Hey ,
I've found a few great free reads you can find after my rant about goals, and such. Demons and wolfs, got that. Secret supernatural gifts, sure thing. Historical Romance after WW2, why not? Kidnapped by fae, I'm there for it, are you? Read on to find out more.
Now, on to 2022 in review, literally.
I had set a goal to have 50 reviews of Kingdom of Acatalec by the end of the year, 2022, and that seemed like an attainable, yet difficult goal since it isn't quite the same genre I had written previously with the Divine Series being YA fantasy adventure, and the Acatalec Series being more slow burn sci-fi fantasy adventure romance. I considered it quite romantic when I wrote it, but because it is a slow burn, most people who read it considered the romance more like a sub-plot that is slower than sticky honey. And I guess they are right, but the romance is definitely there.
Since the book released in October, that was 3 months to have 50 reviews... and that's quite ambitious for small fry like me. Don't know about you, but sure I can read a book in 2 days, or even 1 day if I'm dedicated and don't care about sleep, but with family, life and work, well, it's not like you can do that every day. Sometimes I pick up a book and it takes me a few months to get to it... or longer. The life of a book is pretty fluid.
Here were a few of my favorite recent reviews from Kingdom of Acatalec:
You can check out more of them on Goodreads
and add Kingdom of Acatalec to your shelf if you haven't already
On Goodreads the book got 31 ratings out of the 50 goal
And 23 ratings made it to Amazon by December 31st 2022:
All of the reviews are from people I've never met.
I say that because sometimes people think at least a few of them are from friends and family that read a book because they heart my face and want to be supportive, but I actually tell my friends and family NOT to review my books.
Why Stevie?
Why do you tell them not to review? You might have made it to your goal of 50 reviews? Maybe?
Because I believe that ruins any algorithms that try to find more people who might like my books. If people like my family who hardly ever read my kind of stories decide to review, then Amazon might try to put my book in front of people who won't want to read it.
I will be honest with you most of the people I see in person do not like to read at all, there are a few, sure, but I don't really write what they usually read. And Jeff, since you read all of my newsletters, yes, I know you love me and everything I do, even my books.
The only time I would want someone I know to leave a review is if they enjoyed the book, and it happens to be something they like to read regularly, then perhaps by them reviewing/rating then the algorithms will find other people like them, who will also like to read my books.
So, I did not reach 50 reviews on Kingdom of Acatalec, yet.
But, I'm okay with that. Out of all of my reviews, from some of you who read this newsletter even, I have yet to receive a 1 or 2 star. (Please do not consider this a challenge that you must remedy, haha.) I might be jynxing myself right now. I only received a couple 3-star ratings, and the rest have been 4 and 5 stars, meaning people have been really enjoying the book.
That makes me so happy!
It also means I'm reaching the readers that the book is meant for, and not the people that won't. Meaning, I've grown as an author to understand a bit more on targeting my audience. YAY me!
I know, I know. This joy will not last forever, one day the wrong person is going to read the book, and not like it because it isn't for them. For now, let me bask in the joy of the people who have read and enjoyed the world I've created.
Every time someone leaves a review, or a rating it spurs me on and motivates me to work on book two and make it the best that it can possibly be.
So, keep the love coming, and if you have the book sitting in your e-reader, or your audiobook app, pull it up and dive in. I need all the love I can get to bust out book number two!
And if you like sci-fi fantasy adventures with a side of romance then please do check it out! It's available on audiobook, print and e-book everywhere! Even at the library if you request it from them, so please do login to your local library and pool together a book club to get the book picked up by your library, that would absolutely make my day!
Don't forget to check out the freebies I include with every newsletter!
Chat soon!
~Stevie (Author of stuff and things, mom of humans in training, including my husband, and currently obsessed with fae romances.)
PS: Sometimes you have to click the read more to see the whole email so you don't miss out on goodies.
If you've already gobbled up Kingdom of Acatalec, or read through your free prequel book My Abett, please take a moment to share your thoughts on all the places reviews are found, even if it's simply just smashing that star button.
This helps small fries like me afford their ramen, or support their addiction to coffee which fuels the next book. Plus, reviews and ratings do help motivate me to push through my imposter syndrome to write and edit book two of the Acatalec Series faster.
Thank you from all the inky crevasses of my heart.
Review Kingdom of Acatalec on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
Review My Abett on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
And for some of you starting the Divine Series. If you've read through Blood Crescent, Blood Rebirth, or Blood Queen, please do share your thoughts on all the places reviews can be found.
Now, on to the Free stuff:
I always like to include some awesome indie authors to check out!
This one is part of a COMPLETED series, and available within your Audible subscription for a credit, or free to read in Kindle Unlimited!
I joined BookThrone for January and have my own free books up along with some other great authors! All of these books are freesies when you join their newsletters!
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Disclaimer: Sometimes, not all the time, I do use affiliate links, at no cost to you, and I only recommend or promote things that I personally trust, checked out, want to read or have read myself. Books that I myself would share with friends and family. I do not sell your email/information. I also do not buy/spam emails. If you are on this newsletter it is because you clicked a marketing consent when you entered a sponsored giveaway for books, grabbed a free copy of one of my books, read one of my books, saw me on socials and thought, hey that person seems like my kind of weird and decided to click that join newsletter to find out more. Either way, if you're here it is because you wanted to join me in book rants, and if you don't want to anymore you are free to unsubscribe at any time, and also welcome to return at any time as well. I think that covers things... if I missed something feel free to email me. 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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