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Riley Blake
34 ratings | 1 review | avg rating:5.00

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Riley’s Bookshelves

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Riley’s Friends (517)

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John Dolan
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Evita
3,040 books | 903 friends

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Karen
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Amy Malek Concepcion
8,481 books | 310 friends

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Sheila Hall
6,951 books | 227 friends

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Maranda Prigmore
1,223 books | 661 friends

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Bee
2,352 books | 694 friends

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Angie Dokos
4,454 books | 3,655 friends

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Riley Blake

Goodreads Author


Born
Kingsport, The United States
Twitter
RileyBlakeBooks

Genre
Mystery, Christian, Crime

Member Since
June 2016


Published for over 20 years in a number of fiction genres, Riley Blake is one pseudonym for a multi-published bestselling author. Riley and her husband currently live in Nashville, Tennessee where they enjoy supporting the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Sounds. When Riley isn't writing, she is typically found on the farm watching over her rescue animals. She also enjoys reading thrillers and baking for her friends and family.

*Please note: In recent months, someone began publishing under the same pen name as Riley Blake. Riley only writes suspense, Christian suspense, cozy mystery, and thrillers. She has been writing under Riley Blake since the Kindle Worlds era (for over a decade). She does not have any artistic endeavors to publish childr ...more

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Ask the Author

Riley Blake is currently not accepting new questions.

Popular Answered Questions

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Riley Blake The best thing about being a writer is being able to set my own schedule, but it's also the one thing that can be the most challenging. Years ago, whi…moreThe best thing about being a writer is being able to set my own schedule, but it's also the one thing that can be the most challenging. Years ago, while my children were still in high school, there were scheduling conflicts. Now, it's easier to plan my day and stick to solid writing goals.

On the personal front, I've met some of the nicest people in the world. Readers seek out other readers, and discussions about books are great icebreakers. More importantly, when we meet fellow readers or writers who enjoy the same authors, books, or genres, friendships are born. Best of all, those friendships often last a lifetime.
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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Riley Blake There are three things that I would tell an aspiring writer:

Read Steven Pressfield's The War of Art before you strike the first key. You may not need…moreThere are three things that I would tell an aspiring writer:

Read Steven Pressfield's The War of Art before you strike the first key. You may not need his advice in the beginning, but someday, you probably will.

Read something new-to-you every single day.

Write daily.

Oh, and one more:

Resist the urge to classify yourself as a sprint writer. You may be the fastest writer out there, but every sprint writer that I've ever known (myself included) pays the price later in life, particularly if they're writing more than 10,000 words per day. It isn't sustainable and it will destroy your health.

If you have the occasional days or weeks when you're churning out a lot of work, that's fantastic, but writing like a machine is unhealthy.
The other part of that piece of advice is this: If you’re writing 10-20K words per day, you’re missing out on the joys of being a writer--connecting with your readers.
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See 2 answers from Riley Blake…

Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.15 · 4,316 ratings · 175 reviews · 62 distinct works • Similar authors
Hiding in the Bayou
4.08 avg rating — 289 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions
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Bayou Valentine (Miss Fortu...
3.98 avg rating — 294 ratings — 2 editions
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Bayou Halloween (Miss Fortu...
4.10 avg rating — 233 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions
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Bayou Christmas (Miss Fortu...
3.87 avg rating — 233 ratings — published 2017
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Bayou Easter (Miss Fortune ...
4.18 avg rating — 201 ratings
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Christmas in the Bayou (Mis...
3.98 avg rating — 189 ratings
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Bayou Masquerade (Miss Fort...
4.41 avg rating — 154 ratings
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Bayou Holiday (Miss Fortune...
4.19 avg rating — 159 ratings — published 2020
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The Stiletto Scandal (Miss ...
4.28 avg rating — 152 ratings — 2 editions
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Bayou New Year (Miss Fortun...
4.26 avg rating — 149 ratings
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More books by Riley Blake…

2 posts
Riley Blake's Blog: First Post

News from Nashville, Tennessee

Hey there Goodreads!

I'm new to Substack and just finished my first post yesterday. If you love free reads, cover reveals, true crime discussions, entertaining articles, and receiving recipes in your inbox, then please check out my link below!

A 'soft launch' is going on now. The pre-launch is December 28th with our official launch in January 2025!

https://rileyblakebooksandtruecrime.s...


Hope to chat Read more of this blog post »
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Published on December 04, 2024 09:31 • Tags: bookish-gifts, christmas-posts, cozy-mystery, newsletters, riley-blake-fan-fiction-author
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Series by Riley Blake

Hiding in the Bayou Christmas in the Bayou The Stiletto Scandal Bayou Valentine Bayou Halloween Bayou Christmas Bayou Easter
(95 books)
by
4.34 avg rating — 21,794 ratings

Bayou Valentine Bayou Halloween Bayou Christmas Bayou Easter Bayou Thanksgiving Bayou Holiday Bayou New Year
(13 books)
by
4.16 avg rating — 2,206 ratings

Hiding in the Bayou Buried in the Bayou
(2 books)
by
4.13 avg rating — 424 ratings

Vintage Whispers Bygone Days Christmas Treasures Let Freedom Ring: A Cozy Re... Christmas Presents
(5 books)
by
3.92 avg rating — 249 ratings

The Stiletto Scandal
(1 book)
by
4.28 avg rating — 152 ratings

More series by Riley Blake…

Riley is Currently Reading

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Riley’s Recent Updates

Riley Blake is now friends with Randy Miramontez
Apr 20, 2025 06:50AM  · 
Riley Blake rated a book it was amazing
Protective Instinct by Joy York
Protective Instinct
by Joy York (Goodreads Author)
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Joy York is a stunning storyteller and Protective Instinct is a page-turning thriller that every fiction reader needs on their bookshelf.

I purchased this novel on preorder and couldn’t wait to read it and wasn’t disappointed. Readers will fall in lov ...more
Sep 19, 2024 01:21PM  ·   · see review
Riley Blake is currently reading
The Bloody Shoe Affair by Joy York
The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer's daughter (The Jailer's Daughter Mysteries Book 1)
by Joy York (Goodreads Author)
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Sep 19, 2024 01:20PM  ·   ·  preview book
Riley Blake is now following stephanie huntington and allen christ
Sep 17, 2024 06:54PM
Riley Blake wants to read
French Pressed by Cleo Coyle
French Pressed (Coffeehouse Mystery, #6)
by Cleo Coyle (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 27, 2024 11:00AM  ·   ·  preview book
Riley Blake rated a book it was amazing
Back to the Light by Jessica Scachetti
Back to the Light
by Jessica Scachetti (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 19, 2024 04:46AM  ·   ·  preview book
Riley Blake rated a book it was amazing
Wonder of Light by Jessica Scachetti
Wonder of Light
by Jessica Scachetti (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 19, 2024 04:46AM  · 
Riley Blake has read
Wonder of Light by Jessica Scachetti
Wonder of Light
by Jessica Scachetti (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 19, 2024 04:45AM  · 
Riley Blake rated a book it was amazing
Fortune Furlough by Jana Deleon
Fortune Furlough (Miss Fortune Mystery, #14)
by Jana Deleon (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 30, 2024 07:01AM  ·   ·  preview book
More of Riley's books…
Quotes by Riley Blake  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“If Pearl catches the first dead man’s hand, she’ll spend the rest of her days in the chapel.”
 ”
― Riley Blake, Christmas Treasures
tags: cozy-mystery, riley-blake-books, riley-blake-mysteries
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“I can spot a dead one. Thanks to the set eyes, I’d go as far as to say that this was an unexpected death.”
― Riley Blake, Bygone Days
tags: cozy-mystery, cozy-suspense, riley-blake, riley-blake-books, riley-blake-mysteries
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“Miffed, Opal said, “Oh, good grief. Knock off the Southern belle act. Just because you wear my gloves and speak like a debutante doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten the first days of your twenties.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she drawled.

“Soiled. Dove. Need I say anything more?”
― Riley Blake, Christmas Presents
tags: cozies, cozy-mystery, cozy-suspense
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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
Cozy Mysteries : This topic has been closed to new comments. Mystery ABC's, Round 3 13220 632 Apr 24, 2017 10:00AM  
Cozy Mysteries : This topic has been closed to new comments. Title and Author game, Round 4 16049 652 Jan 05, 2019 04:49AM  
The Lost Challenges: It's All in a Name 2020 90 125 Jan 01, 2021 02:28PM  
Fiction Fanatics: April 2025 - Monthly Challenge 84 31 May 17, 2025 02:23AM  
Cozy Mysteries : July 2025 1 45 Jul 01, 2025 01:38AM  

Riley’s Quotes

“There always comes a time in life where you can either give up or step up.”
― Graeme Rodaughan, The Crane War
tags: courage, empowerment, opportunity, perseverance, victory
108 likes
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“You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.”
― Saul Bellow
tags: imagination, inspiration, writing
6961 likes
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“Miffed, Opal said, “Oh, good grief. Knock off the Southern belle act. Just because you wear my gloves and speak like a debutante doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten the first days of your twenties.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she drawled.

“Soiled. Dove. Need I say anything more?”
― Riley Blake, Christmas Presents
tags: cozies, cozy-mystery, cozy-suspense
0 likes
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“If Pearl catches the first dead man’s hand, she’ll spend the rest of her days in the chapel.”
 ”
― Riley Blake, Christmas Treasures
tags: cozy-mystery, riley-blake-books, riley-blake-mysteries
0 likes
Like

“Those stories look more like premeditated murder and less like random predictions.”
― Riley Blake, Christmas Treasures
tags: cozy-mystery, riley-blake, riley-blake-books
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Riley’s Groups

174195 Around the Year in 52 Books — 10728 members — last activity 13 minutes ago
~ 2024 Reading Challenge ~ 52 books for 52 weeks. Each week, members read the book of their choice for that week's challenge requirement. ▶︎ CURREN ...more
575477 AMERICAN HISTORICAL NOVELS — 1158 members — last activity Mar 21, 2024 03:40AM
American Historical Novels is hosted weekly by your favorite authors. This is NOT a reading group, but a place to discover great, new fiction. There w ...more

Riley’s Friend Comments




Comments (showing 1-1)    post a comment »
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message 1: by Blak
Feb 17, 2017 10:30PM

Blak Rayne Great to meet you, Riley! All the best. :D


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