Guest blog post by KC Freeman

What does one retired college English professor have to do with post-World War II thriller suspense, intrigue, and epic romance? In this particular case…quite a lot. 

Arthur McMaster began his career as a foreign intelligence officer so he knows the spy business well enough to craft an engaging thriller set in post-World War II. However, it’s his lifelong pursuit of lyrical creativity that infuses his novels with such beauty the reader may wonder: Is this fact, fiction, romance, or pure poetry?
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We had the privilege of sitting down with Arthur to pick his poetic mind about what makes his writing so special and to give us some insight into his latest literary masterpiece, In the Orchards of Our Mothers.

Arthur wants his readers to see and accept that so much that matters to us happens by chance. We plan, yes, but when the right doorway opens, and anything is possible, we must allow ourselves to be open to walking through that door, as Claire and Jacques do, against all odds. They become more than they could ever be alone and apart.

Arthur started writing short fiction in high school, including poetry, even though he admits he had not yet realized that one must read poetry, get immersed in it, in order to begin to truly write well. He has published a lot of poetry and several short fiction pieces. He declares he owes his success to one professor in his undergraduate years who helped him to gain competency. The gateway for him was James Wright (volume, The Branch Will Not Break).
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Years later, having wrapped up his intelligence career, he trooped off to Florida for a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing. He also wrote a bunch of stage plays, about half of them have been produced.  And now, in his third career, he writes novels!

Arthur, as a guy who has been teaching creative writing for years, emphasizes that characters are more important to good storytelling than plot. So, when he gets an idea, he chooses the setting and gives the main character a challenge. He prefers inner-directed challenges rather than outer ones since both propel the journey. Details are crucial and he diligently researches as he writes to deepen and sharpen the work. Arthur wants the reader to travel with the protagonist toward an end that may not be clear until the Volta, an Italian word for the Turn. He is also keen on cliffhangers.

Arthur's novel, In the Orchards of Our Mothers, will be available anywhere you buy books in print and e-book from IngramElliott Publishing in 2026. 

Also by Arthur McMaster:

• In the Orchards of Our Mothers
• The Whole Picture Show, (poems)
• Musical Muse, Wives & Lovers of the Great Composers
• Birdies Never Die
• The Spy Who Came Down with a Cold (poems)
• Need to Know, a Memoir ​

The Benny Moon series by Salem Wolf Heart has been an IE fan favorite since the very first installment of this exciting middle grade story about racing, friendship, family, and the Native American Medicine Wheel. 

Guest post by IE Author Jordan Berk
Title: The Timestream Verdict (available in print and e-book from IE)

A conversation with my character, Aaron Barnett

Hello, Aaron, I'm New York Times Interviewbot 7.2. Nice to meet you. How are you liking 2042 so far?
Well, I guess I'm talking to a robot right now, so that's something! It's, I dunno, magical? Everyone is so healthy, and happy, and, well, tall. And great food too! But seriously, where are the flying cars?

Flying cars are technologically viable and occasionally enjoyed for recreational purposes, but largely rendered obsolete by teleportation technology.
Oh, sure. Makes sense. 

Tell us about yourself--and when you're from.
Good old 1985! I'm from Chicago; lived there all my life. Let's see... I'm an accountant. I have a dog. I have a girlfriend, Jennifer. Pretty typical, boring guy, I suppose. This trial is definitely the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me. 

This trial has captured the attention of the whole world. How will you handle your verdict?
Oh boy, done with the softballs already. Well, I don't know much about the case yet, but I do understand the victim is "The Mother of Time Travel," so I get it. She is revered, I know. So I will, er, strive to uphold the virtue of the position and come to a verdict that is well-substantiated and, um, proved. Proven. Well-proven. I'll do my best, I guess is what I'm trying to say. 

Along those stumbling lines, do you know why I was chosen? I seem utterly unqualified. 

Query denied. Access to jury selection rationale requires level-12 clearance or higher under Temporal Governance Protocol 9.1.
Oh...okay, fine. But can you answer this? One of my fellow jurors is a Cloud Engineer by title. Can you all actually control the weather?

That's our time, Aaron. It was good to meet you. Good luck with the trial.
So...that's a maybe?

Columbo Writer Howard Berk Was a Prolific Author. Now, His Son and Grandson Are Continuing the Family Legacy (Exclusive)

​Peter Berk, whose latest book was published this month, and his son, Jordan, are both novelists published by IE.

We're excited to share that the Berk family of writers - Howard, Peter, and Jordan - are featured in an exclusive interview in People magazine's Books section. Carly Tagen-Dye is the Books editorial assistant at PEOPLE, where she writes for both print and digital platforms. She wrote an amazing article highlighting the talent and history of the Berk family in television, films, and IE Published books. Howard and Peter Berk's Award-Winning Trilogy - the TimeLock series - was covered along with Jordan Berk's time-travel thriller, The Timestream Verdict. 

“It's just an incredible experience to get to explore a creative side that I didn't really know I had, despite the genetics,” Jordan says. “Maybe I should have known it was there the whole time.”
But looking back on their author journeys, both Peter and Jordan recognize Howard as a large influence. Peter says that working with his dad was "one of the highlights of my life."

The article follows the journey of Howard, as a reknown television and film writer, eventually collaborating with his son, Peter, on the TimeLock screenplay - which became the basis for the book trilogy. Peter's son, Jordan, carried on the family legacy with his sci-fi time travel novel, also published by IngramElliott. 

“It's really another way of honoring my dad, in a sense; keeping the tradition alive,” Peter says of his own writing career.

No one except Jordan’s wife knew that he was writing a novel, until he presented Peter with a 300-page manuscript as a Father's Day gift in 2022. IngramElliott went on to publish that novel, The Timestream Verdict, and added to the Berk family legacy. 

The Millennium Paradox, the third installment in authors' Peter Berk and Howard Berks award-winning TimeLock series may involve a 'paradox' but it's no mystery why this series is beloved by readers - non stop action, a fun sense of humor, and lots of heart. 

Three years after releasing the award-winning sci-fi/action novel TimeLock – considered a “deftly crafted…compulsive page turner” by Midwest Book Reviews – IngramElliott Publishing will debut the much-anticipated second sequel,TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox, on July 24.

​Like its two predecessors, TimeLock and TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy, TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox was written by father and son Howard Berk and Peter Berk. An award-winning novelist and film and TV writer, Howard Berk’s credits include “Columbo,” “Mission: Impossible,” “The Rockford Files,” and the feature film, “Target,” starring Gene Hackman and Matt Dillon. ​

Setting The Stage: TimeLock & TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy
The original TimeLock novel told the riveting story of 23 year-old Morgan Eberly, who’s not only wrongly convicted of murder but selected to be among the first to undergo the radical TimeLock process in which prisoners are instantly aged the number of years of their sentence. During a prison uprising, however, Morgan manages to escape halfway through his 40-year processing and joins forces with FBI agent Janine Price – and the two eventually team up both professionally and personally to bring down the deadly TimeLock program – a program pushed through by the future president of the United States, Myra Winters.
  
In TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy, we learn that now-President Winters has authorized the clandestine development of a new version of TimeLock’s cellular alteration process to be used on the battlefield in order to compromise enemy combatants. In a desperate attempt to stop the unhinged president, Morgan and Janine embark on a terrifying adventure that takes them from the nation’s capital to Japan and into the heart of Siberia. 

From The Page To The Screen?
Like the original TimeLock novel, TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox is based on a screenplay written by the late Howard Berk and his son Peter. The TimeLock screenplays, as well as First Line of Defense, a political murder mystery novel published late last year by IngramElliott and also available as a screenplay, are being represented by the Corvisiero Literary Agency, which is currently in contact with a wide array of film studios, television and streaming networks and independent producers to explore possible movie or television adaptations.

​Has ten years really passed us by? It seems like yesterday when we made the decision to kickstart a new vision in traditional publishing with IngramElliott Publishing. We are an award-winning, women-owned independent publishing company. We work hard for our clients and are happiest when their labors of love succeed. We have experienced ups and downs just like everyone else. Most importantly, we are proud of what we have accomplished in that time.

We're proud that we were founded and managed by writers and readers. We work side by side with our authors to discover their own unique voice and bring their stories to brilliant life. Our philosophy is one of partnership, in spirit and in our daily practice. 

Our mission continues to be to bring exceptional stories to light in print and on-screen with IE Snaps! and our IngramElliott (IE) imprint. We look forward to more exciting adventures for the next ten years and beyond as we bring great stories to life in film and television!

And IE is nothing without our authors and amazing partners and colloborators. We work with people from all walks of life and that live around the globe. We absolutely would not be here without you and we value our relationships above all. Thanks to all our writers, marketers, designers, editors, artists, and social media geniuses--you know who you are!

Here are some of our greatest hits over our first decade! Stay Tuned for what we will achieve in the next ten years!
 
Our first book baby is born! Pablo Prairie Dog and the WWCC Heroes by our very own P.E. Calvert, Charlotte Calvert Piel, and Kim Starkey Calvert (Illustrator) was published on November 30, 2015! Some friends are big and strong... Some are small, but the only thing that really matters in life, is being a good friend to all! In 2024, this very first title was transformed into WWCC Heroes: Pablo's Adventure, now a best-selling dual language book for kids ages 4-9.
 
The epiphany for IE Snaps! In June 2016, we wrote about the re-emergence of the novella (books from 20,000 – 50,000 words). It was James Patterson and Harper Collins’ foray into novellas – they called them “Book Shots” who brought the novella and short fiction back into vogue. And gave us a brilliant idea! IE Snaps has brought us the TimeLock series in action/sci-fi, The Cornbread Letters in paranormal, The Timestream Verdict in sci-fi, the middle grade series Benny Moon, and the award-winning Western series, Clown William, just to name a few. These short novels read like a movie and have been a fan favorite for IE over the years. 

Dear IE is better than Dear Abby
Authors needing advice? No fear. We are here! Over the years we have posted mountains of advice for authors. Everything from writing tips to the importance of editors to marketing resources. Check out our archives and pick a category. If we have not addressed your issue yet, wait. Or better yet, email your question to us. There is so much information available and so much confusion in the industry, allow us to be your roadmap.

And the Winners are…
Have we mentioned our authors are the best? Of course we have! We shout it from the rooftops every chance we get. From the prestigious Independent Publisher Book Awards (the IPPYs) to New York International Screenplay Awards (NYISA) to National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) and more, our authors rack in the accolades every year. Here are just a few examples of our utterly amazing, award-winning authors:

JuJu Justice for the Win!
The screenplay for JuJu Justice, by T.E. Lane placed in the top 20% at the Austin Film Festival (AFF) by being officially named as a Second Rounder in the AFF Script Competition. But that is not all, JuJu Justice was named a Finalist in the NYISA that same year (2024). And the hits keep on coming as JuJu Justice was named a Quarter Finalist in the 2025 Manchester Film Festival Screenplay Competition! This mystical action/drama set in the voodoo culture of New Orleans will be released in 2025.

We knew we had a winner on our hands with T.E. Lane. The author's previous book, The Cornbread Letters, won its own slew of awards: Winner of the Paranormal Mystery/Thriller Category in the 2024 Independent Press Awards, Finalist in the 17th Annual NIEA for New Age Fiction, Semi-Finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) CLUE 2023 Book Awards for suspense thrillers and placed as a Second Rounder (screenplay) at AFF.

Reaching for the Stars
The debut novel by M.M. Cochran, Between the Ocean and Stars was a Finalist in the 17th Annual NIEA for her young adult novel where high winds and passion collide. This book hit the Amazon Best Seller list in 2024. We are immensely proud of M.M. Cochran and her second book, The Button Collector, has topped our best-seller list since reaching #2 in Mystery and Detective fiction upon its release last fall. 

Even Our Series are Award-Winning
Vince Bailey won multiple awards for his paranormal historical fiction series, Path of the Half Moon, Courses of the Cursed, Merging Paths, and the entire Curtis Jefferson series claimed the honor of being announced the Grand Prize Winner of the CIBA 2022 Series Award, a category winner in the Paranormal category, and Merging Paths, the final chapter in the Curtis Jefferson series, was proclaimed the Winner of the 17th Annual NIEA for Regional Fiction.

​Political Drama at its Finest
Who says politics is dead? Don’t tell Peter Berk and Howard Berk, co-authors of the award-winning TimeLock series. The first book, TimeLock, was a 2023 CIBA Finalist for Science Fiction, Mystery, and Global Thrillers, as well as a Distinguished Favorite in the TechnoThriller category of the 2024 Independent Press Awards. To top it off, Peter Berk’s First Line of Defense, is a Semi-Finalist in the 2024 CLUE Awards for Suspense/Thrillers.

Cowboys Take Silver and Bronze
Robin Elno’s Clown William series came out guns a blazing with a total of six awards. Clown William (the first book in the series) was the Silver Winner 2018 IPPYs and Winner of Arizona Literary Award, Finalist in the 13th Annual NIEA for Western Fiction, and Finalist for the 2019 Next Generation (NextGen) Indie Book Awards. The second book in the series, Clown William and the Lincoln County War, won the 13th Annual NIEA for Western Fiction. While the entire series was proclaimed the Bronze Winner 2019 IPPYs Best Fiction Series and a Finalist in the 2022 CIBA Fiction Series Awards.

One of the Highest Honors for Independent Publishers Since 1985
Jeffrey Meyer’s first novel, A Call to China, was a Silver Winner in the 30th Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards, now called the Independent Book Publishing Association (IBPA Book Award) and a Finalist in the 13th Annual NIEA and the 2019 NextGen Indie Book Awards.

Moonbeam Magic
IngramElliott authors are not just for adult readers! The middle grade magical adventure Ms. Mulligan and the Enchanted Ice Cream took several awards including: Silver Winner 2018 Moonbeam Awards Preteen Fiction-Mystery, Bronze Winner 2018 Moonbeam Awards Preteen Fiction e-Book, Finalist 13th Annual NIEA for Juvenile Fiction, and Finalist 2018 NextGen Indie Book Awards.

And we are just getting started!
Stay tuned for more exciting times ahead as we at IngramElliott Publishing along with our incredible team and authors continue to reach for the stars and bring you high-quality fiction in books, films, and television. ​

Photo available via Adobe Stock

Book authors often face the dual challenge of producing compelling content and marketing it effectively. While writing is at the heart of their craft, today’s authors also need to master the art of promotion. Adobe Express offers a powerful set of tools that can help authors manage their creative and promotional needs with ease. Whether designing eye-catching book covers or creating engaging social media posts, Adobe Express can be a valuable resource. Here’s how authors can make the most of this tool.

Creating Stunning Book Covers
The first impression a book makes is often through its cover. Adobe Express offers a wide variety of templates that can be customized to create stunning book covers. Authors can start by choosing a template that fits the tone and genre of their book, then personalize it with their own imagery, fonts, and colors. Adobe Express allows authors to upload their own photos or choose from Adobe’s stock photo library. This flexibility ensures that authors can create professional, high-quality book covers that captivate potential readers and stand out on the shelf or online.

Designing Social Media Graphics for Book Promotion
Promoting a book requires a strong presence on social media, and Adobe Express can help authors design eye-catching graphics that grab attention on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. With its simple drag-and-drop functionality, authors can create engaging posts that highlight key quotes from the book, announce launch dates, or share behind-the-scenes content about the writing process. Adobe Express even allows for the creation of animated posts and stories, making it easy to capture attention in a crowded social media landscape.

Crafting Beautiful Marketing Materials
Beyond social media, Adobe Express can also be used to create a wide range of marketing materials such as flyers, posters, and digital ads. Authors who are planning book signings, speaking engagements, or virtual events can use Adobe Express to design promotional materials that reflect their book’s aesthetic. With customizable templates, authors can produce consistent branding across all of their marketing efforts, ensuring a cohesive look that resonates with their audience.

Developing Author Branding
For authors, branding is just as important as writing a compelling book. Adobe Express allows authors to create logos, business cards, and other branding materials that reflect their unique style. By developing a consistent visual identity, authors can build their personal brand and make themselves more recognizable to readers. Whether they are self-publishing or working with a traditional publisher, having strong branding can help authors establish themselves in the market and foster a sense of professionalism.

Making Engaging Book Trailers
A book trailer is an effective way to pique the interest of potential readers, and Adobe Express makes it simple for authors to create short, engaging videos. With Adobe Express’s video editing features, authors can combine text, music, and visuals to create a cinematic teaser for their book. These trailers can be shared on social media, added to the author’s website, or included in email newsletters. The drag-and-drop interface and pre-made templates make video creation accessible to authors, even those with no prior experience in video editing.

Creating Email Newsletter Designs
Email newsletters are a powerful tool for maintaining an author-reader connection. Adobe Express provides customizable templates that authors can use to design visually appealing newsletters. Authors can craft newsletters that include updates on their writing journey, exclusive content, and upcoming book releases, all while maintaining consistent branding. Adobe Express’s easy-to-use interface ensures that authors can create professional-looking newsletters without needing advanced design skills, helping them to stay in touch with their audience and build a loyal reader base.
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Collaborating with a Team or Publisher
If an author is working with a team, whether it be a publicist, marketing agency, or publishing house, Adobe Express’s collaborative features make it easy to share and edit designs. Authors can invite collaborators to view, comment on, and edit their designs in real time. This feature allows for seamless collaboration, ensuring that all aspects of the promotional process are aligned and that the final product reflects the author’s vision.
In today’s competitive publishing landscape, authors need more than just great writing to succeed—they need to market themselves and their work effectively. Adobe Express provides an intuitive platform that allows authors to create professional-quality designs, whether for book covers, marketing materials, or social media content. By utilizing Adobe Express, authors can take control of their branding and promotion, ensuring their books reach a wider audience and make a lasting impact.

Ready to ramp up your author platform? Check out Adobe Express and their free trial to bring your creative vision to life!

Jackson Blaine, the President of the United States and a former defense lawyer, shocks his estranged son Brian and the entire world when he decides to personally go to court to help defend the young man after he’s arrested for murdering his best friend and college dormmate. This is the compellingly unique premise of First Line of Defense, a political/legal thriller and murder mystery coming out October 1 by one of IE's most awarded and prolific authors, Peter Berk. 

​First Line of Defense marks award-winning author Peter Berk’s third novel with IngramElliott, following the recent publication of TimeLock and TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy, the first two entries in an imaginative series of sci-fi and action novels co-authored by Peter’s father, Columbo and Mission: Impossible writer Howard Berk. 

And now, Peter adds legal thriller to his distinguished list. Tinged with action, suspense, romance, humor and more than a few unexpected twists, the new novel takes its 21-year-old lead protagonist, Brian Blaine, on a life-altering adventure that will dramatically change his relationship with his father and alter the course of his entire personal and professional life forever. 

We caught up with the author ahead of the release of First Line of Defense on October 1. 

Please tell us something about your book that is not in the summary. 
It can rightly be called a political legal thriller, but I mainly consider the book to be about a family - in this case, the First Family - and more specifically about a young man reconnecting with his estranged father. And because I had the opposite relationship with my late dad, Howard, Brian's turbulent rapport with the President through at least the first half of the book was the hardest part to write for me.

What do you most hope will be the reaction of readers to your book?
Like any author, I just hope people are compelled to keep reading, care about the characters, come across a surprise twist or two and enjoy the overall reading experience.

Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about?
I hadn't written anything in the legal thriller genre and out of the blue had this wild notion of a President who's a former lawyer actually representing his own son in court. Not likely of course, but that's why it's called fiction!

What is your favorite scene in your book? Why?
Probably the meet cute scene when Brian first meets Emma; a later scene when the President catches a beet-red Brian and Emma after their first romantic encounter; the scene when father and son finally reconcile; and the "big reveal" at the end in the courthouse.

Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude any of your personal experiences or feelings?
Despite writing from a 21 year-old's perspective so long after I was in fact that age myself, I did include a lot of my own personal sensibilities throughout - being an only child like Brian, having a best friend who's like a brother (who is happily still very much in my life), possessing a self-deprecating sense of humor and more.

Please tell us something about yourself and how you came to be a writer. What inspired you to write your first book? 
My writing inspiration has been and always will be my father - a far better writer than I'll ever be. "First Line of Defense" was actually my first novel, but not the first one published, since I was fortunate enough to connect with IngramElliott after novelizing the screenplay of "TimeLock" my dad and I wrote several years back.

Do you have any advice for other writers?
Only the corniest of advice - never stop writing! Unlike being a dancer or athlete where you have a limited number of years to perform on the stage or on the field, writers can write at any age. My dad was working on a new novel at 92 and look how long it took me to have a book published, so keep at it forever.

Tell me a little about your book’s title and what it represents?
Nothing too subtle here, I'll admit, but "First" as in First Family and "Defense" since that's what the entire story is about.

About The Author                                                                  
Peter Berk has written six novels, three TV pilots and a dozen screenplays, including several with his father which became the basis for the TimeLock series of novels. The original TimeLock novel was named as a Distinguished Favorite in the TechnoThriller category of the 2024 Independent Press Award and was a Finalist in the 2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Science Fiction, Mystery, and Global Thrillers. TimeLock 2: The Kyoto Conspiracy was published in 2023 and the third book in the series, TimeLock 3: The Millennium Paradox, will be published in Spring 2025 by IngramElliott. Peter and his family live in Southern California.
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Connect with Peter on Facebook and Instagram @peterberk_author.

Author M.M. Cochran is more than a fiction writer--she spent early years in her career as a journalist and is no stranger to the frantic pace of getting a news piece out on time, long hours on the news floor researching a story, and the 'cold, ambiguous' atmosphere that a news room can generate. She's put all this moody experience to great use in her latest novel, a highly anticipated psychological thriller called The Button Collector. 

​Available everywhere books are sold September 17

A bone-chilling story set in snowy Chicago, this psychological thriller revolving around newspaper journalist Jessica Knight and the serial killer known for murdering Knight’s family members combines atmospheric drama with romance and mystery reminiscent of book-to-screen adaptations like Sharp Objects (HBO), The Last Thing He Told Me (Apple+), and Verity by Colleen Hoover (Amazon/MGM).

“This book’s aesthetic is very mysterious, with cigarette smoke, dark apartments, snowy streets, and police cars. It’s exactly what a reader would expect from a journalist on the run from a killer––and falling in love with a detective the whole time,” says author M. M. Cochran. “When a thriller lover picks up The Button Collector, I know they’ll be trying to solve the mystery from page one, and I’m really excited to see who can put the puzzle pieces together before the ending.”

Cochran’s award-winning debut novel--Between the Ocean and the Stars—was published in 2022 by IngramElliott Publishing and hailed by reviewers as “heartbreaking, poignant, and emotional.” The novel was named a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards® and is available anywhere books are sold. Her fans are very excited about her second novel and can get signed copies at her book launch event in October. 

Cochran will be holding a book launch party for The Button Collector on Saturday, October 12, at Third Space Coffee & Bakery in Landrum, SC, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Third Space is located at 803 E. Rutherford St., Suite D, Landrum, SC. The public is invited to attend the party, where light snacks and refreshments will be served. Please bring your copy of The Button Collector for Cochran to sign at the event or purchase a paperback or hardcopy at the event. 

About the book
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Can Jessica button up this case on her own?
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When Chicago journalist Jessica Knight is linked to a string of odd murders happening across the country, her life takes a turn for the worse. She is left wondering why her relatives are the ones dropping like flies under the signature mark of a serial killer . . . why she can’t stop thinking about Michael Bradley, the appealing detective assigned to protect her . . . and most of all, why, despite being the Button Collector’s prime target, she’s still alive at all.

One thing she knows for certain: the killer is always watching.

As the line between truth and deception begins to blur, Jessica crumbles under the dense web of lies she’s trying to keep straight––especially once the police start questioning more than just her sanity. With pressure mounting, Jessica must navigate being under the watchful eye of the police––and the killer––while risking it all in a dangerous game to make up for the mistakes of her past.

Her days are numbered…one way or the other.

We caught up with the author in advance of the release of The Button Collector on Sept. 17. 

​Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude any of your personal experiences or feelings?
The Button Collector is full of personal experience. Obviously, I’ve never been hunted by a serial killer, but I was a journalist for five years (like my main character), and I’m currently in my mid-twenties just like my main character. I drew a lot of inspiration for this book while I was interning at a newspaper in my early twenties. In fact, a lot of The Button Collector was written in the conference room of that newspaper office. I hope my readers can really feel that cold, ambiguous aesthetic as they’re reading. 

Tell me about your book’s title and what it represents?
The Button Collector 100% represents the serial killer in the book, whose nickname was been deemed by media due to his wild calling card. Originally, I was calling this book “Blood Stains,” but after going back and forth with that one and “The Button Collector,” as well as pitching that name to my parents and publisher, everyone agreed that The Button Collector was the way to go. 

Who is your first reader? 
Typically, my first reader is always my mom. With The Button Collector, I knew I wanted my mom to have eyes on the manuscript first because she loves thrillers. I knew she’d give me honest feedback. It turns out that this is her favorite book of mine! 

The Button Collector is available September 17, 2024, in print and e-Book. Order your copy now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, Rakuten kobo, Apple iTunes, and anywhere books are sold. 

About the author
​M. M. Cochran is an award-winning journalist and fiction writer. She is the author of young adult mystery romance novel Between the Ocean and the Stars, which was named a finalist in the 2023 National Indie Excellence Awards. She lives in the foothills of South Carolina and can most commonly be found watching sunsets, making homemade lattes, or seeking out the next adventure. Keep up with M. M. Cochran on @m.m.cochran_writer.

IngramElliott’s latest author, Jordan Berk, is more than meets the eye. He's a software engineer by trade, and a self-proclaimed "nerd by nature."  He also writes songs for piano, plays basketball, travels, and now . . . writes science fiction!

Tackling the mind-bending complexities, potential world-changing ramifications and confounding ethical quandaries associated with time travel, The Timestream Verdict not only spans several fiction genres, but finds an inventive new way to tell the classic story of an ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances that is certain to resonate with readers of all interests and backgrounds. 

Is it in the genes?
Jordan has loved time travel stories for as long as he can remember, which is why it’s no surprise to those who know him that his first-ever novel would be in that genre. He also grew up around the world of writing, film, and television. Jordan is the grandson of noted screenwriter and novelist Howard Berk, whose credits included Columbo, Mission: Impossible and The Rockford Files. Jordan’s father is Peter Berk, co-author (with Howard Berk) of IngramElliott’s award-winning TimeLock series of action/sci-fi novels and the author of a political legal thriller, First Line of Defense, available October 1. ​

​Aaron Barnett falls asleep as an ordinary 1980s accountant and wakes up sixty years later as a juror for the trial of the century. As he soon learns, the utopian society of 2042 is grappling with the murder of the legendary scientist deemed the ‘mother of time travel.' And only this jury of inadvertent time travelers is equipped to reach an impartial verdict.

Once the shock of his situation begins to wear off, Aaron finds the world of the mid twenty-first century to be a paradise. Far removed from his monotonous life, he savors the advancements and luxuries that the seemingly idyllic future has to offer.

Unfortunately, Aaron’s initial euphoria is shattered once he uncovers the complicated, hidden truths behind time travel, and realizes that his own past, present, and future are suddenly at risk. Because the harsh reality is that Aaron and his fellow jurors may be ruling on far more than a lone case of temporal homicide. They may be delivering a verdict on the very nature of time itself.

Who is your first reader – who do you first show your work to?
On Father’s Day, 2022, I handed my dad an unmarked manilla envelope. Inside was the first
copy of the just-completed Timestream Verdict (though not yet with that name): the fully-formed version of a loose idea that he had pitched to me two years prior and had surely
forgotten about since. The idea always resonated with me, and after a few months of noodling on it, I started the long writing process, always with the intention of culminating with the gift. Other than my wife, nobody was even aware of the ongoing work; it was a surprise to everyone and especially my brother, who gave him tennis racket-shaped pasta. (Not that it’s a competition.) My dad and I spent the next couple months refining and expanding the book as collaborators, and also settled on the Timestream Verdict title together.
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What genre do you generally write, and have you considered other genres?
Time travel fiction of all kinds has always called to me; I find it to be the most compelling genre given the unprecedented level of storytelling possibility. It’s not a coincidence that my favorite movie (Back to the Future) and favorite novel (Replay) are both in the genre, and yet even these two examples are wildly different in how they use the device. However fictional it may be, it’s the only genre in which I feel qualified to write.

​Tell me a little about your book’s title and what it represents?
The title has two meanings. One is literal, as the protagonist is a time-traveling juror who must reach a critical verdict. The other cuts deeper into the core of the story, which ultimately is about how each character’s perspective on the mutability of the timestream dictates their choices and actions.

Writing a novel can be personal. Did you ever question whether to include or exclude
any of your personal experiences or feelings?
While it’s not intensely personal, I pulled in as much as possible from my own history. Aaron, the protagonist, shares many of my more introverted and antisocial tendencies, though he is ultimately braver and more affable than I’ll ever be. And bits of dialogue or humor were pulled from personal experience, to add relatability and realism, and because I’m not nearly imaginative enough to come up with it on my own.

Where do you find joy in life?
Anywhere I can! Beyond the usual and most important source – spending time with friends and family – I love to sit down at a piano and write songs. I can’t sing, and have never played with anyone else, but I find it peaceful and fulfilling. Beyond that, I play basketball as much as I can. I’m gangly, awkward, and can’t jump over a sheet of paper, but I’ve got a mean mid-range jump shot, and it helps a lot that I’m tall. I also love traveling, watching television, and of course: writing sci-fi!

What is your favorite scene in your book? Why?
I’m particularly partial to the jury deliberation scene that comprises the bulk of chapter fourteen. It was inspired by 12 Angry Men, and I tried to follow that beloved, classic film’s blueprint of one (or in this case two) jurors taking on the burden of convincing their peers of the correct verdict using logic, reasoning, and healthy skepticism. And, during the writing process, I intentionally avoided seeding the trial with little clues in anticipation of this chapter. Instead, I was making the same logical extrapolations that I wrote for Aaron as I went along. I also really like the defense attorney’s closing statement that comes shortly before. My mom always said I would make a good lawyer; maybe she was right?

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The Timestream Verdict is available September 10, 2024, in print and e-Book. Pre-order today at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop, and Rakuten Kobo or wherever books are sold.

​About the author
Jordan Berk is a software engineer by trade and a certified nerd by nature. He has loved time-travel stories for as long as he can remember, and The Timestream Verdict is his first contribution to the genre. In addition to writing, he enjoys basketball, technology, and amateur songwriting (even though he can’t sing to save his life). He lives with his wonderful wife and two kids near Los Angeles, California.​