Do you love escape rooms? I've only done one, and I thoroughly enjoyed that experience. But I haven't talked my husband into doing another one yet. Today, Gina Holder is chatting about real life escape rooms, books about escape rooms, and more. I think you're going to want to dive into this fun series!

Gina, I know you were drawn to writing stories from an early age. What made you choose to focus on mysteries and suspense? 

I never set out to write mysteries and romantic suspense. I always thought I would write historical romance or women's fiction. My debut novel is even a historical one. The shift happened when I wrote my second novel, No Greater Love. The hero is a police officer, so I decided he should try to solve some crimes in the book. And then, someone started threatening the mayor ... and the rest is history, as they say. I love the twists, the unexpected turns, the clues, red herrings ... creating a story that keeps readers guessing makes me happy.

In your new book, you've written about two characters who basically end up in an escape room that could kill them if they don't figure it out. What inspired this idea?

The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California. My husband had read an article about it, and I immediately thought, "I'm going to use that in a book." It’s this sprawling Victorian mansion built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the man behind the Winchester rifle fortune. After her husband’s death, she became convinced she was being haunted by the spirits of those killed by the rifle—and that the only way to keep them at bay was to keep building.

​So… she did. For nearly forty years.
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The result is a house that feels like a real-life puzzle—staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open into walls, windows in the floor, and hallways that twist and turn with no obvious logic. It’s chaotic, eerie, and strangely fascinating.

Do you like Women's Fiction? How about books that feature characters in their forties or older? Our guest author today, Jen Dodrill, has just what you're looking for. See why she's recently switched this new genre and what she hopes it will bring readers.

​I recently made the switch from writing cozy mysteries to publishing women’s fiction. In my cozies, I get to be an amateur sleuth (don’t all authors live vicariously through their characters?). Women’s fiction is a whole new ball game.
Some basic differences in cozies and women’s fiction:

• Cozies – light and often humorous, even though people die; women’s fiction – more in-depth in relationship aspects and often covers deeper, harder subjects
• Cozies are more plot-driven, while women’s fiction is more character-driven
• The main focus of a cozy mystery is: Who did it? The main focus in women’s fiction is: How will she change?

Last weekend, I was blessed to be able to speak at a ladies' day in Arkansas. The theme was "God is the author of our lives." The ladies who were decorating outdid themselves.
Have you ever seen such pretty centerpieces? Obviously, my book-loving heart was thrilled. Though I was a little sad that I didn't get to take one home with me (despite the fact that I have no idea where I'd display such a thing). There were fifteen tables, so I obviously didn't get pictures of all the centerpieces (like the gorgeous miniature paintings of various book scenes), but I think this will give you an idea.

Do you have a good relationship with your mom? How about your child? It's not always easy, is it? Guest author Deena Adams is chatting about the mother-daughter theme running through her soon-to-release book, Stronger than the Storm, in today's book spotlight. See if some of this resonates with you and feel free to comment about your own relationship hurdles you've overcome.

When Love Hurts: Hope for Healing in Mother-Daughter Relationships

All of us have relationships in our lives—some that feel like a gift and others that are incredibly hard. And sometimes, the same person can be both at different moments.
That’s especially true in mother-daughter relationships.

Do you love novels that let you travel with the characters? How about characters based on real people from history? Well, Casey Cline has woven her latest novel around a very interest real person, and the sneak peek she gives us today is definitely moving this book up higher on my TBR (it was already going to be read this month, anyway). See what you think.

In my historical romance novel, The Wayfaring Widow, widow Victoria Clarke is on an ill-fated trip through some of America’s largest cities in 1854 with declared bachelor, Harrison Wright. Only the third member of their party, mutual friend (and real-life English explorer) Isabella Bird, keeps the two from constantly being at each other’s throats.
After visiting Boston, Chicago, and Detroit, with each destination presenting its own excitements (and terrors), the trio next travels aboard the Mayflower steamship across Lake Erie to Buffalo, New York.

My book released a few weeks ago. It should've been a day full of elation and joy. A week of happiness. But I let comparison steal some of that.
In a world where the market is inundated with books, it's hard to not look at how many reviews you have versus someone else or how high your ranking is compared to another. It's hard to not see posts about other authors' books, but not see as many shared regarding yours. Or at least think you see less. Who knows what the algorithms really show us?
Still, it wears a person thin to always be wondering if your book is as good as someone else's. Or your anything, for that matter. My eleven-year-old has been learning this lesson along with me.

What is it about a fairy tale that lets us see the real world more clearly? Or why does a fairy tale structure work so well with other stories? Well, our guest author today, Chawna Schroeder, decided to figure that out. Read on because her stories sound so good!

Snow White has to have an apple, right? That's the way we've all known the story as we grew up. And yet, as I started writing my version of the tale, I wanted something different. Since my books don't have magic, I couldn't really have a poisoned apple as the way my character gets tricked by the evil queen and has to be rescued. So, I worked out a different twist, still with an apple recipe, but maybe not what you're expecting. And I won't tell more for fear of ruining the surprise.
That being said, there are still a lot of apple elements in my retelling.