Sneak Peek: Hero for the Holidays by Maisey Yates

3 September 2024

Hero for the Holidays by Maisey Yates

Fia Sullivan and Landry King are famed throughout the Four Corners Ranch for how much they hate each other. But this Christmas, the secret that tore their hidden teenage fling apart is about to be revealed… Can they put their enmity to one side to give their daughter – the daughter they secretly gave up for adoption all those years ago – the family Christmas they all deserve?

This Christmas, could the cowboy from her past unlock the key to her future?

When Landry King shows up at Four Corners Ranch with Lila, the teenage daughter no one ever knew he had, it sets the gossip mill churning. Landry’s daughter has lost her adoptive parents and is in desperate need of a new family. So this Christmas, the untamed cowboy is finally getting the chance to become the father he could never have been when Lila was born. Even if it means dealing with his other biggest regret…

Fia Sullivan hates Landry King. That’s how it’s always been. At least, that’s how it’s been since their dramatic teenage love affair ended in a way that shattered their hearts and left them with wounds that never healed. When Landry dredges up her most agonizing secret, Fia’s devastated…and also overjoyed at the possibility of the new life they could have. But there’s only so long she can be near Landry before their simmering desire reignites. Can they finally overcome their past pain to find new love—and new family—this Christmas?

LIFE PLANS ON DIVE BAR NAPKINS: THE TRAVEL STORIES A TRAVEL WRITER COULDN’T PUBLISH

Jocie McKade

3 September 2024

IPG has released the debut book “Life Plans on Dive Bar Napkins” by renowned travel writer Paul Manser in North America.

Paul Manser has seen all four corners of the world through his work. The Melbourne-based travel writer has written for newspapers and magazines in Australia; detailing sprawling landscapes and buzzing metropolises, while reviewing the often-unseen sides to some of the world’s most popular destinations. However, this book isn’t about that. It’s about everything that didn’t make it into those articles.

A homage to most of his major life decisions, which started as incoherent nonsense on the back of a dive bar napkin, Life Plans on Dive Bar Napkins details Paul’s wildest, wackiest, and most dangerous adventures over the years. It’s a sexy, ridiculous, and eccentric page turner that you’ll struggle to put down.

Featuring stories of being kidnapped in the most expensive taxi in Mexico, crashing dog sleds in the Arctic Circle, sharing a room with man-eating spiders in Guatemala, avoiding exploding rubbish bins in new Tokyo, and living like Frank Sinatra (with a UTI) in Palm Springs; each chapter will leave you wondering how Paul made it this far in life with all of his limbs intact and any notion of self-dignity. No matter where he was in the world, Paul managed to test the limits of his travel insurance policy while landing himself in truly astonishing situations. If being socially awkward was an extreme sport, Paul is your back-to-back X-Games champion.

The pages will see you laugh, gasp and blush while reading. The wonderfully colourful book isn’t just packed full of debauchery – no, it has plenty of stories of friendship, comradery, local kindness, perseverance, and lessons learnt. All of which have contributed to who Paul is as a writer, businessperson, father, and perennial Darwin Award contender.

“Life Plans on Dive Bar Napkins is a book of experiences I always wanted to get into print, but worried that some tut-tutting travel editor would strip of all the best jokes. You could say that the book is an unnecessary act of self-indulgence by an egotist who shirks life’s responsibilities, drinks too much and thinks too little. And you’d probably be right,” says author Paul Manser.

He continues, “I wrote this book for the people who want to experience something different, who drink because they enjoy it, and whose life plans begin as incoherent scrawls on the back of a dive bar napkin.”

Written for the nomad-ish wanderers of the world, and the people aspiring to be them, this book is the inspiration needed to live life to the fullest outside of societal pressures. It’s for those who like late nights that turn into early mornings, saying ‘yes’ to chaos and gaining a whole lot of life experience while you’re at it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Manser is a Melbourne-based travel writer who has been published in newspapers including The Australian, The Courier Mail, MX and The Sunday Telegraph, as well as by international media titles and travel brands such as MTV, Hearth, International Traveller, and G Adventures.

Away from writing, Paul is the personal manservant to a grumpy 11-year-old sausage dog named Bruno. He has also started four businesses, the majority of which have not resulted in being chased down the street by a reporter from A Current Affair.

Today, you can often find Paul with bags under his eyes, scrolling through his phone looking for international flight sales as his young children test the boundaries of physical and personal safety on playground equipment in Melbourne’s inner-west.

For more information: www.paulmanser.com.au

Behind The Words With Emily Layden

Jocie McKade

3 September 2024

On the blog today we are excited to be talking with ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP author, Emily Layden. Welcome Emily first, tell our readers a bit about yourself. Where you’re from, where you live? Is writing your full-time job?

I’m a screenwriter and the author of the novels Once More From The Top and All Girls. Born and raised in upstate New York, I lived everywhere from Menlo Park to rural Maine before settling back near my hometown, where I write every day from a 200-year-old farmhouse in the country.

How long have you been writing?

I come from a family of storytellers: My dad has authored or co-authored over 40 books; my uncle was a long-time staff writer at Sports Illustrated; my cousin Kristen (to whom Once More From The Top is dedicated) is a television writer. As kids, Kristen and I used to write plays and perform them for our families while on vacation, and so I guess I’ve been writing ever since our first performance of “The Great Lobster Rescue.”

What does your typical writing day look like?

I like to write in the mornings, when it’s quiet and before the day really has had a chance to intervene. Because I am often working from home, alone, in my sweatpants, I try to set some kind of daily goal—a certain numbers of words or pages per day, depending on the project, mode, and where I am in the process—because a measurable goal helps me to feel productive and like I do, in fact, have a real job.

Tell us about your latest release? Where the idea came from? Perhaps some fun moments, or not so fun moments?

Once More From The Top is about a mega pop star named Dylan Read whose childhood best friend Kelsey vanished when they were both in high school; 15 years later, Kelsey’s body is found at the bottom of their hometown lake, forcing Dylan to revisit their shared past, Kelsey’s influence on her music, and whether there’s more to their story than meets the eye.

The idea was really borne out of my own fascination with contemporary fame—particularly the experiences of famous women, and the expectation that they be both aspirational and accessible. How much of the artist lives in the art? How much more do they owe us? What does it mean to be authentic, and is our art actually the most authentic expression of ourselves? These questions were my sandbox, and while the book doesn’t attempt to answer them—they are unanswerable!—OMFTT is the result of my playing around with them for a while.

Could you share one detail from your current release with readers that they might not find in the book?

Unfortunately, the book can’t contain the music it’s about—which is why I made a playlist to go along with it! Part thematic tour, part contextualization, these seventeen songs are meant to capture the atmosphere of the novel while also making a “Dylan Read Radio”: If Spotify were to generate a playlist for fans of Dylan Read’s music, this is what you might find on it! You can listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cLtbEPiZYRYgA27sMmjVs?si=79ab0c15ec4e4d4e

Who has been the most difficult character for you to write? Why?

Honestly, Dylan was really difficult to write! Everyone says the second book is the hardest one, and they weren’t kidding. This novel meant so much to me, and I was so excited about this story that the stakes just felt really high—creatively, personally, and professionally. I wanted to get it—and Dylan—right.

If you could be one of your characters for a day which character would it be?

I don’t think I’m cut out for Dylan’s level of fame at all—or the intensity of her spotlight—but don’t we all kind of want to know what it would feel like to have a stadium full of fans screaming your name? If you’ve been very lucky, you’ve been to a concert that’s felt something like a spiritual experience; what is it like to be at the very center of that? I’m not interested in the ego boost; I’m interested in the psychology of something that only a very few living people know about.

If you could spend the day with your character, what would you do? What would that day look like?

One of the best parts of writing this novel was the research I did for it. I visited recording studios, spoke to producers and engineers and songwriters, and read and watched and listened to as much material as I could about the songwriting process. If I could spend the day with Dylan, I’d want to spend the day with her in the studio. I’d want to watch her magnificent mind at work.

What’s your take on research and how do you do it?

I am so grateful to every artist, engineer, producer, and professor who spoke to me as I worked on this book. I also listened to hours (and hours and hours) of podcasts, which was really critical to my understanding: The aural nature of them helped me to grasp certain aspects of music production and music theory that would have been harder for me to comprehend were I only reading; by nature, a podcast can combine an idea with an example, so I didn’t just learn the definition of a technique or production style—I learned its application.

Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write?

I think Gillian Flynn is a genius and that Gone Girl is if not the Great American Novel than certainly one of them. And Megan Abbott is the queen of writing young women for an adult audience. Both of these authors—who’ve insisted on putting “difficult” “unlikeable” “unreliable” female characters on the page over and over again—have given me the confidence to try to do the same.

Do you have a secret talent readers would be surprised by?

I played lacrosse in college, and I’m a runner now. My athleticism is as important to me as my creativity, and I think one complements the other—I do my best, clearest thinking on my bike or on the trails, and I need to feel a little bit physically tired to be settled enough to write well.

Your favorite go to drink or food when the world goes crazy!

There’s a line in 30 Rock where Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon says something like, “all anybody wants in life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.” No one on television has better captured my specific experience. I love a sandwich.

What is your writing kryptonite?

My anxiety.

What is the one question you never get ask at interviews, but wish you did? Ask and answer it.

I’m rarely asked about the epigraphs to my novels! Once More From The Top begins with a Dickinson poem: “Fame is a bee.” I love this little bit of verse; like all of Emily Dickinson’s poems, it reads like a riddle, with each line adding to a metaphor that’s ever-so-slightly off-kilter—like the bee’s sole wing in the last line: “ah, too, it has a wing.” Fame lifts a person—but it does so crookedly? Haphazardly? Can a thing fly at all with only one wing?

The way her poems refuse easy answers, the way they don’t so much unfold themselves but rather complicate themselves with every line—I love that about her writing, and find it feels applicable to the novel (any novel, not just mine) in many ways.

Emily, thank you so much for joining us today and sharing ‘the music and the fame’.

Reader’s, here’s a quick look at ONCE MORE FROM THE TOP:

A propulsive, layered novel about the meteoric rise of a legendary pop star and the secret she’s kept hidden for fifteen years, for fans of Megan Abbott and Daisy Jones & the Six.

Everyone in America knows Dylan Read, or at least has heard her music. Since releasing her debut album her senior year of high school, Dylan’s spent fifteen years growing up in the public eye. She’s not only perfected her skills when it comes to lyrics and melody; she’s also learned how to craft a public narrative that satisfies her fans, her label, and the media. In the circles of fame and celebrity in which she now travels, the careful maintenance of Dylan Read pop star is often more important than the songs themselves.

And so lots of people think they understand everything about Dylan Read. But what no one knows is the part of her origin story she has successfully kept hidden: her childhood best friend Kelsey vanished the year before Dylan became famous. Now, as Dylan’s at the height of her career, Kelsey’s body is found at the bottom of their hometown lake—forcing Dylan to reckon with their shared past, her friend’s influence on her music, and whether there’s more to their story than meets the eye.

Immersive, page-turning, and psychologically astute, Once More from the Top is a riveting and keenly observant novel about friendship, ambition, and the cost of fame.

Sneak Peek: Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

Jocie McKade

2 September 2024

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep

Bestselling author and Christy Award– winner Michelle Griep is a sure bet for entertaining and immersive fiction and with over twenty novels in print to date—from Regency- era London to the American frontier—there’s no historical setting that has proven to be too much for Griep. Now making her Bethany House debut, Griep weaves a tale of love, mystery, intrigue, and an Egyptian curse set against the backdrop of the gaslit streets of Oxford, England, in Of Gold and Shadows, book one in the TIME’S LOST TREASURES series.

In 1888 Victorian England, Ami Dalton navigates a clandestine dual life. By day, she strives to establish herself as a respected Egyptologist, overcoming the gender biases that permeate academia. But with a heart for rescuing black-market artifacts, she is most often disguised as her alter ego, the Shadow Broker.

After eight years in India, Oxford’s most eligible bachelor, Edmund Price, has come out of the shadows to run for Parliament and is in search of an Egyptologist to value a newly acquired collection. Expecting a renowned Oxford professor, Edmund instead finds himself entangled with Ami, the professor’s determined daughter.

As they delve into the treasures, their connection deepens, but trouble emerges when a golden griffin—rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk—surfaces and they’re left to wonder if the curse really is at play, or if something more nefarious is hiding among the shadows.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Michelle Griep has been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayola. She is a Christy Award–winning author of historical romances that both intrigue and evoke a smile. She’s an Anglophile at heart, and you’ll most often find her partaking of a proper cream tea while scheming up her next novel . . . but it’s probably easier to find her at MichelleGriep.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE, FIVE ADDITIONAL PUBLISHERS AND AUTHORS GUILD FILE LANDMARK LAWSUIT AGAINST STATE OF FLORIDA FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL BOOK-BANNING PROVISIONS WITH HOUSE BILL 1069

Jocie McKade

2 September 2024

The lawsuit follows recent legal action by Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks in Iowa as publishers continue to challenge book bans across the country

Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks have filed a lawsuit against Florida public officials, challenging sweeping book removal provisions of HB 1069, an education law that restricts books in school libraries. The additional plaintiffs joining the publishers are the Authors Guild, bestselling authors Julia Alvarez, Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Jodi Picoult, and Angie Thomas, two students, and two parents.

As a result of HB 1069, hundreds of titles have been banned across the state since the bill went into effect in July 2023. The list of banned books includes classics such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, as well as contemporary novels by bestselling authors such as Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, and Stephen King. Among nonfiction titles, accounts of the Holocaust such as The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank have been removed.

HB 1069 requires school librarians to remove books that contain anything that can be construed as “sexual conduct,” with no consideration of the educational value of the work as a whole. If “a parent or a resident of the county” objects to a book, the book must be removed within five days and remain unavailable until the objection is resolved. There is no requirement to review a book within a reasonable time frame—or even to return it if it has been found not to violate the statute. If a book is returned to the library, an objector may request a review by a state-appointed special magistrate at the expense of the school district.

Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks issued a joint statement: “As publishers dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and the right to read, the rise in book bans across the country continues to demand our collective action. Fighting unconstitutional legislation in Florida and across the country is an urgent priority. We are unwavering in our support for educators, librarians, students, authors, readers—everyone deserves access to books and stories that show different perspectives and viewpoints.”

Dan Novack, VP, Associate General Counsel, PRH, said: “Florida HB 1069’s complex and overbroad provisions have created chaos and turmoil across the state, resulting in thousands of historic and modern classics—works we are proud to publish—being unlawfully labeled obscene and removed from shelves. Students need access to books that reflect a wide range of human experiences to learn and grow. It’s imperative for the education of our young people that teachers and librarians be allowed to use their professional expertise to match our authors’ books to the right reader at the right time in their life.”

“There is no greater gift than hearing that your words have deeply impacted someone’s life. We share our stories in hopes that they will resonate with readers, help them feel understood, and introduce them to new perspectives. Laws like HB 1069 in Florida deprive students of this opportunity and must be stopped,” said the author plaintiffs in a joint statement.

“Book bans censor authors’ voices, negating and silencing their lived experience and stories,” said Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild. “These bans have a chilling effect on what authors write about, and they damage authors’ reputations by creating the false notion that there is something unseemly about their books. Yet, these same books have edified young people for decades, expanding worlds and fostering self-esteem and empathy for others. We all lose out when authors’ truths are censored.”

HB 1069’s book removal provisions violate the Supreme Court test, articulated in Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973), evaluating media content for obscenity by reviewing works as a whole for their literary, artistic, political, and scientific value, and extended to minors in Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205 (1975). The lawsuit focuses on restoring the discretion of trained educators to evaluate books holistically to avoid harm to students who will otherwise lose access to a wide range of viewpoints.

The plaintiffs are represented in the lawsuit by Fred Sperling, Adam Diederich, Kirstie Brenson, Meera Gorjala, and Devin Ross of ArentFox Schiff LLP and David Karp of Carlton Fields.

The lawsuit follows recent legal action by Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks against Iowa public officials, challenging the book-banning provisions of Senate File 496 (SF496). Penguin Random House first filed the Iowa lawsuit in November 2023, and is also a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed with PEN America against the Escambia County (Florida) School Board over books that have been unconstitutionally removed.

Sneak Peek: Death of a Gingerbread Man by Lee Hollis

Jocie McKade

2 September 2024

Death of a Gingerbread Man by Lee Hollis

When Christmas comes to town in Bar Harbor, Maine, so does a killer with a real taste for revenge . . .

With the holiday season in full swing, food and cocktails columnist and restauranteur Hayley Powell has lots to check off her last-minute to-do list. Not included is the sudden arrival of her father, who hasn’t been in the picture since she believed in Santa Claus. Dwight Jordan’s presence in Bar Harbor might just be the unwanted gift that keeps on giving—especially after he becomes the top suspect in a case of yuletide murder . . .

As Hayley plans a New Year’s Eve bash while handling a hefty helping of family drama, she must lean into her closest friends to unravel a twisted mystery. Because the countdown is on to find out who killed the sore loser at the gingerbread house contest before Dwight disappears again—this time behind bars. And the more Hayley learns about the possible culprits, the more she knows it’s either crack the case ASAP or watch everything crumble like a stale cookie . . .

CLOUD 10 STUDIOS ANNOUNCES SLATE OF BOOK TITLES

Jocie McKade

1 September 2024

When award-winning producer and founder of Cloud 10 Studios, Tracey Dispensa launched Cloud 10 Originals last year, she also prepared for an adventure into the children’s books market to correspond with the intellectual properties being created at Cloud 10 Studios. Their goal is to share family-friendly, comic stories related to their upcoming releases.

“We have more than five children’s book and a young adult novel series in the works, so this was a natural direction and something I have always wanted to do. In some cases, we have envisioned our stories as manuscripts, or books, before translating them into screenplays,” shares Dispensa.

Cloud 10 Studios has more than a dozen animation projects in development with the first due to release in 2025. Dispensa stated the books are an important piece of the franchise plans for each of their projects and hopes we will get to see multiple books related to each of the stories they are developing. Writers include Gary Trousdale, best known as the director for Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, and Tom Arnold, a published author and co-founder for Cloud 10 Studios.

One of the books being produced by author, Tom Arnold, is a young adult novel called The Digital Detective whose storyline is based on real cybersecurity and digital forensics. “We wanted to create strong story with great characters that will resonate with tween and teen readers while having an impactful educational foundation told in a world of computer science and hacking,” shares Dispensa. “Tom has a background as a cybersecurity professional, so it was important to use to provide real world scenarios, so kids could learn how to protect themselves in an increasingly digital world. We also want to inspire kids of all demographics to take an interest in technology.”

The first in The Digital Detective series is due to release in 2025.

To learn more about CLOUD 10 STUDIOS, visit www.cloud10studios.com

About Cloud 10 Studios:

Cloud 10 Studios is a visionary woman-owned and operated creative agency merging disruptive innovation with extensive feature film experience. With top-tier talent linked globally and armed with cutting-edge technology, Cloud 10 delivers elevated creative solutions from its Dallas, Texas, and Las Vegas, Nevada hubs. They are also known as a visualization studio with experience in VR, AR, XR, and metaverses using real-time technologies.

Sneak Peek: A Race to the Bottom of Crazy: Dispatches from Arizona By Richard Grant

Jocie McKade

1 September 2024

A Race to the Bottom of Crazy: Dispatches from Arizona By Richard Grant

The bestselling author of Dispatches from Pluto and The Deepest South of All turns his sharp wit and observational powers on the epicenter of America’s most divisive issues: Arizona.

When Richard Grant and his wife moved with their four-year-old daughter back to Tucson, Arizona, where the couple first met, he expected to easily rekindle his love of the region. Instead, he found a housing market gone haywire, rampant election conspiracies, and right-wing political violence alarmingly close to his home and family. Undocumented immigration was surging, and the state was also on the front lines of climate change, breaking heat and drought records, and running out of long-term water supplies. Under these circumstances, Grant wondered how he might raise a happy, well-adjusted child who believes in the future. Yet these concerns weren’t keeping people away: Arizona was simultaneously experiencing some of the nation’s highest population growth.

In A Race to the Bottom of Crazy, Grant mixes memoir, research, and reporting in a quest to understand what makes Arizona such a confounding and irresistible place. He visits the world’s largest machine-gun shoot; takes a sunset boat cruise with a US Congressman and a group of far-right patriots; rides through the desert with a Border Patrol agent; and goes camping with his family in breathtaking mountain ranges that rise out of the desert like islands in the sky. Interspersed with these adventures are recollections of his previous stint in the state, including his friendship with cult writer Charles Bowden and years living off the grid with smugglers, dope farmers, and outlaws on the Mexican border. Ultimately, Grant arrives at the conclusion that Arizona has always been a scattershot improvisation, with bizarre and extreme behavior in its DNA.

This book is an entertaining, illuminating, and essential guide to understanding modern America at its most overheated.

Behind The Words With Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado

Jocie McKade

1 September 2024

We are very excited to welcome Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldondo to the blog today. Both are bestselling authors and they’ve just collaborated on fast paced mystery FATAL INTRUSION. Let’s begin with telling our readers where you’re from, where you live?

JEFF: I grew up outside of Chicago and worked there for a few years after college before moving to New York City, where I was an attorney. I left practicing law 40 years ago and have been a full-time novelist and short story writer since then. I now live in the Mid-Atlantic (the region, not the ocean).

ISABELLA: I was born and raised inside the Beltway in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC. After more than two decades in law enforcement, I hung up my gun and badge and moved to the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona, where writing is now my full-time job.

How long have you been writing?

JEFF: I began writing fiction when I was 12 and knew I wanted that to be my career, but I knew too that there were no prodigy writers (unlike painters and musicians), so I worked other jobs (editor and attorney) until I began to publish novels and short stories in my thirties.

ISABELLA: I wrote several short stories that were published before tackling a full-length novel. This turned out to be very helpful in finding the style that suited me best. My first short story was published in 2011 and my first novel was published in 2017.

What does your typical writing day look like?

JEFF: I need to keep my dogs in the style to which they’ve become accustomed, so I work a typical professional’s day: 8-10 hours, 5-6 days a week.

ISABELLA: A series of interruptions punctuated by a bit of writing.

Tell us about your latest release? Where the idea came from? Perhaps some fun moments, or not so fun moments?

JEFF: Fatal Intrusion, a fast-paced thriller, is the first book I’ve written with anyone else. I’m on record as saying, “I don’t play well with others.” But I was proved wrong when Isabella and I started our collaboration. I should point out that this a genuinely co-authored book; that is a 50-50 effort from beginning to end. It was not only thoroughly enjoyable to work with Isabella, but I found the collaborative process—of throwing around ideas, then rejecting, accepting and refining them—creatively exhilarating. The concept was originally Isabella’s, and I won’t share any more except to add that it’s delightfully twisted!

ISABELLA: Jeff and I spent a great deal of time cooking up the idea together. We both agreed that it was a lot of fun, because normally writers spend their time alone staring at a computer screen. This was the first collaborative effort on a full-length novel for both of us, and we found ourselves enjoying the experience greatly. It helps, of course, that we were friends before we started writing together!

Could you share one detail from your current release with readers that they might not find in the book?

JEFF: Our male protagonist, Jacoby “Jake” Heron, is an “Intrusionist,” lecturing his students and the world about the dangers of corporate and governmental overreach (personal too: domestic abuse, he teaches, is a form of intrusion). A fun fact that he includes in his course is that in Colonial days in America, the citizenry was often infuriated and dismayed by “hacking”—yes, just like now. And by whom? The town postmaster, who would read letters and gossip around town about the content!

ISABELLA: We decided to make the female federal agent, Carmen Sanchez, work for the Department of Homeland Security. It was something fresh and different but did require some research. For example, we learned that DHS is the largest federal law enforcement agency with around 80,000 employees. Under that umbrella, Homeland Security Investigations has over 10,000 employees throughout the United States and around the world.

Who has been the most difficult character for you to write? Why?

JEFF: I must say that I’m emotionally detached from my books and my characters. I feel my job is to be an airline pilot, who unemotionally looks at a thunderstorm and shrugs because she’s seen them hundreds of times before, and just navigates through or around it. I’m lucky in that I’m empathetic, so I can “become” my characters briefly and then jump back into my own shoes without problem. Being the bad guys and gals doesn’t bother me.

ISABELLA: Considering all my protagonists, the most difficult to write was Nina Guerrera. She is incredibly strong and resilient but came from such a traumatic past that it was at times tough to write. To update a famous quote from Red Smith, “You simply sit down at the computer, open your veins, and bleed.”

If you could be one of your characters for a day, which character would it be?

JEFF: Colter Shaw from that series of books (and staring the CBS drama Tracker), because he does all the fun stuff—motocross racing, rock climbing, shooting it out with bad guys and having a beer after work with one of the tough women characters I’ve created for him to interact with. That’s the opposite of me (except for the beer).

ISABELLA: I’d love to spend a day as Daniela “Dani” Vega, who was one of the first women to join the US Army’s 75^th Ranger Regiment before becoming an FBI agent. If being in Special Forces wasn’t enough, she was also a military codebreaker. How cool is that?

If you could spend the day with your character, what would you do? What would that day look like?

JEFF: See my above comments about Colter Shaw. I’d travel around the country, get involved in adventures and then … remember that beer?

ISABELLA: If I could spend a day with any of my characters, it would be Phoenix Homicide Detective Veranda Cruz. Her family owns the best Mexican restaurant in the city, and they hold large family gatherings on the family property where they all have Casitas and eat the most delicious food! Readers tell me they fantasize about being at one of those fiestas and I feel the same way.

What’s your take on research and how do you do it?

JEFF: I was a journalist and an attorney and both of those professions are research heavy. In addition, I know that my readers like factoids, so I populate my books with them. But a caveat: I tell students in my writing courses when it comes to research remember two immutable rules: 1, Get the facts absolutely right (Google and Wikipedia are not enough). And 2, Use only so much detail as furthers the story and fleshes out the characters. Never let research digress or slow the story down. You book must be a high-speed roller coaster.

ISABELLA: I have a background in law enforcement, but that does not excuse me from research. Especially when it comes to forensics, policy, and procedure, things are always changing. It’s important to stay up to date with all the latest information. To do this, I rely on searches through sources, organizational manuals, and my brothers and sisters in blue to keep things accurate. It’s quite time-consuming, but well worth the effort.

Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write?

JEFF: Of course, I’m going to mention Isabella (we got together to collaborate after I read her wonderful The Cipher). As for others, there are scores, but I’m reluctant to mention some but not others, though I will say on my bookshelf in front of me are works of fiction ranging from Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Marquez to Walt Kelly’s collected comics, Pogo: I Have Met the Enemy and He is Us.

ISABELLA: I have always loved Jeff’s books and short stories, which have been an inspiration. Besides that, I read more mystery and thriller authors than I can count!

Do you have a secret talent readers would be surprised by?

JEFF: I was a singer songwriter and recently wrote an album of Country cross-over songs to accompany my novel XO. Check it out on YouTube (search “Deaver, XO and Your Shadow”). And, no, I don’t sing, you’ll be pleased to know!

ISABELLA: While on the department, I earned marksman, sharpshooter, and expert shooter pins to wear on my uniform.

Your favorite go to drink or food when the world goes crazy!

JEFF: Crown Royal Canadian whisky, bread and cheese. Also, when the world’s sane. Also, whatever state the world’s in.

ISABELLA: As an Arizona resident, I am contractually obligated to say: margaritas, chips, and salsa.

What is your writing kryptonite?

JEFF: A plot point that I know will stick in the craw of readers and make them think: Gimme a break; this isn’t credible. So I pace until I solve the problem. Yesterday I walked 4.5 miles in my house, in circles, until I got the solution.

ISABELLA: Distractions! I devoted an entire blog post to the feeling of getting into a flow state, only to be interrupted by mundane aspects of daily life. It can take me 20 minutes to get back into the groove—and remember what on earth I was about to type.

What is the one question you never get asked at interviews, but wish you did? Ask and answer it.

JEFF: Well, I have to be honest, after 40 years of doing this full time and a thousand interviews, I’ve probably been asked everything. Except—you guessed it—”What is the one question you never get asked in interviews, but wish you did?” The answer is, “Well, have to be honest, after 40 years….” You get the idea.

ISABELLA: Oddly enough, no one ever asks if I find writing to be fun. The answer is yes. Is it also sometimes frustrating? Yes. Can it be exhausting? Yes. Would I trade it for anything else? No. No I would not.

Thank you both so much. (Yes, I am a fan girl – did ya hear that squeal?) What a great interview. Readers here’s a quick look at FATAL INTRUSION which releases today!

As a wave of murders grips Southern California, an unlikely pair must untangle the mysterious patterns of an elusive killer. A propulsive new series by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Isabella Maldonado.

Carmen Sanchez is a tough Homeland Security agent who plays by the rules. But when her sister is attacked, revealing a connection to a series of murders across Southern California, she realizes a conventional investigation will not be enough to stop the ruthless perpetrator.

With nowhere else to turn, Sanchez enlists the aid of Professor Jake Heron, a brilliant and quirky private security expert who, unlike Sanchez, believes rules are merely suggestions. The two have a troubled past, but he owes her a favor and she’s cashing in. They team up to catch the assailant, who, mystifyingly, has no discernible motive and fits no classic criminal profile. All they have to go on is a distinctive tattoo and a singular obsession that gives this chillingly efficient tactician his nickname: Spider.

Over the next seventy-two hours, Sanchez and Heron find themselves in the midst of a lethal chess match with the killer as they race to stop the carnage. As the victims mount, so do the risks. Because this spider’s web of intrigue is more sinister—and goes far deeper—than anyone could possibly anticipate.

New Children’s Book, “What Is Math Good For, Anyway?” Demonstrates Why Math Matters

Jocie McKade

31 August 2024

Just in time for the back-to-school season, a new children’s book showcases the importance of learning math. “What is math good for, anyway?” by Nicole Frankel, is a delightful story of a young boy named Bennie who despises math, yet much to his (begrudging) surprise, he discovers the many ways math can be useful in everyday life.

Bennie dreads math class. He finds learning math boring, numbers confusing, and problems frustrating. But one day, an unexpected discovery changes everything. As Bennie navigates through daily activities—eating lunch in the cafeteria, playing on the playground, and even visiting his favorite ice cream shop—he begins to see how math is woven into every aspect of life.

With charming illustrations by Firman Putra and an engaging narrative, “What is math good, anyway?” shows readers that math isn’t just about numbers on a page – it’s a useful tool that can help them solve real-world problems, make smart decisions, and yes, even have fun.

Perfect for young readers, ages 3-8, the book uses humor and a bit of silliness to bring home the story’s point. Frankel explains that she began writing books to explain things to her own children. “My kids learn valuable lessons best through light and humorous stories, so I wanted to bring that to other children as well,” she says.

Frankel, the author of two other books about Bennie’s discoveries, “What are Mondays for, anyway?” and “What are bees good for, anyway?” has already earned advance editorial praise for “What is math good for, anyway?”

“What is math good for, anyway?” Is a gently humorous and easy-to-read exploration of practical math, perfect for classroom and especially reluctant mathematicians like Bennie.

-The Children’s Book Review

A fun introduction to math and its usefulness in everyday life. Simply Mathtastic!

-Readers’ Choice “5 Stars”

“What is math good for, anyway?” will boost young readers’ confidence, helping them perform better in school and develop critical thinking skills. This book is highly recommended for parents and educators looking to make math more approachable and enjoyable for children.

-Literary Titan “5 Stars”

It always amazes me how creative children’s authors can be, and this author is gifted when it comes to knowing how to get through to youngsters.

-Readers’ Favorite “5 Stars”

Bennie’s relatable story will engage readers who find themselves asking the same question about math. And parents, teachers, and librarians can use the book as the perfect tool to encourage their kids to maybe, just maybe, give math a chance.

“What is math good for, anyway?” will be available late August at Amazon. For more information, visit www.nicolefrankelbooks.com.

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