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.
Tsakonika, the language of ancient Sparta, the place of warriors in Greece, is still alive surviving into modern day!
2,400 years ago, they were attacked and banished, and yet they kept the language alive centuries after. It isn't many, but 2,000 people still speak the ancient language Tsakonika, which predates Greek by 3,100 years, and is closer to the original language spoken than modern Greek does today.
Tsakonika thrives in a mountain village of Pera Melana, at the southern Greece peninsula. The closest you will get to Spartans today!
This is SPARTA!
The language is still spoken in 13 towns around the area according to BBC, mostly elders speak it fluently, so hopefully more young people get excited about being warriors of Sparta and keep the language alive!
"Molon Labe" or "Come and get them!" in Tsakonika is such a perfect battle cry.
Though Sparta and Greece aren't featured in the first book of Taking Medusa, many of our retellings of myths come from this culture, and it holds so much fodder for imagination and story that I hope continues on for many generations to come.
Taking Medusa is a modern retelling of Medusa's story after the tales of her beheading and Perseus where her head is removed from the aigis of Athena's shield and reunited with her stone body at the bottom of the sea.
There are many stories regarding the tale of Medusa, but most of them portray her as the monster, or at least turned into one by curse after being raped by gods, and then beheaded for her power in tales of feat and adventure. Using her stone gaze to help defeat other monsters, or sneaking past her evil eyes to steal a treasure from her.
Most of these stories have warriors/demi-gods, and those seeking to prove themselves hunting her down. How many people take a moment to think whether she was truly a monster, ugly, or evil when her name means protector?
Art of Taking Medusa by FrankOcean922
Have some fun art from Frank for Taking Medusa, what do you think?
You can join my read along for Taking Medusa, reading the whole book for freesies with other readers here as part of my launch party and enter to win a signed hardcover: Win Signed Hardcover! Launch Party Taking Medusa! (kingsumo.com)
Or you can become a verified reader on the zon and grab a copy to help support my work: https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa (You don't even need to decide that right now, finish reading the book with me, and then grab a copy once you love it, or don't, there are plenty of free ways to help indie authors that don't involve a dime. Like leaving a lovely review or sharing the book with other readers. Happy Reading.)
Chat soon! This Newsletter is FULL of Indie Temptation Goodies today! Happy Exploring from fellow New Releases, freebies, KUs and more!
Stevie
Indie Temptations:
Readers of Joe Abercrombie and George RR Martin will appreciate the gritty realism of Richie Billing's writing, yet at times it possesses a light-hearted and humorous touch akin to the works of James Barclay and Nicholas Eames.
And for those who adore the heroes of Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss, you'll find flawed characters that will whisk you away on an epic journey of discovery, intrigue, friendship and love.
NEW RELEASE ANGEL'S FORTUNE!
My brother Bowen is missing. I don’t need a fortune teller to complicate my quest to find him. Especially a hot, sexy, infuriatingly sassy one.
Reverse Harem Romance
Join the Taking Medusa launch party read along and giveaway for a chance at signed hardcover and swag!!
Join here! Read the whole book by launch for freesies and get a chapter sent every few days to be ready for release day on October 3rd!
https://kingsumo.com/g/uf5wch/win-signed-hardcover-launch-party-taking-medusa
When you join the giveaway click the link to join the read along and get a chapter sent throughout the next month to read the book all the way up to the launch!
Add Taking Medusa to your GR TBR here: Taking Medusa (Dark Gods Rising, #1) by S.M. McCoy | Goodreads
Be aware you are signing up to get a series of emails with each chapter when you join the read along. Please be courteous of copyright and do not share beyond standard fair use/quotes from this read along. Feel free to share this giveaway/read along with others and have them read with you!
Why am I allowing everyone to read for freesies with this read along? Am I really, going to have every chapter emailed?
Yes, every chapter, full book, no hidden gotcha for joining the read along. Why?
Because I'm of the opinion that a pirate will plunder regardless, and a reader will share their thanks with an author regardless. If you read this read along and find you've enjoyed the story and want to say thank you, please do become a verified reader with Amazon, and pick up a copy or grab a signed paperback to support the continuation of the series.
Similar to tv series, without enough engagement/audience/support, then there is no season two. If you are able there are many ways to support an indie author including simply joining the read along, sharing your star rating and thoughts with a review on Amazon. If you're able, then becoming a verified reader by grabbing the ebook! Share with readers/friends that you think would enjoy reading the book with you! Facebook Groups, Instagram, socials.
Help me reach new readers, and spread the word.
Dark Prophecy
Love Triangle (but not ick kind)
Fated Mates
Found Family
Second Chances
Monsters Vs Gods
Greek Myth Retelling
Modern Fantasy Adventure set in the lost city of Atlantis
Mermaids
Kraken
No Cliffhanger (Sets up the next book, but a complete standalone story)
Villains misunderstood (question who's the hero?)
Romantasy
First Person POV (third person prologue)
Available for pre-order on Kindle launching October 3rd 2023: https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
We are currently at 18/50 reviews with a 4.7 star average!
If you would like to support Taking Medusa and help give a cup of coffee, then please take a moment to grab the book from my indie direct store: https://payhip.com/b/07lFr where you can have the book automatically delivered to you through Bookfunnel for those who don't read with Kindle.
18/50 Review Goal on the Zon
Part of the ARC team? You can leave your review here: Review Your Purchases (amazon.com)
Support Taking Medusa a Greek Myth Monsters and Legends Retelling by grabbing your copy from the zon, become a verified purchase: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6NXSN7X
LIMITED TIME grab Taking Medusa and read today from the Author store in full without waiting for chapters to release in your inbox:
Check out the hardcover here: https://payhip.com/b/oDOMj
Or pre-order the signed paperback! https://payhip.com/b/qwt9T
Happy summer! 💕
~Stevie, author of all things fantastical 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
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Check out the Treasures of Trillume Series:
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SNEAK PEEK Taking Medusa:
(Preview now available to read with Bookfunnel: https://read.bookfunnel.com/read/xxlxv6rzq4)
Or read on your e-reader by grabbing the book direct from author: https://payhip.com/b/07lFr
Pre-order with Amazon: https://books.steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
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