It's been a while for some of my story updates. 

In the beginning, way back in 2013, I had this idea of writing a crap-ton of stories then releasing them in 90 day spurts. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But, that didn't quite happen. I've been writing and releasing as soon as I could. But, I've been holding back this year, trying to get other writers books out, and by that time funds were too low for my own. 

But that's okay.

I love getting writers their books out.

• It means I have finished The Silent Road.
• It means a beta reader look at TSR.
• It means I've finished Handle with Care.
• It means an editor and beta reader looked at HwC.

Which leaves Pyromage to work on. 

While I work on other's books for money, I'm collecting a stash of books that will probably get released in succession.

Which isn't a bad thing.

All of these are part of the Dark Heart Heroes line and I feel as though I need to work on the Taboo Fiction line too. Thus, Jack the Bodice Ripper. Though I think that may just be the working title. 

So, while I write and have fun with authordom, you can review the excerpts of the different stories by clicking the CATEGORIES on the right.

There's got to be something you're interested in! 

Until next time...

Happy reading!!

♥ ~ Stephy​

I was so thrilled to win the SUMMER READING HAMPER and got a flood of newsletters and (what it feels like) billions of ebooks!

As a reader, I was thrilled! New books meant new series to discover! I will eventually continue on the buy the rest of the series. But I also discovered how discriminating I am when it comes to story.
 
As an author I learned a few things.

First, sending by Amazon gift is the most efficient way for the author and reader to get the book AND I can easily leave a review after reading the book on Amazon. Because my device and my Amazon account are not linked (I have a business account and personal account for Amazon) it was a little harder for me to get the book, but I got it to my favorite reading device─my phone. 

Also, thank goodness for Amazon lending. 

So sending the book by Amazon is easyier to get reviews after the person has gifted the book. Something I didn't think of before. 

Second, sending by Bookfunnel is way easier and just as convenient once the app is installed. I actually liked this better than getting a gift book on Amazon because I could download it right to my phone and into my kindle app. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Third, sending the ebook by file was fine as I could just send the email to my kindle address and thus have it in my kindle app in minutes, but I don't like this form of transfering the book because I could send the file to anyone, or upload it with nefarious intentions. 

Fourth, dear goodness the newsletters. Holy moly the newsletters. I am still unsubscribing en-mass. Many, many, many of the newsletters are beautifully crafted and have wonderful images and gorgeous branding─but there is no substance. I don't care about what you're doing, where you'll be or the food you eat. I don't know you. Give me some meat about yourself. Get to the point. 

So many authors start with Hi... my name is <fill in the blank> and I write <genre> <tag line>.

If the tag line was cute, I read on. If the genre was something wild like GBLTQ I am on you like a hog in mud. But too many didn't have all that much interesting to say. There were no outstanding personalities. Nothing excited me in the newsletters, therefore, I unsubscribed. It just didn't feel like they wanted to get to know me. There were no "real" questions. Questions like I love peanut butter, do you? or like, Have you ever dated a guy ten years older than you? No? Why not? 

I was looking for personality but everyone seemed so bland. I don't want to offend anyone and therefore I don't know what to say other than blah, blah, blah, boring.

So that was something I learned from. Personality needs to shine through in author newsletters. I also hate the word newsletter. Reader Group is better but if it's going to be a newsletter, it needs to look like a newsletter. 

Okay, /endrant.

First, I have a DNF pile. Unfortunately, I can't power through books and I've never really been able to stick to stories that don't hold my attention. Normally, I like to only write about the worthwhile books, but I'm going to try and give an honest review of all the ones I've picked up, finished or not, because I feel I owe that to the author. They were hoping to get a review and I'll be doing the ones I remotely like here, and on Amazon. But the ones that I couldn't finish I'll only be reviewing here in detail. 

So, first, let me show you the ones I was able to finish.

This book reminded me of The Ice Era Chronicles so much!

We have a heroine with "superpowers" or "mutant powers" whatever the case may be along with other people having weird powers as a result of a horrible man-made natural experiment gone wrong. 

I like The Ice Era Chronicles better because of the raw nature of the writing and that the nature made phenomenon instead of Icehaven's man-made problem reminding me that global warming is bad. It seems to me that ice ages are much, much worse. 

The mutant powers in The Ice Era Chronicles are unique. 

​But enough comparing the two. 

I had no trouble reading to the end of the book, but I didn't love it.

It was a good story. I won't buy the next in the series because I couldn't fall in love with the characters. They felt bland. The story was a little bland, but I did keep reading. But, I just don't have any feeling about August or what's his name hero guy.

Graysen Marx had his own reasons for what he did, but I'm more interested in the protagonist being... (what's the word...) less "bad guy" and more, circumstances put him in a corner to do the things he did. Graysen turned out to be the "bad guy" protagonist but he set about the reason for the story, so in that way it was done well.

I am not discouraging anyone from reading this, I just like it more when I can see both sides of the coin and root for both. Heaven knows I have done the "bad guy" antagonist and it works for many, many stories, but I'm looking for something more along the lines of Inception or Girl on the Train that I can get emotional over the protagonists.  

She was only a maid... she was only a maid... she was only a maid...

There are only so many times I can take hearing the same thing over in a different way... and sometimes not even in a different way.

This IS NOT an action romance. That's a lot of what I like. Action. In Legend there is maybe 2% action. The rest is all drama. Drama is great when people are doing things (like in GoT). But this very deep POV went into emphasizing... she was only a maid. 

Now, to me the cover says Fantasy Romance. Or Adventure Fantasy. But that's not exactly what I got.  

Sixteen-year-old Alena longs for a world where peasants, servants, and nobles are all equal. Truly, that will never be possible until the day when she removes a sword from a stone and might have the chance to become queen... if she can rally those same peasants, servants, and nobles behind her.

Legend is a King Arthur retelling with Arthur as Alena, a maid who can possibly become so much more than she ever dreamed possible. Perfect for fans of The Mists of Avalon, The Selection, and Red Queen.

Now, I did have four books I read. Well, technically I read two. The other two were ones I couldn't finish. Here's why:

As I mentioned... this is what's wrong with giveaways. Specificall, group giveaways. They target everyone and the books get into the hands of those that might not like their book and then, they get bad reviews. If you book can stand a few bad reviews, carry on. But get at least 100 reviews in your favor before spreading it out genre skipping. 

Please also know I am a picky reader. I like a certain type of book. Anything else gets the boot. I'm not into NY Bestsellers because if you have 1k friends, you can get on the list. USA Today doesn't impress me because if you have the right political agenda, you can get on the list. 

I know what I like and cookie cutter isn't it. But the author has to be good at their craft too. I've also read many formula books and am sick of those. But my reader expectation means it does have to hit some high and low notes to be satisfying for me. Meandering, long, insubstantial stories don't do it for me either. 

So, as always, take my reviews/rant reviews with a grain of salt. 

I like first person POV, and want middle ground deep POV. I want to love the characters and have action in my story. There needs to be point that doesn't hit me over the head and the ones I have to dig deep and thing about are the best. 

Until next time...

Happy reading!

​~ Stephy 

Corran Antilles is having a bad life. Schlepping cargo for the Federation doesn't pay. Even worse, the corporate hauler assigned to him malfunctions inside Trevithick Station. Before Corran's ship trouble costs him his life, he's able to land, but at the price of his job. Down on his luck, with no money and no way to get home, Corran thinks he’s hit the jackpot when a stranger approaches and offers him the chance of a lifetime. But of course, nothing in the Federation is free, and there's always a catch.

© 2015 S.N.McKibben

“Corran! Get over here!” Aurellio yelled over the comm. “He’s here, and he’s with that snooty CEO.”

“I’m almost there!” I shot back.

My new Viper was a hell of a lot faster than the Sidewinder, but trying to maneuver this thing after honing my circle technique was a bitch. After landing, I ran to the Star and Garter. Skidding to a halt just outside the entrance next to Aurellio, I leaned over to catch my breath.

He held a decanter of Bast snake gin in one hand while peeking inside the bar.

“You first,” I heaved between breaths.

Aurellio didn’t need a second invitation. He strutted over to the table where Felix and Ourora were conducting their business. I listened in and watched a few heads follow my friend and co-conspirator. He didn’t hesitate and walked up to them like an invited guest.

“Felix!” Aurellio set the booze on their table. That was his idea to punctuate his acknowledgement of the indignities he’d overcome during this whole event. “I just wanted to say, thank you for the past.”

Mr. Wulfhart smiled with a knowing pride. If I had to guess, I think Felix had expected Aurellio to confront him about his dangerous gamble.

I pushed off the wall and headed for their table. Ourora looked peeved. She didn’t appreciate the interruption. Too damn bad. I ignored her and stepped up next to Aurellio as he said, “If I’d known you liked Bast snake gin so much, I would’ve spared you the effort.”

“That was not the point,” Felix mused with a know-it-all grin.

“Hello, Mr. Wulfhart,” I said.

Felix flashed me a brilliant smile. His owl-like persona was intensified by the glasses distorting his eyes. “Greetings, Corran. How are you?”

“Very well, thank you, sir.”

Felix beamed at us like a proud father. “How are you liking your new Viper? Faster, isn’t it?”

“Yes, sir.”

The weight of Ourora’s murderous glare almost pulled my attention away from the conversation. Thank goodness for Aurellio jabbing me in the gut.

“I wanted to return your Sidewinder. It’s in excellent working order.” Unlike some haulers I’ve flown before. “I’m no longer in need of it.”

“Oh?” Felix said. “The Sidewinder is yours. No need to return it.”

“I appreciate that, sir, but I’d rather you allowed someone else to use it. Preferably someone who’d like to get out of this Federation shithole.”

By the twinkle in the Imperial’s eyes, I’d done something that tickled him pink. “Very well. I’ll do that.”

I stuck out my hand and he shook it.

Aurellio gave a salute, turned and walked off. I followed at first. Then, unable to resist, I turned back and said, “Oh, and sir, if you happen to want a hauler for small cargo or need a bounty hunter, I’m for hire. Unfortunately I don’t take Federation jobs, but I’m willing to drop by if you’re ever in need.”

Felix tilted his head back and let out a triumphant laugh that startled some of the bar’s customers. I could still hear him cackling as we walked out of the bar. Whatever the bet he had with Mrs. Kingsley, I was sure I’d just won it for him—tenfold.

This concludes the short story "Dangerous Gamble". Thank you so much for reading! 

Bachelor in Paradise Season 6 is in full swing, and as the cast changes we get to see the corkiness of human relationships and behavior. 

Every Monday and Tuesday my mom and I sit down with a drink and snacks to Science Theater 3000 the crap out of the show. 

As we watch, heckling is involved, crying is involved, shouting at the t.v. is always involved, grabbing of hair and pulling happens during every episode. 

You should go with...
That guy's a dick!
Why is she being so stupid?

We darn near throw our popcorn at the screen. But we don't because that's just a mess to clean up─and it's too much corn for the dogs. 

But we involve ourselves with these peoples lives and often times want the best for them. Of course, as outsiders, we "know best" who should be with who.

As writers, we see the drama unfold and think this is so good─how could we write this?

I often think we writers couldn't get away with what reality t.v. can edit. But it's an interesting look at relationships and as close to becoming flies on the wall as we can. At the very least its fodder for our own stories. Which is why I watch it. That and because these brave souls have given up their privacy for an audience to observe a part of their lives and for that, I'm invested. 

We want them to find love, but it would be the same without the dramatics. 

​So join me and my mom if you want to discuss Bachelor in Paradise!