Tag: book spotlight

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Cul-de-Sac by Liz Crowe

Joining with AME (Author Marketing Experts) in my spotlight today is Cul-De-Sac by Liz Crowe.

Welcome to Connelly Court. A secluded, old-money neighborhood harboring a web of desires and deceit behind pristine facades and manicured lawns, where the lives of a group of neighbors, bound by their shared secrets and unconventional lifestyle, are about to unravel.

Cul-De- Sac by Liz Crowe

Published: June 11th 2024

Genre:  Fiction/ Psychological /Suspense/ Thriller

Synopsis

Michael and Amelia Ross move into their dream home, and get drawn into the seductive allure. But their house once belonged to a family whose lives were seemingly ruined by their participation, which leads Amelia to question everything about her new-found friends. Suspicions run rampant as the close-knit group turns on each other. Lies, betrayals, and hidden agendas are revealed, ripping apart the fabric that once bound the group together.

“Cul-de-Sac” is a dark tale of marriage, friendship, desire, and betrayal, where nothing is as it seems, and the truth may be more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Discover the twisted secrets of Connelly Court in this chilling domestic suspense novel that will leave you questioning just how well you truly know—or should know—your neighbors.
Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville living in South Carolina. She’s spent her time as a three-continent expat trailing spouse, mom of three, real estate agent, brewery owner, and bar manager, and is currently a digital marketing and fundraising consultant, in addition to being an award-winning author.

The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished.

Her favorite things to do when she’s not scrolling social media for cute animal videos are walking her dogs, cuddling her cats, and watching her favorite sports teams while scrolling social media for cute animal videos.

Learn more about Liz and her books at Lizcrowe.com

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Sushi & Sea Lions by Rachel Corsini

Happy 4th of July, America! In this spotlight, I am lighting some firecrackers under the attention-gaining contemporary romance Sushi & Sea Lions by Rachel Corsini. Let’s read on!

SUSHI & SEA LIONS

Published: May 16th 2023

Genre: Romance/Contemporary Romance

Features

  Boken FMC

Spicy romance

Broken MMC Love interest

Self-healing/ Loving one’s self

And more!

Synopsis

When a career-ending injury and a messy breakup send prima ballerina Daniela Verdi back to Queens, New York, she fills her days with countless distractions: meaningless sex, pinot grigio, and video games. It takes a chance meeting with her brother’s best friend, Vincent LaBate, for her to remember who she was before the stage lights and distractions of the Upper West Side. She’s convinced that Vincent could never love a girl like her: broken, insecure, and stumbling her way through life. What Daniela didn’t count on is that Vincent is as scarred as she is after divorcing his cheating wife and going through an equally messy child custody fight. Soon enough, old vulnerabilities rear their ugly heads, opening a crack in Daniela’s perfectly imperfect romance.

As Daniela and Vincent’s relationship develops, will Daniela learn to accept that a dream life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?

AVAILABLE NOW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After declaring herself a pretty pink princess during her first ballet class, Rachel dreamt of sugarplums and began pirouetting her way through life. While studying to become a ballerina, she compulsively read books under her covers by flashlight and scribbled in spiral-bound notebooks. The urge to tell stories culminated in her graduation from Columbia College Chicago with a B.F.A. in fiction writing.

Never one to keep her feet on the ground, she traveled the world from Prague to Cape Town. Once settled back in Queens, she dabbled in journalism before working as an Editorial Assistant for a medical publisher. Seeking a more fulfilling career, she earned her MAT from Queens College and currently works as an English teacher in an alternative program in NYC.

Learn more about Rachel and her book at rachelcorsini.com

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Book Spotlight Thursday: A Shift in Shadows by Maddox Grey

This pretty cover has caught my eye, so I am shining some light on A Shift in the Shadows by Madoox Grey! The first book in what is to be the Lost Legacies series, let us dive in!

A Shift in Shadows (Lost Legacies Book 1)

Publication Date: October 2021 (First Edition)

Genre: Fantasy Romance

Features

⦁	Badass Morally Grey FMC
⦁	Revenge Quest
⦁	Hidden/Forbidden Magic
⦁	She Saves Herself
⦁	Touch Him and Die
⦁	Sweet Golden Retriever Love Interest
⦁	Morally Grey Villain Love Interest
⦁	Witty Banter
⦁	Found Family
⦁	Queer Rep (FMC is queer/bi, nonbinary characters, queer relationships)

A wicked feline shifter. A cruel warlock.
And a dark secret that can devour worlds.

A bloody heart. That has been my birthday gift every year from the warlock I once loved. He used me, so I left him. And found the love of my life. We shared a blissful life together until Sebastian destroyed it all with one sweeping declaration.

You will always be mine.

After failing in my attempt to get revenge and barely escaping. I find myself once again starting over with the support of my friends and trying to let go of the past. When I meet the sweet and adorably innocent local werewolf, Andrei, I think I might finally have a real shot at finding happiness again. I should have known better.

Sebastian has found me and he’ll do what he always does—hurt those I love. But I have a secret. The dark magic I keep chained deep within my soul is a weapon just waiting to be unleashed. I could finally claim my revenge and protect everyone important to me. But my kind of magic is forbidden. And the price for using it may be my life.

(The book contains explicit sex scenes and blood-drinking courtesy of vampires recommended 18+)

Available Now on Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maddox Grey is the author of the fantasy series, Lost Legacies. Despite having a degree in history and political science, they built a career in technology and worked in both IT and software development.

When not writing code or books, Maddox spends most of their free time playing video games and reading comics, fantasy, and sci-fi books. With some romance books sprinkled in. Despite living in New England for almost a decade, they will never get over their California roots and cannot handle New England winters. After spending the summer camping with their partner and faithful canine companion, Maddox retreats indoors for New England winter, cuddles with their cat on the couch…and complains about the weather.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: (Audio Edition) Under Darkened Skies by H.E. Bauman

In the spotlight this Thursday, we are celebrating the audio release of Under Darkened Skies by H.E. Bauman!

Under Darkened Skies (Darkened Skies #1)

Publication Date: May 8, 2024
Genre: Fantasy Romance/Post-Industrial
Narrator: @brittneylynnvo 
Original Music: @hayley_turner_writes

Features

🌌 Friends to lovers
🌌 Only one bed AND only one motorcycle
🌌 Post-industrial fantasy world (subtle 1920s aesthetic!)
🌌 Cozy vibes, epic stakes
🌌 Soft yet strong FMC
🌌 Deadly cinnamon roll book boyfriend/MMC
🌌 Chosen family
🌌 Elemental magic
🌌 Unsolved murders
🌌 Vibes like Adult (18+) Shadow & Bone meets Legend of Korra

A librarian with a secret. A prince looking for redemption. A dark discovery that will force them to confront their truths.

Astrea Sovna is destined to die. As a Lightbringer, she’s expected to serve the Helosian government as a battlefield healer, but when the court seer—Astrea’s uncle—has a vision of her being killed in the line of duty, he forbids her to reveal her powers.
Until now, Astrea has gone unnoticed as a junior librarian. But when she gets reassigned to a diplomatic project to strengthen ties between Helosia and one of its neighbors, she finds herself saddled with her past, in the form of a returned war hero and her ex-best friend, Prince Varojin Auris.

Forced to work together, Astrea soon learns that although Varojin has been out of her life for years, he’s still the kind, patient friend she remembers. As they navigate old friendships and imperial politics, the pair discovers that the mysterious shadows stalking the city are leaving a trail of murder victims in their wake. And when Astrea becomes a target, a dear friend gets caught in the crossfire…

As Astrea and Varojin begin searching for answers, they realize there is much more to the emperor’s project than political niceties. If the shadows aren’t stopped, Astrea’s future—and the security of the entire continent—hangs in the balance.

Available Now on AUDIBLE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

H.E. Bauman is a fantasy author fascinated with all things magical. After spending her childhood writing stories, she went on to receive her bachelor’s in English and has continued writing ever since. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys playing tennis, immersing herself in video games, and spending time with her family.

Learn more about H.E. Bauman at @hebauman on Instagram

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Book Spotlight Thursday: (Double Feature) A Dream of Blood and Magic by Olivia Boothe

Another double feature this week, but if you look at this cover, you will see why. Having been released on June 12th, A Dream of Blood and Magic is a gothic fantasy romance by Olivia Boothe that looks delicious! Underworld meets Kingdom of the Wicked in this forbidden love, rivals to lovers, high stakes, slow-burn gothic contemporary fantasy romance. Currently on tour with R&R Book Tours, I got to join, so let’s read on!

A Dream of Blood and Magic (Spirit Marked Book 1) 

Publication Date: June 12, 2024

Genre: Gothic Fantasy Romance

Features

⦁	Vampires, witches, and other supernatural creatures
⦁	Chosen One
⦁	Forbidden Love
⦁	Rivals to Lovers (Meant to be rivals who become lovers)
⦁	Forced Proximity
⦁	A bargain that leads to more
⦁	Spirit-Bonded (fated mates)
⦁	Slow Burn (couple doesn’t become an item until book 2, but the tension is built in book 1)
⦁	Found Family
⦁	High Stakes quest
⦁	Portal Magic
⦁	Elemental Magic
⦁	Time Travel
⦁	Spirit Guardians (familiars)
⦁	Good vs evil

A SINISTER DARKNESS BREWS, SOWING THE SEEDS OF WAR. AND AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL IS A YOUNG WITCH WILLING TO RISK IT ALL TO SAVE THOSE SHE LOVES.

When a mysterious crow crash-lands through Avery Jaxon’s Brooklyn apartment window, awakening the elemental magic dormant in her veins, Avery soon discovers her entire life has been a skillfully woven lie, and that even her new avian friend holds secrets of its own, including the answers to her shrouded past.
But pulling back the veil is only the beginning. An ancient prophecy has been set in motion, thrusting Avery into a centuries-old supernatural war between witches and vampires.
Seeking to harness Avery’s rare and ancient power, the most notorious dark arts witch hive in the world is on the hunt to find Avery before she’s captured by Kane, a vampire sworn to protect humankind from the next Spirit Marked—a foretold witch with such immense, raw magic, it will threaten to destroy all life on Earth.
Now, to save humanity and protect her friends, Avery must learn to control her potent magic, all while building an alliance with the warrior vampire sent to seize her. Their destinies are more entwined than either could have ever foreseen. But despite the magic that binds their paths and the enigmatic attraction growing between them, Avery struggles to trust the man born to be her enemy.
However, Kane’s not the only vampire thirsting for the honeyed taste of Avery’s blood...someone else also seeks to wage a war against her heart.
In the end, Avery must not only grapple with the painful truth behind her family’s past, but she’ll need to accept the journey laid out before her. For not only do the lives of those she loves depend on it, but so do the lives of every mortal and immortal creature alike.

Get It Now on Amazon

Intended for audiences 18 years+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY. COMPLICATED. AND SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.

Olivia Boothe is a contemporary romance and fantasy author.

Born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey since the age of eight, Olivia always dreamed of becoming a storyteller. Now, she enjoys crafting novels with deep, layered plots because romance is not just about the first kiss and the happily ever after, it’s about everything in between.

In addition to writing, Olivia loves reading across all genres, binge watching her favorite TV shows, and hanging out on Tuesday nights with her girlfriends for snacks, and junk-TV therapy. Olivia lives in Northern New Jersey with her hubby, three boys, and a mini Aussie named Rosie.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: The Fae of the Fjord by Elle Thrasher

Drawing attention to my Scandinavian blood caught in my book spotlight this week is The Fae of the Fjord by Elle Thrasher. The Fae of the Fjord is a steamy fantasy romance set in modern-day Norway, with heaps of humor, magic, and Scandinavian flair. 

The Fae of the Fjord: A Fantasy Romance (The Nordic Fae Series, Book 1)

Published: August 3, 2023

Genre: Nordic myth, ledgends, fantasy, romance

Features
⦁	Grumpy/sunshine
⦁	Fae fantasy romance
⦁	Who hurt you
⦁	Why choose (MFM)
⦁	Laugh out loud funny
⦁	Spicy

It isn’t Lennie Martin’s fault her cruise ship left without her…
Okay, that’s kind of a lie.
The ship left on schedule, but Lennie is distracted photographing the stunning fjord outside the tiny Norwegian village and loses track of time.
Out of luck, Lennie finds herself stranded in the quirky town until the next boat arrives. When she accidentally punches Espen, a friendly local cop with a penchant for yoga, who turns out to be far more than meets the eye (which in itself is plenty), she propels herself head over heels into a magical mystery the likes of which she never could have imagined. Because that last photograph that cost Lennie her ride? Turns out that silver light she captured was evidence of an illegal magic transfer between fae — not a stray lens flare — that could have detrimental effects on the fjord region.
To return home, all she needs to do is survive a week in the little village, help Espen with his investigation, and avoid the local grump, Øyvin, who seems determined to make her vacation a whole lot more complicated. Or more fun, depending on how you look at it.
When friendships bloom between her and the fae and the urge to solve this mystery grows stronger, Lennie is torn between commandeering a boat to run back to her normal life, or digging in her heels to be a part of this new world and help the fae of the fjord.

Fae of the Fjord is a light romance because why have one fae when you could have two?

AVAILABLE NOW on AMAZON!

Book 2 coming June 20th!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elle Thrasher is an author of romantic fantasy books.

Her books are filled with relatable heroines, swoon-worthy heroes, lots of laughs, and locations that will give you wanderlust.

Originally from the UK, she lived in Norway for seven years, too; she now lives in the US with her husband and one very fluffy dog. When she not writing, she can usually be found drinking a cup of tea, staring at her never-ending TBR, or taking a joke waaaaay too far.

Join Elle’s mailing list to keep up with her work at Elle Thrasher

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Book Spotlight 2: Tenebrium by Elanor Miller

The cover caught my eye, and the blurb was even more interesting, so happy to spotlight this baby with R&R BookTours. Enter TENEBRIUM It’s a romantic, dystopian, noir detective thriller set in a futuristic Gatsby Era by Elanor Miller. Think Peaky Blinders meets The Great Gatsby, with a dash of the game BioShock!

Tenebrium (Flappers and False Gods #1)

Publication Date: January 2023
Genre: Noir Thriller/Dystopian/Romance 

Features


🏢Dystopian 
🚬Noir
🕵️‍♀️Detective Thriller
🍸Set in a futuristic Gatsby era
🎷Jazz
👥Cults
🔫Mobsters
💔Forbidden Romance

The year is 2425, and the Jazz Age is in full swing—again.

Guys, dolls, gangsters and molls, drugs, and prohibition are just the tip of the iceberg for Detective Thea Williams and her mentor, Walt, as they struggle to solve a horrific series of murders, all the while dealing with the consequences and complications of their not-so-professional relationship.

Embroiled in the case and stymied at every turn by the corrupt District Attorney, who also happens to be her estranged father, Thea quickly discovers a much more sinister plot.

Thrown into a dark world of cults and corruption, Thea must fight for survival lest Tenebrium City eat her alive.

In Tenebrium City, even neon lights cast shadows…

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ALSO AVAILABLE CALIGO ( Flappers & False Gods Book 2)

This decopunk thriller is for lovers of The Great Gatsby, Blade Runner, and Altered Carbon will find a home in Tenebrium.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tenebrium is the debut novel from Glasgow-born Scottish author Elanor Miller. Elanor is an avid indoor climber, martial artist, and D&D player. She is also dyslexic. As well as a novelist, she is an award-winning screenwriter who has won several ‘Best Screenplay’ awards – many of which were for Tenebrium’s first iteration as a screenplay.

Elanor did NOT write the Fairfield Amish Romances, she just shares a name with the author!

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Book Spotlight Thursday: Veiled Scars by Emily Vanderbent

Caught in our spotlight today is Veiled Scars, the second volume in The Timewalker Archives (see my spotlight on the first book), a young adult historical fantasy series perfect for fans of NBC’s Timeless and Alyson Noël’s Stealing Infinity. Let’s read on!

Veiled Scars (The Timewalker Archives)

Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Features

⦁	Time Travel
⦁	Hidden Abilities
⦁	Secret Societies
⦁	Deadly Competition
⦁	Historical Descendants
⦁	Slow Burn
⦁	Trauma & Anxiety Rep
⦁	Rivals to Lovers
⦁	Women in History
⦁	Hidden Clues

History was not a block of clay to be molded. It was a story to be preserved.
After a failed escape leaves her trapped in the past with a broken time machine, Adelaide Anson realizes the depth of the Red Rose Society's deceit. Lost, injured, and on the run, she and her companions must navigate early 1940s Asheville, NC to find a way back home. As Adelaide's connection to the past grows stronger, blurring the lines of reality, insidious secrets come to light, forcing her into a race against time to solve the clues her mother left behind.
The deeper she delves, the harder it becomes to discern the sleight of hand from the truth. Every secret casts a shadow, and as old phantoms recall to life, she is faced with a vault of answers demanding a steep price. When Adelaide's search entwines with threads from Teo's past, she'll have to lean on those around her in order to confront the broken pieces of herself. Can she reconcile her scars to uncover what her mother died to protect, or will the cost of the truth shatter her?

Available on Amazon, B&N, & Signed Copies on Emily VanderBent’s site!

Catch Book 1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily VanderBent is a natural-born storyteller. As a writer and historian, she desires to celebrate women in history. Through the Crimson Time series, VanderBent uses elements of history to creatively engage readers with the past. She hopes her writing will encourage young women to fearlessly pursue their passions and own the narrative of their individual story.

With a degree in history, Emily uses her talents for writing, research, and design to create blog posts, online content and design for Girl Museum. She also guides authors through the publishing process as an Author Coach for New Degree Press. While living in the real world, Emily dreams of days long past and stories yet to be told.

Follow Emily and her Timewalker Archives at emilyvanderbent.og

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Book Spotlight Special: Non-Serviam: The Hypostasis of Dissent Book 1 by Sfarda L. Gül

In a special book spotlight, ALL ROYALTIES earned from the title are donated to Doctors Without Borders, the Kurdish Red Crescent, and All For Armenia. Let’s dive in!

V FOR VENDETTA and BLOODBORNE mix in NON SERVIAM by Sfarda L. Gül. Written in the spirit of poetry and art cinema—suffused with visceral symbolism, its vividly complex worldbuilding is inspired by Venice, Sardinia, and Etruscan Civilisation, among many more. A dark and deadly web of intrigue.

The paperback edition features 25 illustrations by the author, Sfarda L. Gül, as well as one illustration each by Ayşe-Mira Yaşın, Nadia Sampellegrini, and Sophia Arnaout.

Publication Date: May 7, 2024

Genre: Gridmark Political Mystery/ Gaslamp/ Gothic Fantasy

Features

❤️‍🔥Revolution & revenge
🫀Female hysteria, dark femininity, complex womanhood
🦷Found family
🥀Slow burn yearning enemies to lovers
🕯️“Whimsical grimdark”
🏛️Philosophy
🩸Bløød & gûts
🧠Mad scïence
💐Fully LGBT cast~
🎭Baroque/Venetian setting
❤️‍🩹Tragedy & navigating tråuma

Expressing emotion is prohibited by law in the city state of Vencenza.

Beneath its tyrannical shadow, Giorgianna, a deranged former playwright turned political fugitive, flees a brothel to seek justice for the murder of a beloved friend.

When the last remnants of her bloodline are reaped by the incorrigible Minister of Dominion, Giorgianna’s crooked path to retribution crosses with Vencenza’s Machiavellian revolutionary hellbent on regime overturn.

All the while, the weight of unending tragedy erodes Giorgianna’s psyche into a vengeful bloodlust plagued by cabbalistic visions hinting at an ever-darker face of the violent Powers That Be.

The first in a grimdark political mystery duology with gothic fantasy undertones, NON SERVIAM is written with a unique, experimental style with heavy world building, several POV types with some parts in poetic prose which some readers may find detracts from the immersion experience.


Content Warnings: The book does feature sensitive topics dealing with government oppression, death, graphic gore, self-injury, mental illness, sex trafficking, sexual harassment, police brutality, violence against women and trans-identifying peoples, birth-related trauma, gun violence, religion, classism, discussions of sexual violence (humans, minors, corpses), child abuse, workplace violence, divorce, smoking (tobacco and opium), alcohol, mention of intravenous drug abuse, surgical procedures and needles (singular instance), fires and burns, strong language.

AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

An artist and writer since her early childhood brought up in a police state, Sfarda L. Gül’s (alias) creative focus hones in on the macabre and introspective, the grotesque and juxtaposing—a deconstruction of social ideology and human suffering influenced by her upbringing, queerness, historically persecuted mixed ethnicity and dark-sided emotional disposition. Every story strives to be unapologetically anti-authoritarian, decolonial, anti-cop, anarchist, and pro-humanity.

When not engaging in art, Sfarda is enthralled in ethnography, linguistics, filmmaking, and social activism, aiding to uplift ethnic and queer minorities of her native Eastern Europe, SWANA, and Central Asia. She is the curator of independent publication Lacrimosity and Righteous Rage which hosts a Substack newsletter, and a YouTube video essayist at Anarchy on Page.

Sfarda is the May 2024 debut author of NON-SERVIAM, the first of THE HYPOSTASIS OF DISSENT duology.

EARTH HAGIOGRAPHY, a poetry collection exploring indigeneity and colonial pain, will be published in November of 2024.

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Book Spotlight Thursday: A Cure for Magic by Tala Greer

Recently released (May 28th), A Cure for Magic is starring in our spotlight today. It is the first book in a New Adult romantic fantasy trilogy featuring dark elemental magic, hidden royals, and a medium-heat romance that is secondary to the plot. Perfect for fans of dark academia and the Netflix adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow & Bone. READ ON!

A Cure for Magic (The Ardor Magic Cycle Book 1)

Publication Date: May 28, 2024

Genre: NA Fantasy Romance

Features

💜 A Messy Bisexual Princess
👑 Black Royals
📕 Dark Academia
🔥Elemental Magic
💖 OT3/Throuple
🔮 Magic Training
🏕️ Only One Tent
🙊 Hidden Identity

Marika Cyran is destined to rule, if she survives her own power first.
When rebels attack the royal compound, Marika learns the true price of her family’s legacy. The same deadly magic her ancestors outlawed now runs in her veins, and her royal blood paints a target on her back.
Desperate to learn her powers before they destroy her, she takes shelter at Nella University, hiding her true identity. But it’s not quite the sanctuary she’s hoping for. Argent, the roommate she’s paired with, is a prickly woman who seems to despise her. The same rebels who want her family dead flourish here under the guise of a student society, and their most popular member, Harland, seems a little too interested in her dangerous power…and Marika herself.
When a spark ignites between all three of them, it complicates Marika’s quest for control. To stay is to spit upon her family’s memory. To leave is to forfeit her once chance to corral the unruly magic. And to do nothing is to risk being consumed by the very forces she seeks to understand.

A CURE FOR MAGIC IS AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Talia lives in the mountains with her gamer husband and two chaotic cat children. When she’s not writing, she’s drinking iced coffee or watching truly terrible horror movies.