Okay, perhaps I simply hope I'm wiggling my way into your heart of favorite authors. I'm so thankful to every reader who has given me a chance and though I'm not a viral sensation, I love to see my follows on Amazon increase and a new reader's review pop up on my radar.
I'm the slow but steady author.
I just checked and I'm now at 630 followers on Amazon! That's 630 people that get notified when I launch a new book on Amazon! In December of 2023 I had 566 followers on Amazon, so I've gained 64 new fans in 2024! Some might not think that's a lot over a year, but I pride myself on winning those reader's hearts and not simply being "followed" but a "go-to" author, someone they can count on to continue to give them a good story, book after book.
This newsletter is mostly personal updates, so you can scroll past to the Indie Temptations and help support some fun reads by checking out my books, or other indies if you'd rather skip what's at the forefront of my mind at the moment, which is my Papa, my grandfather.
Yesterday, I spent the whole day at the Veteran's hospital for my grandfather. I call him Papa. He's been living with my mom for the past seven years when the doctors told everyone he didn't have much time to live because of his heart failure and cancer, and he's still going.
I bring it up in today's newsletter because we brought him in yesterday because of the deterioration of his dementia, which has given him auditory hallucinations that have been harassing him constantly. Can you imagine having voices verbally abuse you over and over again on repeat, and no one believes they are real?
It's a lonely feeling. Defending yourself everyday, by yourself, against people that won't leave you alone. No privacy, no peace, and everyone telling you that it's all in your head.
The voices have progressively become more aggressive and threatening to the point where he is scared, and the things he's hearing have worried and scared the rest of the family to the point of locking their doors at night, just in case he decided to do anything the voices threatened. Hence the hospital visit, but we were there ALL day and not until 2 am in the morning did he finally get admitted.
I didn't feel comfortable leaving until he was situated and that I knew when I could come back to support him, because the hospital is a temporary solution and I don't want him to feel abandoned. I worry, because I want the doctors to recommend a place that can better care for him that also allows him freedoms that family can come pick him up or take him out places, and visit often.
Listening to him talk about these voices was scary, because what he describes is something that is entirely possible in the future, and that's what makes the voices even more convincingly real for him. Because to him, these voices have found a way to hack into his brain. With future brain implants that's entirely possible, and a frightening future, but a very real present for him.
This whole thought process leads to how powerful the mind really is, and that reality really is perception.
Each and every one of us has our own realities shaped by our perceptions of what our brains interpret of the data that is given to it. And that core statement is what makes fantasy books so engaging. Because MAGIC is simply something that our brains are unable to explain.
And perhaps the lack of magic in our world is simply a manifestation of a mass social construct limiting our brain's ability to perceive it.
And behind that veil, are the many worlds of magic to explore.
Including, a world of gods and goddesses, monsters and prophecy, fated mates, and world-saving adventures.
Dive into a different reality, filled with magic, fates, and gods with me. I love living inside of the worlds created by my imagination, and every adventure is more fun with friends!
Take a chance on reading Taking Medusa, available in Audible and Kindle Unlimited!
Taking Medusa is my slow-burn Medusa Romantasy and if you haven't already, you can start reading right away! Start with Taking Medusa and read on through to the newly released Breaking Fate! Both books are available in Kindle Unlimited and Audible!
https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
https://books.steviemarie.com/breakingfate
Happy reading, and perhaps you'll find your next favorite read among the featured indie authors below!
xoxo
Stevie
PS: I'm not making light of my Papa's condition; I'll be returning to the hospital today to see what the doctors recommend for him and be there to support him. The people hacking into his brain are very much real to him, and I do not diminish the true fear, harassment, and lack of privacy he is suffering through because of that. I imagine a story based on him being the hero of a future sci-fi book where it isn't dementia causing these symptoms, but actual people hacking brains for the benefit of advertising and big corporations. Our goals with the hospital is to hopefully find a medicine that can block the intrusion into his peace of mind, the current medicines have not helped and he's been suffering through harassment for over 8 months because of these voices, but imagine for a moment that advertising companies had access to our brains and not just our phones and computers. What a scary thought!
My Papa is at the forefront of my mind right now, but I'll resume bookish updates next week with my newest release by my pen name Sky Robert: Her Alien Starbreaker in the Anthology Beyond Earth collection: https://books2read.com/besfa
Enjoy this urban fantasy adventure with an older heroine, a slow burn enemies to lovers romance, dragon riding, and tons of action!
Dragons, elementals, and love!
When her memories return, Cari finds herself in the midst of a far more complicated world than she ever imagined. Her family, the royalty of the kingdom of Piscea, are being held prisoner by the Mad King Varan - a power-hungry merman bent on conquering the five merfolk kingdoms.
"I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning and the twist at the end surprised me!" - 5 stars
"An amazing debut fantasy novel from an incredibly talented author. A truly riveting mermaid tale. Secrets and struggles lie below the water's surface." 5-stars
"I loved the characters in this YA fantasy about mermaids. It was so sweet & cute." 5-stars (Book One of Seafoam and Saltwater)
Book two is coming in MARCH! You can preorder now for only 99 pennies, and start reading book one in KU today!
Hope you find some great indie reads! Chat soon!
xoxo
Stevie
What people have been saying about Breaking Fate: here are a few snippets from the reviews so far!
✨"Breathtaking romantasy" - N.N. Light
✨"Flipping pages late into the night" - Rebel
✨"It's like watching a movie, only better" - N.N. Light
✨"I couldn't put it down" - Amy's Bookshelf Reviews
✨"Powerful and ever-changing FMC" - Mary
✨"Twistedly Brilliant" - Rose
✨"Mystery of fates and desires... Deliciously Torturous" - Jess
✨"A Fascinating Colossal World" - Sandra
✨"I absolutely love this book!" - LaWanda
✨"Hungry for more" - Jess
✨"This.author.is.EVERYTHING!!!!" - Megan
Start Reading Taking Medusa today in Kindle Unlimited: https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
Taking Medusa is available in Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150498806-taking-medusa
Book two is LIVE! https://books.steviemarie.com/breakingfate
Add to your Goodreads shelf: Breaking Fate (Dark Gods Rising, #2) by S.M. McCoy | Goodreads Breaking Fate on Amazon: https://books.steviemarie.com/breakingfate
Check out the Author store and grab the signed hardcover or signed paperbacks! https://payhip.com/BrokenBooksPublishing
Also by me: Do you like Alien Romances?
Check out my Pen Name Sky Robert!
Author Updates/Writing Progress!
I'm wrapping up recording for a fantasy adventure for Alyssa Rose, and I've been preparing materials for in-person author events, including table runners and banners. I'm currently looking into potential bookish events to attend for 2025-2026. If there is one that you would love to see me attend, let me know.
Breaking Fate IS LIVE available in KU and Audible!
What am I working on now?
Book Three of Dark Gods Rising! Reaping Olympus! Progress 5K/90K = 5%
Goblin's Treasure! Progress 16K/90k = 17%
Goblin's Treasure, a standalone Labyrinth dark fantasy romance retelling
If you would like to help support future books, and this series, you can grab my newest release Breaking Fate on Amazon here or read in Kindle Unlimited! https://books.steviemarie.com/breakingfate
Chat soon!
xoxo
Stevie
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Disclaimer: sometimes my links have affiliate tags associated with them, this in no way influences who I decide to share with you on my newsletter, nor does it impact your experience with discovering new books. If anything, any affiliate links used help authors, including myself, subsidize the costs associated with staying in business. For instance, using a tagged link helps us see whether someone found our books from our own marketing efforts or through some other means, also with Amazon specifically, that puts a couple extra pennies from grabbing one of our books back to the author from the big company. More of your money goes to the author, and your costs remain the same. My affiliate links have regularly covered the cost of maintaining this newsletter. So, if anything, click on a link for my books, and even if you are not buying my book, feel free to go about your usual Amazon shopping to help support my books through stuff you would normally buy anyways. Stick it to "the man" and support indie authors while you do it. This has been a PSA announcement from yours truly. Sky
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