’s Kiss and Tell by Joss Richard, and See You at Sunset by Susan Lee (both also out Aug 11). I’m also excited for Garbage Girl by Emily Austin. I recently really enjoyed Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lackshmi.

Will you be picking up You’ll Love It Here? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Natalie Sue, Author of ‘You’ll Love It Here’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from Nest of Tongues by Randy Ribay, which releases on August 18th 2026.

As Filipino vampires known as manananggal, Lily and her brother Caleb understand the value of a secret. After all, to hide is to survive. To lie is to live. They’d never harm another person-but people only believe their worst fears around creatures of myth. So, the siblings stay quiet. They follow their community’s rules.

Until a monster hunter turns up and kills a fellow manananggal anyway.

Until Caleb is marked as the hunter’s next prey.

Suddenly, he and Lily realize there’s always been more at stake than the lives of their people. Because when doing everything “right” is still a death sentence, what can they take as truth? As the hunter nears, the siblings must decide if they’ll be driven from the only home they’ve ever known . . . or fight to protect a community that may already be lost.

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

Hi! I’m Jasmine Smith, author of Death Card, and writing to you from my home in eastern North Carolina. My pitbull mix, Opal, is curled up asleep next to me, as she often is when I’m working or writing. I’ve been an avid reader all my life and earned a Bachelor’s in English from North Carolina State University (go Wolfpack!). I’m also a lover of libraries. My first job right out of college was as a library assistant for a community college library.

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

I’ve always been a voracious reader, and I knew that I wanted to tell my own stories someday. As a child, I would create elaborate storylines for my Barbie dolls and write about them in notebooks. I also had a phase where I would write Twitches fanfiction in those same notebooks. When I got to high school, I tried writing my first book, which was about a group of teenagers who were experimented on in a secret laboratory and developed supernatural powers. It was only 46,000 words, and it’ll never see the light of day, but it taught me a lot about what it takes to actually finish a book.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: I have very fond memories of reading the Magic Treehouse and Junie B. Jones books at the top of a slide in a playground near my house. Don’t ask me why I was reading instead of playing!
• The one that made you want to become an author: Divergent by Veronica Roth. I remember seeing Veronica’s photo at the back of the book, being struck by how young she was, and realizing that I could write a book too.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh. It was beautifully written, and I could barely put it down when I was reading.

Your debut novel, Death Card, is out August 11^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Teen witch defies her destiny.

What can readers expect?

This book is about a few different things. First, readers can expect to follow a teen girl on her path of self-discovery, as she steps into the big shoes left behind by her grandmother. There’s also a grief journey, as Mikaela and her brother Orion grieve their grandmother in very different ways. Readers can also expect a magical society grounded in very real-world concerns. All books are political, but Death Card’s politics are very explicit and current.

Where did the inspiration for Death Card come from?

I was so interested in exploring this story because I had been wanting to write a book set in New Orleans since I visited in college. I have also always loved witch stories. From there, I infused themes of overcoming grief. I also was very angry at the state of the country when I was writing, and you’ll be able to tell where I stand once you read.

I put a lot of myself into this novel, and essentially wrote the story I wanted to read.

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

The main action scene at the end of the novel, where everything is revealed was very fun for me to write. And it is actually one of the only scenes that remained fairly untouched throughout revisions. So, I’m pretty proud of the fact that I got it right the first time.

I also enjoyed writing scenes where Mikaela, the main character, gets to see her loved ones who have passed. Writing about grief is very cathartic to me. Losing loved ones is my biggest fear, so I write about characters who have to overcome that almost as therapy for myself. But I think we all wish we could conjure up our lost loved ones and have one more conversation with them, so it was very fulfilling to give Mikaela that opportunity.

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

My main challenge was finding time to write around my day job, but that’s a pretty common challenge for authors. Most of us have to work a day job. There’s no way around that! I found that waking up before work was the best option for me. If I tried to write after work, my brain was completely fried. So, most mornings, I was up at 4 or 5 AM writing. Towards the end of deadlines, I would write both before and after work. So, my social life definitely took a hit!

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

My path was very untraditional. I signed with my former agent for a completely different project that had no fantasy aspects whatsoever. While we were preparing that project for submission, I had the opportunity to dip my toes into some IP work. That’s when Death Card came into my life, and we ended up selling it on proposal, which is very difficult to do as a debut. But it has been such a rewarding journey, and I can’t imagine it happening any other way.

What’s next for you?

I’m not under contract for anything currently, so I have the freedom to take a pause and decide what I want to focus on next.

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 looking forward to reading The Demon Star by Jesse Aragon. It’s unlike anything that I would usually read, but Jesse is one of my first writing friends and I’m so excited for her. It’s gotten such spectacular reviews that I can’t wait to read it. I also have an ARC of There Used to Be People Here by Kennedy Cole that I’m looking forward to diving into.

Some books I read this year and really enjoyed were Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong, Bound by Fury by Noelle Monet, An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole, and Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen.

Will you be picking up Death Card? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Jasmine Smith, Author of ‘Death Card’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

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

Hi, my name is Louise Nealon. I am an Irish writer. My first novel, Snowflake was published in 2021. My second novel Everything That Is Beautiful is out now. It is set in rural Ireland and follows the lives of three women in the lead up to a family wedding.

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

The first book I remember reading is a pop-up book of Alice in Wonderland. I still have it on my bookshelf. It’s battered from years of pulling it apart in order to see how the magic worked. As I got older, I developed a habit of rereading books, annotating pages, underlining words and sentences. It’s something I continue to do to this day.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: A pop-up book of Alice in Wonderland.
• The one that made you want to become an author: A pop-up book of Alice in Wonderland.
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The novel I’m writing now.

Your latest novel, Everything That Is Beautiful, is out August 4^th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

One man’s actions change everything.

What can readers expect?

Everything That Is Beautiful is a novel that follows three women in the lead up to an Irish wedding. Helen Foley is the wife of retired sporting legend, Liam Foley. She is also a mother and grandmother who spends her time checking into guesthouses under the maiden names of her former classmates. Her daughter, Kate, lives in Belfast and carries the weight of a family secret she tried to expose three years earlier. Niamh Ryan is a neighbour who was raised in the Foley household and an honorary family member until one night changed everything. Not everyone in the Foley family is aware of this change, including Peter, who Niamh has loved since they were kids.

Where did the inspiration for Everything That Is Beautiful come from?

I don’t know where the inspiration for writing a novel comes from. Even after a novel is written, the temptation is there to create a simple narrative as to where it came from, but that would be a fabrication, too. The epigraph that opens the novel is from a poem by Muriel Rukeyser and reads, “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?/ The world would split open.” I had that quote pinned to a corkboard by my desk as I wrote. Everything That Is Beautiful is a work of fiction which holds a very real energy. I wanted to write the kind of story where there are no easy truths or answers. I also wanted the Foleys to feel like a family who lived down the road from me, who I could have a laugh with – and they do.

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

One day, halfway through a draft of the novel, I was sitting in an empty church when I heard birds twitter. I looked up and saw their shadows flutter behind stained-glass windows. I knew that I was going to give that moment to one of my characters, and that it would open up the story somehow. The cover of the book is based on that experience – it’s surreal to see it manifested in such a physical way.

I found it challenging to write about hurling – a national sport of Ireland, and one of the oldest and fastest field sports in the world. Hurling is an amateur sport, but those selected to play for their county train to a professional level and become national heroes. Liam Foley is a retired hurling player. Niamh is his protégé, and captain of her local team. I grew up playing camogie (the female equivalent of hurling) and have always wanted to write about it. It was difficult to capture the emotions that come with playing such a tribal sport that is tied so deeply to a strong sense of shared identity.

With Everything That Is Beautiful told through three women, how did you approach keeping the perspectives distinct?

Helen, Kate and Niamh deal with the events of the novel in radically different ways. They can no longer speak openly to each other, or even process what has happened in the privacy of their own heads. For this reason, I knew that the story couldn’t be told in the first person. In the early stages of drafting the story, I tied myself up in knots wondering who the third person narrator was and how much they knew about the characters. I slowly realised the narrator was me and only knew as much as I was willing to write.

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

In my experience, writing a novel involves all kinds of challenges, many of them emotional. I used to be embarrassed by the kinds of tantrums I threw to get out of doing my job, but reading other writers discussing their work has eased my shame. At the moment, I’m reading a book called The Agony and the Ego: The Art and Strategy of Fiction Writing Explored edited by Clare Boylan. In her essay, ‘Growing A Tale,’ Hilary Mantel says, “In my daily work, minimizing terror is my object.” She mentions using a corkboard when she begins writing (or growing) a novel, pinning every word or idea that she can think of to propagate more. I have a similar process. When I get stuck, I go for a walk or a nap or have a cup of coffee. The trick is to keep coming back to the page and to minimize the terror, as Mantel would say.

What’s next for you?

I am currently working on my third novel.

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

I have just finished reading The Most Normal Woman: Essays on Appearances by Roisin Kiberd, a powerful collection exploring the beauty industry. I also read and loved Said the Dead by Doireann Ní Ghríofa, a book that blends history with fiction and explores both memory and erasure with profound empathy and grace.

Will you be picking up Everything That Is Beautiful? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Louise Nealon, Author of ‘Everything That Is Beautiful’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Intrigued? Read on to discover the synopsis and an excerpt from For the Love of the Quest by Alexandra Ammon Parthun, which releases on August 11th 2026.

Lady Edith Darling is supposed to live a quiet life in her family’s manor. She is not supposed to go unchaperoned on a quest to find Excalibur. But Edith won’t let that stand in her way, especially not when she’s on this mission to honor her beloved grandmother’s dying wish. Determined to prove her grandmother right, Edith packs her satchel with Arthurian legends, pastries, and her grandmother’s ashes and runs off to hire a mercenary. 

Thomasin Shaw leads the most feared gang in London. For years, she had the constabulary safely in her pocket, until a scandal involving the chief inspector’s wife was brought to light. Now he’s demanding an enormous sum of money—without which Thomasin will lose the protection of the police along with her criminal empire. But when the rich Lady Edith waltzes into her life seeking an escort for a treasure hunt, Thomasin sees a willing kidnapping victim and a massive ransom.

As Edith’s clues lead them to underground chambers booby-trapped with arrows, doors locked with arcane puzzles, and even Arthur’s fabled round table, Thomasin finds herself swept up in the quest—and in Edith herself. Edith is also drawn to Thomasin, despite the ruthless mask she wears. But the chief inspector won’t let Thomasin forget her crimes, and Edith’s father is intent on bringing her home. Every legendary quest has an ending, but finding Excalibur might not be enough to make this a happy one.

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Way back in 2015, Sierra Simone shocked readers (I mean that in the very best way!) with Priest, the first book in a seriously steamy series that is ripe with commentary on the Catholic church. First, Tyler Bell broke his vows as a priest. Then, his brother Sean encouraged an aspiring nun to break hers. Next, their brother Aiden’s commitment to the monastery was challenged. Now, over a decade later, it’s time for baby brother Ryan to have the spotlight.

A quick warning before diving in: Sierra Simone’s stories never have any shortage of explicit spicy scenes. They also often have darker themes. Add in the religious aspects of the Priest collection, and this may not be the book for everyone. Simone is careful to lay all the warnings out plainly at the start, so be sure to take a peek before deciding if you want to move forward.

Now, if you’re in, it’s time for the fun stuff …

In Devil, Ryan Bell is exactly that—he’s a devil hellbent on getting what he wants, no matter the cost. And what does he want? Birdie Cooper, a supremely talented—and extremely inexperienced, albeit older—sculpture artist. From the moment he sees Birdie, Ryan is obsessed. Literally. It doesn’t matter that she first meets him as a student in her college art class. He will stop at nothing to slake his thirst for her, even if it causes her to lose everything.

As you might expect, that’s exactly what happens. Ryan’s infatuation leads to a brief encounter that upends her life, then Birdie disappears from his.

Fast forward seven years. Neither Ryan nor Birdie have forgotten each other. They can’t. Although they might appear to be different creatures from the outside, Birdie harbors a darkness that is not entirely unlike Ryan’s. She craves the things she’s always been told are wrong, the impulses she has suppressed for so many years. So, when Ryan finally finds her, he knows exactly how to catch his little bird. He offers her a deal she can’t refuse: the money to care for her beloved sister in exchange for becoming his, in every way, for one year.

Birdie wants to fight her attraction, questioning how someone like Ryan could ever want someone like her—even if he is deeply flawed. Yet, try as she might, she just can’t say no to him either. And so their complicated relationship begins … but how will it end?

Here’s what I really love about this book—and all of Sierra Simone’s work, actually: She really goes there. In every imaginable way. There is no topic too taboo or off limits, no risk she is not willing to take. Dark romance, by nature, tends to be a collection of real-life red flags; yet when fictionalized, it can create an intoxicating story.

But don’t take my word for it, take a peek at Ryan’s red flags for yourself. He holds none of his darkness back with Birdie, even going so far as to tell her: “I want to be the only thing you’re scared of, the only thing that makes you tremble … I want all the suffering in your life to have one cause, one name. And I want you to love it so much that you smile when you so much as whisper my name.”

In a life that has been so painfully difficult already, this intensity doesn’t scare Birdie away the way you might expect. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. To Birdie the idea of being possessed is almost a relief, as she realizes “the thought is so comforting, so achingly lovely. Bell is the worst thing that will happen to me. All I have to do is let him be.”

As she digs deeper into this dynamic between the two, it’s obvious that Sierra Simone can really write. I mean that with the utmost respect … because sometimes we come to romance novels for the entertainment value, if you know what I mean. Simone, however, gives readers the best of both worlds. Devil is sure to be one of the hottest books you’ve ever read with an emotionally rich storyline.

I also urge you to stick around and read the afterword, if that’s something you don’t generally do. It provides a great deal of insight into Simone’s intentions when building these characters and fleshing out this story.  It’s a really enriching way to end the book, giving the reader a look at her thought process from a religious, political, and just plain human perspective.

If you’ve read the rest of the Priest collection, you are no doubt anxious to get your hands on Devil. And if you haven’t, no worries. Each book tells a standalone tale, so you can start anywhere. Sierra Simone sets the standard for well-written, explicit romance. I genuinely applaud her brave choices here—from the fragility of the topics covered (religion and mental health aren’t easy to tackle alone, much less together) to maintaining her signature spice level—and I think you will too.

Devil is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of August 11th 2026.

Will you be picking up Devil? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis

From USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone comes an ALL-NEW standalone romance in the Priest universe.

Birdie Cooper has nothing left.

Just one moment of weakness seven years ago—and she lost her job, her church, her only friend. Now she’s working nights at a gas station to scrape together a living and a way to care for her sister, completely alone and separated even from the art that gave her life meaning.

Ryan Bell has never forgotten his first obsession.

He’s been trying to find the tremblingly shy lecturer from his senior year of college after she abruptly disappeared after their first and only kiss. So when he comes upon a statue of Lucifer carved in Ryan’s own likeness, two things become starkly apparent.

One: he knows how to find her now. And two: he’s been haunting Birdie Cooper’s memory as much as she’s been haunting his.

Ryan can’t offer love—or even an apology—but he can offer her a bargain, one crafted first and foremost to free him from his punishing obsession with her. If Birdie agrees to be his in every way for a single year, then he’ll pay for her sister’s care for as long as she’s alive. And what does Birdie have left to lose anyway? The forbidden fruit is her only chance at salvation.

Unfortunately for Birdie, she might just be the only chance for his…

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