Blog
John Searles is the author of the national bestsellers BOY STILL MISSING and STRANGE BUT TRUE, and his essays have been published in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other national newspapers and magazines. His latest book, HELP FOR THE HAUNTED, is about Sylvie Mason, whose parents have an unusual occupation --- helping “haunted souls” find peace. They are brutally murdered one night, and only a year later does Sylvie pursue the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night --- and to the truth about her family’s past and the secrets that have haunted them for years. In his Holiday Author Blog, John talks about the first book he gave his sister as a Christmas gift, and then --- thrilled by the joy it brought her --- gave it to her again and again through the years. Hey, if it ain't broke...
In addition to her debut novel, REAL LIFE & LIARS, Kristina Riggle has published short stories in the Cimarron Review, Literary Mama, Espresso Fiction and elsewhere. Her most recent book, THE WHOLE GOLDEN WORLD, is about a 17-year-old who shocks her parents and her community with one simple act: She chooses to stand by her high school teacher, who everyone else believes has exploited her. In her Holiday Author Blog, Kristina remembers the best book she ever received --- a gorgeous, blood-red, leather-bound copy of ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS --- and how sometimes books make very delightful objects.
Julia Spencer-Fleming is an Agatha, Anthony, Barry, Dilys, Gumshoe and Macavity Award winner, as well as the author of the bestselling mystery series featuring Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne and Reverend Clare Fergusson. In her latest installment of the series, THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS, Russ and Clare are called to the scene of a raging fire that quickly becomes a double homicide and kidnapping. As the days and hours tick by, they fight personal and professional battles that will change their lives forever. In her Holiday Author Blog, Julia talks about how books were a luxury she could barely afford in her childhood, and how one Christmas her mother surprised her with more literary treasures than she could have possibly imagined.
Sarah Jio is the New York Times bestselling author of THE VIOLETS OF MARCH, THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER and THE LAST CAMELLIA. Her latest novel, MORNING GLORY, imagines life on Boat Street, a floating community on Seattle’s Lake Union --- home to people of artistic spirit who for decades protect the dark secret of one startling night in 1959. In her Holiday Author Blog, Sarah writes about how you can sometimes forget the title of the first book you ever fell in love with, and how that can make your reunion with it even sweeter.
Deborah Crombie is the award-winning author of the beloved Kincaid/James series. The latest installment, THE SOUND OF BROKEN GLASS (which will be available in paperback on February 25th), finds Detective Inspector Gemma James and her team working overtime to find the companion of a well-respected barrister, who was found dead at a seedy hotel. Their search takes them into unexpected corners and forces them to contemplate unsettling truths about the weaknesses and passions that lead to murder. In her Holiday Author Blog, Deborah writes about a topic that is decidedly less grim but no less thrilling: the joy of receiving books for Christmas. The book that is most special to her is the one her now-husband gave her more than 40 years ago --- which was just as much a “keeper” as he turned out to be.
Wendy Webb is the award-winning author of THE TALE OF HALCYON CRANE and THE FATE OF MERCY ALBAN. Her latest book, THE VANISHING (which releases on January 21st), is about Julia Bishop, whose life is collapsing around her when a stranger appears on her doorstep with an intriguing job offer: He asks Julia to be a companion for his elderly mother, the famous and rather eccentric horror novelist Amaris Sinclair, whom the whole world thinks is dead. In her Holiday Author Blog, Wendy opens up about one meaningful Christmas spent in the ER with her young son, and just how enchanting stories can be, especially if you’re able to see the magic between the pages.
Mary Jane Clark is the author of 16 novels, including 12 in her KEY News thriller series, and four in her Wedding Cake mystery series, the latest of which is THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC, releasing on January 21st. Aspiring actress and wedding-cake decorator Piper Donovan thinks she can unmask a killer, but she will have to conjure up some old black magic of her own if she hopes to live long enough to reveal the truth. Mary Jane may not have always been a mystery writer --- she took a three-decade detour as a writer and producer for CBS News --- but she can trace her love for mysteries back to her childhood and a few memorable Christmas gifts.
Jeff Abbott is the New York Times bestselling author of 15 novels. In addition to four stand-alone titles, his books include the Sam Capra thrillers ADRENALINE, THE LAST MINUTE (winner of an International Thriller Writers Award), and DOWNFALL, the latest installment in the series (available in paperback on January 28th). It finds ex-CIA agent Sam Capra entangled, once again, in the dangerous life he wants so badly to retire from. When a beautiful young woman walks into the San Francisco bar, pursued by two gunmen, Sam is thrust into a fight for his life. When Jeff was a kid, he loved exploring the mysteries of the universe, as well as the mysteries he found in the library. In this Holiday Author Blog, he talks about the first Christmas that he knew his heart belonged to stories, not science.
Margaret Wrinkle is a writer, filmmaker, educator and visual artist. In her debut novel, WASH (now available in paperback), Washington, the slave of a troubled Revolutionary War veteran, encounters a potent healer named Pallas, who inspires Wash to forge a new understanding of his heritage and his place in it. In her Holiday Author Blog, Margaret talks about how she was inspired by the Paris Review’s historic author interviews, and why the best gifts --- the ones we really need --- are sometimes the ones we give ourselves, no matter when, no matter where.
Susan Wiggs is an award-winning author, who has written more than 40 novels, including #1 New York Times bestsellers from her hit series, The Lakeshore Chronicles. CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS, the latest Lakeshore installment, is about Logan O'Donnell, a single father determined to create the perfect Christmas for his son, Charlie. When newcomer Darcy Fitzgerald arrives at Willow Lake --- even though she’s the last person Logan can see himself falling for, and Darcy is convinced that a relationship is the last thing she needs this Christmas --- their two lonely hearts collide. In real life, Susan knows a thing or two about matchmaking --- especially when it comes to books! Here, she talks about the pleasure of giving the right book to the right reader, and how one precise and inspired book choice helped her bond with her stepson, Carter. CANDLELIGHT CHRISTMAS, not coincidentally, is dedicated to him.
