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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 29

\ \ Looking for your next emotional romance with unforgettable characters and authentic first responder representation? You're going to want to meet K.T. Lee, author of All of It Was for You.\ \ In this month's Book Club Conversations, we sat down with K.T. Lee to discuss the inspiration behind her heartfelt novel, the real-life experiences that shaped Lauren and Grant's story, the books that made her a reader, and some fun rapid-fire facts every book lover will enjoy.\ \ ❤️ Writing a Love Story Unlike Any Other \ \ When asked what inspired All of It Was for You, K.T. shared that she wanted to write the kind of book she had never seen on bookstore shelves.\ \ Instead of revisiting familiar romance plots, she created a story centered on a paramedic and a veteran police officer, blending authentic first responder experiences with an emotional journey of love, resilience, and heartbreak.\ \ 🚑 Bringing First Responders to Life \ \ One of the things that makes All of It Was for You feel so authentic is K.T.'s own background.\ \ She has spent nearly nine years working in emergency medical services and three years as a 911 dispatcher, drawing inspiration from real calls and experiences to create believable, emotionally charged scenes throughout the novel.\ \ 📖 Three Words That Describe Her Books \ \ When asked to sum up her writing in only three words, K.T.'s answer was simple:\ \

📚 Book Club Conversations: Meet K.T. Lee, Author of All of It Was for You

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 29

\ \ Some stories entertain you. Others leave a permanent mark on your heart.\ \ Today, we're thrilled to welcome K.T. Lee to The Page Ladies Book Club for a heartfelt Book Club Conversation celebrating the release of All of It Was for You.\ \ If you love emotional contemporary romance, deeply flawed but unforgettable characters, first responder stories, and books that aren't afraid to tackle life's hardest moments, you're going to want this one on your radar.\ \ We chatted with K.T. about the inspiration behind Lauren and Grant's unforgettable journey, her real-life experience in emergency medical services, favorite thrillers, writing habits, reality TV chaos, and much more.\ \ Let's dive in!\ \ Meet K.T. Lee \ \ K.T. Lee is a Wisconsin-based author and paramedic whose stories blend raw emotion with authentic real-life experiences. Drawing from nearly a decade in emergency medical services, she creates characters who feel incredibly real while exploring love, resilience, grief, and hope.\ \ When she isn't writing, you'll likely find her curled up with one of her three cats, reading a thriller, enjoying her favorite coffee shop, or planning her next adventure.\ \ The Debut Spark \ \ Q: Your upcoming release, All of It Was for You, sounds incredibly emotional and intense! What was the spark that made you realize Lauren and Grant's story was the one you needed to tell next?\ \ K.T. Lee:\ \ I wanted to write a book that I've never seen on a shelf before. I can't say how many times I've picked up a book and went, "Yep, I have three of this same exact plot on my bookshelf at home right now," and put it down. I've never read a paramedic × police officer story, so I thought I'd make one!\ \ First Responders & Real Heroes \ \ Q: Lauren is a dedicated paramedic, and Grant is a veteran police officer. What kind of research or personal inspiration helped bring these professions to life?\ \ K.T. Lee:\ \ I've been in emergency medical services (EMS) for going on nine years this summer, as well as a 911 dispatcher for three years. A lot of the calls I wrote about are personal experience, or elements of them have been extracted from those calls and dramatized.\ \ Describe Your Books in Three Words \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in just three words?\ \ K.T. Lee:\ \ Devastating. Raw. Emotional.\ \ Honestly...those three words tell you everything you need to know before opening the first page.\ \ The Book That Started It All \ \ Q: What was the very first book that made you fall in love with reading?\ \ K.T. Lee:\ \ Beauty and the Beast. Still love it to this day.\ \ One of my fondest memories of my grandma is sitting on her bench swing by her garden as she read Beauty and the Beast to me. She is the reason I wrote this, so I owe this book all to her.\ \ A Book Worth Reading Again for the First Time \ \ Q: If you could erase your memory of one book and experience it again, what would it be?\ \ K.T. Lee:\ \ The Stillhouse Lake Series specifically book one. I'm a thriller and mystery reader at my core.\ \ Auto-Buy Books \ \ Q: Which tropes instantly convince you to buy a book?\ \ K.T. Lee:\ \ I gravitate toward mystery and thriller novels, so I love police procedurals, small-town murders, unreliable clues, and missing person survival stories.\ \ Truthfully, though, I'm more of an auto-buy reader for authors than tropes.\ \ Favorite auto-buy authors include:\ \

The First Editions Exclusive: Book Club Conversation with K.T. Lee | Behind All of It Was for You, First Responders, Heartbreak, and Hope

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 27

\ \ If you're planning to read The Secret Thread by Eve Chase, we've created everything you need to turn this unforgettable historical mystery into an immersive reading experience.\ \ Whether you're hosting a book club, reading with your favorite buddy reader, or enjoying a quiet solo reading escape, our newest companion kits are now available!\ \ ✨ Now Available to Download:\ \ 📖 Book Club Kit & Individual Reader Guide Perfect for book clubs, libraries, classrooms, and readers who love thoughtful discussions. Inside you'll find discussion questions, themed activities, an English country estate-inspired menu, printable worksheets, host tips, and much more.\ \ 💕 Buddy Reader Kit Designed for both in-person and virtual buddy reads, this kit includes guided check-ins, interactive activities, prediction pages, discussion prompts, and everything you need to enjoy uncovering every secret together.\ \ ☕ Solo Reader Deep Dive Kit Love reading on your own? This immersive companion includes annotation prompts, symbolism and theme trackers, reading journal pages, literary analysis, creative activities, reflection exercises, and more to help you experience The Secret Thread on a deeper level.\ \ 🌿 Not sure where to start? We've also created FREE Mini Reader Kits so you can sample each reading experience before diving into the complete collection.\ \ 👉 Tap the links to download your kits today and step inside the secrets of Rushwood.\ \ Book Club Kit & Individual Reader Guide \ \ Buddy Reader Kit \ \ Solo Reader Kit \ \ Free Mini Reader Kits\ \ Happy reading, and we can't wait to hear what you think of The Secret Thread!\ \ #TheSecretThread #EveChase #BookClubKit #HistoricalMystery #BookClubBooks\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/DpNwh4KSlGhhNyapJjMZ/)

📚 New Book Club Resources Are Here: The Secret Thread by Eve Chase

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 27

\ \ What if the objects we treasure remember the stories we've tried hardest to forget?\ \ Some books invite you into a mystery. Others quietly wrap you in their atmosphere until you feel as though you've stepped onto the grounds of a sprawling English estate, listening for whispers hidden beneath the gardens. The Secret Thread by Eve Chase is firmly the latter. Blending historical fiction, family drama, gothic atmosphere, and slow-burning suspense, this novel delivers an emotionally layered mystery that asks whether the truth can ever truly stay buried.\ \ For our book club, this wasn't simply a mystery to solve it was a conversation starter about family loyalty, social class, identity, ambition, and the weight of secrets carried across generations. Every chapter uncovered another thread connecting the past to the present, leaving us eager to compare theories before Eve Chase masterfully tied everything together.\ \ Book Synopsis \ \ In 2024, aspiring writer Jo O'Mara accepts what appears to be the opportunity of a lifetime: documenting the stories behind the treasured possessions of Mimi Mott, the legendary interior design icon preparing for a public auction after the death of her husband.\ \ But Jo has a secret of her own.\ \ As she begins cataloging Mimi's remarkable collection, she realizes every object carries pieces of a hidden past that reaches back to Rushwood, a magnificent English country estate where Mimi spent the transformative summer of 1969.\ \ Growing up in the gardener's cottage alongside her quieter sister Pamela, young Mimi dreamed of escaping the limitations imposed by class and circumstance. When the wealthy Caswell family's adult children arrive for the summer, friendships blur into romance, privilege collides with ambition, and one glamorous evening ends in tragedy.\ \ Decades later, Jo discovers that one priceless object and one important person have disappeared. Solving both mysteries means unraveling a lifetime of carefully guarded lies before time runs out.\ \ What We Loved A Beautifully Layered Dual Timeline \ \ Dual-timeline novels can sometimes feel uneven, but Eve Chase balances both eras with remarkable skill. Rather than feeling like separate stories, each chapter in the past directly enriches the present-day investigation.\ \ The gradual unveiling of Mimi's history keeps readers invested while allowing Jo's own emotional journey to develop naturally. Every revelation feels earned, making the final pieces especially satisfying.\ \ Rushwood Steals the Show \ \ If there were an award for Best Setting, Rushwood would deserve it.\ \ The English country estate becomes more than scenery it becomes a living character. The lush gardens, elegant manor house, secluded cottages, and carefully maintained grounds all reinforce the divide between privilege and service.\ \ Our book club loved discussing how the setting reflects each character's place within society. The beauty of Rushwood constantly contrasts with the emotional tension simmering beneath its polished exterior.\ \ Rich Themes That Spark Discussion \ \ One reason this novel works so well for book clubs is the depth of its themes.\ \ Throughout the novel we discussed:\ \

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The Secret Thread by Eve Chase Book Club Review | A Haunting Historical Mystery Woven with Family Secrets

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 26

\ \ Thank you for being a valued member of our community! Because you are a paid subscriber, you get exclusive access to the complete, unedited interview with Marina Ramwell, the brilliant author behind the True or Knot series.\ \ Below, check out the full conversation where Marina reveals her chaotic writing schedule, how her day job as a Software Engineer influences her Omegaverse worlds, exclusive updates on her upcoming releases, and her passionate final thoughts on what it truly means to be an author.\ \ 1. The 3-Word Pitch \ \ For readers discovering the True or Knot series for the very first time, how would you describe your books in three words?\ \ Marina: Multicultural, intriguing, and spicy\ \ 2. The Double Life \ \ By day, you’re climbing the corporate ladder as a Software Engineer, and by night, you write romance. What does your typical writing day look like, and do you prefer writing in the morning or as a night owl?\ \ Marina: Definitely a night owl! I can’t write during working hours; my job is mentally exhausting enough as it is. But I do write while I walk the dog, in the bathroom, while I wait in a queue, on weekends, and 80% of it happens in the evenings, when everyone’s asleep, and I have all the peace to focus.\ \ 3. The Bookish Life \ \ When you sit down to read or write in the beautiful Canary Islands, what is your ideal reading day, and what is your go-to reading snack or beverage?\ \ Marina: If it's the weekend, I love to read and write on the beach, with the salty breeze and the sound of the waves. I also do a lot of writing lying in my hammock. My usual drink is coffee, but if I want to treat myself, I have a "Barraquito," which is a typical coffee with cinnamon, condensed milk, lemon peel, and liqueur.\ \ 4. Current Reads \ \ What book is currently on your nightstand, and what genres do you enjoy reading most when you’re not writing?\ \ Marina: I have a couple of technical and management-related books on my nightstand that, honestly, I've been putting off for ages. My e-book TBR is long and filled with Omegaverse and romance in general. Right now I’m reading “Summoning Trouble” by Luisa Perez.\ \ 5. The Warning Label \ \ If your writing process had a warning label based on how you balance engineering, gaming with your son, and writing, what would it say?\ \ Marina: “Warning: chaos and sleepless nights ahead.”\ \ 6. The Soundtrack \ \ Music can set the perfect mood for a book. If Beta or Knot had a theme song or a track on a soundtrack, what would it be?\ \ Marina: Let the tears fall – Kelly Clarkson\ \ 7. The Animal Critic \ \ We hear you have an attention-seeking dog! If your dog could read, how do you think they would react to you spending your free time typing away at your books instead of giving them belly rubs?\ \ Marina: Oh, he gets belly rubs! And since I write a lot during our walks, sometimes we end up walking more than intended, so I think he would approve.\ \ 8. The Spark \ \ What first inspired you to become a writer, and when did you realize you wanted to pursue publishing your stories seriously?\ \ Marina: Being an author had always been a dream of mine, but then things happened, and somewhere between my engineering career and a divorce, life kind of crushed my creativity. I told my son once that I wanted to write a book someday, and when he asked me to make up a story for him, I couldn’t. So that was a turning point. I started doing writing exercises and reading a lot more fiction to rekindle that spark. It took me some years, but it seems to have worked.\ \ 9. Planner vs. Pantser \ \ Because your day job involves engineering and logic, does that carry over into your writing? Are you a meticulous planner/plotter, or a write and discover type of author?\ \ Marina: A bit of both. I start with a rough idea. I draw a few steps and cornerstones and then let my imagination run free and discover the story as it goes. I knew Lars’ story from day one! But what was supposed to be one book about a very indecisive Alpha and how two packs formed… somehow transformed into a five-book series. Don’t ask me how; it just happened.\ \ 10. The Challenge \ \ Which part of the writing process do you enjoy the most, the cozy parts, the spice, or the tear-jerkers, and which part challenges you the most?\ \ Marina: I enjoy all of it! I struggle a bit with the spice. Though it's getting easier as I go. Some of the tear-jerier parts just poured out of me and surprised me a little; I didn’t expect those to be so emotionally healing.\ \ 11. The Advice \ \ What is the best writing advice you've ever received that you would pass along to aspiring authors?\ \ Marina: I still think of myself as an aspiring author, so this question is funny. But I would say, find yourself a good dev editor. You have no idea how much I’ve learned from mine, Steph Rawlins. Also, just write. With all the mistakes, typos, plot holes, and weird phrasing, just get the idea out. You can have as many iterations as you need later.\ \ 12. The Corporate Setting \ \ Pack or Knot and Beta or Knot both feature Paylance, bringing a corporate tech-style setting into the Omegaverse. Did your real-world experience as a software engineer inspire the setting or the mysterious security breach plotline in Book 1?\ \ Marina: Yes, I’m lucky to love my job, but it is true that I have a lot of corporate shenanigans and anecdotes to get inspiration from.\ \ 13. In a Crisis \ \ The Fredriksson pack deals with some intense dynamics. Out of all the characters you’ve created so far across Book 1 and Book 2, which of your characters would you trust most in a real-life crisis?\ \ Marina: Lucía Oramas, definitely! Now, her character is heavily inspired by my own personality, work, and experiences… so I don’t know what that says about me. sigh. Jonas from Book 3 is a close contender.\ \ 14. Character Surprises \ \ Did any of your characters like Lars, the new Omega, or the Beta in Book 2 completely surprise you and take the plot in a direction you didn’t originally plan?\ \ Marina: John, from Book 2. I added this character because I needed someone to balance the pack’s dynamics, and it turned out to be perfect for the job. I wish men like him were the norm, honestly.\ \ 15. The Big Screen Dream \ \ If the True or Knot series were adapted into a movie or TV series, what would you be most excited to see brought to life on screen?\ \ Marina: Oh, Hannah’s and Lucía’s love. It's so cute and tender, and I loved writing them falling for each other.\ \ 16. The Takeaway \ \ Beta or Knot comes out on July 29th! What emotions do you hope readers experience while reading this new installment, and what can readers look forward to next from you?\ \ Marina: I wish more people knew that strength and vulnerability are not mutually exclusive. You can be strong and yet fall prey to manipulations and coercions. If a woman or really, anyone in this situation reads this and finds the courage to step out of a bad relationship… I’ll consider all this worthwhile.\ \ I’ll keep bringing the multicultural aspect to the packs. I like thinking that in a society like the one in my books, we would all be more open to diversity of all kinds. I think the Omegaverse genre, in general, does a great job with this, and it's one of the things I liked about it. Other authors are doing a great job incorporating LGBTQ+ and BIPOC representation, but I was kind of missing a strong multicultural dynamic, which is why I added it so heavily in mine. But I’d love to add even more diversity going forward.\ \ I’m already editing book 3, though I can’t give you the title yet; it’s scheduled to come out in November. And I’m one-third of the way through books 4 and 5. Hopefully, we’ll close this series in spring 2027.\ \ 17. The Dinner Guest \ \ If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?\ \ Marina: This is an impossible question! All right, I’ll bite. Ayn Rand. I know, I don't agree with all of her philosophy, but debating with her would be amazing.\ \ 18. The Time Machine \ \ What is one book you wish you could experience again for the first time?\ \ Marina: “Búscame donde nacen los dragos” by Emma Lira. Can’t explain it; I just loved that book.\ \ 19. Fictional Travel \ \ If you could visit any fictional world for a day, where are you going?\ \ Marina: Is it selfish to say… mine?\ \ 🛒 Support the Author: Shop the Series \ \ Ready to jump into the corporate Omegaverse? Use the links below to secure your copies!\ \ Pre-Order / Purchase Beta or Knot: \ \

The First Editions Exclusive: Coding, Chaos, and Creative Chemistry with Marina Ramwell

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 26

\ \ Ever wondered what happens when you mix a demanding day job in tech with a passion for high-stakes, multicultural romance? Meet Marina Ramwell, the brilliant mind behind the True or Knot series. By day, she's navigating the corporate world as a Software Engineer; by night, she’s building a captivating, diverse Omegaverse.\ \ Today, we are sharing a sneak peek of our exclusive interview with Marina. Dive into the first 8 questions below to learn about her writing process, her gorgeous Canary Islands workspace, and the chaotic "warning label" of her life!\ \ 1. The 3-Word Pitch \ \ For readers discovering the True or Knot series for the very first time, how would you describe your books in three words?\ \ Marina: Multicultural, intriguing, and spicy.\ \ 2. The Double Life \ \ By day, you’re climbing the corporate ladder as a Software Engineer, and by night, you write romance. What does your typical writing day look like, and do you prefer writing in the morning or as a night owl?\ \ Marina: Definitely a night owl! I can’t write during working hours; my job is mentally exhausting enough as it is. But I do write while I walk the dog, in the bathroom, while I wait in a queue, on weekends, and 80% of it happens in the evenings, when everyone’s asleep, and I have all the peace to focus.\ \ 3. The Bookish Life \ \ When you sit down to read or write in the beautiful Canary Islands, what is your ideal reading day, and what is your go-to reading snack or beverage?\ \ Marina: If it's the weekend, I love to read and write on the beach, with the salty breeze and the sound of the waves. I also do a lot of writing lying in my hammock. My usual drink is coffee, but if I want to treat myself, I have a "Barraquito," which is a typical coffee with cinnamon, condensed milk, lemon peel, and liqueur.\ \ 4. Current Reads \ \ What book is currently on your nightstand, and what genres do you enjoy reading most when you’re not writing?\ \ Marina: I have a couple of technical and management-related books on my nightstand that, honestly, I've been putting off for ages. My e-book TBR is long and filled with Omegaverse and romance in general. Right now I’m reading “Summoning Trouble” by Luisa Perez.\ \ 5. The Warning Label \ \ If your writing process had a warning label based on how you balance engineering, gaming with your son, and writing, what would it say?\ \ Marina: “Warning: chaos and sleepless nights ahead.”\ \ 6. The Soundtrack \ \ Music can set the perfect mood for a book. If Beta or Knot had a theme song or a track on a soundtrack, what would it be?\ \ Marina: Let the tears fall – Kelly Clarkson\ \ 7. The Animal Critic \ \ We hear you have an attention-seeking dog! If your dog could read, how do you think they would react to you spending your free time typing away at your books instead of giving them belly rubs?\ \ Marina: Oh, he gets belly rubs! And since I write a lot during our walks, sometimes we end up walking more than intended, so I think he would approve.\ \ 8. The Spark \ \ What first inspired you to become a writer, and when did you realize you wanted to pursue publishing your stories seriously?\ \ Marina: Being an author had always been a dream of mine, but then things happened, and somewhere between my engineering career and a divorce, life kind of crushed my creativity. I told my son once that I wanted to write a book someday, and when he asked me to make up a story for him, I couldn’t. So that was a turning point. I started doing writing exercises and reading a lot more fiction to rekindle that spark. It took me some years, but it seems to have worked.\ \ 🌟 Want More? Join First Editions for the Full Interview! \ \ This is just the beginning! In the full interview, Marina dives deep into how her engineering job inspired her corporate tech-style Omegaverse setting, her thoughts on character surprises, a fierce defense of the creative journey, and a major sneak peek into the future of the True or Knot series including timeline updates for Books 3, 4, and 5!\ \ **Unlock the Full Interview:**Join our First Editions Membership tier today to read the rest of Marina's answers, support our community, and get access to exclusive author content, early reveals, and more!\ \ 🛒 Grab Your Copies of the True or Knot Series \ \ Don't miss out on Marina's captivating world. Grab her latest release, Beta or Knot (releasing July 29th!), or catch up on the book that started it all.\ \ Pre-Order / Purchase Beta or Knot: \ \

Book Club Conversations with Author Marina Ramwell: The Software Engineer Crafting Spicy Omegaverse Romance

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 24

\ \ Looking for fresh, professional Bookstagram Canva templates to make your August content stand out? Good news our August Canva Templates are officially here for The First Editions members!\ \ Whether you're sharing your latest book review, showing off book mail, celebrating a five-star read, or planning your monthly reading wrap-up, these customizable templates are designed to help you create beautiful, engaging content in just a few minutes.\ \ What's Included \ \ Your August template collection includes editable Canva designs perfect for:\ \

🎨 August Bookstagram Canva Templates Are Ready to Download!

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 24

\ \ It's time to refresh your Bookstagram for a brand-new month! Our FREE August Canva Templates are now available for all The Prequels members.\ \ Whether you're tracking your monthly reading or sharing your August wrap-up, these editable Canva templates make it easy to create beautiful, engaging bookish content in just minutes.\ \ Your Free Downloads 📚 August 6-Template & Mockups Pack \ \ https://canva.link/k3y6qmqpsn9mrdi\\ \ ✨ August Wrap-Up (6-Image Story Template) \ \ https://canva.link/mtumkrh6y0k4j9s\\ \ Simply open the templates in Canva, customize them with your books, ratings, and photos, and you're ready to share your reading journey with the world!\ \ Looking for Even More? \ \ If you love these free resources, you'll love everything waiting for you inside The First Editions!\ \ Our premium August collection includes:\ \

🎨 Your Free August Canva Templates Are Ready!

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 22

\ \ Welcome to your exclusive deep dive into the mind of V.S. Lawrence. While our public teaser focused on the campy side of horror, we saved the real writerly talk and the deep cuts for our First Edition members.\ \ In this full interview, V.S. Lawrence opens up about the heartbreak behind Just Us, Here, her squeaky wheel brainstorming process, and why she can no longer eat bologna thanks to The Outsiders. From Scooby-Doo chase music to the relatable motives of horror icons, this is the complete conversation.\ \ 1. V.S. Lawrence in Three Words \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in three words?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Nostalgic, campy, broad."\ \ 2. Turning Fears into Fiction \ \ Q: Your Goodreads bio mentions that you grew up being scared of everything. What are some fears that have found their way into your stories?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I actually have a huge fear of fire, likely from the time I went to blow out my birthday candles when I was young and ended up catching my hair on fire instead. But fire has found its way into a couple of my books, as well as bugs. Cockroaches, spiders, maggots... all have found their way into my books and give me the creeps."\ \ 3. The Heart of Horror \ \ Q: Horror can take many forms, from creepy and atmospheric to downright terrifying. What kind of horror do you enjoy writing most?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "The versatility of horror is one of my favorite things, and I've been having so much fun exploring several different types. But campy, fun horror has my heart."\ \ 4. The Spark of Just Us, Here \ \ Q: Your upcoming novel Just Us, Here explores social media, isolation, and a farmhouse that may be hiding dark secrets. What first sparked the idea for this story?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "A couple of years ago I had the idea for a book where an influencer is experiencing something terrifying in front of her audience, and thought it would be so interesting to explore the idea that for so many of us, it's almost impossible to look away from a trainwreck. We see people falling apart online and feel the need to comment on it, take it all in as entertainment, and I felt that having the comment section stand in as a character almost would be a really fun way to explore that idea."\ \ 5. Why Haunted Houses Hit Different \ \ Q: Many readers are fascinated by haunted houses and places with history. What makes a setting feel genuinely unsettling to you?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Our homes are supposed to be our safe place, the place where we can relax, unwind, let our guard completely down. But when the floorboards start creaking, strange noises happen, things start moving, it rips that sense of safety right out from under you. It's also presenting us with the idea that maybe there is something after death, that maybe we leave a small piece of ourselves behind that ends up desperate to be seen and acknowledged."\ \ 6. The Allure of The Patch \ \ Q: The Patch centers around a cursed pumpkin patch and a town haunted by its past. What drew you to that premise?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I'm obsessed with pumpkin patches. It's one of my all-time favorite things to do in the fall, and when I was asked to write something for the Totally Freaked! series, I felt like the classic new kid in a new town that had some interesting beliefs surrounding a pumpkin patch would be a really fun addition to the series."\ \ 7. The Scream-to-Laugh Ratio \ \ Q: Several of your stories seem to blend horror with humor and adventure. How do you find the balance between scares and fun?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Honestly, I think horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin. Both rely on building tension and timing so that the joke or scare lands just right, resulting in either laughter or screams. I think finding the balance is similar to either straight horror or comedy; you don't want to hit the reader with scare after scare, or joke after joke. It loses its impact if it's a steady stream. But with horror and comedy, it's kind of neat because you don't always know if the tension is building to a scare or just a funny moment, and I think that makes it even more fun to write (because I don't always know, either.)"\ \ 8. The Tone of Just Us, Here \ \ Q: If readers could only know one thing before picking up Just Us, Here, what would you want them to know?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "It's bleak. This book is me trying my hand at modern gothic, and so tonally it's very different from what I've put out so far. It's a slow burn and a little heartbreaking and it doesn't have a hopeful ending like many of my other books do."\ \ 9. The Brainstorming Process \ \ Q: What does your brainstorming process look like when a new story idea first appears?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "A lot of times my book ideas come from a single scene that pops into my head, or just a seed of an idea, and then I try really hard to figure out how to build something up around that single image. I sit down and make a really rough outline that usually doesn't include the ending, because I always struggle with those. I'll bounce ideas off of friends or family as I work on the outline, and bulk it up as I go. Then, when I start the first draft, chunks of that outline just go right out the window as things go off the rails and I have to go back to talking through the new possible paths that the story could take until I finally get to the end. But even then I might find myself having to change the entire ending."\ \ 10. Deciding What’s Next \ \ Q: You've written everything from ghost-hunting adventures to camp horror and cryptid chaos. How do you decide which idea to work on next?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I have a million idea seeds floating around in my head and my notes app. I tell myself I'm going to work on X project next, but when it comes down to it, I have to work on the idea that's loudest. The one that keeps jumping forward, pushing images and scenes to the front. It really is a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease."\ \ 11. Publishing Surprises \ \ Q: Looking back on your journey as an author, what has surprised you most about publishing books?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "How kind the horror community is. I've been welcomed so warmly by readers and authors alike and it has been such an amazing experience I never expected."\ \ 12. The Power of Nostalgia \ \ Q: What role does nostalgia play in your writing, especially with stories like 80s Ghosts and Chalupacabra Y2K?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "It plays a huge role. A lot of horror readers grew up reading things like Goosebumps, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Point Horror, and I think many of us kind of want to recapture the feelings we had reading those books. Back when we devoured books and were rewarded with pizza and didn't have phones demanding our attention 24/7. I know for me, writing things set before we were so distracted is a way to relive those experiences, almost. Even if it's an idealized version of the past, it's a fun thing to escape into."\ \ 13. Twist Planning \ \ Q: Do you tend to outline every twist and scare ahead of time, or do some surprises reveal themselves while you're writing?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "In most of my outlines I know that [something scary happens here] but it's only when I'm writing the scene that what that scary thing actually is reveals itself."\ \ 14. Creating Memorable Villains \ \ Q: What makes a horror villain, monster, or supernatural threat memorable in your opinion?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Honestly, it's the ones whose point of view is actually kind of relatable. Like, the ones I can understand why they did it. Think Carrie, Frankenstein's monster, and even Pam Voorhees."\ \ 15. Horror Shaping \ \ Q: As a reader, what books or authors helped shape your love of horror?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Definitely R.L. Stine's Goosebumps. I can vividly remember walking to the swimming pool with my sister and making up our own plot lines for new Goosebumps books."\ \ 16. Best Writing Advice \ \ Q: What is one piece of writing advice that has stuck with you over the years?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "That if you want to be a good writer, you have to read. Read a lot, and read widely. I have seen firsthand how my writing and creativity improves when I'm reading voraciously."\ \ 17. The Fictional Dinner Guest \ \ Q: If you could spend a day with one fictional character from any book, who would you choose and why?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I'd love to meet Jay Gatsby and go to one of his parties! I'm not really a party girl, but I mean, a Gatsby party would be a must."\ \ 18. The Adaptation Goal \ \ Q: Your bio says your books feel like "Scooby-Doo chase music." If one of your books were adapted into a movie, what would you hope viewers would say afterward?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "That was so much fun!"\ \ 19. What’s Next? \ \ Q: What exciting projects, stories, or spooky surprises can readers look forward to from you next?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I'm working on a collection of Christmas horror stories for this Christmas, and there may or may not be another slasher in the pipeline!"\ \ Support the Author & Grab Your Copies! \ \ Check out the links below to follow along and grab your copies:\ \

The First Editions Exclusive: The Complete Q&A with V.S. Lawrence

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 22

\ \ Welcome back to the blog! If you like your horror with a side of nostalgia and a dash of the "downright creepy," you are in for a treat. Today we are chatting with the brilliant V.S. Lawrence, an author who knows exactly how to turn our everyday safe spaces into heart-pounding settings.\ \ From cursed pumpkin patches to the terrifying isolation of a viral livestream, V.S. Lawrence’s stories explore the thin line between entertainment and true terror. We sat down to discuss the upcoming novel Just Us, Here, hair-raising childhood fears, and why horror and comedy are actually best friends.\ \ Enjoy part one of our interview below!\ \ 1. V.S. Lawrence in Three Words \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in three words?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Nostalgic, campy, broad."\ \ 2. Turning Fears into Fiction \ \ Q: Your Goodreads bio mentions that you grew up being scared of everything. What are some fears that have found their way into your stories?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I actually have a huge fear of fire, likely from the time I went to blow out my birthday candles when I was young and ended up catching my hair on fire instead. But fire has found its way into a couple of my books, as well as bugs. Cockroaches, spiders, maggots... all have found their way into my books and give me the creeps."\ \ 3. The Heart of Horror \ \ Q: Horror can take many forms, from creepy and atmospheric to downright terrifying. What kind of horror do you enjoy writing most?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "The versatility of horror is one of my favorite things, and I've been having so much fun exploring several different types. But campy, fun horror has my heart."\ \ 4. The Spark of Just Us, Here \ \ Q: Your upcoming novel Just Us, Here explores social media, isolation, and a farmhouse that may be hiding dark secrets. What first sparked the idea for this story?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "A couple of years ago I had the idea for a book where an influencer is experiencing something terrifying in front of her audience, and thought it would be so interesting to explore the idea that for so many of us, it's almost impossible to look away from a trainwreck. We see people falling apart online and feel the need to comment on it, take it all in as entertainment, and I felt that having the comment section stand in as a character almost would be a really fun way to explore that idea."\ \ 5. Why Haunted Houses Hit Different \ \ Q: Many readers are fascinated by haunted houses and places with history. What makes a setting feel genuinely unsettling to you?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Our homes are supposed to be out safe place, the place where we can relax, unwind, let our guard completely down. But when the floorboards start creaking, strange noises happen, things start moving it rips that sense of safety right out from under you. It's also presenting us with the idea that maybe there is something after death, that maybe we leave a small piece of ourselves behind that ends up desperate to be seen and acknowledged."\ \ 6. The Allure of The Patch \ \ Q: The Patch centers around a cursed pumpkin patch and a town haunted by its past. What drew you to that premise?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "I'm obsessed with pumpkin patches. It's one of my all-time favorite things to do in the fall, and when I was asked to write something for the Totally Freaked! series, I felt like the classic new kid in a new town that had some interesting beliefs surrounding a pumpkin patch would be a really fun addition to the series."\ \ 7. The Scream-to-Laugh Ratio \ \ Q: Several of your stories seem to blend horror with humor and adventure. How do you find the balance between scares and fun?\ \ V.S. Lawrence: "Honestly, I think horror and comedy are two sides of the same coin. Both rely on building tension and timing so that the joke or scare lands just right, resulting in either laughter or screams. I think finding the balance is similar to either straight horror or comedy - you don't want to hit the reader with scare after scare, or joke after joke. it looses its impact if it's a steady stream. But with horror and comedy, it's kind of neat because you don't always know if the tension is building to a scare or just a funny moment, and I think that makes it even more fun to write (because I don't always know, either.)"\ \ Want Deeper Access? 💎 \ \ This is just a small preview of our wonderful conversation with V.S. Lawrence! Premium members of The First Editions can log in now to unlock the complete, unedited Q&A.\ \ Support the Author & Grab Your Copies! \ \ Don't miss out on these spine-tingling reads. Check out the links below to follow along and grab your copies:\ \

📖 Book Club Conversation: Campy Scares and Influencer Nightmares with V.S. Lawrence!

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 19

\ \ Welcome to your sneak peek of this month's Early Warning System!\ \ Every month, The Page Ladies Book Club rounds up the most anticipated upcoming releases so you can discover exciting new books before they hit the shelves. Whether you're a fan of romantasy, fantasy, thrillers, mystery, horror, romance, or literary fiction, August is packed with books worth adding to your TBR.\ \ 👀 Sneak Peek \ \ Here's just a taste of what's featured in this month's guide:\ \

📚 Early Warning System: August 2026 Pre-Order Guide Sneak Peek

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 19

\ \ If you're already planning your late summer reading list, you've come to the right place! Welcome to The Page Ladies Book Club Early Warning System, your monthly guide to the most anticipated August 2026 book releases.\ \ Whether you're looking for the next viral romantasy, an edge-of-your-seat thriller, a cozy romance, literary fiction, horror, mystery, or fantasy, we've rounded up the books readers should have on their radar before publication day.\ \ 📚 Where to Pre-Order \ \ Support independent bookstores by shopping our curated Bookshop.org list:\ \ 👉 Bookshop.org August Pre-Order List: https://bookshop.org/lists/august-pre-order-list\\ \ Prefer Amazon?\ \ 👉 Shop Our Amazon August Pre-Order Idea List: https://amzn.to/4fvQilW\\ \ Simply tap either link to browse and pre-order your favorites.\ \ 🌟 August 4, 2026 Releases 💕 Romance, Romcom & Contemporary Fiction \ \

August 2026 Early Warning System: Upcoming Book Releases You Can Pre-Order Now

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 15

Behind Have You Seen Him: Identity, Secrets, Storytelling & the Journey to Finding the Truth \ \ Welcome back to another exclusive Book Club Conversation from The Page Ladies Book Club.\ \ Today we're sitting down with Kimberly Lee, award-winning author of Have You Seen Him, to talk about writing thrillers, crafting unforgettable twists, deleted scenes, publishing, creativity, and what's next for David's story.\ \ 📖 Featured Book Have You Seen Him What if everything you believed about yourself was totally wrong? \ \ Attorney David Byrdsong has spent most of his life trying not to think about the day he was abandoned at an airport as a child.\ \ When he unexpectedly discovers his own face in a missing-child advertisement, his search for answers leads him into a deadly web of corporate conspiracies, long-buried secrets, dangerous truths, and questions about the people he trusts most.\ \ Fast-paced, emotionally compelling, and impossible to put down, Have You Seen Him blends psychological suspense with a moving exploration of identity, family, belonging, and resilience.\ \ 💬 The Conversation 1. Three words to describe Have You Seen Him? \ \ Page-turner. Twisty. Touching.\ \ 2. Why explore identity and belonging? \ \ Kimberly shares that every piece she's written eventually circles back to belonging.\ \ "We're all searching for answers to 'Who am I?' and 'Where do I belong?'"\ \ The missing-child premise offered the perfect way to examine those universal questions through suspense and romance.\ \ 3. Where did the idea come from? \ \ Kimberly explains how a real missing-child advertisement, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and a simple writing prompt asking "What if?" all collided to inspire David's story.\ \ 4. Can you silence your inner editor? \ \ Not really!\ \ Even though she encourages writers not to edit while drafting, Kimberly admits she's constantly revising as she writes and she's learned to embrace that process.\ \ 5. Favorite part of writing? \ \ Polishing.\ \ Returning to finished chapters with fresh eyes and refining every sentence is where she finds the most joy.\ \ 6. Plotter or pantser? \ \ Kimberly doesn't create detailed outlines.\ \ Instead, she often knows the beginning and ending, allowing her characters to discover the journey in between.\ \ 7. Favorite deleted scene? \ \ One cut chapter featured a school custodian secretly helping Gayle escape campus while telling eerie local folklore surrounding the school.\ \ Although it didn't survive edits, Kimberly hopes readers may see it appear in a future book.\ \ 8. Do you plant clues? \ \ Absolutely.\ \ She intentionally added subtle clues during revisions for observant readers hoping to solve the mystery early.\ \ 9. What makes an unforgettable thriller? \ \ Kimberly believes memorable thrillers combine twists, pacing, surprises, humor, emotional connection, and characters readers genuinely care about.\ \ 10. Biggest literary influences? \ \ Maya Angelou inspired her voice and courage.\ \ John Grisham inspired her love of legal thrillers and ultimately encouraged her to combine her legal background with fiction.\ \ 11. Best writing advice? \ \ Write every idea down.\ \ Even the ones that seem silly.\ \ You never know which one will become your next novel.\ \ 12. Biggest publishing surprise? \ \ Kimberly shares a deeply personal reflection about fear, losing her father unexpectedly, and choosing to pursue publication despite feeling uncomfortable with self-promotion.\ \ She leaves readers with Audre Lorde's powerful reminder:\ \ "When I dare to be powerful…it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."\ \ 13. What's next? \ \ Have You Seen Him is only the beginning.\ \ Kimberly is currently writing the second book in the trilogy during an upcoming writing residency and can't wait to reunite with these characters.\ \ 👩 About the Author \ \ Kimberly Lee, JD, is an award-winning novelist, editor, workshop facilitator, and creative guide dedicated to helping others discover their authentic voice through writing, expressive arts, mindfulness, and reflective practices.\ \ She is a graduate of Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law and serves on the faculty of Hugo House, The Loft, Arts & Healing Initiative, and Women on Writing. Her workshops have been featured at Esalen Institute, Hollyhock Retreat Centre, Omega Institute, The Huntington, and numerous organizations throughout North America.\ \ Her writing has appeared in Literary Mama, Carve, F(r)iction, LA Parent, The Ekphrastic Review, BetterSleep, and many other publications.\ \ Kimberly lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.\ \ 🌿 Beyond the Novel \ \ In addition to writing fiction, Kimberly leads expressive writing workshops, SoulCollage® retreats, and creativity experiences designed to help participants reconnect with imagination, intuition, and authentic storytelling.\ \ 🛒 Purchase Have You Seen Him \ \ 📚 Amazon\ \ 📚 Barnes & Noble\ \ 📚 Bookshop.org\ \ 🌐 Connect with Kimberly Lee \ \ Website:\ \ https://www.kimberlylee.me/\\ \ Instagram:\ \ @klcreatrix\ \ Newsletter:\ \ https://www.kimberlylee.me/contact\\ \ Goodreads:\ \ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234889217-have-you-seen-him\\ \ 📅 Upcoming Appearance \ \ Book Reading & Signing\ \ 📍 Vroman's Bookstore\ \ Pasadena, California\ \ 🗓 Sunday, July 19\ \ ⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM\ \ Thank you for supporting The First Editions. Your membership makes conversations like these possible while helping us connect readers with the authors behind the stories we love.\ \ Until next time…\ \ Happy Reading!\ \ —The Page Ladies Book Club\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/CNgTnEAVus961zpXZZ6x/)

The First Editions Exclusive | Book Club Conversation with Kimberly Lee

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 15

\ \ Book Club Conversations • Author Interview • Thriller Books • Mystery Books • Psychological Suspense\ \ Welcome back to The Page Ladies Book Club! One of our favorite parts of reading is getting to step behind the story and hear directly from the authors who created it.\ \ This month, we're thrilled to welcome Kimberly Lee, author of the award-winning thriller Have You Seen Him. In this exclusive preview, Kimberly shares the inspiration behind her unforgettable debut, her writing process, and why themes of identity and belonging continue to shape her stories.\ \ 📖 Featured Book Have You Seen Him \ \ What if everything you believed about yourself was totally wrong?\ \ Attorney David Byrdsong has spent years trying to leave the past behind. Abandoned as a child and later adopted by a loving family, he's learned to keep his emotions guarded.\ \ Then everything changes.\ \ One ordinary day, David discovers his own face staring back at him from a decades-old missing child advertisement.\ \ Determined to uncover the truth, David is pulled into a dangerous investigation involving corporate conspiracies, shocking secrets, murdered witnesses, and questions that threaten everything he thought he knew about himself.\ \ Blending psychological suspense with emotional depth, Have You Seen Him explores identity, family, belonging, and the lengths we'll go to uncover the truth.\ \ 💬 Book Club Conversation For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe Have You Seen Him in just three words? \ \ Kimberly Lee: Page-turner. Twisty. Touching.\ \ Identity is at the heart of this novel. What drew you to exploring those themes?\ \ "No matter our background, we're all searching for answers to 'Who am I?' and 'Where do I belong?'"\ \ Kimberly explains that the theme of belonging has appeared throughout everything she's written from flash fiction to essays to novels. The missing-child premise became the perfect vehicle for exploring those deeply human questions.\ \ Did the story begin with David or the premise? \ \ Kimberly reveals that everything started with a real missing-child advertisement featuring both a young boy and an age-progressed image decades later.\ \ Combined with reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and a writing exercise centered around asking "What if?", the idea slowly transformed into David's unforgettable journey.\ \ What's your favorite part of writing? \ \ Polishing.\ \ Kimberly loves revisiting completed chapters, refining every sentence until each word says exactly what it needs to.\ \ Do you enjoy hiding clues for readers? \ \ Absolutely.\ \ During revisions, Kimberly intentionally planted subtle clues throughout the novel that mystery lovers may discover before the final reveal.\ \ 📚 Continue the Conversation \ \ These questions are only the beginning.\ \ Inside The First Editions, members can read Kimberly's complete interview featuring:\ \ ✔️ Her deleted scenes\ \ ✔️ Balancing editing and writing\ \ ✔️ Her biggest publishing surprise\ \ ✔️ Favorite thriller ingredients\ \ ✔️ Influential authors\ \ ✔️ Writing advice\ \ ✔️ What's next in the Have You Seen Him trilogy\ \ ...and much more.\ \ 👩 About the Author \ \ Kimberly Lee, JD is the award-winning author of Have You Seen Him, a writer, editor, workshop facilitator, and creative guide passionate about helping others discover their authentic voice through storytelling.\ \ A graduate of Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law, Kimberly has worked with organizations including Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, Hollyhock Retreat Centre, The Huntington, Hugo House, and The Loft. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and anthologies, and she lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.\ \ 🛒 Purchase Have You Seen Him \ \ 📚 Amazon\ \ 📚 Barnes & Noble\ \ 📚 Bookshop.org\ \ 🌐 Connect with Kimberly Lee \ \ Website:\ \ https://www.kimberlylee.me/\\ \ Instagram:\ \ @klcreatrix\ \ Goodreads:\ \ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234889217-have-you-seen-him\\ \ Newsletter:\ \ https://www.kimberlylee.me/contact\\ \ 📅 Upcoming Event \ \ Book Reading & Signing\ \ 📍 Vroman's Bookstore\ \ Pasadena, California\ \ 🗓 Sunday, July 19\ \ ⏰ 4:00–6:00 PM\ \ ✨ Unlock the Full Conversation \ \ Want the complete interview?\ \ Join The First Editions to access the full 13-question Book Club Conversation with Kimberly Lee, along with exclusive author interviews, printable book club resources, discussion guides, bonus content, and more.\ \ Happy Reading,\ \ The Page Ladies Book Club\ \ Join for free or login](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/rEzirSVMXCczbY4DKu3X/)

Book Club Conversation with Kimberly Lee | Author of Have You Seen Him

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 11

\ \ If you love stories that are haunting, psychological, and twisty, you’ll want to put author Elizabeth DeVecchi on your radar immediately.\ \ Her upcoming novel, The Shadow Beside Her: A Horror Novel, masterfully blends the grim realities of historical horror with spine-chilling supernatural suspense. Set against the backdrop of Italy during World War II, it promises to be a deeply atmospheric nightmare that horror fans won't want to miss.\ \ We sat down with Elizabeth to chat about her childhood transition from scaredy cat to horror author, the fascinating historical rabbit holes she encountered while researching her new book, and why real-world dangers can be just as frightening as the monsters under the bed.\ \ For readers who are discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in three words? \ \ Haunting, psychological, twisty.\ \ Horror clearly holds a special place in your heart. What first drew you to the genre, and what keeps you coming back to it as a writer? \ \ I was a total scaredy cat as a kid: horror films terrified me (though I admittedly saw my first horror flick at a drive-in … when I was 8. So that might be why.), I wouldn’t go near roller coasters, and jumped at anything that went bump in the night. Then I picked up some Lois Duncan books and loved them.\ \ My parents had a basement library in the furnace room where they kept the scarier, more adult stuff. That is where I found Jaws, The Omen, Carrie, and other more mature horror books. Once I was hooked … I was hooked. I think the scaredy cat in me liked the idea that the things in the pages were so much more horrible than anything I was actually facing. Like, if I could survive the book, I could survive the real stuff.\ \ As an author, horror is my go-to because I find it cathartic. There are also so many horrible things that happen in real life that are beyond our control. When I sit with paper and pen, I am in control. Well … until one of my characters goes rogue and the story shifts in a different direction.\ \ Your upcoming novel The Shadow Beside Her blends historical horror with supernatural suspense. What inspired this particular story? \ \ The creature in The Shadow Beside Her appears in my first novel, A Whisper in the Dark. I started this project to give some back story. Thinking about the events that eventually lead up to A Whisper in the Dark were my inspiration.\ \ The Shadow Beside Her takes place in Italy during World War II. What made that setting and time period the right backdrop for this novel? \ \ The creature I created thrives in environments of conflict and terror. So, I was looking for actual events that would fit well as a backdrop for the story I wanted to tell. Research led me to the events that occurred in the Apennines in 1944.\ \ I have such love and respect for the Italian culture; writing something with Italy as the setting was an amazing experience. It also warms my heart that I was able to share some linguistic and cultural aspects in the story. My family in Italy will actually be able to read bits and pieces without having to translate.\ \ What was the most interesting or unexpected piece of research you came across while working on the book? \ \ I inevitably fall down research rabbit holes when I am writing a novel. First and foremost, the abject horror of the events that occurred on Monte Sole in Italy in 1944 shocked me to the core. We didn’t study any of that in school.\ \ On a more pleasant note, I also did a deep dive into the minutia of how photography worked back then. From choosing a camera for Maria’s uncle (a Zeiss Ikon Nettar), to figuring out how he would have developed the pictures in war-torn Italy (Kodak sold home processing kits in a box), I was totally absorbed by this bit of research.\ \ Many readers love stories where the real-world dangers can be just as frightening as the supernatural ones. What draws you to exploring that balance in your fiction? \ \ In my own experience, I find that the more realistic a danger is, the more it frightens me. If I cannot picture myself in that situation, I might be scared by the story, but at a more superficial level. When we mix the supernatural and fantastical with real-world horrors, blanket the impossible with the possible, it makes for a deeper, more primal fear.\ \ 🌟 Unlock the Full Interview! \ \ Want to dive even deeper into Elizabeth's writing world? We asked her the tough questions about her specific writing routines, how she handles characters who go completely rogue, her favorite fictional characters, and what she's working on next!\ \ Join The First Editions Premium Membership Today to unlock the full, exclusive Q&A, along with premium book recommendations, behind-the-scenes author access, and much more.\ \ Connect with Elizabeth DeVecchi \ \ Don't forget to support this incredible debut author by pre-ordering her upcoming release or grabbing her backlist!\ \

Book Club Conversations: Elizabeth DeVecchi on Historical Horror, Real-World Terrors, and Her Upcoming Release The Shadow Beside Her

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 11

\ \ Today, we are diving deep into the dark, atmospheric, and brilliant mind of horror author Elizabeth DeVecchi. Her upcoming novel, The Shadow Beside Her: A Horror Novel, seamlessly blends supernatural suspense with the grim historical realities of World War II Italy.\ \ In this complete uncut Q&A, Elizabeth opens up about her journey from a childhood scaredy cat to a master of psychological horror, her extensive historical research rabbit holes, her unique writing routine which involves a surprising amount of yarn, and why her rescue dog deserves a co-author credit.\ \ Grab your favorite beverage, turn on a reading light, and enjoy this exclusive insider conversation.\ \ For readers who are discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in three words? \ \ Haunting, psychological, twisty.\ \ Horror clearly holds a special place in your heart. What first drew you to the genre, and what keeps you coming back to it as a writer? \ \ I was a total scaredy cat as a kid: horror films terrified me (though I admittedly saw my first horror flick at a drive-in … when I was 8. So that might be why.), I wouldn’t go near roller coasters, and jumped at anything that went bump in the night. Then I picked up some Lois Duncan books and loved them.\ \ My parents had a basement library in the furnace room where they kept the scarier, more adult stuff. That is where I found Jaws, The Omen, Carrie, and other more mature horror books. Once I was hooked … I was hooked. I think the scaredy cat in me liked the idea that the things in the pages were so much more horrible than anything I was actually facing. Like, if I could survive the book, I could survive the real stuff.\ \ As an author, horror is my go-to because I find it cathartic. There are also so many horrible things that happen in real life that are beyond our control. When I sit with paper and pen, I am in control. Well … until one of my characters goes rogue and the story shifts in a different direction.\ \ Your upcoming novel The Shadow Beside Her blends historical horror with supernatural suspense. What inspired this particular story? \ \ The creature in The Shadow Beside Her appears in my first novel, A Whisper in the Dark. I started this project to give some back story. Thinking about the events that eventually lead up to A Whisper in the Dark were my inspiration.\ \ The Shadow Beside Her takes place in Italy during World War II. What made that setting and time period the right backdrop for this novel? \ \ The creature I created thrives in environments of conflict and terror. So, I was looking for actual events that would fit well as a backdrop for the story I wanted to tell. Research led me to the events that occurred in the Apennines in 1944.\ \ I have such love and respect for the Italian culture; writing something with Italy as the setting was an amazing experience. It also warms my heart that I was able to share some linguistic and cultural aspects in the story. My family in Italy will actually be able to read bits and pieces without having to translate.\ \ What was the most interesting or unexpected piece of research you came across while working on The Shadow Beside Her? \ \ I inevitably fall down research rabbit holes when I am writing a novel. First and foremost, the abject horror of the events that occurred on Monte Sole in Italy in 1944 shocked me to the core. We didn’t study any of that in school. \ \ On a more pleasant note, I also did a deep dive into the minutia of how photography worked back then. From choosing a camera for Maria’s uncle (a Zeiss Ikon Nettar), to figuring out how he would have developed the pictures in war-torn Italy (Kodak sold home processing kits in a box), I was totally absorbed by this bit of research.\ \ Many readers love stories where the real-world dangers can be just as frightening as the supernatural ones. What draws you to exploring that balance in your fiction? \ \ In my own experience, I find that the more realistic a danger is, the more it frightens me. If I cannot picture myself in that situation, I might be scared by the story, but at a more superficial level. When we mix the supernatural and fantastical with real-world horrors, blanket the impossible with the possible, it makes for a deeper, more primal fear.\ \ You write across horror, suspense, and short fiction. How do you know when an idea should become a short story versus a full-length novel? \ \ Funny story: both A Whisper in the Dark and A Twist of the Lens started as short stories. But something in my brain knew that they needed to be developed … that there was more to tell. Many of the short stories I have written as of late were for specific submissions calls, whether by invitation or not. So, I knew I had to keep my word count within the parameters and to get my ideas across in the space allotted.\ \ Looking back at your publishing journey so far, what has surprised you most about becoming an author? \ \ I thought that writing the books and finding a publisher would be the hard parts. Turns out, there is a huge amount of work after that: from promo to setting up signings.\ \ The most wonderful surprise has been the dedication and support of readers who have stumbled upon my work in the most organic ways. Readers who approach me and talk about characters in my stories as if they were flesh and blood real. It is amazing.\ \ You've lived, studied, and traveled in several countries. How have those experiences influenced the stories you choose to tell? \ \ In the back of my mind, I sometimes wish I had started this writing journey earlier in my life because I often feel like I am playing catch-up … though to what I don’t know. That said, the experiences I have accumulated along the way, traveling, living, and studying abroad are an essential part of the stories I now tell.\ \ Each language opens a door to understanding the people who speak it. Each sojourn in a different culture offers new knowledge for the gathering. It’s extremely humbling to be outside one’s comfort zone, to be taught new ways of seeing things. Those experiences and ones I have only gained through aging, have made me a much different storyteller than I would have been had I started earlier.\ \ What role does setting play in your writing, and how do you create an atmosphere that feels immersive for readers? \ \ Setting is extremely important to my stories and I try my best to make it come to life for my readers. If my characters travel a certain road during the story, for example (like in A Twist of the Lens, where Charlie rides a restored motorcycle from Indiana to Colorado), I want to know what is on that road, what the scenery actually looks like. If I can physically get there, I will. If not, I’ll look through photos and even “travel” it on Google Maps.\ \ I immerse myself in studying the plant life, smells, temperatures, sounds, and tastes of the places I choose for my stories (whether they are real or I need to invent them) before I begin to write. The more I know about the place I have chosen as a setting, the more the descriptions will naturally seep into the story as I tell it.\ \ Do you tend to plan your stories in detail before writing, or do you enjoy discovering twists and surprises along the way? \ \ I am not really a planner. I tend to start writing when I have a general idea of where I would like to go with the story. You never know when a character is going to say “not so fast!” and do something that turns everything in a new direction. I prefer to let them lead me.\ \ That said, I do write an ending to my books when I am about halfway through. It inevitably ends up changing, but I want to at least have a coherent and developed endpoint down so the final product doesn’t seem rushed.\ \ What does a typical writing day look like for you? \ \ At the moment, there is no typical writing day, as I write around my other responsibilities with my family. I try to eke out blocks of time to write each day, sometimes heading to coffee shops or the library to get away from seeing the things I need to get done in the house.\ \ That said, when I do have time to write, I start clearing my mind by crocheting a kraken. I can think about what I am going to write while crocheting and when I finish, I’m ready to write and have a cute little creation to boot. This has earned me the name The Kraken Lady in some circles, as I like to give them out at conventions and sometimes have them for sale on my table or as part of giveaways (when you make one every day, you end up with A LOT of krakens).\ \ Which part of the writing process do you enjoy most: brainstorming, drafting, revising, or hearing from readers after publication? \ \ I love love love interacting with readers. When my characters come to life in the mind of a reader, it is a total high. Of course, I also love writing the stories and it can sometimes be hard to write the end and have to move on to another world and another tale.\ \ If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice, what would it be? \ \ First, I would say to not judge yourself while getting down that first draft. Don’t get caught in a cycle of continuously going back to edit every time you sit to write. I did this and it drastically slowed any progress. Get it all down. Then you can go back and begin to edit. You can’t edit what isn’t there. Also, find a good tight group of Beta readers. A group that will be brutally honest.\ \ As a reader, what kinds of books are you most drawn to when you're not writing? \ \ I am drawn to stories with elements of horror … especially psychological horror. That said, I am in four book clubs and only one of them is horror-themed. This has me reading books from all sorts of genres, often ones I wouldn’t search out on my own. I would suggest this to other readers (ok, maybe not four book clubs. It can be a lot). You may find yourself in love with a book you never would have picked up on your own.\ \ If you could experience one book again for the very first time, which book would it be and why? \ \ Honestly, there is more than one book that fits in this category. Though, I think books have a different effect on us at different times of our lives. I’ll pick one. If I could, I would love to go back in time and read Watership Down for the first time again. It had such a profound effect on me when I was a child. For one thing, it taught me to look at something “mundane” like the bunnies in our backyard through a whole new lens.\ \ Your bio mentions an ever-changing menagerie of pets and guest creatures. Have any of them ever inspired a character or scene in one of your stories? \ \ Dante, our rescue dog, inspired my debut A Whisper in the Dark. In fact, the very first scene is what happened to inspire the book. I bring a life-sized photo cutout of him to my signings and he signs each copy with a nose or paw print.\ \ My son’s gecko, Limoncello, inspired some of the aspects of the creature in that book and in The Shadow Beside Her. And the cat in A Twist of the Lens is based on our kitties.\ \ What is a question you wish readers asked authors more often? \ \ Oh, I am always blown away by the variety of questions my readers ask. No complaints here!\ \ Just for fun: if readers could only pair one snack and one drink with The Shadow Beside Her, what would you recommend for the ultimate reading experience? \ \ For authenticity’s sake, I would have to say homemade tortellini, a slice of castagnaccio (chestnut cake) and a glass of Nonno’s negretto wine.\ \ 📚 Support the Author! \ \ Thank you so much to Elizabeth DeVecchi for giving our premium community such an amazing behind-the-scenes look into her work! Show her some love by pre-ordering her next release or expanding your bookshelf with her backlist below.\ \

The First Editions Exclusive: Elizabeth DeVecchi on Historical Horror, Rogue Characters, and the Art of Crocheting Krakens

3 books

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 9

\ \ If your next mystery pick is Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry, you're in for a wild ride and we've created everything you need to make your reading experience even more memorable.\ \ Whether you're hosting a full book club, reading with a friend, or diving into the mystery on your own, The Page Ladies Book Club has you covered with four guides designed to help you laugh, theorize, and uncover every twist along the way.\ \ 📚 Book Club Kit & Individual Book Club Member Reader Guide \ \ Planning a book club meeting? Our Book Club Kit includes discussion questions, themed activities, a host guide, a themed menu with recipes, games, decorations, door prize ideas, and more!\ \ Download the Book Club Kit & Individual Reader Guide here\ \ 👯 Buddy Reader Kit \ \ Reading with a friend? Our Buddy Reader Kit guides you through the novel with scheduled check-ins, spoiler-conscious discussion questions, fun activities, prediction prompts, and collaborative detective challenges that make every twist even more enjoyable.\ \ Download the Buddy Reader Kit here\ \ 🔎 Deep Dive Solo Reader Kit \ \ Prefer to read at your own pace? Our Solo Reader Kit transforms your reading experience into an interactive mystery investigation with guided journaling, clue tracking, character analysis, theme exploration, reflection pages, creative prompts, and more.\ \ Download the Solo Reader Kit here\ \ Which Kit Is Right for You? \ \ 📖 Book Club Kit – Perfect for hosting your next book club meeting.\ \ 👯 Buddy Reader Kit – Ideal for reading with a friend, partner, or family member.\ \ 📚 Solo Reader Kit – Designed for readers who love annotating, reflecting, and fully immersing themselves in every chapter.\ \ Or download all three and choose the reading experience that fits you best!\ \ Thank you for reading with The Page Ladies Book Club. We hope these resources help you enjoy Last Night Was Killer even more and inspire some unforgettable discussions.\ \ Happy reading and happy sleuthing! 🔎📚\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/twio7Lajj0o00BIyY24C/)

🔎 New Book Club Resources Are Here! Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry

1 book

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 9

\ \ Some books make you laugh. Some keep you guessing. And then there are books like Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry, which somehow manages to balance murder, motherhood, grief, romance, political intrigue, and pole dancing into one wildly entertaining mystery.\ \ Our book club couldn't stop talking about this one.\ \ 📖 Book Club Deep Dive \ \ At first glance, Last Night Was Killer feels like the perfect cozy mystery setup. A woman wakes up after a night she can't remember only to discover there's a dead body in her trunk. Naturally, she's the prime suspect.\ \ But this story quickly becomes much more than a whodunit.\ \ Tilly Turner is far from your typical amateur sleuth. She's a struggling stand-up comedian, a grieving daughter, a single mother raising twin girls, and someone whose life seems to unravel a little more with every chapter. Instead of making her frustrating, those flaws make her incredibly relatable. She's messy, overwhelmed, sarcastic, funny, and constantly trying to hold everything together while life keeps throwing new disasters her way.\ \ That emotional realism became one of the biggest talking points in our discussion.\ \ Rather than making Tilly a flawless heroine, Mary Pauline Lowry allows her to make mistakes, question herself, and keep moving forward anyway. Beneath the humor is an honest story about starting over after loss, rebuilding confidence, and learning that asking for help isn't a weakness.\ \ 🕵️ The Mystery \ \ One of our favorite parts was how unpredictable the investigation became.\ \ Just when we thought we had the killer figured out, another clue completely shifted our theories. Every member of our group had a different suspect at some point, which made for one of our most animated discussions in months.\ \ The mystery layers together missing memories, political corruption, criminal enterprises, unexpected betrayals, and plenty of red herrings without becoming confusing. It rewards readers who enjoy piecing together clues while still delivering satisfying surprises.\ \ 😂 Humor That Never Feels Forced \ \ What truly separates Last Night Was Killer from many mysteries is its sense of humor.\ \ The pole-dancing classes could have easily become a gimmick, but instead they add confidence, friendship, and some of the novel's funniest scenes. Combined with Tilly's sharp inner dialogue and awkward encounters, the comedy provides a perfect balance against the darker elements of murder and grief.\ \ Several of us laughed out loud more than once.\ \ ❤️ Themes Worth Discussing \ \ Our conversation naturally moved beyond the mystery itself.\ \ Some of the biggest discussion topics included:\ \

#BookClubBooks #LastNightWasKiller #MysteryBooks #CozyMystery #BookClubDiscussion\ \ Join for free or login](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/Eee3H9v0wPdCyyVFW9LQ/)

🔎 What If You Woke Up With a Dead Body in Your Trunk? | Last Night Was Killer Book Club Deep Dive

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The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 7

\ \ Welcome to your exclusive, unrestricted look into the creative world of debut romance author Ellis Darnell! While the public preview gives readers a taste of her charming coastal setting, we saved the full, raw, and delightfully honest 30-question chat for our First Editions members.\ \ Grab a Diet Pepsi and some Taco Bell (Ellis’s ultimate writing fuel), and dive into this deep conversation about battling imposter syndrome, drafting an entire novel on an iPhone, and what the future holds for the cozy town of Driftbay.\ \ 1. The Debut Milestone \ \ Q: Congratulations on your debut release! What has been the most exciting part of preparing for the launch of What The Heart Wants?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Thank you so much! Honestly, the most exciting and special part before launch was getting my first proof copy. Getting to physically hold the story in my hands was such a monumental moment, a culmination of so much hard work. I cried when I unboxed the first copy!"\ \ 2. Describe the Vibe \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe What The Heart Wants in three words?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Cozy, sweet, and heartfelt."\ \ 3. A Long-Awaited Spark \ \ Q: What inspired you to write a story centered around love, grief, family, and fresh starts?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "I got the basic idea when I was seventeen, of a young girl reeling from the loss of her mom and going to live with her aunt. I wrote a (very rough) story around that time. Then life happened and so many years went by and I stopped writing for a long time. I got inspired again about two years ago for the diner aspect, and just stuck a note in my phone about it.\ \ Then last fall, the story hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I had to tell it. I had always wanted to tell stories from different perspectives but didn’t know how to structure it when I was younger. It wasn’t until I started reading Freida McFadden books that I realized I could write different perspectives and how I could structure it. I knew I wanted to write from Thea’s perspective, and adding her aunt’s in changed so much with what I could do for the draft."\ \ 4. Dreaming of Driftbay \ \ Q: Driftbay sounds like a charming coastal town. What drew you to that setting, and is there anything readers should know about it before diving in?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "The beach always relaxes me. I actually vacationed at the beach while I was working on the book and getting to spend a few days beachside while delving into these characters really helped me create the setting. I’m also from a small town in the Midwest, so combining both aspects created a perfect slice of heaven for me. I wanted somewhere peaceful where Thea could heal and discover that sometimes the smallest places take up the biggest room in our hearts."\ \ 5. The Ultimate Comfort Food \ \ Q: Baking plays a role in the story. If you could choose one baked good that perfectly represents What The Heart Wants, what would it be and why?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "While there’s many recipes mentioned in the book, I think Thea’s lemon-blueberry scones would represent the book the best. They’re sweet and a little tart, just like Thea’s and Beth’s journeys with grief and love."\ \ 6. The Swiftie Soundtrack \ \ Q: Your author bio mentions that you're a huge Taylor Swift fan. If What The Heart Wants had an unofficial Taylor Swift soundtrack, what songs would make the playlist?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "OH MAN - this is a tough one! Guilty as Sin? is included in the book playlist, but if I had to make just a Taylor playlist, it would be…\ \

#BookTok #CozyRomance #SmallTownRomance #DebutAuthor #WhatTheHeartWants #Bookstagram #SwiftieBookish\ \ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://thepageladies.binderybooks.com/item/3wUV6llSPIiu5HJ6HVzG/)

💎 The First Editions Exclusive: The Complete 30-Question Q&A with Ellis Darnell

1 book

The Page Ladies Book Club \ \ The Page Ladies \ \ • Jul 7

\ \ Welcome back to new Book Club Conversations, book lovers! If your favorite kind of read involves a charming coastal town, a cozy diner, a dash of mouthwatering baking recipes, and a deeply moving story of healing and love, you are going to fall head over heels for today’s featured author.\ \ We are sitting down with debut novelist Ellis Darnell to celebrate the upcoming release of her book, What The Heart Wants! Ellis shares the emotional milestone of unboxing her very first proof copy, the exact Taylor Swift tracks that capture the vibe of her book, and how dual perspectives helped bring this sweet, comforting world to life.\ \ Enjoy part one of our interview below!\ \ 1. The Debut Milestone \ \ Q: Congratulations on your debut release! What has been the most exciting part of preparing for the launch of What The Heart Wants?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Thank you so much! Honestly, the most exciting and special part before launch was getting my first proof copy. Getting to physically hold the story in my hands was such a monumental moment, a culmination of so much hard work. I cried when I unboxed the first copy!"\ \ 2. Describe the Vibe \ \ Q: For readers discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe What The Heart Wants in three words?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "Cozy, sweet, and heartfelt."\ \ 3. A Long-Awaited Spark \ \ Q: What inspired you to write a story centered around love, grief, family, and fresh starts?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "I got the basic idea when I was seventeen, of a young girl reeling from the loss of her mom and going to live with her aunt. I wrote a (very rough) story around that time. Then life happened and so many years went by and I stopped writing for a long time. I got inspired again about two years ago for the diner aspect, and just stuck a note in my phone about it.\ \ Then last fall, the story hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew I had to tell it. I had always wanted to tell stories from different perspectives but didn’t know how to structure it when I was younger. It wasn’t until I started reading Freida McFadden books that I realized I could write different perspectives and how I could structure it. I knew I wanted to write from Thea’s perspective, and adding her aunt’s in changed so much with what I could do for the draft."\ \ 4. Dreaming of Driftbay \ \ Q: Driftbay sounds like a charming coastal town. What drew you to that setting, and is there anything readers should know about it before diving in?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "The beach always relaxes me. I actually vacationed at the beach while I was working on the book and getting to spend a few days beachside while delving into these characters really helped me create the setting. I’m also from a small town in the Midwest, so combining both aspects created a perfect slice of heaven for me. I wanted somewhere peaceful where Thea could heal and discover that sometimes the smallest places take up the biggest room in our hearts."\ \ 5. The Ultimate Comfort Food \ \ Q: Baking plays a role in the story. If you could choose one baked good that perfectly represents What The Heart Wants, what would it be and why?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "While there’s many recipes mentioned in the book, I think Thea’s lemon-blueberry scones would represent the book the best. They’re sweet and a little tart, just like Thea’s and Beth’s journeys with grief and love."\ \ 6. The Swiftie Soundtrack \ \ Q: Your author bio mentions that you're a huge Taylor Swift fan. If What The Heart Wants had an unofficial Taylor Swift soundtrack, what songs would make the playlist?\ \ Ellis Darnell: "OH MAN - this is a tough one! Guilty as Sin? is included in the book playlist, but if I had to make just a Taylor playlist, it would be…\ \

📖 Book Club Conversations: Coastal Small-Town Romance & Fresh Starts with Ellis Darnell!

1 book