Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE on July 18-19

If I may shout my excitement like a teenager, today’s post brings super awesome, some might say epic, news:

• A huge sale, meaning FREE, in honor of the 1-year anniversary of Beautiful and Terrible Things
• Encouraging news about my next book
• Two major podcast interviews.

Beautiful and Terrible Things is FREE for 2 Days Only

The ebook of Beautiful and Terrible Things: A Novel will be FREE on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19, to celebrate a successful first year. Since being published on July 18, 2024, the friendship / social justice story has won 7 awards and earned many glowing reviews. So if you haven’t had a chance to pick it up yet, now’s the time! The sale only lasts 2 days, so mark your calendars, and please share the sale with your reader friends who might be interested.

And on Friday or Saturday, get your free copy here.

Work-In-Progress Update

I haven’t talked much about what I’m working on next, because I’ve been in the horrible No Man’s Land of trying to find a publisher for my new novel. Yes, even with my last book published by a small press and having won a bunch of awards, it’s still not a slam-dunk in the publishing world. But enough of my whining. On to the good news!

I entered my work-in-progress, tentatively titled The Unraveling of Caro Dunn, into Blydyn Square Books’ First Chapter Contest, and I found out a few days ago that I was the runner-up! My prize is a full manuscript review and, potentially (fingers and toes crossed), publication. Whatever happens, it’s a huge step in the process and I know I’ll get excellent feedback from them. Click here if you want to know more about this very cool small press out of New Jersey.

Saving the World: Compassiviste Podcast Interview

I recently had the very distinct honor of being one of the few fiction authors ever interviewed by host Ali Horriyat on the podcast Compassiviste Dialogues. Ali has nothing against authors, but the podcast’s focus is on social justice and sustainability. They interview leaders from the environmental movement, equality organizations, policy-makers, etc.

The resulting interview is long, over an hour, but if you care about making the world a better place and are curious how Beautiful and Terrible Things could possibly contribute to that, give it a listen. Put your feet up with a cup of tea, or listen while you cook, or whatever suits your schedule.

I’ll be posting 1-minute snippets from the full interview on my social media in the coming weeks, so follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or Bluesky if you’re interested in those. In the meantime, here’s the first one, in which Ali and I discuss why my books often include a mental health aspect.

Pain into Purpose: Life Unscripted Podcast Interview

I was also recently interviewed for the podcast Life Unscripted with Rosabel. Rosabel Zohfeld is a warm, intelligent host, and – fun fact – she is of Colombian descent like my character Jess! After reading the book, she gave my depiction of that culture a thumbs-up, which is a relief. Here’s how she describes our episode:

“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.”

Watch the full episode here. If you’re more of a reader than a watcher, Rosabel also published an interview with me here.

Note: I linked to YouTube for both the Life Unscripted and Compassiviste Dialogues episodes, but they are also on Spotify and other podcast platforms if you prefer.