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It's never too early to start your holiday reads, darlings, so The Tech Guy and I are each sharing six books on our respective holiday TBR stacks. A few are favorite rereads, several are brand-new to both of us, and the genre range this year is a bit wild.

My picks lean warm and cozy, from a festive Christmas bookshop to a classic, but Christmas-y, Poirot mystery. The Tech Guy brings a few favorites he reads every single year, a Christmas thriller, a Dickens-inspired murder, and even a Christmas horror anthology. Yikes. 😱

Twelve books covering a range of moods and interests. There's something in here for everyone...and maybe at least one most will want to stay away from. 😉 We decided to start early this year so you have time to find them at your local bookstore or library. You can find indie bookstore links for all our recs here: https://bookshop.org/lists/holiday-2026-tbr

Tune in, then tell us what is on your holiday stack. And, somebody, PLEASE find the Tech Guy his next Skipping Christmas!

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The Ashland Mystery Fest just wrapped its fourth year, and The Tech Guy and I are still riding high while we recap all of it for you. We talk through our favorite moments like the hilarious and cathartic Mean Reviews panel, the live build-a-mystery with two bitchy geese and a pet psychic, book bedazzling, escape rooms that humbled even the pro mystery authors, and a town-wide whodunit where one of us was unmasked as the killer. 😱 More than that, we get into what makes this festival so different. It is reader-forward, it takes over the whole town, and, this year, readers came in from more than 90 cities across four countries to be part of it. Then we look ahead to year five.

The 5th Annual Ashland Mystery Fest is October 14 to 17, 2027. Subscribe, mark your calendar, and start planning your trip now!
https://www.ashlandmysteryfest.com

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This episode opens with an excerpt from A Murder at Midnight, book four in the Novel Detectives, releasing October 13th. Then The Tech Guy and I discuss the book, spoiler-free, of course.

When a popular ghost-hunting TV crew takes over the Secret Bookcase for an overnight shoot, Annie agrees because the publicity could be a wonderful for an indie bookshop. But when a crew member ends up dead, the haunting turns out to be the least of her worries. I describe this one as a grown-up Scooby-Doo with all the spooky Halloween atmosphere, but none of the jump-scares or nightmares. I also share the real haunted estate that inspired the Secret Bookcase, what it's like having a protagonist who is a licensed private investigator, and some series news I'm thrilled to announce.

Some links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.

Preorder A Murder at Midnight: https://link.amazon/B05gx0idP

Preorder A Fatal Frost (Book 5, January): https://link.amazon/B01HbuSXC

Subscribe, and tell us in the comments: what would you name a real-life detective agency? Ellie and The Tech Guy are taking submissions.

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Have you ever wondered what actually goes into making an audiobook? If so, you're in luck because this week I'm joined by my friend Victoria Lynn Arbor, a professional audiobook narrator. We talk about all the steps of audiobook narration, how authors and narrators find each other, and the incredible amount of work behind a single finished hour of audio. Victoria walks us through her whole process, from prep and casting character voices to punch-and-roll recording and professional proofing.

Guest bio: Victoria Lynn Arbor is a professional audiobook narrator with an acting background who has voiced science fiction, mystery, and romance titles, and appears on production-company rosters including Podium and High Gravity. She and Ellie met in their writers' group.

Victoria Lynn Arbor's website: https://www.victorialynnarbor.com/

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"What's the best way to get published?" This is a question I get most from new writers and my answer is always the same: there are several options and it depends.

In this episode, The Tech Guy and I map out the three routes open to writers today: traditional publishing with the big houses, hybrid presses, and going the indie route. We walk through the honest pros and cons of each, given real-world examples and cover everything from advances and royalty splits, to who actually controls your cover art, and how things like access to useful sales and ad data vary from path to path. Listen now for a look into how books get published and learn why you might (and probably should) choose a different path from one book to the next.

And, if you haven't already, be sure to enter the preorder giveaway from my publisher for The Pumpkin Vice Cafe: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/pumpkinvicesweeps

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We open this episode with an actual excerpt from The Pumpkin Vice Café, book 23 in my Bakeshop Mystery Series, releasing September 29th. Then The Tech Guy and I give a spoiler-free (of course) overview of this latest installment. We're back in Ashland during the fall in this one, from Lithia Park to the bustling plaza, the setting is picturesque and the perfect place to set a murder. Also, listen for a hint at a returning face that longtime readers are really going to love and for the reason that The Pumpkin Vice Café didn't originally have a single pumpkin recipe.

Preorder now and enter the publisher's giveaway for a Pumpkin Vice Café bundle and Torte goodies. Link below.

Preorder and enter the giveaway: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/pumpkinvicesweeps?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio
Ashland Mystery Fest (Oct 8-11): https://www.ashlandmysteryfest.com

Preorder, subscribe, and drop a comment with your best guess at who's making a guest appearance in this book.

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A Fall to Remember is out this week. YAY! So, it's the perfect time to talk marketing. Are you writing a book? Congrats! However, did you know that the real work begins once you've finished? The Tech Guy and I dive into what marketing an author's book really looks like, busting some pretty common myths as we go. We're also sharing actual lessons from over 15 years of signings, giving a peek into what publishers really do for your as an author, and explain why readers who show up are so amazing.

A Fall to Remember: https://elliealexander.co/a-fall-to-remember

If you're a writer, let us know what your marketing questions and challenges are? And for the readers out there, let us know what resonates with you when it comes to book marketing?

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To AI or not to AI? For me, it's not really a question and, in this episode of Reality Writes, I tell you why.

The Tech Guy and I get behind the mics for an honest look at AI as seen from both writer's and reader's lenses and how it is impacting both worlds. I tell you why I feel that using an LLM to "improve" your writing isn't going to help you in the ways you think it will. Finding your voice is what writing is all about and no automated system is going to do that for you.

If you're worried you can't ever become a writer without using AI tools, this episode is for you. You absolutely can, darlings, and we'll talk you through the why and how.

Where do you stand on AI use in the writing and reading worlds? Subscribe and leave us a message.

Happy writing!

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