Hey ,
This is the weekly Thursday NL for S.M. McCoy for all things fantastical sci-fi fantasy and paranormal adventures with a splash of romance.
If you are on this NL it is because you joined a giveaway like AuthorsXP, BookSweeps, grabbed a copy of My Abett, Kingdom of Acatalec, or spotted my Divine series around and thought that author seems cool, and I would like to stay in touch!
Do you like mermaids fangs? Do you like Greek Myth Retellings? Atlantis? Triton? Poseidon? Medusa? Love Triangles? Magic, and Adventure?
Story time quieted both the mermen the rest of the journey to Atlantis, or perhaps I was too far gone to be aware of when they were talking anymore. The revelation of Coraline’s death being anything more than self defense, wrapped up into a whole age-long grudge between powerful gods was hard to swallow. Though anything would be when your lungs were full of salt water, but my two escorts, which was putting it mildly, were spooked. Even the surly one had lightened his grip, and the current around me seemed to rip past at a faster speed for him to be rid of me.
Since I wasn’t dead yet, I couldn’t dismiss the idea of ancient gods as easily as I would have yesterday. Hell, yesterday merfolk were off the table. Today, sea magic prevented me from drowning, though not from the feeling like I was. The pressure in my chest was enough to make me wish the sea would release me, even if that meant dying.
Cowardly, I knew, but healing fast all my life had made me soft to pain. I just wanted it to end.
A light in the distance had me hoping that for a moment I believed it was that ethereal light people talked about when the pain was over. When the reaper took you past the pearly gates into the afterlife.
“Drop them here. The sentinels will find them eventually. She’s been cold all night now, even her eyes are glassy. The sea has released them to Hades. It was a nice thing you did talking to her in her last moments.”
“Coraline was pressing her luck with the gods. Messing with the mortals like she was, the nymph didn’t deserve to die so young. Not even old enough to have sworn fealty to the sea and gain her gills.”
They were talking about me as if I had died, but all I could think about was, would I have sprouted gills? Wouldn’t Theo have said something? Why would she keep it a secret? Was my sister a nymph too?
“You can’t dwell on that stuff. The gods may have taken a different approach to things these days, but whatever they have planned we’d only get in the way.”
“She’s beautiful, even now,” his voice was gentle and I thought it was sweet for him to care so much about Coraline, but then it was my face that his hand caressed, brushing back my blonde stands. I still couldn’t see anything but the light fogging in the distance, but I could feel the pressure of his lips on my forehead as his frame blocked the light from view.
“I didn’t know you were into nymphs,” his friend mocked trying to lift the mood of heady darkness.
“You know she isn’t like the rest of them.”
“Wasn’t,” he corrected, “and I’m not blind.” He cleared his throat uncomfortable with saying anything kind about me, even if it was superficial. “Never seen hair as gold as hers except on the gods themselves.”
“Her eyes were as green as the tropical seas before the life left her, and I’d never seen a nymph with wings.”
Now, that stumped me. Wings? What were they talking about?
“Not having a tail, I can imagine they are some kind of fins that were meant to help her swim without one. Not even her hands have any webbing.”
“Reminds me of a sea robin.”
“She does look more bird than fish with double fins like a right proper angel. But she’s gone now, and whatever plot she’s part of we need to be in the city before they find her.”
Considering Coraline had a mertail, and they had to be speaking of me like I was some fascinating scientific discovery to marvel at.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking insurance.”
“We already have the princess’ blood what do we need the nymph’s hair for?”
“For the sea witch. Now let’s fuck off before we attract attention.”
The softer merman gave me a squeeze and whispered into my hair, “May Poseidon bless your passage in the Underworld fair soul. I wish you would have let your legs be stolen for I would have defied the gods to get them back for you.” Then he kissed my temple before releasing me into the sea’s embrace to drift alone.
“Poseidon hasn’t answered anyone’s prayers for a long time. You’re wasting your breath.” Then the sounds of their voices were gone, and all I had was the small light in the distance that reached beyond the fog of whatever death consumed me. I had hoped the light was my end, that when I reached it I could rest so I tried to move closer. But my limbs were too numb, and I drifted only by the grace of the water’s current.
Until all I saw was light… and then nothing.
I woke with a fit of coughing, clutching at my chest. Gulping in air, luxurious, burning yet joyous air. One heave at a time I was breathing, and it was equal parts excitement to feel alive, and dreadfully painful to actually be ALIVE. Because if this was death, there was no rest in peace.
“I’ll inform Triton that you’ve woken,” a deep silky voice relayed from my bedside. I was on a bed, and I wasn’t alone. When I opened by eyes I stared, unable to look away.
His eyes were the clearest blue, and as soon as I could pry myself from their depths all I could see was his bare chest with chiseled muscles. Not bulky, but toned and sleek with large broad shoulders. He let me drink him in without a word, waiting for my mouth to close before a knowing smile touched his lips. I’d have been mortified, if I wasn’t still so elated at discovering the last day of memories was possibly some horrible nightmare that I had concocted in my delirium.
He probably found me washed up ashore and brought me back to his place instead of the hospital.
So much relief lifted from me while I plastered my attention on this handsome stranger. And just as suddenly his words cleared up in my mind, inform Triton. Triton. For salts sake, I had better be letting my mind run away again. He could not have said the name of the mythical King of Atlantis, a name I clearly would not be hearing if I didn’t die drowning in the sea after murdering his daughter. In self defense, but still not a good first impression. Plus, I was so certainly dead if all of that was true, if not now most assuredly soon, and definitely worse than drowning.
Horror replaced my previous expression. He lifted a dark brow musing over the flip of my emotions from pure blissful relief to stark ghastly realization of where I was. And why was I in such a nice room instead of a dungeon?
“Where am I?” My voice still gravelly.
Read more of Taking Medusa and support this fun Greek Myth Retelling by grabbing your copy from the zon, become a verified purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6NXSN7X
And I'm still accepting ARC readers through the following Google Form signup, so you can apply here and read it before anyone else! https://forms.gle/aSKYhWPwXFQ769rU7
ARC Readers will be emailed next week, so fill out your form quick!
Taking Medusa!
I was used by the gods.
A monster to:
Display
F*ck
Slay
Kidnapped by mermaids, I've killed Triton's daughter of the Coral Sea, and am destined by the fates to die, but they don't know who I am.
I'll be the ruin of them all.
I'll expose who the true monsters are.
The dark gods will rise.
I am Medusa.
And my story will be told.
NEWSLETTER AUTHOR UPDATES
Okaaaay, so, on the update front. We have Taking Medusa going through BETA phase right now, while I'm taking another comb through of editing. Once my Betas finish their read through, I usually only pick 5 BETA readers, and they usually read through pretty quickly.
Thomas already finished reading and had this to say about Taking Medusa, "Really enjoyed this! There are so many memorable scenes and images. The large-scale plot works too. I admire the way it builds up to the need for Medusa to lead the dark gods against the Olympians. I'm not an expert on Greek mythology, but this story seems to be very much in the spirit of the original stories."
Harleem is plugging away and giving some great feedback that will make the final launch even better! And it makes me smile that she enjoyed the saying, "Good glory, sweet sea water" that Aless uses in the book. YAy!
You can support this new series of Dark Gods Greek Myth Retellings by pre-ordering the book Taking Medusa on the zon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6NXSN7X
Or becoming part of my ARC team before I close up the form: https://forms.gle/aSKYhWPwXFQ769rU7
Hope you enjoyed the little sneak peek preview above and get excited to read more! Add the book to your GR TBR here: Taking Medusa (Dark Gods Rising, #1) by S.M. McCoy | Goodreads
If we reach 200 pre-orders of Taking Medusa by Launch on October 3rd, 2023. I will commission art of the MCs and have fun stickers made!
Book Fairs and Appearances! I signed up for ApollyCon in Washington DC for April 2024, cross our fingers that I'll get the acceptance email and see some of you there!
I also submitted for the Portland Book Fair November 4th 2023!
I can't tell you how excited I am, and relieved to finally start doing things in person, and being a bit more social. Being a hermit/introvert is my statis quo, but when you find your tribe, even the most closeted of us can come out of our shell for a bit to have fun talking about what we love, BOOKS!
And in the spirit of MEDUSA! I'm not the only one releasing a fun monster retelling soon! My girl, Ava Ross is too!
Coming June 7th 2023:
My ex-boyfriend was transformed into a medusa, and he’s set his eyes on me.
https://www.amazon.com/Whose-Have-Your-Claws-Under-ebook/dp/B0BT6BLTTQ
Do you have any book events you're looking forward to?
Chat soon!
Check out this week's Featured Indie Freebie Temptations!
https://books.bookfunnel.com/aliensandalphasjunefreebies/hxay3vhd97
~Chat later!
Indie Kindle Unlimited:
A missing mother. A magical birthright. Can she uncover the secrets of her family legacy before the bloodline runs dry?
My name is Chrystal Dylan, and I was born with the worst super power ever, a lightning rod for supernatural energy that attracts vampires like cat nip to feed from. Nothing like being an all you can eat buffet, until one decided to “save” me from that fate by triggering my transition into the very thing killing me.
Considering that was the least of my problems, I have a Council looking to eliminate all anomalies threatening to expose them to the human world, it just so happens that I’m one of them, and so is my best friend Victor. I won’t go down without some answers, including what they did with my mom.
Blood Crescent is the first novel in the exhilarating Divine Series of YA paranormal fantasies. If you like hidden magical realms, fresh new takes on vampire lore, and heartfelt journeys of self-discovery, then you’ll love this spellbinding coming-of-age tale.
NEW RELEASE Her Alien Prince on KU!
Released May 1st 2023 and already over 60 Reviews with a 4.4 average rating!
"I wasn't expecting it to be perfection, but it practically was. The writing, the depth, the detail, the storyline, the characters...it all was so amazing. Easily near the top of my favorite books of all time. I could re-read this many times. The uniqueness of the characters is fantastic." - Amazon Reviewer
"Alien romances are my favorite genre or romance as of recently and this is going to be added to my “favorites” list. " - Amazon Reviewer
https://books.steviemarie.com/heralienprince
Thank you for being part of my author tribe! Chat later!
Kingdom of Acatalec
Kingdom of Acatalec is a fantasy adventure set in a futuristic world with deadly drone races, a kingdom with a mysterious secret that could end both civilizations, and along the way you have two magical dudes that she crushes on, but she's got more important things to do like survive this new world with the skills she's honed through adversity.
https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Acatalec-Book-1-ebook/dp/B0B4V9867P/
Magical world of aliens, check.
Lots of secrets, and world building check, and check.
Mystery, murder, and lies... Absolutely!
The romance takes longer to develop, yup.
MC is in a wheelchair, and that doesn't stop her from kicking ass, YESSSS!
It starts off slow, then takes off like a rocket and sucks you into the new world of Acatalec, full of adventure, romance, magic, and a futuristic Seattle with sciencey possibilities like drones as the future of transportation, brain implants like what we see Elon Musk engineering, and contact lenses that connect with it.
Here's what people have been saying about the book so far!
Go start reading/listening to Kingdom of Acatalec . Available in all the places books/stuffage is sold including Kindle, Audible and more! Even request the book at your local library! I would absolutely love it if you did that!
Kingdom of Acatalec: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B4V9867P
Request Kingdom of Acatalec in your library! Or grab from all the places here:
https://books2read.com/u/4Ajr8e
Kingdom of Acatalec is now in the following digital Library systems:
Allen County Public Library
Howard County Library System
Mauney Memorial Library
Already read the book? Thank you from the bottom of my squishy heart, please share your thoughts on all the places readers gather, even on your favorite Facebook groups! Many indie authors such as myself are not allow to self-promote on many groups, so your word of mouth means everything!
Review Kingdom of Acatalec on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
Review My Abett The Prequel on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
Don't forget to dig out your free book My Abett and give it a read, you can devour it in under 2 hours for a small reality escape.
You can read My Abett with Kindle Unlimited to help support the universe of Acatalec, or fish it out of your readers from downloading your freesies copy from Bookfunnel 🥰💞
Grab My Abett for freesies: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/pzx6j7x29n
Read My Abett on KU or become a verified reader for 1.99 to help support the next book in the Acatalec Series: https://www.amazon.com/My-Abett-Fantasy-Adventure-Acatalec-ebook/dp/B0B72GF5DJ/
Did you enjoy reading My Abett? Consider leaving a review on the zon, or on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61872483-my-abett
This book takes place before Kingdom of Acatalec, but I wrote if after, so reading it first does change how you read this book, as information is revealed that isn't known in book one.
~Stevie, author of all things fantasical and otherworldly adventurous, mom of a few humans in training... including my hubby. Overall booknerd, and yes... I am writing this in my pjs. Why not?
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Check out Dark Gods Rising- Taking Medusa:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6NXSN7X
Check out Kingdom of Acatalec: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B4V9867P
Check out the Divine Series:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MB9JJ7K
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I am a human behind these strange goings ons, so welcome to the weird, the strange, the fantastical, and all the book love I can give.
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