Hi ,
You're receiving this email because you're part of my ARC TEAM!
You opt-ed in or signed up via my Google form for Breaking Fate. As part of the ARC team, I do a few updates before launch, at launch and after launch. This is not an ongoing newsletter, This is for the active ARC team only, which means, after launch month, you will no longer get emails about the book, the next email you'll get will be when there is a new ARC to opt-in for after launch of Breaking Fate.
GRAB TAKING MEDUSA for FREE from Amazon and become a verified reader today with the ROMANCE BOOK BLAST! Today only!
https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
Check out the Romance Book Blast here and search by category for other awesome books: https://romancebookworms.com/
If you missed the onboarding email for the ARC team before, you can view all the stuffage at the end of this email update. Including links to the book.
I've been part of ARC teams before, and I found I really enjoyed seeing book stats, shout outs for fellow ARC readers, and overall behind the scenes info from the author. So, I aim for my ARC teams to be more of a community, than simply emails that say, "Hey, it's me, have you read my book yet?"
As a reminder, my name is Stevie. I'm the author, it's me. (Don't deny that you sung that like Taylor Swift)
Being part of my team doesn't mean you have to read my book at all. It is not a requirement. And there is no pressure. If my book is not for you, that's okay. I don't bite, you're welcome to opt-out at any time.
With that out of the way, UPDATES!
Breaking Fate now has 6 reviews, 20 to reads, 6 currently reading on Goodreads! Have you added the book to your shelves? You can here:
Breaking Fate (Dark Gods Rising, #2) by S.M. McCoy | Goodreads
There are 30 preorders on Amazon
Taking Medusa launched with 38 preorders last year in October!
Meaning, we are 8 readers away from matching the launch of book one, and one month to reach those readers! That's really my main goal for the launch is to at least reach the 38 preorders of book one.
Those numbers are small compared to some other indies, but for me, this is an improvement from previous books in the fantasy category. It's less than what I usually get for my alien romances, but like any genre, you have to find new readers for different pen names/categories and build from there.
My last alien romance launch had 99 preorders for my 5th book launched in alien romance.
So, comparatively, I consider Taking Medusa my first book launch after revamping my process and actually making efforts to build an audience for my S.M. McCoy books. That would make Breaking Fate the 2nd book launched since rebranding and starting fresh with fantasy romance. I'll compare preorder numbers between my genres once I've reached book five and see if it's reached 99 preorders then!
Also, I'm in progress of adapting the book to Audiobook for Audible!
I'm behind schedule after getting Covid, but I'm trying to get back on track.
WE ARE ONE MONTH AWAY FROM LAUNCH!!!
And September is my birthday month!
So, I made the decision to add Taking Medusa to the Romance Book Blast Day, both as a celebration of my birthday month, but also as a push to expand awareness of the series and Breaking Fate's launch and give everyone on my team the opportunity to have book one as a verified purchase, which helps protect their reviewing accounts from whatever nonsense Amazon can come up with next to remove reviews.
That means, TODAY is the day to grab Taking Medusa on Amazon for freesies and become a verified reader!
Grab it freesies today: https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
Check out all the other Romantasy reads on Romance Book Blast Day
I'm hoping that by making Taking Medusa a "loss leader" that even if Taking Medusa doesn't break even on launch costs, that at least the influx of potential readers might result in Breaking Fate being my first fantasy book to break even sometime next year, and thus being able to afford to launch Reaping Olympus in March 2025.
On average it costs me around 1,400 to launch a book. First books in a series usually cost a bit more, Taking Medusa was 1,700. That's 4,500 invested for the trilogy.
Taking Medusa has made around $430 total in royalties since it launched. It has not broken even on its cost to launch yet.
Breaking Fate has 32 total preorders (30 on Amazon, 2 from my author store) which is around $64
Some may look at those numbers and be like... WHY would anyone want to be an indie author? Well, I will say it's a tough road, yes. But, it's also pretty typical for less readers to be interested in an incomplete story from an unknown author, and instead of doing "standalones" within a series, like I did with my alien romances, I did an actual series that did not have the romance completely satisfied in one book.
Book one, kissing
Book two, fourplay
Book three, acceptance and spice
That formula is not as popular as insta lust.
So, I think my series will be easier to market once book three is launched and readers can gobble up the whole story at once, which allows for more readers to be introduced.
Also, I'm in the business for the long haul.
Did you know that most indie authors make it into profit after book twenty?
It means that more than likely, even books that fail to break even, will see fresh readers give the story a chance and then break even later, after a book I write in the future takes off and hits it big with new fans who want to read more from me.
I will keep writing and get excited for the day that my author career breaks even and starts paying for more than the next launch, but also my coffee addiction! Perhaps even help pay for new glasses one day. haha.
I'll let you get back to your day, if you've read this far. You're welcome to invite friends to buddy read with you. I'll message again with more updates the closer we get to launch!
Do you know other readers that you want to buddy ready with?
Go ahead and invite them to sign up here: https://forms.gle/E4fDug5VjVctrwDG7
Or share this Instagram post with them: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9TSUzvylig/?img_index=2
If you have not read Taking Medusa now is the time to get caught up! Breaking Fate is finally available for the ARC team! You can read right on through to book two!
Have you finished reading Taking Medusa, book one?
Don't forget to help boost the book by leaving your thoughts on all the places:
Amazon: https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/150498806-taking-medusa
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Taking-Medusa-Audiobook/B0CKZKMVD8
StoryGraph: Taking Medusa by S.M. McCoy | The StoryGraph
Breaking Fate's launch is on October 2nd 2024.
Death will take me, in its flames I will rise.
In a world of gods and monsters, prophecy and fate sway hearts and minds until a monster rises to rule them all, and darkness rises on Olympus.
Caught in a deal with the King of the Underworld, Medusa must learn to embrace her power and conquer the darkness in her own mind to protect the dark gods and free herself from the ties that bind her. Reconciling the truth of the past and accepting control over her future, she discovers the strings of fate aren't so easily unraveled. Hades and Poseidon play games with her life, but with the help of new and old allies she pushes to reclaim her destiny for herself. She just didn't expect her heart to play such a vital role in deciding what fate she fights for while the very lives of the deathless gods hang in the balance.
Dive into this slow-burn fantasy adventure with a romance that defies prophecy in this page-turning continuation of Medusa's untold story.
Using current known Greek myths as we know them and retelling them from Medusa’s perspective. After all, history is written by the victors, and the bards got the story all wrong. Poets were influenced by the reigning Olympians, and Medusa still lives and she's fighting through fate to become whole so she can save the very gods that wish to destroy her to keep the one who's stolen her heart.
A paranormal myth and legends adventure romance, plot with spice, that will have you flipping pages well past your bedtime to know what happens next as the dark gods rise up and prove being a hero is a matter of perspective and plot twists that will have you squirming for more.
✨Greek Mythology Retelling
✨Fated Mates
✨Fantasy
✨Magic Realism
✨Prophecy
✨Forbidden love
Amazon: https://books.steviemarie.com/breakingfate
Goodreads: Breaking Fate (Dark Gods Rising, #2) by S.M. McCoy | Goodreads
StoryGraph: Breaking Fate by S.M. McCoy | The StoryGraph
Grabbing Breaking Fate:
ARCs are sent from Bookfunnel Certified ARC. Please search your SPAM folders or INBOX for an email from [email protected]
If you are on the BookSprout team, an email has been sent as this ARC is a private campaign for the S.M. McCoy Team.
Also available from BookSirens: https://booksirens.com/book/QPA9MQ4/I8B0B2R
I'm recording for the audiobook adaptation. It is likely the book will be similar in length as book one, with around 11 audio hours.
Disclaimer due to many threads and social media about ARC teams.
I do not require anyone on my team to review. I do not want anyone to force themselves to read my book if they don't enjoy it. You are welcome to simply say the book is not for you and that does not disqualify you from rejoining a future team for a different book. No hard feelers. I do not control when you choose to review or how you choose to do so. Nor do I micromanage this team to bug you for your thoughts. This is why I have my teams opt-in, always.
I want cheerleaders on my team, people who want to be here and enjoy my writing.
I do email the team about updates, and reminders of upcoming dates and sharing of general news about reviews and stats of the launch of Breaking Fate. If you do not want to receive these updates, feel free to let me know and I will remove your email from this active ARC list. You are not added to my regular newsletter for being part of my team, though many of you are already part of my newsletter and joined my team from that.
If you choose to join my newsletter sent on Thursdays for my S.M. McCoy, you can choose to do so here: https://sendfox.com/SMMcCoy
If you choose to join my Alien Romance newsletter for Sky Robert, this is sent on Tuesdays and Fridays, you can join here and receive Her Alien Exchange for freesies, if you haven't already: https://books.steviemarie.com/heralienexchange
You can, at anytime, simply tell me you'd prefer only monthly, and I can manually add you to the monthly listing instead. (reply back with "I want to join your monthly newsletter!)
And a reminder, I R HOOMAN. Be not afraid to contact me at anytime. I will not be upset with you if you tell me that you are passing on reading the book because it's not right for you. That is okay. You want to bug me about how much you loved the book and you're upset that you have to wait for book three, that is also welcomed. You were shocked at the plot twist and you need to vent to someone that is okay with spoilers, I'm your girl. Go ahead and email away. You are a V.I.P. here, and I love to hear from you!
Chat soon!
xoxo
Stevie
Stevie McCoy (@authorsteviemarie) • Instagram photos and videos
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