Today's Indie Temptations Roulette! Take a moment to check out some new indie authors! Let me know if you end up reading one and love it!
Fox Assassin, Forbidden Romance Click Here
Hidden Power, Academy Romance Click Here
Panther Alien, Mating Pheromones Romance Click Here
Princess Political Marriage to Orc Kingdom in Wartimes Romance Click Here
Small Town Chosen One in a Deadly Game Romance Click Here
Author UPDATES! Taking Medusa has reached 100 ratings on Goodreads and 62 ratings on Amazon! (now 61 - Ratings go up and down all the time with Amazon) And with every bookish idea comes the readers who love it and the readers who don't. I remind myself often that if I write for everyone, I write for no one.
You can't have fans if you don't also have haters.
Why?
Because what one reader loves, inevitably another will not. So, if I write something for someone to love, then I'm also writing something someone will hate.
To try to write for both is to have neither be happy.
Taking Medusa has had the most DNF's I've ever had on a book I've written. Everything from hating the prologue, hating my voice from the audiobook, torturing themselves to try to finish, hating the special snowflake trope, to being relieved to moving on to some other book.
I chose the special snowflake, I'm secretly special and pivotal to the end of the world as we know it trope because Medusa was smeared as a monster and villain in Greek Myth and retellings for a long time and I kept thinking to myself why is she the villain?
Even many retellings don't really get much into the WHY? In all honesty, many of the retellings of Medusa don't explain the why and only have a hero that is tasked with destroying her because they need her power for saving the world. Not once has anyone come to her home and thought, maybe I shouldn't come here prepared to kill her, but perhaps come with the intentions of defending myself, if necessary, but seeking her help.
I mean, who wouldn't try to kill the "hero" if they were tasked with severing your head for some quest? I believed there was another story, her story, and I do believe she deserves to be a special snowflake after being painted a villain for so long.
Despite having the most people hate my book, it's also my MOST loved book as well.
85% of people rate the book 4 to 5 stars.
only 11% found the book enjoyable with a 3 star but didn't fall in love.
And that is the difference between having the 1-2 stars destroy a book or not.
As long as there are more readers who love the book versus simply enjoying an average reading experience, that counter-balances the readers who do not enjoy my books.
The 4 percent that hate Taking Medusa, are what I consider my failure in marketing accurately to find my tribe.
I'm still learning how to find the readers who love my writing style, because if you're anything like me, when you find a writer that you enjoy, you like to latch on because they've proven that they can entertain you.
In a world like today, where distraction and escapism is even more necessary to keep our sanity, it's important to find our book tribe.
Let me prove that I can entertain you, if you haven't checked out my books already. If you have read and enjoyed my books, consider leaving a review to help balance the scales for future readers. It is my goal to be a better writer with every book, and I LIVE for seeing readers be excited for what's next! https://books/steviemarie.com/takingmedusa
A special shout out to Megan88!
"This.author.is.EVERYTHING!!!! I have to admit I was a little worried because not every author can follow up the first in serious perfection with a second in series masterpiece!!! And I absolutely adored taking Medusa! I fell in love with the writing,the imagery,the world building,the characters,the conflict,the suspense,the flawless integration of a mythological retelling, the spice. I mean book 1 had it ALL !!!! So I was a little nervous for this book.... And I owe the author an apology for ever doubting them!! This book was incredible!! It has everything that I loved from book one and more!! I also just love how the author took from the original Greek mythology of how very very deeply wronged Medusa really was and how that story ended in her still being the victim in some ways whereas this book really drove home the point of her taking back her power and I freaking loved it!!!!! You will absolutely love this book!!!! And more importantly this author!!! Once again chefs kiss 💋💋💋" 5 -star review on Breaking Fate
Thank you, Megan! I recently saw a new DNF of Taking Medusa and your review of Breaking Fate gave me the love and reassurance I needed to stop myself from wallowing in self-doubt and helped me get back to the writing spirit!
Have you checked out the Dark Gods Rising Series?! If you've already read and enjoyed the book, please take a moment to share your thoughts with fellow readers like Megan! It means a lot to me, and often when I feel a bit down in my author journey I like to remind myself why I share my stories by reading from the readers who loved my books.
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
Thank you for checking out 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
As a Kitsune assassin, romance never crossed Izolde’s mind. Her only purpose was to kill bad guys to make the world a better place. All she needed was her family and her missions. And it wouldn’t hurt if she could get her foxfire to work.
After being warned by Jensen to hide her secret, she finds it harder than she thought it would be. Temptations pull from all sides at the Academy as she spends time with new friends on the beach and around the bonfires at night, passing the bottles of green and amber liquor, especially when the suave and charming upperclassman, Mark, has her wrapped around his finger.
Jess, an orphaned alien, has no sense of sexuality until the day she becomes the prey of every male on the planet. Suddenly she’s emitting pheromones that threaten her very life.
Romances of The Chivalrous series is epic fantasy, featuring chivalrous heroes, courageous maidens and grimdark villains who fight dirty.
When I'm marked as a Chosen—one of six powerful descendants of the primordial gods—a prophecy is triggered. Becoming a target in a hidden war that has been raging forever wasn't in my life plan. Now I'll have to work with Kyrion Chaos to piece together the clues of the prophecy and tame my new powers ... If we don't kill each other first.
Hope you find some great indie reads! Chat soon!
xoxo
Stevie
Read 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. I know, I know... some of you are probably like, WHA? You need to be writing book three Reaping Olympus. And I am, but as you'll soon find out about me, is that I usually hop around books until one gets finished. Breaking Fate gave me a huge book hangover, and I'll be honest, I need a mental reprieve of writing something without the pressure of making sure the book is better than the previous books. Sooooo, I'm writing this one, with no expectations other than writing a fun, magical, romantically dark adventure.
Meaning, I think we're due for reimagining the Labyrinth and perhaps viewing the goblins a bit differently. Are you ready to join the Goblin Kingdom with your book bestie? What if your book date with your best friend turns into a nightmare of being sucked into the Goblin Kingdom, and being eaten alive by gremlins that look like cute little bunnies? What if Goblin Kingdom is so dark because of an ancient curse on the land and you may not be a chosen one, but your heart has certainly chosen a handsomely twisted goblin to uncover the secrets of the goblin's past and find what was stolen from you? Then maybe you won't mind if you became the Goblin's Treasure?
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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