Stephanie M. Matthews's Blog, page 2
January 21, 2019
Get Your Voting Finger Ready
Last Thursday evening I received an e-mail that went something like this: “Hey Stephanie. Your book cover is on January’s poll for Best Cover. Voting closes January 31st.” And I had two reactions. 1) Yaaaas! I love my cover! I always have, and I’m so glad it is getting some love. And, 2) It’s January 17th. The end of the month is in two weeks. Has my cover just been doing that poorly in the polls that the administrators were like, “Oh, dear. We should tell her to mobilize the troops?” Or, maybe the Month of January poll is really just 2 weeks long?….???
Whether or not the administrators had pity upon the soul of my book, or the poll is actually only two weeks long, I’m calling all of you to action. From today until January 31st, you can vote once a day for “The Gift” to win Best Cover at Alternative-Read.com (Vote here: https://bit.ly/2QWxHRp) . If we win this one, “The Gift” will go into the year-end vote to be crowned champion, and well, that would just be pretty cool.
It would be so cool in fact, I made one of my classic “camera-the-wrong-way-again-I-clearly-don’t-have-a-Mac” videos which is definitely worth to watch the whole way through. Kind of like a Marvel film, but about $495 million dollars cheaper.
To vote for The Gift, vote here: https://bit.ly/2QWxHRp Scroll down to the bottom, find The Gift, and vote. Once a day, every day 
December 4, 2018
Magic of Christmas Giveaway
Curling up. Fireplace. Gentle snow falling. Colourful lights. Hot chocolate. Lovers. Family. Friends. These are the things that go into our Holiday dreams. Now, what if I inserted two more words into the list above?
Curling up by the fireplace with a great book while the gently falling snow covers over the colourful lights strung on the trees outside. With a cup of hot chocolate, you write Christmas cards to your lover(s if you like ;), friends, and family.
How does that sound? Beautiful? Perfect? I’ll accept write-in responses too. Because I’m a sucker for Christmas (I did, like, you know, write a whole Christmas novel, and stuff) I’ve teamed up with an incredible artist, Marion Aitken, to bring a little of this Christmas magic into your home. All you have to do is sign-up for our mailing lists and you’ll be automatically entered to win a copy of my Christmas thriller “The Gift” and a pack of her beautiful Christmas cards. This giveaway is only happening for one week though so sign-up now- and don’t worry, we don’t spam!
To enter, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JR63YTS
[image error]
Make sure to check out more of Marion’s gorgeous work on her website.
She does custom work too, so if you’re looking for a gift for yourself
or someone else, keep her mind! http://www.marionaitken.com/
December 3, 2018
Magic of Christmas Giveaway
Curling up. Fireplace. Gentle snow falling. Colourful lights. Hot chocolate. Lovers. Family. Friends. These are the things that go into our Holiday dreams. Now, what if I inserted two more words into the list above?
Curling up by the fireplace with a great book while the gently falling snow covers over the colourful lights strung on the trees outside. With a cup of hot chocolate, you write Christmas cards to your lover(s if you like ;), friends, and family.
How does that sound? Beautiful? Perfect? I’ll accept write-in responses too. Because I’m a sucker for Christmas (I did, like, you know, write a whole Christmas novel, and stuff) I’ve teamed up with an incredible artist, Marion Aitken, to bring a little of this Christmas magic into your home. All you have to do is sign-up for our mailing lists and you’ll be automatically entered to win a copy of my Christmas thriller “The Gift” and a pack of her beautiful Christmas cards. This giveaway is only happening for one week though so sign-up now- and don’t worry, we don’t spam!
To Enter, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JR63YTS
[image error]
Make sure to check out more of Marion’s gorgeous work on her website. She does custom work too, so if you’re looking for a gift for yourself or someone else, keep her mind! http://www.marionaitken.com/
November 21, 2018
Black Friday Sale!
It’s Black Friday this whole week with The Gift and because we’re friends, I had to let you know the great news: From now until Cyber Monday, you can buy The Gift on Amazon Kindle for 60% off! That’s a third the cost of a cup of Starbucks! (Or, half your Starbucks, depending on your home country and the cost of your Starbucks; I’m not judging). Either way, this is an incredible deal!
[image error]
What I love about online shopping is that there are no crowds and no lines, and no searching for parking spots. So even if you’ve already bought a copy of this page turning Christmas thriller, give it to someone else on your Christmas list! Do you have an office Secret Santa or a Reddit/Goodreads/Facebook/anything Secret Santa? You’re done. Crazy Aunt? Done! Dad who has everything? DONE! Book worm friend who has read everything? Well, they will have read everything after you give them this!
For everyone who will be celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, please don’t lose sight of the thankfulness of this holiday. If you have already celebrated Thanksgiving, or it’s not part of your country’s routine, enjoy this Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale anyway, and never lose sight of what’s great and good in your life
March 10, 2018
Take a Tour with Me & Fae
Can you believe that we just passed the 4-month release anniversary of “The Gift”? This has been an incredible journey so far and I’ve really loved hearing from everyone who has read it; you’re reactions to what I’ve poured so much of myself into has made everything worth every moment. And I’ve found out how strong an opinion you all can have, and that is amazing!
To mark this 4-month anniversary I want to share with you a video I shot while in Rome last year, a video following in Fae Peeters’ footsteps while she herself was briefly in Rome, and specifically, while she was in St. Peter’s Basilica. You can see what Fae saw as she stopped underneath the iconic baldacchino, walk across the same marble floors, and follow her down into the crypt (as far as cameras were allowed) through the hidden door in St. Andrew’s statue- yes, there really is a “secret” door in the base of the statue, which, let’s not kid ourselves, is pretty awesome. It’s a video without spoilers so even if you haven’t read the book yet (and if you haven’t, what have you been doing with your life?), and just want to see inside the magnificence which is St. Peter’s, take a watch!
Personal disclaimer: I do feel the need to apologize for the vertical-ness of the camera and the inconsistent volume. Sorry guys- better next time?
December 24, 2017
The Gift is Coming…Merry Christmas Eve!
Merry Christmas Eve to all! But to all, it will not be a good night. For in a little village in the south-west corner of Belgium, the Gift will come tonight, and there will be no good tidings, no good will, and no merriment. Remember them around the 11:00pm hour, pray for them throughout the night, for they will have other things to occupy their attentions until the sun rises again upon the darkness.
The Gift is coming…
(Full screen the video for full effect)
November 8, 2017
Release Day Hath Cometh
And on the seventh day, God rested, but there was no rest for the self-publishers.
That’s what I felt like my reality was for the last 2 years as I spent countless hours not only doing the normal author thing (writing, editing, editing, editing….editing…edi….), but also navigating how to be a self-publisher, and a Canadian self-publisher at that, which of course, doesn’t always play by the same America-centric rules, occasionally, sometimes for the better.
The last time I saved my first draft of “The Gift” was in May 2014 meaning I began writing it in 2013. I have eight distinct versions of my manuscript saved, each version averaging out to at least 2 or 3 read-throughs. Since 2013, I’ve gone through 12-months of school getting a new piece of fancy paper, a house move, a new job, a translation revision of an entire non-fiction work, and an editor dealing with a family upheaval, all the while figuring out this whole new world of self-publishing. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed working on this story which I still love after some fourteen+ readings, it was something of an endless journey, watching my life bleed away in front of a computer screen.
[image error]
But despite the set backs and the (completely) newbie mistake of believing six months was more than enough time to work through three professional edits and get the book uploaded to three different distributors, I have finally and actually come to the end of the tunnel. Now, granted, that tunnel has led me to a new, actually endless path of self-marketing, but let us together enjoy this moment for what it is. Something of a victory.
I mean, hey, I wrote and published a book!
[image error]
So thank you to everyone who have supported me on this journey, and who have already bought my book and who will be- I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did.
You can order your copy of “The Gift” online now! This list of retailers isn’t exhaustive, but only most common.
Amazon Canada: Click Here
Amazon USA: Click Here
Indigo-Chapters (Kobo & hard copy): Click here
Barnes & Noble (Nook & hard copy): Click here
iTunes Store: Click here
October 4, 2017
Release the Pre-Orders!
Today is a good day, a great day! A fantastic day even, because today I get to announce that pre-orders for “The Gift” are now available!
Well, mostly.
Pre-orders for a self-published Canadian is something I actually don’t have a lot of control over. Basically, if you’re an e-book reader, pre-sale is now open wherever you buy your e-books!! If you’re a hard-copy reader, then it is entirely up to the structure of your favourite bookstore if they are going to offer the option. Amazon and Chapters-Indigo do not, Barnes & Noble does, for example. So check out your local haunt and get your copy ready for November 7th! And remember, once you’ve read it, review it and let others know what you thought!
To note, Amazon.com is showing a hard copy of “The Gift” available for purchase through a third party vendor which is not accurate. Someone was just a little too quick to jump on board!
To make your search as easy and quick as possible, I’ve linked to a couple hot spots below where you can place your order and have it delivered to you on November 7th! This list isn’t exhaustive, so if your regular place to purchase isn’t here, such as any European, or Australian outlet, don’t let that stop you- chances are, it will be there for you
May 29, 2017
Spoil Them with Bread, Circuses, and a Book
[image error]
What likely will not come as a surprise to those who know me is that I am an ancient history nerd. As in, my room looks like a museum hiccuped in there, I spend every day on the bus reading scholarly articles, and, to me, learning Latin is an enjoyable hobby. So you can understand then that it was with little hesitation that when I was asked by my good friend Giorgio Franchetti to help bring his book on gladiators to English translation, I didn’t even have to think twice- I mean, is the Pope Catholic?
[image error] “Panem et Circenses: Sand and Blood” is a book about the real gladiators, not the “Spartacus” television show or “Gladiator” movie images that Hollywood has been selling, but presents a great overview of their lives, their deaths, and of course, their fighting. This project was a small labour of love and I learned as much from it as I hope I was able to give back into the translation.
To the credit of Giorgio Franchetti, “Panem et Circenses” in Italian, French, and English has found some successes in market and on May 13th, 2017 “Panem et Circenses: Sand and Blood” was being presented in a semi-private presentation in Rome, and I was invited along.
The location of this event was the Senatorial Palace, Rome’s city hall, located at the back center of the Piazza del Campidoglio, on the Capitoline Hill between the two wings of the Capitoline Museums, and overlooking the Forum Romanum. This location is steeped in history from all eras and is a prime location for tourists today- quite simply, the location was perfect. With the Senatorial Palace closed off to all but those authorized to enter, you can’t help but feel a bit special being allowed up the steps by the armed guards giving you way.
Inside was a “museum-typical” room that would ultimately be filled to capacity by about 70 attendees. Not only was “Sand and Blood” being presented, but also a small number of other history based works from the same publisher. Some things are a dead giveaway and I knew I was in the right place was when I saw the Praetorian guard and senator at the entry door. Let the games begin, indeed.
The presentation was quite an honour to be a part of, and Giorgio Franchetti did a great job both presenting and MC’ing (he’s in the blue sweater in the above picture), and I have to thank him dearly for the opportunity to bring some ancient history love to those who speak my language, and for giving me the opportunity to be there for this presentation of the book. Unfortunately, the book is not readily available in North America at this point (Amazon.it is your best option) but if you’re ever in Rome, check out one of the museum bookstores, and look for my name on the cover…
[image error]
April 3, 2017
Another Milestone in the Journey
[image error]
I spy with my little eye…the finish line on the horizon! The first hard copy of “The Gift” ever printed and it’s on its way to my copy editor meaning grammar checks, fact checks, and all the polish it needs to shine. It’ll be about 2 months before I get it back, but what began as a myth no one had ever seen before, is finally getting closer to being unleashed!
[image error]
