All posts by Angie J

#WOTR25#AttendingAuthor #AuthorInterview #EventSponsor – Sophie Stern/L.C. Mortimer

Sophie Stern

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Sophie Stern. I write paranormal romance plus sci-fi, fantasy, contemporary, pirates, aliens, villains, monsters…you name it, I write it. When I’m not writing, I’m probably doing homework because I’m currently in grad school. I love all things cats, plus coffee, lemurs, and the occasional glass of wine.

How did you hear about this event?

I heard about Writers on the River a long time ago. I first attended in 2021, and I was so excited to go! It’s one of those events everyone talks about online so I was thrilled to get to attend in person.

How many years have you attended?

4

What genres do you write?

Spicy paranormal romance, contemporary, sci-fi, why choose, etc.

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Scallywag

What is one fun fact about you?

I am allergic to dogs. It’s an UNfun fact!

What are your social links?

www.instagram.com/dontdatedemons
www.facebook.com/sexysophiestern
www.facebook.com/authorlcmortimer
www.twitter.com/sexysophiestern

What are you buy links?

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sophie-Stern/author/B00PRG6XQW

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Sophie%20Stern%22;jsessionid=2F439F0B4DA4C863F3E67385FF7A60B3.prodny_store02-atgap04tk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchallhttps://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=sophie+stern&ac=1&acp=sophie+stern&ac.author=sophie+stern&sort=Temperature&fclanguages=en

Writersonriver.com

#CoverReveal #paranormal #Vampire – Because the Night by Kylie Scott

Waking a monster from its sleep is never a good idea.

Skye Carter is as normal as normal can be. But when she chances upon a man in the basement of an abandoned Hollywood Hills house, she’s suddenly playing tour guide, and introducing a fifteen-hundred-year-old vampire to this century. And who even knows what’s going on with her teeth.

The truth is, immortality can get old—which is why Lucas Thorne went to sleep for seventy years. But he’s back and ready to take on undead enemies and friends alike. In a world where threatening creatures roam the night streets, he’s the most dangerous of them all.

Amazon

Kylie is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best-selling, Audie Award winning author. She has sold over 2,000,000 books and was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year four times by the Australian Romance Reader’s Association. Her books have been translated into sixteen different languages. She is based in Queensland, Australia; living and working on land traditionally owned by the Jagera people.

#WOTR25 #attendingauthor #authorInterview – Ann Marie Walker

Ann Marie Walker

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Ann Marie Walker – I am the author of nine novels, ranging from romantic suspense to romantic comedy. I’m a fan of fancy cocktails, anything chocolate, and ’80s rom-coms. My superpower is connecting any situation to an episode of Friends, and I think all coffee cups should be the size of a bowl. I attended the University of Notre Dame, have 4 children and in June married the man of my dreams which also provided me with a top notch assistant at book signings 🙂 I grew up in Nashville but currently split my time between Chicago & Indianapolis.

How did you hear about this event?

Through many Chicago area author friends

How many years have you attended?

This is my first time!

What genres do you write?

Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Black Tie Optional

What is one fun fact about you?

I love baking fancy cookies and am addicted to watching reels of cookie decorating on instagram!

What are your social links?

https://www.instagram.com/annmarie_walker/?hl=en

What are you buy links?

https://annmariewalker.com/books

Writersonriver.com

#WOTR25 #AttendingAuthor #AuthorInterview #EventSponsor – Samantha Lind

Samantha Lind

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Hi, I’m Samantha Lind and I write Contemporary romance, mostly sports and small town romances. Besides my love of books, I’m a mom of two boys, and have been married to my hubby for 18 years! We are a hockey loving family, my boys both play travel level hockey, so when I’m not hiding out at Starbucks writing my next book, I’m usually under a blanket trying to keep warm in a hokey rink!

How did you hear about this event?

I’ve been signing author for many years now!

How many years have you attended?

I think 5 or 6 years now

What genres do you write?

Contemporary Romance (sports & small town)

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Marry Me

What is one fun fact about you?

I’m classy until the puck drops, then all bets are off.

What are your social links?

https://geni.us/SamanthaLind

What are you buy links?

Books

Writersonriver.com

 

 

#WOTR25 #AttendingAuthor #AuthorInterview – Nicolette Pierce

Nicolette Pierce

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Nicolette Pierce. I also write as Sophia Paisley, Nicky Graves, and Melissa Nicole. When I’m not writing, I enjoy annoying my husband, playing with my special needs son, finding treasures for my Little Free Library, and my secret obsession is watching Thai BL (boy love) series.

How did you hear about this event?

This will be my third year attending and I’m super excited to come back for year 10!!! I can’t wait to see everyone and check out the fun changes and the new venue. Stop by and say hello. I’m nice and silly even if my resting face says otherwise.

How many years have you attended?

Three and counting!

What genres do you write?

Contemporary romance under Sophia Paisley, Cozy mystery with a generous sprinkle of romance under Nicolette Pierce, Paranormal romance with mystery under Melissa Nicole, and Paranormal YA under Nicky Graves. I’ll announce another pen name that is full of spicy romance before the event, so stay tuned!

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Definitely Blood and Bonbons. It’s a fun book with sass, slow burn romance that gets spicy, an escalating love triangle, mystery, and a ton of shenanigans. I had so much fun cowriting this book/series with my bestie Melissa Haag. We blended our humor, love of alpha wolves and vampires, and created an entire paranormal world set in DC. Not only does the MC love to bake delicious treats but her love interests are quite delicious too! And if you continue the series, the bromance between the wolf and vampire gets entertaining. The book is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!

What is one fun fact about you?

I’ve been a vegetarian for nearly 30 years. I don’t miss meat, but I do like the scent of bacon.

What are your social links?

Readers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PiercePatrol/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicolettePierceAuthor
Instagram (Brand new account. Please keep me company.) https://www.instagram.com/nicolettepierceauthor/
Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/m7d0z5
Website: https://www.nicolettepierce.com/

What are you buy links?

You can explore all my books, download free books, and even print a reading list at https://www.nicolettepierce.com/

Writersonriver.com

#WOTR25 #attendingauthor #authorinterview – Amy Award/Aidy Award

Amy Award

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Amy-Aidy Award – I write Curvy Girl Romance, because I’m a curvy girl myself, and seeing ourselves positively represented in the media can quite literally change the world!

How did you hear about this event?

My good friend Dylann Crush loves WOTR and said that she thought I would love it too

How many years have you attended?

This will be my first one

What genres do you write?

As Amy Award I write Contemporary Rom Coms with thick thighs and yummy guys, as Aidy Award I write Paranormal Romance with curves and claws!

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

My personal favorite Aidy book is Defy Me. It’s about a dragon who is sure he doesn’t have a soul, and no soul means no mate. But the fates have other plans in mind for him and his very… unique heroine. I love this book because it’s grumpy-sunshine, fated mates, filled with international locations, and a heroine who can’t swear, but tries very hard to.

But if you’re into contemporary romance, I wish all the Swifties out there would read The Wiener Across the Way. It’s loosely inspired by Taylor and Travis’s love story (but if I’m honest, I have a bit more of a crush on Jason Kelce than his brother). But what I really did was take the idea of a plus size pop star dating a football player… possibly in a showmance, and then made up my own story from there. But I’m a Swiftie at heart, so there’s lots of inspo from Tay-Tay’s songs in this story too.

What is one fun fact about you?

One time when I was scuba diving in Nha Trang, Vietnam, I cut my hand open on a piece of coral. When I got back on the boat, even though I normally have no problems, I almost passed out, and had to be medically evacuated to the shore. They took me to the military hospital where I ended up with 5 stitches in the meaty part of the thumb area of my palm, which was all done in an open air operating room. The whole thing cost me about $180 dollars, and I have the scar to this day.

What are your social links?

TikTok – @AmyAwardBooks + @AidyAwardBooks
Instagram – @AmyAwardBooks + @AidyAward
Facebook group – www.facebook.com/groups/AidysAmazeballs

What are you buy links?

Amy Award – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Award/author/B0B8W5W4RQ
Aidy Award – https://www.amazon.com/stores/Aidy-Award/author/B00KP8DNVU

Writersonriver.com

#WOTR25 #attendingauthor #authorinterview – C.J. Baty

C.J. Baty

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m C.J. Baty and a person who loves reading a good mystery and writing them too. I live in Southwest Ohio with a heart that lives in the mountains of Tennessee. I have 2 wonderful adult children who encourage me in my writing. In September of 2025, I will be married to my high school sweetheart for 50 years.

How did you hear about this event?

Gosh, it’s been so long I forget how I first heard about it. I just know that I was so excited to be accepted that first year I attended.

How many years have you attended?

2025 will be my 9th year of attending. It’s wonderful to be a part of this event.

What genres do you write?

C.J. writes Gay Romance/Mysteries some historic and some contemporary. Under a second pen name, Catherine Marcum, I write Seasoned Romance with Mature Herions. 2025 will see my first books from this pen name.

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Coal Dust is one of the Legend of the Ghost Train Trilogy. It’s a story about the coal mines of Harlan County Kentucky in the 1930’s. My father’s family were coal miners. It’s a story close to my heart.

What is one fun fact about you?

I was 55 when I published my first book. Talk about new life goals!

What are your social links?

www.cjbaty.com
https://www.facebook.com/cj.baty.3/

What are you buy links?

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-j-batyhttps://books2read.com/ap/nkNz6R/CJ-Baty

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00K2ISIQI?ingress=0&visitId=07ff7ecd-c30c-4b36-82ea-a53e1c64d6ec&ref_=ap_rdr

Writersonriver.com

#attendingauthor #authorinterview #EventSponsor – J.R. Thorn

 

J.R. Thorn

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Jen and I left my life as a Toyota automotive design engineer to write full-time. Call it a midlife crises or my calling, whatever you prefer. I’m approaching 2 years as a full-time author. Although, I’ve been published since 2016. I write steamy why choose paranormal romance on J.R. Thorn and fantasy (with dragons) on A.J. Flowers. No regrets living in worlds of my own making!

How did you hear about this event?

Another author recommended it.

How many years have you attended?

This will be my 2nd year.

What genres do you write?

I write steamy why choose paranormal romance on J.R. Thorn and fantasy (with dragons) on A.J. Flowers. Those are my main pen names, but I also write post-apoc on Eva Storm and LitRPG on Aurora Weiss.

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

I absolutely recommend “Their Blood Queen by J.R. Thorn” as an introduction to my work. It’s a Bridgerton meets Hunger Games with a why choose dystopian spin… and monsters.

What is one fun fact about you?

I am allergic to dairy so the bonus recipes you find at the end of “Their Blood Queen” are deliciously dairy-free.

What are your social links?

https://poplme.co/hash/JcNDJSLW/1/s

What are you buy links?

https://linktr.ee/bloodstoneseries_jrthorn

Writersonriver.com

#WOTR25 #attendingAuthor #authorinterview – Jessica Grayson

Jessica Grayson

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Jessica Grayson

How did you hear about this event?

Through my author friend, Jade Waltz 🙂

How many years have you attended?

I’ve never attended

What genres do you write?

Fantasy Romance, Monster Romance, Scifi Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Claimed by Hades

What is one fun fact about you?

I bake things when I’m stressed. Cookies, cakes, pies, etc. My husband can always tell when I’m stressed about a book deadline because of this lol

What are your social links?

FB: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaGraysonBooks

IG: https://www.instagram.com/author.jessica.grayson/

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessicagrayson07

What are you buy links?

Writersonriver.com

#WOTR25 #MM #FakeBoyfriend – Boyfriend with Benefits by Allison Temple

When Bailey’s new boss turns out to be his childhood bully, a.k.a. Jake the Jerk, it’s time to call in backup for the upcoming corporate retreat in Vegas. Too bad Bailey works too much to date. His best option is to ask his very straight roommate Gordo to play the part of temporary boyfriend, even if Gordo is better with pythons than he is with people.

Except Bailey and Gordo haven’t even checked into the hotel and Jake the Jerk is already everywhere. The pressure is on for Bailey to prove he deserves to climb the corporate ladder, but it’s hard to talk shop as Gordo goes from backup to an increasingly attractive distraction.

Bailey’s trying to keep his cool, schmooze the executives and stick to the plan, even though Gordo’s not playing by any of the rules. They’ve always been just friends, but maybe it’s time to be boyfriends…with full benefits.

Boyfriend with Benefits is a 37k contemporary MM romance novella. It features fake boyfriends who might not be so fake, a hotel room with only one bed, and a James Bond moment in a tiny blue bathing suit. HEA guaranteed.

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Angie

I purchased this audiobook.

The narration was great.  He did a great job varying the voices but I LOVED how he did Gordo. It definitely hit the peace love and happiness vibe Gordo puts off well

I was looking for a quick novella and saw this book from and author who is attending a book event /I was going too.  I love the whole Fake dating aspect so I was sold.

When we meet Bailey he was a bit high strung being in the corporate world and climbing the ladder of success. He gets bad news that the man who made his life hell is now going to be his boss.  Oh snap!  Worse of all he lied and said bully that he has a great boyfriend and they can’t wait to hang out at the corporate retreat.

Yeah uhm CRAP!

Enter the amazing Gordo.  Gordo is NOT in the corporate world.  He is a peace love a happiness guy that loves to rescue any animal really from dogs to dragons to snaked and spiders.    He said he would love to help his roomie out as long as they can see the fountains while in Vegas.

This is when THINGS start to happen and make me look at Gordo a little more …like maybe he isn’t so peace love and happiness.  Maybe is he …well, I won’t say my guesses but lets just say Gordo is the best fake boyfriend ever.

I absolutely loved this story.  Gordo knows Bailey very well and knows exactly what he needs when he needs it  Bailey soon realizes a lot about his fake boyfriend like he wants Gordo to be his real boyfriend through this emotional roller coaster of a weekend.  Jake, well lets say he has the knickname for a reason and he deserved it his entire life.  LOL

Allison lives in Toronto with her very patient husband and the world’s cutest team of rescue pets. She tries to split her time between writing, exploring Toronto’s parks, and traveling anywhere that has good wine. Tragically, this leaves no time to clean the house.

Allison writes queer fantasy as Alli Temple