Chris Allen, Gency Brown, Donna Pedace, Keith Pyeatt, and Sharon Kayne represent the genre-diverse membership of SouthWest Writers (SWW). Their new releases couldn’t fit in this year’s interview schedule, but look for 2026 interviews or updates for most of these authors.
A list of interviewed SWW authors with 2025 releases is included at the end of this post.
The Music of Creation (Artemesia Publishing, November 2025) by Paul J. Knight and SWW member Chris Allen.
In a universe where music is a narcotic, an alien must protect a brilliant Irish composer from abduction. Music from Earth has a profound impact on alien species who use it as a mind-altering drug. A ruthless off-world cartel called the Abductors hunt musicians to sell as commodities. But the Protectors are dedicated to guarding musicians from these ruthless traffickers. When brilliant teenage composer Ryan (a boy whose music can alter space) is discovered in Ireland, the Abductors plot to capture him, and novice Protector Lindsey is sent to protect the boy and his family. Against the turmoil of an intergalactic war, Lindsey must succeed before Ryan’s ability destroys the universe.
You’ll find The Music of Creation at Artemesia Publishing, Bookshop, and Amazon.
Light in the Dark Forest (November 2025) by Gency Brown.
Ava Hardy yearns for more than her job as a Tulsa Herald reporter. Her life, though comfortable, leaves questions about her future. Seeking clarity, she embarks on a sabbatical to a remote cabin in the mountains of Eastern Oklahoma. Surrounded by the breathtaking landscape, Ava finds new friendships, a budding romance, and solitude, which all inspire her creative spirit for writing her second novel. But her peace is shattered by a murder that unearths hidden truths from her past. Will it all lead to a greater understanding of her father and her destiny?
Look for Gency on her website at GencyBrown.com and on Facebook and Instagram. Light in the Dark Forest is available at Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, and her Amazon book store.
Women Warriors of WWII: Nancy Wake, The White Mouse (RMK Publications LLC, November 2025) by Donna Pedace.
Nancy Wake was one of the most decorated women of World War II and a symbol of courage and defiance against the Nazi occupation of France. As a British Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent working with the French Resistance, she organized sabotage missions and worked with thousands of Maquis fighters in guerrilla warfare ahead of the Allied invasion. Known to the Gestapo as “The White Mouse” for her uncanny ability to elude capture, she became a legend during her own lifetime. Wake’s fearless leadership and unwavering determination shattered the gender expectations of her era, making her an enduring icon of bravery and resilience. Her remarkable life — before, during, and after the war — is an inspiration to all who cherish freedom and justice.
You’ll find Donna on Facebook and her Amazon book store.
The Sirens of Sayhurn (December 2025) by Keith Pyeatt.
Passion can save a world… or destroy it.
In Sayhurn, sirens summon men not to doom them but to sire children and keep their fragile world alive. When one siren succumbs to forbidden desire, she inadvertently exposes her world to a charismatic opportunist who introduces drugs, addiction, and devastation to Sayhurn, threatening all they hold sacred. Erin, a woman scarred by betrayal, and Clayton, an unassuming handyman, are drawn into a battle for Sayhurn’s survival. Ultimately, it falls on Erin and Clayton to rescue the world they’ve come to love in this story of passion, addiction, and personal sacrifice.
Visit Keith on KeithPyeatt.com, Bluesky, Facebook, and Goodreads, as well as his Amazon book store.
Variations on a Romance (December 2025) by Sharon Kayne.
This spicy, slow-burn, second-chance historical romance is set in 1898 Colorado against the backdrop of the rugged West. Lily doesn’t know her husband Peter at all anymore. Eight months into her marriage, a horse-riding accident has left her with partial amnesia—she has no recollection of the past two years, which includes all of the time she’d known Peter. Lily wants desperately to fall in love with him again, and that need becomes even more crucial when she discovers she’s carrying his child. Peter is a quiet man. Courting Lily was difficult enough the first time. He’ll do whatever it takes to win her heart again, but running his ranch can’t just stop for a second courtship. After he loses one of his cattle to a wolf attack, Peter finds he has other matters—and dangers—to face. The book explores themes such as grief, need, and responsibility. Inspired by a true story.
Look for Sharon on her website SharonKayne.com, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her Amazon book store.
SWW Author Interviews: 2025 Releases
Tom Andes
Wait There Till You Hear From Me: A Charles Prentiss Novel
Irene Blea
Talking with Rudy: Platicando con Rudolfo Anaya
Marcia Butler
Dear Virginia, Wait for Me
Kira Córdova
Carma: How It Is
Dita Dow
Sins in Black
Patricia Gable
The Right Discovery
Peter Gooch
LIPS: Kiss The Lips That Lie
Holly Harrison
Death in the Land of Enchantment
A. Michael Hibner
The Gangs of Santa Fe
Wendy Johnson
Kinship Medicine: Cultivating Interdependence to Heal the Earth and Ourselves
Sharon Kayne
The Green Silk Gown
Ed Lehner
Sunset in Paris
Jack Woodville London
Dangerous Latitudes
Gary Lucero
The Unknown Race
David Menicucci
Two Centuries to Freedom, The True Story of One Family’s Two-Century Migration from Lucca, Italy, to New Mexico and Other American States
Lisa Page
Saving Cottonwood
Douglas W. Price
Livengoods Living Well
Lisa C. Taylor
The Shape of What Remains
Zachry Wheeler
Starship Eternity
KL Wagoner loves creating worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Her current work in progress is The Last Bonekeeper fantasy trilogy and short stories in the same universe. A member of SouthWest Writers since 2006, Kat has worked as the organization’s secretary, newsletter editor, website manager, and author interview coordinator. Kat is also a veteran, a martial art student, and a grandmother. Visit her at klwagoner.com.
