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S.M. Stevens

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

https://authorsmstevens.com/

Twitter

@SMStevens17

Genre

Fiction, Young Adult, Children's

Influences

Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, Kristin Hannah

Member Since

May 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/smstevens

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S.M. Stevens is author of contemporary novel Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, now available from TouchPoint Press, plus a YA series set in a high school drama program, and a Middle Grade adventure for animal-lovers. Her new adult novel, Beautiful and Terrible Things, is being released in early 2023.

A lifelong business writer who dabbled in creative writing on the side, Stevens found her opportunity to write fiction in earnest when she broke her pelvis in three places in a horseback riding fall. On crutches for three months and unable to commute to work, cook, clean or shuttle kids to activities, she turned to writing. The result was Shannon’s Odyssey, a middle-grade novel written for her younger daughter.

The following year, Stevens was diagno S.M. Stevens is author of contemporary novel Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, now available from TouchPoint Press, plus a YA series set in a high school drama program, and a Middle Grade adventure for animal-lovers. Her new adult novel, Beautiful and Terrible Things, is being released in early 2023.

A lifelong business writer who dabbled in creative writing on the side, Stevens found her opportunity to write fiction in earnest when she broke her pelvis in three places in a horseback riding fall. On crutches for three months and unable to commute to work, cook, clean or shuttle kids to activities, she turned to writing. The result was Shannon’s Odyssey, a middle-grade novel written for her younger daughter.

The following year, Stevens was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which was treated with surgery and five months of chemotherapy. During this recovery, she wrote Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers for her older daughter and all musical theatre-loving teens. Two additional Bit Players novels followed, filling the void in fiction for fans of performance shows like the Glee TV series and the High School Musical movies.

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades was her first adult novel, which was prompted by the #metoo movement. Fascinated by the parallels between workplace sexual harassment and childhood incest, specifically how society asks many of the same questions of both types of victim, she wrote the dual narrative of Shelby and Astrid, two women starting their careers in 1980s Boston while struggling with past and present demons.

Her business career includes executive positions at Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations including the Franklin Park Zoo and the USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”) Museum in Boston. Currently, she consults and provides marketing and public relations services to solar energy companies.

Her freelance writing career includes articles and columns published in the Boston Globe, Bay State Parent, Bay State Realtor, Strategic Communications Magazine and Guitar & Bass Magazine, plus too many ghost-written articles to list.

Stevens has a bachelor’s degree in English from Cornell University. She also studied at University College at the University of London. She lives in New Hampshire. ...more

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Average rating: 4.11 · 85 ratings · 42 reviews · 7 distinct works • Similar authors

	Horseshoes and Hand Grenades 4.09 avg rating — 33 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers (Bit Players, #1) 3.80 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bit Players, Bullies and Righteous Rebels 4.17 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups 4.18 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Wallace House of Pain 4.30 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2022 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Shannon's Odyssey 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Gold Spinners Secret 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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S.M. Stevens's Blog

The Play’s the Thing

A reader of The Wallace House of Pain says it would make a good play. I agree! After all, as Shakespeare said, “the play’s the thing”.

I have always been a huge drama nerd, and would love to write plays some day. Put it on the list…

Why would this novelette translate so well to the stage? Well, the tale of troubled family relations, modern social justice issues and deeply personal choices takes plac

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S.M. Stevens is currently reading

Shannon's Odyssey

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The Wallace House of Pain

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S.M. Stevens said: " Oh, how I wish people who rate a book would take 30 seconds to also write a sentence about why they chose that rating! Especially if the rating is poor. Just imagine your teacher handing you back a paper with a low grade but refusing to tell you why ...more "

Oct 31, 2022 06:15AM · see review

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Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

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Mar 24, 2020 02:36AM

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S.M. Stevens wrote a new blog post Book Lovers Soaps I don’t usually talk about non-book products here, but this is too good not to share.You know those people who love books so much they would bathe in Read more of this blog post »
May 26, 2023 01:35AM · like
S.M. Stevens rated a book it was amazing Secrets Most Writers and Publishers Will Never Tell You by Tara Tomczyk	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I am always interested in the straight scoop from insiders in the publishing industry, like long-time editor and publisher Tara Tomczyk. This book is a wonderful resource if you’re just beginning your publishing journey, and offers helpful reminders ...more
May 19, 2023 10:06AM · like · see review
S.M. Stevens is now following Ruth Stevens's reviews
Mar 26, 2023 04:48AM · like
S.M. Stevens made a comment on Ruth Stevens’s review of The Wallace House of Pain " Thank you for the review, Ruth! "
Mar 26, 2023 04:48AM · see review
S.M. Stevens liked Ruth Stevens's review of The Wallace House of Pain: "In The Wallace House of Pain, we meet a quirky and engaging group of characters grappling with issues of sexuality, self-esteem, love, acceptance—and more. I learned a lot from this short but well-crafted story that introduces us to young Xander Wall" Read more of this review »
Mar 26, 2023 04:47AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Wallace House of Pain by S.M. Stevens. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wallace House of Pain by S.M. Stevens <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.M. Stevens and 1 other person liked Julie Morris's review of The Wallace House of Pain: "A great collection of vignettes which explores the relationship between a son and his father and how we long for acceptance from our parents. Xander has never felt his father approves of him. They are very different people, one liberal, one conservati" Read more of this review »
Mar 26, 2023 04:47AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Wallace House of Pain by S.M. Stevens. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wallace House of Pain by S.M. Stevens <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.M. Stevens rated a book really liked it Stage Seven by Ruth F. Stevens (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
As one of what feels like the few people with no firsthand knowledge of Alzheimer's Disease, Stage Seven was a touching, sometimes tragic introduction to how AD ravages individuals and families. To the author's credit, she also imbues the situation w ...more
Mar 18, 2023 06:34AM · like · see review
S.M. Stevens made a comment on Fun Friday Photo: Comma Love " Bruce wrote: "The importance of comma usage would have been made more effectively if whomever made the meme hadn’t misused the comma in the meme. It’s ...more "
Feb 28, 2023 12:47PM · see blog post
S.M. Stevens rated a book really liked it I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I Meant To Tell You explores the toll that is taken when you keep secrets, and when you reveal them. The story is comprised of three women’s stories: the protagonist Miranda and, sandwiched between Miranda’s chapters, her old friend Ronit and her mot ...more
Jan 30, 2023 05:37AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — I Meant to Tell You by Fran Hawthorne <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
S.M. Stevens liked Kerry's review of The Wallace House of Pain: "The Wallace House of Pain tells Xander’s story. Xander is dealing with the loss of his mother and craving the love and acceptance of his father who re-married within a year and never mentions the wife he lost. This novelette is set over several eveni" Read more of this review »
Jan 26, 2023 01:29PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Wallace House of Pain by S.M. Stevens. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wallace House of Pain by S.M. Stevens <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Quotes by S.M. Stevens (?)

“When a show ends, for a few days, my body sizzles with leftover energy, like a tree in the wake of a lightning strike.”
― S.M. Stevens

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

12 likes

“When you're in a show, all through rehearsals Tech Week hovers out there like a magical holy grail. In reality, Tech Week is always a train wreck of missed cues, forgotten lines, malfunctioning set pieces and short tempers.”
― S.M. Stevens

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

11 likes

“This was awkward to infinity. Alex living here would change my entire routine. I was sharing a bathroom with my boyfriend. How scary was that? I had tampons and pads and everything in there. He was going to be naked in the shower on the other side of my bedroom wall. And I was going to be naked in the shower with him in my house.”
― S.M. Stevens, Bit Players, Bird Girls and Fake Break-Ups

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

0 likes

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S.M.’s Quotes

“When a show ends, for a few days, my body sizzles with leftover energy, like a tree in the wake of a lightning strike.”
― S.M. Stevens

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

12 likes

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

0 likes

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

11 likes

“The first few weeks of school were always surreal, like you landed on an alien planet with strange teachers and unfamiliar classrooms, even though the lockers and cafeteria seemed familiar.”
― S.M. Stevens, Bit Players, Has-Been Actors and Other Posers

tags: arts, bit-players, musical, theater, theatre, young-adult

0 likes

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