Author Spotlight Interview: Gabrielle Dahms
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on August 30, 2022
Today’s interview is with author and real estate professional Gabrielle Dahms. Gabrielle’s passion and extensive expertise about real estate comes through in her writing meant to inspire and provide tips and insight for novices and veteran investors alike. We were honored to chat with her about her background, publication journey and inspirations. HG: How would you describe yourself to somebody who isn’t familiar with you and your writing yet? GD: I love life and people. Laughter, good food and travel connect them both. I also love to solve problems and to learn. My long real estate career led me to share what I learned in the last two decades in book form. Interestingly, my Masters in History sharpened my research and writing skills. HG: What inspired you to write your first book? GD: The inspiration for my first book came from the desire to apply my real estate knowledge and… Read More >
What can F. Scott Fitzgerald teach us about writing?
By: Ginger | Posted on August 26, 2022
Many people consider F. Scott Fitzgerald one of the greatest authors of all time, and his work is used as required reading in many U.S. schools. But even if you read The Great Gatsby as a child, the writing lessons you could have taken from it may have been lost on you then, or simply forgotten over the years. But with the staying power and impact that Fitzgerald’s books have had, authors would be smart to study what it was that he did right as a way to improve their own writing. That’s why Ginger is here with another breakdown on the lessons we can learn from a writing icon such as F. Scott Fitzgerald. The United States has produced some of the greatest authors of the modern age, but few are as well known or highly regarded as Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, who wrote under the name F. Scott… Read More >
Mystery Novels To Keep You Guessing
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on August 23, 2022
If your detective cap and magnifying glass are always at the ready to figure out “whodunit,” this list is for you. We’ve got one for everybody on this round-up of recently top rated mystery novels that our Hidden Gems ARC readers raved about. Murder in the Gardens by Colette Clark With over 400 ratings and an average of 4.5 stars, Murder in the Gardens is a must read. Set in New York in the height of the Jazz Age, Murder in the Gardens, is the fourth in a five book series following Penelope Banks. Tasked with solving the murder of the owner of a swanky new hotel opening in New York City, the sassy protagonist will thrill readers. Abbigail H. writes in her five star review, “Pen reminded me of Fryne Phisher which I adore and the atmosphere of the story is similar: Penelope is maybe rich and belongs to… Read More >
Stabbing of Salman Rushdie Demonstrates the Power of Words
By: Ginger | Posted on August 19, 2022
As a child, if someone called you a name you may have responded with the sticks and stones song, in an attempt to show how you were unbothered by mere words. And yet, nothing could be further from the truth. Words have tremendous power, and as we’ve moved into a more digital age, we’re seeing more evidence of that than ever before. Words can lift us up, or bring us crashing down. When used truthfully and logically, they can change our minds for the better, but when twisted or corrupted they can make us believe in things that aren’t true. Words push us one way or another because they appeal to our emotions, which also means our experiences shape how we interpret or react to them. That was certainly the case when Salman Rushdie published his fiction book The Satanic Verses more than 30 years ago, which instantly became one… Read More >
5 Female Authors Who Write Love Stories for Everyone
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on August 16, 2022
Each month we have the opportunity to interview the writers that bring incredible stories to your eReaders. From debut authors to seasoned pros, we’ve enjoyed getting to know these folks and learning about their inspiration and lives outside of writing. Today we’re bringing you a round-up of five recent interviews with female authors dedicated to writing love stories for everyone, just in case you missed them the first time around. Through the Hidden Gems ARC program, we’ve introduced readers to books in over 15 genres from authors of all walks of life, starting out or well seasoned. It’s an honor connecting our ARC readers with new-to-them authors, or old favorites. It’s no secret that romance is the most popular genre within our program. Romance readers are voracious, and they know what they want! Whether it be contemporary, historical, young adult, paranormal or suspense, readers enjoy a love story with the… Read More >
What can Taika Waititi teach us about Storytelling?
By: Ginger | Posted on August 12, 2022
There are plenty of places to look for inspiration when it comes to writing, and it’s not always from the famous authors that we grew up with. In an informal series of articles, Ginger has been delving into writing greats such as Lee Child and Ian Fleming, breaking down the lessons he thinks we can all take from their work. This week, however, Ginger is mixing it up just a bit, by looking at moviemaker Taika Waititi. After all, writing comes in all forms, as do authors, and the more well rounded the group you learn from, the stronger your own writing arsenal will be. Thor: Love & Thunder recently hit the cinema screens, and while it hasn’t achieved the same critical success that its predecessor, Thor: Ragnarök did, the movie has nevertheless passed $600 million at the global box office and once again established director and screenwriter Taika Waititi… Read More >
YA Books for Summer Reading
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on August 9, 2022
Are your young adult readers looking for books to fill the summer break? Our Hidden Gems ARC readers recently loved the following YA books, and we bet the young adult reader in your life will, as well. Who knows – you may find yourself a fan of the following titles, too. The Five Shields: The Sands of Infinity by Ilan Dvir With 27 ratings and a 4.8 average star rating, The Five Shields is certainly a hidden gem. Per the Amazon listing, this is suggested for ages 12-17, and is the third volume in The Five Shields series. The series is described as a fantasy series which combines history, science, mythology, philosophy, adventure, magic, adventure, and humor. “The threads of storytelling are so expertly woven in this fantasy adventure that it guarantees the attention of the reader,” Piaras raves in their five star Amazon review. “Skillfully constructed, this creative… Read More >
The Essentials of Speechwriting
By: Matthew Hughes | Posted on August 5, 2022
Novel writing isn’t the only way to make money as an author. At the beginning of this year we discussed a few non-traditional writing paths, but today we have a guest blogger bringing you an idea we didn’t cover during that podcast discussion. Not everyone is aware that while politicians and business leaders are great at delivering speeches, they’re often just reading the words that someone else has written for them. Before he was a multiple award-winning novelist, Matthew Hughes spent decades as a freelance speechwriter, putting words into the mouths of many talented orators. Speechwriting can be a well-paying gig, but if you’re thinking about trying to break into the industry, it helps to have an understanding of the essential components that make up a good speech. And that’s exactly what Matt is here to go over with us all today. These days, I write science fiction, fantasy, and… Read More >
Author Spotlight Interview: A.L. Hawke
By: Hidden Gems | Posted on August 2, 2022
Today’s interview is with internationally bestselling author of fantasy and romance, A.L. Hawke. Hawke shared with us their writing process, publication journey and so much more. It was an honor to hear about Hawke’s current and upcoming projects. HG: How would you describe yourself to somebody who isn’t familiar with your writing yet? ALH: I write fantasy and romance. My characters are witches, goddesses, nymphs, ghosts, and genius geneticists. My main themes involve friendship and love, culture versus ferality, sanity, and mortality. HG: What inspires your stories and why is that important to you? ALH: Life experiences, of course. I enjoyed writing my witch series because it was a way to relive my college years (sans the magic). Other books, like my epic myth series, were pure escapist fantasy. Music inspired that. I’m influenced by many contemporary novelists: the skill of Stephanie Meyer and Stephen King; the daring of Bret… Read More >
