Booked and Introduced: Danielle Smyth
I’m so grateful to have connected with Danielle earlier this year when we were both using the same PR company to get the word out about our books. Then I learned she lives about 30 minutes from me here in Upstate New York—which led to an IRL meeting at my book launch party. Since then, I’ve read all of her backlist, and I’m thrilled to say I was an ARC reader for her latest, ANY PORT IN A STORM, which releases September 23, 2026—and has all of the fall vibes and swoony characters you’ll love.
Tell us a little about yourself and the kinds of books you write.
Hi, I’m Danielle! I’m a hopeless romantic and a small business owner who spends most of her time writing. Thus far, my books have all fallen into the contemporary romance vertical, edging slightly toward women’s lit at times. I have a November release that’s my first foray into speculative romance, though, and I’m very excited about that!
Generally speaking, all of my stories are character-driven, center on books or book lovers, and feature strong female main characters trying to find themselves, helped along at times by green-flag main male characters.
Where did the idea for your current or most recent book come from?
My upcoming release, Any Port in a Storm, is the interconnected standalone sequel to Beautiful Place by the Sea, an earlier release. I knew I wanted to write another book featuring the characters from BPBTS, and I like my interconnected standalones to pivot to secondary female characters from previous books. Laurel Montgomery-Parker is the cousin of the main character in BPBTS, and in that story, she’s struggling both with her dissertation and a love triangle. I decided to start Any Port in a Storm where BPBTS left off for Laurel.
What kinds of books do you reach for when you are reading purely for fun?
I’ll read almost anything, but my favorite genres are contemporary romance and memoirs. I love books that make me think, make me feel, and offer escapism. I’m a huge fan of writers like Carley Fortune and Emily Henry, because their stories are intelligent, lush, and feature both love stories and personal growth. They inspire me when I’m writing my books, too.
What is a book you never get tired of recommending?
Oh my goodness, there are so many! My favorite book of all time is Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, and I’ll recommend it to anyone, even though it’s for children. It’s incredibly creative and pure magic, so I love it still. My favorite contemporary romances (at the moment) are probably Funny Story by Emily Henry and One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune, but it’s hard to choose—there are so many wonderful books out there!
What are you working on now, and where can readers find you and your books?
At the moment, I am finishing up my November release, a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol called Saving Scrooge. It’s going to be the first in a new series of books called Unwritten, which will all be twists on classic lit. After that, I’m jumping back to the last book in my Ghost Writing series, which is coming out in February 2027. I love talking to other book lovers and readers, and I’m especially active on Instagram and Threads, but you can find me on any of the major social platforms.
All of my books can be found on Amazon or at AstralumenPress.com, or online via Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Bookshop.org, and any independent sellers that participate with Ingram. Thank you so much for the chance to chat with your readers!
Connect with Danielle Smyth here:
Laurel Montgomery-Parker is used to moving on autopilot—chasing degrees, meeting expectations, and cautiously avoiding the kind of heartbreak she doubts she’d survive twice. Then she meets Nick O’Connor, an Irish graduate student whose easy charm and quiet steadiness upend everything she thought she wanted.
What begins as an unexpected connection grows into a years-long friendship that ultimately turns into something more. But when a devastating secret tears them apart, Laurel and Nick are left to mourn the loss of everything they’ve built together.
Then March 2020 hits. An obligatory university event throws Laurel and Nick together just as the world grinds to a halt. Forced into lockdown in Laurel’s Boston apartment, they must confront unresolved heartbreak, lingering desire, and painful truths they’ve spent months trying to outrun.
When the future Laurel imagines for herself begins to unravel, Nick helps her reframe what she truly wants out of life. And when tragedy strikes for Nick, Laurel realizes he might need her just as much as she needs him.
Set against the backdrop of academia and the early days of a world in chaos, Any Port in a Storm is a sweeping love story about loyalty, loss, and finding beauty both in ourselves and the world around us.