
by Cynthia Chow
If she hadn’t overheard that one conversation, Josie Way would still be working in her dream job as a librarian in the Library of Congress. But listening to a senator’s aide make an illicit deal with a contractor forced Josie to report it to the authorities, which had her fleeing D.C. after her fellow whistleblower disappeared and she feared that she could be next.

by Nicole Givens Kurtz
Throughout the challenging and often depressing year that is 2020, I found writing anything truly discouraging. Why write when a pandemic ravaged the world, Black Americans are being shot down in the streets, and unemployment surged?

by Sharon Tucker
& Jeri Westerson
I grew fond of Leopold Kazmer, The Great Enchanter, in his first adventure, The Daemon Device (2019), where he battled the encroaching demonic takeover of steampunk Victorian London and won. Of course, he had help, both natural and supernatural, and I hoped that all his cohorts and a few more would return when I learned the second in Jeri Westerson’s Enchanter Chronicles was coming.

by Kathleen Costa
It’s MO fun, MO food, MO murder? Muriel Bright is at her best showcasing pancetta-wrapped peach slices (recipe included) for a studio filled with eager fans of her cooking show and bantering with her friend and co-host Ophelia Cheval, but a burned tongue, minor electric shock, and an almost Jerry Springer-type confrontation forces her to “time stretch” and defuse the situation with a few Kitchen Witches hidden under chairs.

by Terry Ambrose
Mysterious Galaxy is an independent bookstore specializing in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, young adult, romance, and horror. Founded in 1992, the store has been an integral part of San Diego’s literary scene for readers ever since.

by Terrance McArthur
I am a fan of Anne Bishop’s The Others series and The World of The Others. I enjoyed paranormal danger that could be fatal without being graphic, love with shapechangers that wasn’t sexual, and wry commentary on everything from prejudice to government. From the “Also By” lists, I knew that Bishop had other books and other worlds in her writing, but I had never read any of them. Oh, boy.

by E.C. Ambrose
Until I started writing The King of Next Week, my historical research focused on the medieval period: surgery during the fourteenth century in Europe, clockworks in China during the Mongol invasions, references to werewolves in eleventh century Wales. But during a visit to Phippsburg, Maine, to give a talk about writing, I became intrigued by the history of the area.

by Terrance Mc Arthur
You may think it’s a jackrabbit, or someone you know, but….
If it bites you, the puncture wound begins to smoke.
It takes over your body and your life.
It uses you to kill to gain strength and power.
When there is no more use for you, it tosses your body aside and turns into smoke.

by Lorie Lewis Ham
& Jeri Westerson
Moonrisers is the first in a brand new series by author Jeri Westerson. It is a spin-off of her Booke of the Hidden series, which I really enjoyed. Moonrisers features the werewolf character Jeff Chase.

by Sarah Peterson-Camacho
When it comes to the imagination, the sky’s the limit for Gail Daley. With three science fiction and fantasy series underway, the Central Valley author feels as much at home exploring distant galaxies as she does creating memorable characters who leap off the page. Kings River Life spoke with Daley about inspiration, genre bending, and writing’s biggest rewards.

by Cynthia Chow
This week we have a review of 2 fun mysteries for your February reading-one magical and one a spin off-Coached to Death: The Life Coach Mystery by Victoria Laurie and Potions are for Pushovers: An Eleanor Wilde Mystery by Tamara Berry.

by KRL Staff
Another year has ended and once again we take a look back at a few of the many books reviewed in KRL in 2019. All but one of our main reviewers share in this post their top 5-10ish favorite books they reviewed in 2019. Katherine Costa wanted to include favorite authors and TV shows that she has reviewed, so hers went up in a separate post in this issue.

by Kathleen Costa
In 2019, I reviewed a record 180 entertaining books along with connecting with talented and delightfully friendly authors, including some beta reading. It was a daunting task to choose my annual “Tops” because every book, and a few television shows, have provided me with hours of entertainment and some inspiration…

by Lorie Lewis Ham
Here is your weekly reminder that there are also new articles up on our other website KRL News & Reviews! Every week there will be book reviews and giveaways, plus sometimes pet articles, theatre articles, and more! And listen to our new podcast!