Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

What really happened on that study abroad trip? This Stays Between Us is a thriller with secrets, nostalgia, and a killer twist

Mandy Webster

There’s something about group travel—especially when you’re young and far from home—that heightens everything. The connections are fast, the drama is intense, and the stakes, whether you realize it or not, can be life changing. For me, it was a study abroad trip to Portugal, Spain, and Gibraltar at seventeen: whirlwind friendships, unrequited love, long hours on a tour bus, and at least one fellow traveler who drank too much and clearly needed help. We even had a retired singer who we realized – after my cousin recognized her from an old vinyl album of our grandma’s – had killed her husband decades before. And the “professor” who organized the trip? A con artist who scammed us out of a promised excursion to Morocco. Thankfully, no one ended up dead on that trip, but reading Sara Ochs’ This Stays Between Us brought a lot of that strange, charged energy back.

Get your copy of This Stays Between Us from my independent online bookstore today!

This sharply constructed thriller centers on two timelines: the “then,” when a group of students embarks on a month-long study abroad adventure in Australia, and the “now,” when the discovery of a long-missing student’s remains forces the group back together. From the beginning, there’s a sense that the friendships formed on the trip—particularly between best friends Claire and Phoebe—weren’t as solid as they appeared. And as we learn more about what happened on the trip, the facade begins to crack.

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Author Interview

Author interview with fantasy writer Kristin D. Jackson

Mandy Webster

Fantasy author Kristin D. Jackson knows the power of a good story—not just to entertain, but to evoke real, visceral emotion. From late-night Stephen King marathons as a teenager to building rich, immersive worlds of her own, Kristin’s path to becoming a writer is one paved with curiosity, creativity, and a deep love for connection. In this interview, she opens up about her writing journey, the themes that guide her work, and the messy, magical process behind crafting stories that resonate. Whether you’re a fellow writer or an avid reader, Kristin’s thoughtful reflections are sure to inspire.

In Lost Souls: The Caves of Oriana, a mismatched group of outcasts—including a godless cleric, a shamed ranger, a haunted rogue, an elderly sorceress, and a nameless bard—unites to face the darkness stirring beneath a quiet village. As they descend into danger, they discover that the greatest quest may be finding a sense of belonging in one another.

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Q: What’s a memory of a story or book that made you realize you wanted to be a writer?
A: Over the summer of my sophomore to junior year of high school, I was up until about 2:30 AM most nights reading a Stephen King novel called, It. My twin sister and I had to share a room growing up, so it wasn’t unusual for one of us to be up when the other went to sleep. One specific night, though, I was so scared out of my mind, even with my reading light on, that I had to wake her up so I didn’t feel alone. (She was actually nice about it, too!) I was surprised by the visceral reactions and deep emotions I’ve experienced while reading a good story. I remember that night, just as a passing thought, wondering if I would ever be able to create something that evokes emotion the way I’ve experienced from other writers.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Wrapping up the novel writing series — and what’s next

Mandy Webster

Almost a year ago, I started this series to walk writers through the steps of the novel writing process. It’s been an incredible journey, and I hope you’ve found real value in the posts—whether you’re just starting your first draft or have been wrestling with a novel for years. Writing a book is no small feat, and I’m so glad to have been part of your journey in some way.

Wrapping up the novel writing series and tying a bow on the journey—here’s to new chapters ahead!

To make it easier for you to revisit any step or catch up on what you missed, I’ve created a dedicated page on the website that links to each section of the series. You’ll also find information there about my upcoming book, Write the Damn Novel, Already: A step-by-step guide for first-time novelists and repeat quitters. The book collects everything from this series into one easy-to-use guide with extra tips and tools designed to help you finally finish writing your novel.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk sinks its fangs into grief, motherhood, and the hunger we can’t outrun

Mandy Webster

In this haunting Argentine gothic, the vampire isn’t a glamorous predator but a creature driven by instinct—feral, tragic, and devastatingly human. Marina Yuszczuk’s Thirst, translated by Heather Cleary, breathes new (undead) life into the vampire novel, weaving a queer, feminist narrative that shifts between 19th-century Buenos Aires and its modern-day counterpart. The result is an eerie and lyrical meditation on desire, decay, and the violent inheritance of womanhood.

Get your copy of Thirst from my independent online bookstore today!

The novel opens with the vampire as a child, taken by her mother and given over to the man who will eventually transform her. From the beginning, Thirst is deeply concerned with the bond between mothers and daughters—and the ways that bond can be both protective and damning. In the present day, the unnamed narrator grapples with her own mother’s slow death while caring for her young son. Grief unmoors her, and she finds herself wandering the cemetery where she first encounters the vampire. What begins as curiosity blooms into obsession, desire, and something even darker.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

What comes after “The End”: the final step in the novel writing process

Mandy Webster

Finishing a novel is an incredible accomplishment—but if you’re anything like most writers, you’re already thinking about the next one. That’s why the final step in this series on the steps of the novel writing process is simple but essential: repeat the process.

The final step of writing a novel? Do it again—because every great writer keeps going.
The final step of writing a novel? Do it again—because every great writer keeps going.

Writing your first novel teaches you a lot. You learn what sparks your creativity, where you tend to get stuck, and which tools and strategies actually help you move forward. As you begin your second (or fifth or tenth) book, you get to carry all that hard-earned knowledge with you. Take what worked from this series and leave what didn’t. There’s no one right way to write a novel—but with each project, you can refine your own.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Supporting fellow indie authors: real strategies that benefit you too

Mandy Webster

As an independent author, it’s tempting to see other writers as competition—but that mindset can hold you back. The truth is, supporting fellow indie authors can be one of the most effective and rewarding ways to grow your own audience. By building genuine connections and promoting others, you not only foster goodwill in the writing community, but you also create opportunities to expand your reach and visibility in return.

Collaboration, not competition—indie authors grow stronger together.

Promoting other authors doesn’t just benefit them. It benefits you, too. Here’s how:

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Beautyland review: what it means to be from another planet (or maybe just human)

Mandy Webster

There are books you read, and there are books that read you. Marie-Helene Bertino’s Beautyland falls firmly in the latter category—a shimmering, genre-bending novel that manages to feel both comfortingly familiar and utterly alien in the best sense of the word.

Get your copy of Beautyland from my independent online bookstore today!

On the surface, Beautyland is a portrait of Adina Giorno, born in 1977 Philadelphia at the moment Voyager 1 launches into space, carrying the famous Golden Record—a time capsule intended to tell extraterrestrial life about Earth. Adina, it turns out, might be an alien herself, sent to observe Earthlings and report back via fax machine to her faraway planet. This premise alone is delightfully surreal, but Bertino isn’t writing science fiction as escape. She’s using it as a lens to magnify something deeper and more tender: what it means to live life feeling not entirely of this world.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Sending publication slips to bookstores and libraries: a guide for independent authors

Mandy Webster

As an independent author, getting your book into bookstores and libraries can significantly expand your readership and increase sales. One way to achieve this is by sending publication slips to bookstores and libraries that may be interested in carrying your book. Here’s what you need to know about publication slips, how to create them, and how to strategically send them out.

The publication slip for my novel, If You Didn’t See it Coming follows the guidelines listed in this blog post for creating a publication slip for your independant novel.

What is a publication slip?

A publication slip is a one-page marketing sheet designed to introduce your book to bookstores and libraries. It provides key details that help book buyers decide whether to stock your book. Think of it as a quick sales pitch in print form.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

The Trap you won’t see coming: Catherine Ryan Howard’s masterclass in modern crime fiction

Mandy Webster

Catherine Ryan Howard’s The Trap is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that deserves far more attention than its underwhelming cover might suggest. Inspired by the real-life disappearances of women in 1990s Ireland, the novel is as unsettling as it is propulsive, offering a chilling and suspenseful exploration of grief, obsession, and the desperate human need for answers.

Get your copy of The Trap from my independent online bookstore today!

The story unfolds through three distinct perspectives: Lucy, a woman determined to catch her sister’s killer after her mysterious disappearance; Angela, a civilian working with the Irish police whose side investigation threatens both the case and her career; and a nameless predator whose terrifying narration will keep your heart pounding. These shifting points of view give the book its pace and emotional heft, and Howard moves between them with expert precision.

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Finish Writing Your Novel Now!

Hand selling your independent novels: meeting readers and making sales

Mandy Webster

For independent authors, meeting readers face-to-face is often the best way to sell books—especially before you gain widespread recognition. While online marketing is essential, there’s no substitute for personal interactions. Readers are more likely to buy a book when they meet the author, hear about the story firsthand, and form a connection. Here’s how to maximize your success with hand selling your books at events.

Check with your local bookstore to find out if they host authors for book signings. It’s a great way to connect with readers right in your local area!

To get started with hand selling, look for local events where you can set up a table and interact with potential readers. Consider:

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