FAQ

How do I keep up-to-date on book releases, reviews, and other news?
What are your newest releases?
Tell me about the Last Seen in Gothic suspense series.
You say A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA is historical fiction. Would I like to read it?
What’s upcoming in 2026?
Will you write any more historicals or paranormals?
Thank you for sharing your husband’s projects. What is the crazy man up to now?
Where do you get your ideas?
How do you decide which stories to write?
Can I get a list of your books in series order?
How do you keep your ideas fresh and avoid traveling over well-worn territory?
What advice do you give writers?

Q. How do I keep up-to-date on book releases, reviews, and other news?

A: The best ways for you to stay current with my book news are:

—My mailing list: I always always always tell you about book sales and new releases. I’m open, friendly, chatty (read a sample newsletter.) Newsletter friends are eligible to enter my Reviewers’ Club contest to win an early, free copy of my next book for the chance to review it. Join my mailing list and the Daughter of Montague newsletter list to keep up with every new release.

—Bookbub: You don’t have time for chatty, you simply want a brief notice about new releases. Bookbub always sends.

— Goodreads: Sends a new book notice and highlights the authors you follow!

— Amazon sends notices about new releases, reprints and sales, although on their own precarious schedule.

Join, follow, read, enjoy! — Christina

Q: What are your newest releases?

A: 2025 was one heck of a Christina Dodd publishing year in suspense, historical and time-travel. In order of publication, here are the new releases. Click the title to read an excerpt, listen to an audiobook clip, and buy your copy.

1. GIRL ANONYMOUS (suspense new release in hardcover, ebook, audiobook):

“The Godfather” meets “West Side Story” in this sexy thriller about a violent explosion that forever changes the lives of a mafioso and a woman divided by a deadly family vendetta. What happens between them in the darkness sets their worlds on fire, as Maarja abandons her life-long caution and finds herself bound to Dante by destruction, passion and destiny.

This book delves deep into my romance roots, so think danger, adventure, sexy times between a dominant man and a strong, determined heroine. Scenes set in Gothic. GIRL ANONYMOUS: buy it now!

2. WHAT DREAMS MAY COME (Historical fiction: eBook new release)

The night after my tumultuous betrothal to Prince Escalus the younger proved harrowing as I rescue my 13-year-old sister, Katerina and Princess Isabella, from a dreadful fate … The hours could easily have led to disaster, but adventure is better than fuming, right?

In my enthusiasm, I wrote the longest novella I’ve ever written. 🙄 WHAT DREAMS MAY COME is a rip-roaring fun to read!)

3. At last, WELCOME TO GOTHIC is in eBook! Previously an audiobook exclusive, WELCOME TO GOTHIC is my only time-travel, a romantic suspense, and one of my personal favorite novellas.

WELCOME TO THE PAST
At the glittering heart of Hollywood’s golden era in mysterious Gothic, California stands the regal Palace Theater. Here, drama unfolds on and off the stage.

WELCOME TO THE PRESENT
Today, in the abandoned backstage, fitness guru Wendy Giordano is knocked unconscious and wakes to find herself performing a daredevil stunt in the Palace Theater…in glamorous 1940.

4. THUS WITH A KISS I DIE release (historical fiction new release in hardcover, ebook, audiobook, USA Today Bestseller):

“Rosie and Prince Escalus the Younger (Cal—yes, the royal hottie) return, but this time the drama is next level. Rosie keeps seeing the ghost of Cal’s dad, and he’s like, “Hey, find out who murdered me.” Problem? Nobody else sees him. So while Rosie is chatting away with a ghost, everyone else is like, “Umm… are you okay?” I loved that mix of serious stakes and quirky comedy.

The best part? The vibe. It’s this amazing mash-up: historical romance, mystery, paranormal weirdness, and laugh-out-loud moments. Plus, the way Dodd blends Shakespeare-y lines with modern, witty narration? Honestly, it’s genius.

If you’re into swoony romance + ghostly sass + a dash of murder mystery? Verona’s calling.” 💖– Novera Goodreads reviewer about THUS WITH A KISS I DIE

5. MUCH ADO ABOUT MISTLETOE: A Daughter of Montague Family heartwarming Christmas novella (Historical fiction: eBook new release, Amazon #1 Historical Mystery.)

My famously optimistic and romantic mother, Lady Juliet, has declared, “I’m determined the Montagues and all of Verona shall experience a peaceful start to this holy Christmastime!”

Mamma . . . what were you thinking? Why would you so challenge the Fates?…

You’re saying, “Wow, Christina, five new releases?” Oh, we’re not done yet. In order of publication, here are the re-releases (from 2024 hardcover to 2025 paper.) Click the title to read an excerpt, listen to an audiobook clip, and buy your copy.

6. EVERY SINGLE SECRET (suspense: new larger-sized paperback):

When respectable Joe Grantham appears on Rowen’s doorstep, she gets it wrong. Horrifically, passionately wrong. She lets him in, reveals too much, and finds herself sucked into a dangerous maelstrom of secrets, intrigue—and if she dares grasp the terrible challenge, the chance to reclaim the life and family she lost so many years before.

“The suspense was so bad I had to read it backwards. Read the last chapter, then the next to the last, then the one before that- you get the idea. Then went back to where I’d left off and read to the end. I haven’t done that in years. Just so good. I want Chinese Food!!” — Reader Beth Amazon review for EVERY SINGLE SECRET

A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA (historical fiction trade paperback edition release):

I’m the daughter of Romeo and Juliet.

Yes, that Romeo and Juliet. They’re alive and well and the parents of seven kids. I, Rosie Montague of Verona, am the oldest, with the emphasis on ‘old’—a certified spinster at twenty, and happy to stay that way. It’s not easy to keep your taste for romance with parents like mine. Picture it—constant monologues, passionate declarations, fighting, making up, making out . . . it’s exhausting…

Read all about how this audacious project came to be. Warning: You’ll snort the beverage of your choice out your nose.

Because A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA is so very different from anything else I’ve done (yes, it’s a historical, but Renaissance Italy and a totally fictional representation of Fair Verona,) my web masters created a new website for it. It’s fresh and lively, and works with the bright tone of the story. The symbols from the cover warn that murder and mystery lie ahead, and it’s easy to remember, because it is the series name: Daughter of Montague.

Review any and all books on GoodReads, Bookbub, on any online site and/or tell your friends. Your word of mouth is gold. Join my mailing list and the Daughter of Montague newsletter list to keep up with every new release. — Christina

Q. Tell me about the Last Seen in Gothic suspense series.

A: The Last Seen in Gothic series is set on Big Sur, one of nature’s magical places. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. My grandmother and great-aunts, powerful women who were huge influences on me, were born and raised in Ben Lomond in the Santa Cruz mountains, and as a family we traveled and camped all around central California. As my Aunt Sadie once told The Husband, “As long as a wheel’s going to turn, we’re going to go.”

The first time my mother and I drove the scenic the Pacific Coast Highway into the heart of Big Sur, we were captivated by its frothing waves crashing against rocky cliffs, wide stunning views and mystical forests that whisper and roar in the ocean breeze. A visit to San Simeon (Hearst’s Castle) cemented my sense that here, in this place of wealth and wildness, anything was possible. There was and is an other worldly ambiance to Big Sur, a sense that this ancient area is immune to civilization. For the most part, it remains untouched.

Naturally when I looked for a glorious, isolated spot to place a small, quirky, totally fictional town with a totally fictional legend, I thought of Big Sur and created Gothic, California. I hope you enjoy your visit with the marvelously eccentric citizens of Gothic in Point Last Seen, Welcome to Gothic and FORGET WHAT YOU KNOW. Gothic also makes a cameo appearance in the contemporary suspense novels, EVERY SINGLE SECRET and GIRL ANONYMOUS. — Christina

Q. You say Daughter of Montague is historical fiction. Would I like to read it?

A: The Daughter of Montague series blends irresistible mystery, a wicked sense of comedy, her trademark plot twists, a swoony romance subplot, and an incorrigibly determined heroine into a delightful confection that will draw in readers of historical fiction, feminist women’s fiction, mysteries, historical romance, and young adult.

If any of those check your boxes, Daughter of Montague is for you!

The series to date is:

— Christina

Q. What’s upcoming in 2026?

A: Daughter of Montague #3: TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN

That’s it. That’s all. For the moment.

In 2025 I wrote two novellas and finished TEACH THE TORCHES TO BURN while promoting all seven releases. Yes, I have an assistant who is hugely helpful (Assistant Jill handles Behind the Bookshelf, my Facebook reader group, all of my TikTok, and a good part of my regular Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Channel.) The newsletters and the decisions of what needs to be done are mine. I’m the one who does the touring. 2025 was the busiest time of my long, every long, career. No complaints, no excuses, just the facts. I’m now intent on writing more and living more. The best is yet to come. — Christina

Q. Will you write any more historicals or paranormals?

A: I’m currently under contract for historical fiction, but I loved writing paranormals, and I never say never because, if you’d asked me two years ago if I was going to write A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, I would have thought you were delusional. (Suggested reading: THE 10 REASONS AUTHORS ARE WEIRD.)

If you’d like delve deeper into the paranormals, please visit the paranormal section of my website where you can read excerpts and discover how I came up with the ideas.

If you love contemporary suspense, when I counted the Christina Dodd releases and included full-length books, novellas and short stories, they numbered over thirty! I’m not currently under contract for suspense, but my heroines tend to pop up and demand a story, so yes, more may come.

If you’re a historical romance fan, all the books and series are listed on the historical page.

No matter what you love to read, remember—the crucial Christina Dodd website book pages are:
The Downloadable/Printable book list sorted by genre, series and in order.

The more expansive “Books by Series,” with covers and excerpts. — Christina

Q. Thank you for sharing your husband’s projects. What is he up to?

A: :sigh: Heaven only knows. Actually, we bought a cottage in California, in the Sonoma County (wine country) as an escape from the Washington winters. It seemed like a good idea; it was move-in ready. Of course, Mr. Home Designer/Structural Engineer immediately started working on improvements. We immediately found that the Shower of Death in the master bath is so slippery it must be replaced. Might as well make it larger and put in a second shower head. The two bath sinks are flat and don’t drain. So The Husband has redesigned the bath. He painted our bedroom, and eventually the whole interior will be re-painted from the soft gray to a soft cream because we’re warm color people. Here’s a photo of our kitchen in Washington:

The cottage kitchen has WHITE COUNTERTOPS. My apologies to those of you who have white countertops, but what are you thinking?!? It’s horrible. Every time I spill the slightest drop of tea, it stains. The countertops must be replaced, and if we’re going to do that, let’s repaint the cabinets to a brighter color and, oh, why not tear out that one wall and… You get the idea. This is going to take a couple of years, but hey. He has to have a project!

Earlier projects:
Summer 2021 started with a greenhouse (How to Grow a $730 Tomato.)

He’s finished the walk from the house to the stone circle and the star in the stone circle. (Video: The project explained.)

The treehouse and zipline are finished. (Video: Me on the zipline. The Husband calls this, “The Woman Who Could Scream.)

The 700 lavender plants are blooming, but some older plants need to be replaced, so on a constant rotation he’s tear them out and planting new ones. (Video: Lavender, Bees, Stone Circle.)

If you want to keep up with The Husband and the stuff he does for “fun,” please join my mailing list. You’ll receive a lot of laughter in your inbox. — Christina

Q. Where do you get your ideas?

A: I get ideas everywhere — from the news, movies, books, friends, songs. There are so many ideas and not enough time to write all the books I want to write. For a humorous look at the question, here’s my take on the process.

Here’s a glimpse on how I built Virtue Falls.

The Darkness Chosen idea originated with one of my favorite movies.

The Chosen Ones came while I wasn’t paying attention to writing at all.
— Christina

Q. How do you decide which stories to write?

A: Let me tell you about how I conceived the idea for my contemporary suspense series, the Lost Hearts series. There are so many contemporary ideas to be found! In the newspaper, on television, and in real life. The idea sprang to life when I heard about a couple who adopted a family of six children from the ages of seventeen years to six months. I knew that each one of the children would have different conflicts about losing their biological parents — for instance, the oldest might understand what had happened, the middle children might feel abandoned, and the baby wouldn’t remember any other life.

From there, it was a short leap to the concept of a family who were separated from, not only their parents, but each other. I knew they would search for each other. I knew they would want to discover what happened to their parents. And I knew they would want to find a sense of belonging and true love.

As the trilogy progresses, each story ends with a clue about who the heroine of the next book will be, and partially solves the mystery of what happened to separate their family. The Lost Hearts series includes:
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE
CLOSE TO YOU
Gabriel’s story is DANGER IN A RED DRESS (The Fortune Hunters #4)
GABRIEL’S GIFT: a Lost Hearts epilogue
— Christina

Q. Can I get a list of your books listed in series order?

A: Here’s the Downloadable/Printable book list sorted by genre, series and in order and the more expansive “Books by Series,” page. — Christina

Q. How do you keep your ideas fresh and avoid traveling over well-worn territory?

A: Story situations become clichés because they’re the tales people want to hear over and over. When I start a book, I try to think of the stories I’ve enjoyed, and use that as a basis for the plot, giving it my own twist and my own characters. — Christina

Q. What advice do you give aspiring writers?

A: The best way to learn to write is to sit down and do it. For my articles on writing, I suggest:
— The Best Way To Write A Book (Imagine that, I have an opinion.)