Author Interview Cooking Up Magick

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HC7QPB6K/

Cooking Up Magick blends cozy fantasy with epic adventure. What inspired you to bring these two styles together?

When I first started writing them, cozy wasn’t even listing as a genre. Sure, aspects of cozy books have always been around. But it wasn’t something that people were specifically looking for. In fact, when Legends and Lattes came out, I was so excited, because I finally felt like I had found a book that captured the heart of what I was trying to do. I wanted characters who felt like family being thrust into terrible situations. But I wanted to focus on the fact that even when things are falling apart around us, we still have friends, family, and community that can help us cope. I wanted to emphasize kindness as a strength. That compassion and empathy are essential when surrounded by horror.

 

 Paisley’s quest begins with her desire to learn new recipes and give travelers a taste of home. Her heirloom frying pan, Grace, also becomes a means of protection. Why did you make cooking central to both her compassion and courage?

Cooking is a cultural bridge. It brings people together, and is a way of showing compassion. You feed the person who is hurting, who is starving. Food communicates so many things: celebration, hope, defiance, and rebellion. It seemed natural to me that my halfling chef would use food as a way of communicating with the world.

As for Grace—you have to admit, a cast-iron pan makes a fantastic weapon. My HEMA (historical European martial arts) instructor loved the fact that I used Grace in such a way. He told me that if there were an intruder in his home and he was near the kitchen, he would grab a cast-iron pan, too. Not a knife. A pan. It’s solid, can be used as a shield against attacks, and if swung sideways, narrow side forward, it makes the impact over a smaller area, leaving greater damage.

Murder & Salad (Copper Town Mysteries Book 1)

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H9FSCB9K/

Amanda Gail Thornbush has always had a knack for being in the right place at the wrong time. She may be tall, a little awkward, and a lot clumsy, but armed with her notepad and her sweet tea, Amanda is determined and has always dreamed of being a detective.

Her best friend, Nikki (Twig) Quigg, is the opposite in every way: tiny, tattooed, sharp‑tongued, and followed everywhere by her prickly pet hedgehog, Silo. The lifelong friends have grown up side by side under the watchful eye of Nikki’s mother, Ramona Quigg.

Amanda uncovers something that changes everything at the restaurant where she works. Its up to the girls to dig into the bottom of this, before its too late. Everyone in Copper Town has something to hide, from the sheriff who answers to Ramona to the coworkers who know more than they’ll admit.

Bubbling beneath the surface of this mystery lies a deeper, older question—one Amanda will never stop asking.
Was her fathers death really an accident?

In a town built on secrets, the truth is never simple… and never safe.

Fanny Berk Strikes Back: The Misadventures of a Reluctant Hero: An Action-Packed Suspense Story of Courage and Friendship

  

https://www.amazon.com/Fanny-Berk-Strikes-Back-Misadventures-ebook/dp/B0F24ZQS8K

Grit. Heart. Unforgettable suspense.

Winner of a 2026 Gold Award from the NYX Awards for its acclaimed audiobook edition, FANNY BERK STRIKES BACK is a gripping coming-of-age thriller about trauma, courage, and finding strength when the world feels broken.

Fifteen-year-old Fanny Berk just wants to disappear. After a violent attack tears her family apart, she retreats into silence, shadows, and relentless karate training, her armor against a world she no longer trusts. Staying invisible seems like the only way to stay safe.

But one moment of unplanned heroism changes everything. When she steps in to stop a brutal act of bullying, she’s pulled into a dangerous criminal underworld where truth is slippery, justice is risky, and survival isn’t guaranteed.

As threats escalate and the stakes turn deadly, Fanny must decide what kind of fighter she really wants to be. She’ll confront lies, danger, and impossible choices, but she’s not as alone as she thinks. A misfit group of classmates, and one fiercely loyal rescue dog, are ready to stand by her side, no matter what.

Perfect for fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and The Karate Kid, this cross-generational crime thriller blends raw emotion, sharp humor, and relentless suspense. You’ll find shocking twists, real-world themes of bullying and healing, and a heroine whose quiet toughness leaves a lasting mark.

Lose yourself in FANNY BERK STRIKES BACK, a powerful story of resilience, loyalty, and finding light in the darkest places.

Editorial Review For The Art of Killing Gods

   

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY66D7V3

Editorial Review For The Art of Killing Gods

The Art of Killing Gods opens with a warning that no one takes seriously. A mortal named Jaden steps into a world far larger than he understands, carrying the ashes of his mother through Amsterdam. Grief follows him, yet so does something stranger. A chance encounter pulls him into the lives of Greek gods who have traded ancient temples for shared houses, arguments, parties, and plenty of baggage. As the story unfolds, Jaden becomes tied to forces that stretch across centuries. Questions of power, faith, family, loss, and purpose drive the plot forward. The book keeps returning to one idea: what happens when old systems start to crack and the people inside them refuse to stay in their assigned roles.

One of the book’s strongest features is its voice. The gods speak and act like people who have lived far too long and know it. Their conversations carry humor, irritation, friendship, and ego in equal measure. Dionysus stands out as a narrator who brings energy to nearly every scene. His observations add humor without weakening the stakes. Jaden’s story gives the novel its emotional center. His grief, anger, and search for meaning feel grounded, which helps balance the larger mythological elements. The book also handles its large cast well. Gods, mortals, nymphs, and creatures all have room to leave an impression.

The novel fits within modern mythological fantasy, yet it does not simply recycle old legends. Greek gods appear in settings that feel current, and they deal with problems that remain human. Readers who enjoy stories that blend mythology with present-day life will find plenty to enjoy here. The book joins a growing group of novels that treat ancient figures less like distant icons and more like flawed people trying to survive changing times. One look at the gods arguing over roommates, chores, and house rules tells you this is not a dusty retelling. Thankfully, no one spends 400 pages standing on a mountaintop delivering speeches.

This book will appeal to readers who enjoy mythology, fantasy, character-driven stories, and long-form worldbuilding. It will also connect with readers who like stories about ordinary people pushed into extraordinary situations. Fans of gods behaving badly will have plenty to smile about, and readers looking for emotional weight will find that too.

The Art of Killing Gods delivers a story filled with mythology, humor, mystery, and personal stakes. It takes familiar figures and gives them room to surprise the reader. For anyone looking for a fantasy novel that mixes ancient gods with modern struggles, this book earns a place on the reading list. Just do not expect the gods to act like role models. They seem far more interested in creating problems than solving them, and the story is stronger for it.

 

Editorial Review For Professor Duanne

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D6M21G46

Editorial Review For Professor Duanne

Professor Duanne follows Gershom Duanne, a Ugandan professor and writer whose trip to the United States turns into the sort of chaos no travel brochure has the courage to print. He arrives to speak about African literature, meets Quincy Littre, and quickly finds himself pulled into a storm of attraction, panic, injury, police questions, family strain, and public scandal. Subtlety missed that flight.

The story works through themes of desire, duty, reputation, marriage, guilt, culture, and the strange weight of one bad night. Gershom’s life keeps splitting between the man he thinks he is and the man everyone else sees after the accident. His bond with Hariet adds the heart of the book, giving the story its home base even after everything tilts sideways. Quincy brings heat, danger, humor, and a level of chaos that should probably come with a warning label and a small legal team.

The book’s strength sits in its voice. Gershom narrates with wit, worry, and self-awareness. His mind is often racing, and that makes the pages feel alive. The manuscript also has strong scene work. The lecture, the hotel visit, the accident, the arrest, and the return home each carry tension. The family scenes with Hariet and Amelia add warmth, which keeps the book from becoming one long stress parade in formal shoes.

This story fits readers who enjoy character-driven fiction with campus drama, marriage tension, legal trouble, and cultural collision. It also speaks to readers drawn to stories about African literature, authorship, and the cost of poor decisions made under emotional pressure. Poor Gershom keeps trying to be sensible, then life keeps handing him another flaming plate.

Readers who like messy people, sharp dialogue, and plots that refuse to sit still should enjoy Professor Duanne. The book offers drama, humor, and emotional stakes without losing its human center. Recommended for readers who want a story with intellect, trouble, family, and one professor who learns that “just one evening” can become a whole life problem.

 

Editorial Review For The Adjuster Goes South

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GY954SQR/

Editorial Review For The Adjuster Goes South

The Adjuster Goes South follows Paul Winter after he flees Europe and lands in Brazil, armed with cash, diamonds, secrets, and a gift for trouble. São Paulo gives him cover, then Rio gives him a playground with higher stakes. Paul settles into Copacabana, learns Portuguese, builds contacts, and finds his way into Santos Jewellery, where opportunity starts waving at him with both hands. Naturally, he waves back.

The book leans into crime, escape, greed, trust, and control. Paul and Tin work as a team, and their plans grow from survival into full criminal enterprise. The Santos heist becomes a turning point, then Santos himself becomes a threat with a smile and a bill to collect. The tension comes from watching clever people trap each other, then pretend it is just business.

The strongest part of the book is its pace. The story keeps moving through calls, deals, watches, bars, jobs, apartments, and plans. Rio feels active on every page, with beaches, clubs, taxis, shops, food, and heat all pushing the plot forward. The crime scenes have detail, and the planning gives the story a steady pulse. Paul is not a saint, which is obvious after about five minutes, but he is readable in the way a bad idea can be hard to stop watching.

This fits readers who enjoy crime fiction with travel, money, risk, and morally wrecked characters who still know how to order lunch. Fans of heist plots, underworld deals, and international settings will have plenty to chew on here. The book has the swagger of a crime caper, with the kind of choices that make a reader mutter, “Well, that seems illegal,” then keep turning pages.

The Adjuster Goes South is a sharp crime novel with momentum, schemes, and enough Rio heat to make the page sweat. It is best for readers who like their fiction bold, shady, and lightly allergic to good decisions.

Editorial Review For One Good Run

 

https://a.co/d/02LjHtju

Editorial Review For One Good Run

One Good Run follows Sketch, a skater who lives in a city built around boards, rails, ramps, and open concrete. He moves through practice runs, shop stops, coffee bets, and a tournament that tests more than skill. The story centers on grief, memory, trust, and the strange work of getting back on the board after loss. Leo, the missing fourth line in Sketch’s life, stays present through blue grip tape, old habits, and memories that hit harder than a bad landing. The book works well because it keeps the focus close to Sketch. His progress feels earned. He misses tricks. He overthinks. He gets teased by friends who care, which is rude in the correct way. Bill and Jonathan add warmth without turning every scene into a group therapy circle with wheels. Their banter gives the story air, and their support keeps Sketch moving.

The skating scenes carry the book. The action has rhythm, and the details feel lived in: grip tape, trucks, rails, stairs, concrete, timing, and that awful moment where one small hesitation ruins the whole trick. The tournament scene gives the story its biggest lift. Sketch does not win through magic. He wins after practice, fear, memory, and one very earned moment of trust.

This story fits readers who enjoy coming-of-age fiction, sports stories, and grief handled through action rather than speeches. It will likely speak to readers who know what it means to miss someone and still keep doing the thing that once connected them.

One Good Run is a moving, grounded story about skating, friendship, and learning how to carry loss without letting it steer the board forever. Recommended for readers who like heart, humor, and characters who heal one landing at a time.

Editorial Review For Way Up There

  

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GYLL9Y5T

Editorial Review For Way Up There

Way Up There follows Drake Teach, a teen stuck in a town that drains the life out of people. He learns he will not graduate, so he eggs the principal’s car and leans fully into his bad decisions. His sister Willow stays close through the mess. She sketches planets, keeps her feelings buried, and deals with cruel people at school. Strange events start stacking up fast. Crop circles appear. People vanish. A flying saucer enters the story. The town shifts from dull to dangerous in record time.

The characters carry the book from start to finish. Drake talks tough and Willow brings heart to the story with her quiet anger and sharp thoughts. Their bond feels real on the page. The dialogue sounds natural, and the humor hits at the right moments. The scenes with bullies, parents, and teenage drama feel honest. Readers will recognize these people right away, which makes the story easy to sink into.

The novella fits into sci-fi with a strong small-town mystery feel. Alien stories have filled bookshelves for years, and this one keeps the focus on teens, family problems, and strange events creeping into daily life. Comic books, secretive adults, crop circles, and missing people keep the pages moving. The title hints at strange things in the sky, and the story delivers on that promise early.

Readers who enjoy teen sci-fi will have fun with this book. Fans of sibling stories, weird towns, and awkward teenage moments will move through it fast. The teenagers sound like real teenagers instead of adults trapped in school lockers. That alone earns the book some respect.

Way Up There brings humor, mystery, and characters that stay interesting through the full story. The novella moves at a good pace and keeps enough questions hanging in the air to pull readers into the next chapter. Drake may never become student of the year, and honestly, the story gets more fun every time he fails.

 

Editorial Review For A Christmas Canticle

  

https://www.amazon.ca/Christmas-Canticle-Shane-Anthony-Hakim/dp/B0G3MN8K5M

Editorial Review For A Christmas Canticle

A Christmas Canticle picks up the life of Tiny Tim long after the close of Dickens’ tale. Timothy moves through grief, debt, guilt, and questions that keep clawing at his mind late at night. The story follows his search for purpose, peace, and some reason to keep going after life knocks him flat a few times. Family, faith, loss, work, and self-worth sit at the center of the book. The novel keeps returning to one idea: people carry pain, yet they still get up the next day and try again.

The strongest part of the book sits in Timothy’s voice. He speaks with honesty, and the pages feel close to a confession at times. The talks with his father carry weight and give the story its pulse. Lines about wasted talent, purpose, and buried dreams hit with force. You can tell the author poured real thoughts into these moments instead of tossing out fortune-cookie wisdom from a dusty office mug. The first-person style keeps the story grounded, and the emotional beats stay clear from start to finish.

The book fits into the growing wave of stories that revisit old classics through a darker lens. Fans of A Christmas Carol will spot the roots right away, yet the novel pushes into themes tied to mental struggle and identity. That choice gives the story a modern pulse without tearing apart the Dickens spirit. The mix of faith, self-reflection, and redemption keeps the connection alive.

Readers who enjoy character-driven fiction will likely connect with this book. People who carry grief, regret, or burnout may see parts of themselves in Timothy. The novel speaks in a direct voice, so the message stays easy to follow. Fans of holiday fiction with weight behind it will get plenty from these pages too.

This book earns praise for heart and honesty. Shane Anthony Hakim takes a known figure from fiction and gives him pain, doubt, hope, and purpose. That move could have turned into a train wreck in lesser hands. Instead, it feels personal and sincere. A Christmas Canticle leaves the reader with hope that feels earned.

The Shadowed Son

  

https://books2read.com/u/38oAKO

Gretchen Greenway-Jones spends her life trying to shield herself from pain. She married a kind man and poured love into raising two daughters, trying to outpace regret. Yet there was one man she abandoned- a secret she buried deep, and faraway from the world. Three decades later, her past crashes into her present. He has found her, and no matter how deeply she pleads for peace, he cannot let her go. He haunts her steps. Each place she goes, she feels his eyes, cold and relentless, digging up everything she tried to hide. His threats pierce her- he will tear her secret open for all to see, shattering the life she built to escape him. Driven by resentment, he is determined to make her pay for pushing him into darkness.

Who is this man?

Her son.