S.M. Stevens

True Crime Memoir Update & Book Deals - S.M. Stevens Work-in-Progress Update I’ve mentioned before that I am helping two friends write their true crime memoir. It’s an incredibly compelling story — so compelling that Michelle was asked to tell it on…

True Crime & Memoir fans: Get an advance look at the topic of my work-in-progress, in my new blog post: buff.ly/WBWZ6su #truecrime #memoir #authornews

The EBOOK of Beautiful & Terrible Things is now available through local libraries! If you haven’t read Indies Today's Best Literary Book of 2024, you can borrow it for free. Tell your librarian "Beautiful and Terrible Things: A Novel" is now on OverDrive. 😀 📚 #LibraryLove #BorrowBooks #OverDrive

WIN 13 BOOKS! It's LGBT History Month, and AuthorsXP is holding a Book Giveaway to celebrate. You'll find my "Beautiful & Terrible Things" and "The Wallace House of Pain" in there plus fantasy, romance, horror, thriller, and short fiction books. Enter here: buff.ly/GQx8bi0 #lgbtbooks #lgbtfiction

YouTube video by Stories from the Stage By Refusing to Stay Silent, She Caught Her Assaulter | Michelle Linn's Story

Some of you know I'm co-authoring a true crime memoir with a rape survivor and the detective who solved the crime. The survivor, Michelle, was just featured on the PBS show "Stories from the Stage" telling her story - very compelling! www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhLW... #truecrime #memoir #survivors

If you like detective stories and mysteries, check out "Death Grip" by Travis Tougaw, just released today. I LOVED the last book I read from his Marcotte and Collins series, so can recommend the new one without hesitation! buff.ly/Rf9EWmB

How To Handle Criticism Like A Pro - Books Uplift Criticism is never easy to take or deliver. However, criticism often gets a bad rap. There are several good aspects to criticism that uplift the receiver and guide them in...

Not sure how to give or receive criticism? This article from Books Uplift is chock full of helpful ideas, some of which are bound to work for you if you struggle with accepting criticism or want to do better when delivering it. I had the pleasure of being interviewed for this piece. buff.ly/Kwjk32c

Win a free copy of Beautiful and Terrible Things, and/or many other great novels that are perfect for Book Clubs and people who love books that make you think as well as laugh and cry! Go to AuthorsXP to enter: buff.ly/WC7Aplr

Join me tonight at 7:00 P.M. EST for a live interview with Dr. Rhonda on the Horizons Author Lounge podcast! 🎤 Psyched to share the spotlight with Nicole Cash, who narrated my "Beautiful and Terrible Things." Tune in at 7 PM on YouTube: buff.ly/6oYUkBk

S.M. Stevens Inspiring Journey | From Illness to Award-Winning Author & Advocate Welcome to The Life Unscripted Podcast with Rosabel Zohfeld — where honest conversations inspire transformation! S.M.Stevens_Inspiring_Journey_From_Illness_to_Award-Winning_Author&_Advocate Join us for an inspiring conversation with award-winning author and advocate S.M. Stevens. After a life-changing health crisis, Stevens turned pain into purpose—channeling her experience into powerful fiction that explores trauma, healing, and justice. Her story is one of resilience, creativity, and using storytelling to create meaningful change. Whether you're a writer, reader, or seeker of inspiration, her journey will remind you of the strength found in vulnerability and the power of your voice. 🎧 In this in-depth interview, Stevens opens up about: How a life-altering illness redirected her path toward writing. The healing power of storytelling and why she chose fiction. Her critically acclaimed novel Beautiful and Terrible Things. Writing diverse, authentic characters with integrity. Using her marketing background to promote her books. Practical advice for aspiring authors and storytellers. Current and upcoming projects you're going to want to follow. ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:55 – Meet S.M. Stevens: Background & Writing Origins 01:47 – Journey to Becoming a Published Author 02:57 – How a Health Crisis Sparked a Writing Career 05:30 – The Power of Fiction & Storytelling 06:50 – Beautiful and Terrible Things: Writing With Purpose 17:04 – Authenticity & Representation in Fiction 21:31 – How Marketing Helped Promote Her Books 27:37 – Advice for Aspiring Writers & New Authors 29:19 – Current Works in Progress 31:54 – How to Connect With S.M. Stevens 💬 In every episode, we explore personal growth, healing, success, and courage. Whether you're a writer, reader, or simply someone who believes in the power of resilience and creativity, this episode will leave you feeling inspired and empowered. 🔗 Connect with S.M. Stevens: 🌐 Website: https://authorsmstevens.com 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorSMStevens 📸 Instagram: instagram.com/s.m.stevens 🛒 Find Her Books on Amazon: S.M. Stevens on Amazon Subscribe for more inspiring conversations: [https://www.youtube.com/@thelifeunscriptedwithrosabel?sub_confirmation=1] 📚 Grab Rosabel’s book, The Courage to Succeed: A True American Dream: [Amazon] 🌎 Visit the official website for blogs, episodes, and more: [https://rosabelzohfeld.com/] 🔴 Watch more videos like this for inspiration and insight ✨ https://youtu.be/IKB48ZbVE1A?si=XsMQIRc2AGgT2hwl https://youtu.be/J_Hdme3zQsQ?si=5QrlvTRRHGZCr-BJ https://youtu.be/0xc_KgaMC9s?si=7tf6ZnAzp2cXLGqX Connect with Rosabel: Website: [https://rosabelzohfeld.com/] Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/rosabelunscripted/] Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/RosabelZunscripted/] Podcast: [https://open.spotify.com/show/0dR0ojKIY3igJLTEnLVUQ8?si=c4dc6866415945a4] #LifeUnscriptedPodcast #PersonalGrowth #CourageToSucceed #HealingJourney#SMStevens #AuthorInterview #WritingJourney #FictionWithPurpose #BookLovers #StorytellingHealing #AuthorLife #SocialJusticeFiction #InspiringAuthors #BeautifulAndTerribleThings

Many thanks to Rosabel Zohfeld for having me on her podcast, "Life Unscripted." Check out the interview here:

I was asked what success as an author looks like to me in this short bit from a Compassiviste Dialogues podcast interview. The answer might surprise you!

Taking a poll...which glasses should I wear in my author videos? Please let me know in the comments - thanks!

Book reviews don't have to be in-depth or elaborate to matter - check out this short but oh so sweet Amazon review of "Beautiful & Terrible Things: A Novel" posted a few days ago by Stacy Sheakly. Thank you, Stacy!

Nonbinary Sunny & bisexual Xander are best friends and sometimes more. In this scene from Beautiful & Terrible Things, well, they’re more. AuthorSMStevens.com. #queerbooks #nonbinarycharacter #bisexual #contemporaryfiction

My next book, which is still only a sad manuscript with no home, was a runner-up in Blydyn Square Books' First Chapter Contest! Tentatively called "The Unraveling of Caro Dunn," the story is about a successful businesswoman and grandmother harboring insane secrets about her children. buff.ly/8lqC7v7

THANKS to all who downloaded Beautiful & Terrible Things during its 2-day sale!! Almost 1,000 people grabbed copies of the 7-time award-winning friendship/social justice novel. And you propelled the book into the #1 spot on Amazon in one category and the #2 spot in another! Power to the People.😀💪📚

Goodreads reviewer: “If you’ve ever felt lost, if you’ve ever wrestled with who you are, if you’ve ever needed a reminder that you are more than your worst moments—read this book.” FREE today only on Amazon. bit.ly/3IqEPWQ

I just learned you can gift an ebook, even when the ebook is free! My award-winning friendship story “Beautiful & Terrible Things” is free on Amazon TODAY AND TOMORROW ONLY. So check it out if you want to send a free copy to a friend, colleague, family member, Book Club buddy. buff.ly/tZedFtq

📣 Holler it from the rooftops! 🏆 7-time award-winning novel 📚 “Beautiful & Terrible Things” is FREE for 2 DAYS ONLY! Today (Friday) and tomorrow, get the contemporary novel readers say “took their breath away” free on Amazon. It’s in celebration of the book’s 1-year anniversary. 🎂 🍾 buff.ly/tZedFtq

What Tetiana B. thought of Beautiful & Terrible Things: "This is one of those rare books that makes you feel seen—like, truly seen—and I caught myself crying and laughing in the same chapter more than once (which is kinda embarrassing but whatever)." Thank you Tetiana! Full review: buff.ly/mHlIllB

Reminds me of my dog Jenny (minus the spots but with an extra heaping of dirt).

"Beautiful & Terrible Things" is now officially an Underrated Read! 😀 Thanks to book blog Underrated Reads for their review of my friendship/social justice story. They gave it 4 bookmarks - and they are very particular about what they read so I am grateful! buff.ly/KWim1gw

Done. :-)

Yes, a friend and I were just saying this yesterday!

BEAUTIFUL & TERRIBLE THINGS: A NOVEL, Chapter 19
Readers either love Xander or he drives them crazy, with his constant and unwavering passion to make the world a better place. In this excerpt, we learn a little about how he became an activist and an advocate for equality. More at AuthorSMStevens.com

Come dissect Beautiful & Terrible Things in a public Book Club at indie bookstore The Bookery in Manchester, NH. Thurs. Aug. 21, 6 PM, 844 Elm Street, 603-836-6600. Save 20% on the paperback, ebook or audiobook by purchasing through The Bookery and they’ll even deliver. #bookclub #bookclubs

Thanks to book blogger Heather L. Barksdale for reviewing Beautiful & Terrible Things: A Novel. She also posted an interview with me, covering the 3 things that inspired the award-winning story, how I came up with names for my characters, who I would cast in a movie version, etc.: buff.ly/RChplfl

Here's a snippet from Sunny talking to Charley when they meet at the weekend away, at Buwan's family's summer home, in "Beautiful & Terrible Things." #contemporaryfiction #awardwinningfiction

FREE 📚 TODAY & TOMORROW: I don't plug a lot of books but I loved this psychological thriller and you will too. And you can get the ebook of DARE by Mimi Wahlfeldt for free through July 6. Click this link: buff.ly/uVpdK7i And read my review of the book here if you're interested: buff.ly/ky4LvBY

Cool cat just hanging around

Me and my friend Jo who makes incredible jewelry at Creative Therapy Jewelry

Awesome live music at the Manchester NH Pride

So happy to be at 3 Pride Festivals during Pride Month in June, with my books! The events in Manchester, NH, Portsmouth, NH, and Windham, ME were truly inspiring! #pridemonth2025 #pride2025

I dug deep into the psychology that drives people to turn violent at a protest before writing my extended protest scene for Beautiful and Terrible Things, to ensure its authenticity. Read an excerpt from that scene here: authorsmstevens.com/book-excerpt...