Stephanie Cotta

May Newsletter

Happy May, book friends!

I am so thrilled its May. This is usually the month I start spending more time outside. The weather begins to warm up, which means more hikes, going for jogs, and reading outside at the park nearby my house. I’ll probably do more archery in the backyard too. But I’m mostly excited May is here because my debut picture book releases into the world. That’s right, the big release is almost here!

Also, I’m looking forward to starting a new oil painting; I have the composition all figured out, so next week is probably when I will start. You can follow my progress with it on my socials. Check out my latest paining below: It’s Tipp Jesper from Heartsmith.

Writing Update:

Line edits have officially begun for Heartsmith! Diving back into this steampunk world over the past week has been a blast. My line editor is amazing; she is full of whimsy ideas, and we’re implementing quite a few of them. This is my most fun book I’ve written, and I can’t wait for you all to have the chance to read it when the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) is ready. Get ready to scoop up this book when spooky month hits!

I’m getting ready to send The Ghost’s Gambit, book 3 in The Iron Kingdom Series, to my publisher. One of my critique partners finished reading it last night, and she said it was her favorite so far in the series! This was so encouraging to hear, as writing a series can bring with it many challenges. My biggest worry with each sequel is if it won’t be as good as the one before it… but I’m happy to know readers are loving my characters and enjoying each new adventure. And guess what? There’s more to come!

The Mountain of Gold News

My new picture book is 5 days away from its release date. Just yesterday, I received an outstanding trade review for The Mountain of Gold from Literary Titan. See full review here:

With the release day approaching fast, that means there’s only a few days left to take advantage of my Preorder Promo for The Mountain of Gold. For anyone who preorders a physical copy of my new picture book, I’ll send you book swag! I have fun Japanese-themed stickers and magnetic bookmarks to give out, along with The Mountain of Gold stickers. To get your free book swag, just email me at s.daniellacotta@gmail.com with a screenshot of your order along with your address so I can send you the goodies. (US only)

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Watch the Official Book Trailer

I need a favor! Please vote for my novel, The Wraiths of Arjun, for the Realm Maker’s Reader’s Choice Award. This award is for Christian authors who’ve written books in the Sci-fi/Fantasy genres, so if you can please take 2 minutes of your time to vote for my book, I would greatly appreciate it! I’d love to see it advance to the next round.

Deadline for the first round closes May 15th. Thank You!

Vote here

Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars! I have two book signings this month that are perfect for the family. Come visit me and get your book copies signed. I’d love to see you at these events.

If you haven’t read The Iron Kingdom Series and are looking to start something new and exciting, check out my YA Fantasy series. It has everything you could want in a story: action & adventure, mystery, buried secrets, a hero you can’t help but love, clean swoon-worthy romance, multi-POVs, antihero POV, friends/enemies to lovers, deadly curses and monsters, found family, high stakes, and the importance of community and friendship.

And if you have read The Conjurer’s Curse and The Wraiths of Arjun, please do me a huge favor and leave a review. They help encourage other people to read the books, and increase my ranking on Amazon, which is huge!

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Buy The Wraiths of Arjun

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Shop The Merchandise Store

Signed Copies:

Also, if you’re interested in getting signed copies of my books, I’ve made that available through Paypal. Just click on my linktree, and you’ll find the link at the top. I’ll include a bookmark and sticker too (while supplies last!)

LinkTr.ee/StephanieCotta

Check out The Ink Mages Podcast! Your go-to podcast for Nerdy Fantasy banter and story craft. If you haven’t watched our episodes, give us a listen and subscribe to our YouTube Channel or listen on Spotify. Check out our latest episodes using the links below:

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Spotify

Thank you, book friends, for supporting me, encouraging me, and for reading my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful May!

– Stephanie Cotta

Book Recommendation:

Listen Up by Abbie Crank is a wonderful YA Contemporary Clean Romance that weaves the complexity of high school drama with a compelling “enemies to lovers” trope that will keep readers turning the pages. The main character Keres is passionate about music and lyrics, and dreams of being a singer/songwriter one day. She’s a voicy protagonist, especially with Ethan–aka, the boy she once had a crush on, until he embarrassed her at a big party, effectively ending their friendship. But could there be more to Ethan than just the rich jerk he presents himself as? Can they both work through their past hurts and be friends again, maybe even something more?

There is much to love with this book. It’s packed with snarky banter, engaging and realistic characters, friendships, young love, and much more. Enemies to lovers fans will eat this up!

Released Just days ago on May 7th!

Check it out here

April Newletter

Happy April, book friends! I’m getting a late start on my April Newsletter—there’s been a lot going on. All good things, of course. I also wanted to finalize a few book signing events before I wrote this; some are still in the works, but hopefully I’ll have more to share on those in the next newsletter.

As Spring is in full bloom, I’ve been taking breaks from editing and working on my books by spending time outside planting flowers, taking walks with the doggies, and going on short hikes. It’s been sunny enough to read outside in the backyard too, which I love doing. I especially love seeing all the pink cheery blossoms in bloom; they’re so pretty, and I think they’re my favorite sight in the Springtime.

March and April Wrap-up

I received Heartsmith back from my development editor several weeks ago, and I was so encouraged to know she loved it. In her words: If Stardust met Star Wars: The Phantom Menace mixed with Frankenstein and had a baby with The Winter Soldier, you’d have HEARTSMITH. Quite the mash-up of genres, huh?! But I love it, and it’s quite wild how it all works together. I’ve gone through the development edits and made small tweaks here and there, and it’s now in the hands of the line editor. Which means it’s one step closer to being done! Also, it means the Cover Reveal isn’t too far away either…!

At the end of February, I finished drafting The Ghost’s Gambit, book 3 in The Iron Kingdom Series. Right now, I have two critique partners reading through it and giving me feedback. I’m excited to polish this manuscript even more before beginning the editing stage. I’ve been compiling notes for book 4 and adding them into a document, so I’ve officially started writing the next book in the series! Though, I don’t expect to fully dive into it yet. Book 3 took over a year to write, and I have a feeling the next book might take as long too.

I’ve also slowly been working on the sequel to Heartsmith. I’ve been really busy with editing jobs, and getting The Mountain of Gold ready for release. So, when I’ve had creative spurts, I’ve jotted down scenes for the sequel, and worked out a rough outline of where I expect the plot to go. It currently sits just under 9k.

The Mountain of Gold News

My new picture book is less than a month away from its release date. I can’t wait for you all to read it and see my illustrations! Last week, I released the Official Book Trailer for The Mountain of Gold that I made. You can watch it below.

Right now, until the end of Friday, Barnes & Noble is running a Preorder Sale for Premium and Rewards members. If you have a membership, take advantage of the sale and snag 25% off your order of The Mountain of Gold. This Japanese fable story is a delightful read kids and adults will enjoy. See the graphic below for details.

Preorder

Also at this time, I am launching my Preorder Promo. For anyone who preorders a physical copy of The Mountain of Gold, I will send you free book swag! I have some fun Japanese-themed stickers and magnetic bookmarks to give out, along with The Mountain of Gold stickers. To get your free book swag, just email me at s.daniellacotta@gmail.com with a screenshot of your order along with your address so I can send you the goodies. (US only)

Exciting News!

In the last newsletter, I hinted at an upcoming event I’d be at, so here it is: I am going to be a featured author at the Forever Twilight Festival in Forks, Washington, September 2024! I have been dying to share out this exciting news ever since I found out. I can’t wait to visit the area where the Twilight Movies were filmed. This is such a wonderful opportunity for me to share my YA Fantasy books with new readers and connect with other fantasy writers. I’ll be taking lots of pics when the time comes.

Upcoming Events:

If you’re in the Southern Oregon area, visit me at this Book Faire to Remember in Grants Pass. I’ll be there at a table along with 23 amazing authors part of AIM. I’ll have my YA Fantasy books in paperback available for purchase. It will be a splendid time to meet local authors, chat, and get your books signed. So, if you’re free, come join us!

If you haven’t read The Iron Kingdom Series and are looking to start something new and exciting this Spring, then check out my YA Fantasy series. It has everything you could want in a story: action & adventure, mystery, buried secrets, a hero you can’t help but love, romance, multi-POVs, antihero POV, friends/enemies to lovers, deadly curses and monsters, found family, high stakes, and the importance of community and friendship.

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Buy The Wraiths of Arjun

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Shop the Merchandise Store

Signed Copies:

LinkTr.ee

Watch on YouTube

Listen on Spotify

Thank you, book friends, for supporting me, encouraging me, and for reading my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of April!

-Stephanie Cotta

Book Recommendation:

The Treasure of Rigmore House by Claire Kohler was my latest read. Here’s my review:

Another excellent installment in the Betwixt the Sea and Shore Series! I love how seamlessly the story continues and incorporates the returning main characters from the previous two books. I loved getting to meet Muireall and seeing the enemies to lovers’ trope develop between her and Niall, who I didn’t think could ever possibly be redeemed! The inclusion of the Fair Folk into this book was icing on the cake! I’ve loved all the selkie folklore, so it was neat to get deeper into the fairy folklore surrounding the world of Everton.

If you love Scottish Fantasy Romance, with swoony & sweet relationships, a bit of magic, & folklore creatures, then this is the perfect series to start!

Check it out here

March Newsletter

Happy March, book friends! Even though Spring is right around the corner, we were hit with snow today in Southern Oregon! The weather is always unpredictable here, but I love the snow, so I’m not complaining. It’s also my puppy Fred’s first snow, and he has been hopping around like a bunny through it!

I never got around to writing a newsletter for February, so I have quite a bit of news to share! I had several editing jobs the last two months that kept me pretty busy, and I also took part in a social media break with my church during the last 2 weeks of January. Because of that, I could focus a lot more on my writing, which I desperately needed. It was a wonderful refresher for me, and it also freed up more time for reading as well.

January & February Wrap-up

In January, I had a wonderful book signing at Barnes & Noble for The Wraiths of Arjun, and I’m lining up more events. I’ve scheduled one already for the summer, which is a Comic-Con event. That one is going to be a blast! And there’s a big event I’ll be part of in September I’m dying to share, but I can’t yet until it’s announced… I’ll be sharing that exciting news probably in the next month or two. So stay tuned!

Also in January was the Cover Reveal for my debut picture book, The Mountain of Gold!

This story is close to my heart and a tribute to my dear friend and writing mentor, Fred J. Fisher, who is no longer with us. I originally did the illustrations for it back in 2010. It’s crazy how fast this book came together after finding its publishing home with Caterpillar Books, a division of Monarch Press. And guess what? It’s releasing this Spring! I can’t wait to share it with everyone! ARC signups are coming soon, and it is currently available for preorder on Hardback & ebook at this time. Paperback preorder coming soon.

Add on Goodreads

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

All Febuary long, my upcoming YA Steampunk Gothic Horror, HEARTSMITH, has been with my development editor. So, when that wraps up, I’ll be diving back into this Dickens meets Frankenstein world again, and working on getting it ready for line edits. I cannot wait to share this new series with everyone. I have started the sequel, but haven’t worked on it much as I’ve been focusing on finishing Book 3 of The Iron Kingdom Series, which leads me to my next update…

The first draft of The Ghost’s Gambit is Done! YAY! I’ve already begun the revision process, adding in small overlooked details, and making sure I’ve tied up things I missed during the drafting stage. My critique partner and podcast co-host Angela R. Hughes has been reading through it, and the feedback I’ve received from her has been so encouraging. To her, it’s the best book in the series yet! I have just a couple more things I need to work on, and then I’ll be reaching out to a few beta readers.

And if you have read The Conjurer’s Curse and The Wraiths of Arjun, please do me a huge favor and leave a review. They help encourage other people to read the books, and increase my ranking on Amazon, which is huge!

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Buy The Wraiths of Arjun

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Shop Merchandise Store

Signed Copies:

Also, if you’re interested in getting signed copies of my books, I’ve now made that available through Paypal. Just click on my linktree, and you’ll find the link at the top. I’ll include a bookmark and sticker too (while supplies last!)

LinkTr.ee

Check out The Ink Mages Podcast! Your go-to podcast for Nerdy Fantasy banter and story craft.

It’s a new year of podcasting, and my co-host Angela R. Hughes and I released 3 new episodes last month. Two were author interviews (with Mark Snoad & J.D. Fisher) and one was all about Romantic Chemistry Tips for writing, along with discussing many of our favorite romance stories. If you haven’t watched our episodes, give us a listen and subscribe to our YouTube Channel or listen on Spotify. Check out our latest episodes using the links below:

YouTube Channel

Listen on Spotify

Thank you, book friends, for supporting me, encouraging me, and for reading my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful March and Spring Break!

-Stephanie Cotta

Book Recommendation:

The Heart of Everton Inn by Claire Kohler was my latest read. Here’s my review:

A wonderful follow-up to book 1! I enjoyed this story immensely and I love how it expanded on book 1 by following along the same storyline but from Adaira’s and John’s perspective. I loved seeing their relationship develop amidst all the twists and turns, and goodness, were there some shockers! After the cliffhanger ending, I am so eager to dive in to book 3, and luckily it’s releasing very soon. Can’t wait to continue this series!

For readers who love clean romantasy in a Scottish setting with selkie folklore, you will absolutely love this series!

Check it out here

January Newsletter

Happy New Year, book friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have fun plans to ring in the new year. Today, I have plans to work on a portrait painting I started back in October, and I really hope to finish it soon. Then later today, I’ll be celebrating New Year’s with my family.

2023 was a wild and exciting year for me, especially with the new release of my second book, The Wraiths of Arjun. What I am most looking forward to in 2024 is launching my new YA Steampunk Gothic Horror series, HEARTSMITH.

December Wrap-up:

Last month, I wasn’t able to finish the first draft of The Ghost’s Gambit, book 3 in The Iron Kingdom Series. So that is now my goal for the beginning of the year. Life was really hectic during November and December, leading up to TWOA’s release, plus all the disarray in my household with not having heat or hot water, which we still don’t have. But I’m hoping things slow down in January so I can devote more time to book 3’s manuscript. I’m nearly there, so I just need to sit down and hammer out my ending.

I also took part in an author party with the Facebook group The Queen’s Library and got to feature The Wraiths of Arjun. It was a blast sharing all the insider details for the story, my inspiration for it, character moodboards, and games themed to my story. Hopefully, I can participate in one in the fall when Heartsmith releases.

Exciting News!

A picture book I illustrated for a dear friend of mine, Fred J. Fisher, is getting published by Caterpillar Books (A division of Monarch Press). The days leading up to this announcement for The Mountain of Gold were bittersweet as I recalled the time I spent working on this project with Fred. This will be my picture book debut, and it’s slated for an early 2025 release. I can’t wait to share it with you all in the future!

Upcoming Events:

Join me at Barnes & Noble in Medford, OR for a book signing for my new YA Epic Fantasy, THE WRAITHS OF ARJUN. Hardback and paperback copies will be available for purchase at the signing table. I will have free goodies to share out as well. I am looking forward to seeing everyone and signing your copies! Mark your calendar so you don’t miss it!

Live Podcast Episode:

The Ink Mages are going LIVE! Joining us will be returning authors Nathan Keys, X Zombie & Mikel Melwasul. There will be GIVEAWAYS & a chance to ask us your burning questions. IT’S GOING TO BE EPIC!

Event date: Jan 5, 2024 at 7PM EST on The Ink Mages YouTube Channel. Check out our latest episode to keep your holiday spirit bright, here: YouTube: https://youtu.be/EL09trP0xCo?si=ZQ5g1Vliy06aInpM

It’s wild that I can say I have two published books out in the world! If you haven’t read The Iron Kingdom Series and are looking to start something new and exciting this year, then check out my YA Fantasy series. It has everything you could want in a story: action & adventure, mystery, buried secrets, a hero you can’t help but love, a bit of romance, multi-POVs, antihero POV, friends/enemies to lovers, deadly curses and monsters, found family, high stakes, and the importance of community and friendship.

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Buy The Wraiths of Arjun

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Shop Merchandise Store

And if you’d like a chance to win a FREE ebook of The Conjurer’s Curse, check out this book review for TCC on Carol’s Baldwin’s Blog and leave a comment. Click link below to enter!

Book Review

Signed Copies:

LinkTree

Thank you, book friends, for supporting me, encouraging me, and for reading my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful January and a Happy New Year!

-Stephanie Cotta

Release Day!

Release Day is here!

Hello, book friends! I am thrilled I finally get to share with you my new book. The Wraiths of Arjun, book 2 in The Iron Kingdom Series, is officially out in the world!!!

I am so excited this day is finally here, and that my second published book is now available for your enjoyment. You can find it in select stores and wherever books are sold on online platforms!

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Barnes & Noble

Watch the Trailer

As a special gift for my email subscribers, if you missed out on the preorder promo, I’ll send you a free bookmark and sticker for The Wraiths of Arjun for those who purchase the book by midnight 12/9/23, which is the day of my book launch party. Just send the screenshot of your order, along with your address, to my email: s.daniellacotta@gmail.com. And I will get your book swag sent to you.

Special Event!

Join me and my publisher, Monarch Press, for my book’s Launch Party! For more information, check out the link to the Facebook Event below. It will be streaming Live to YouTube on December 9, 2023 at 1 pm PST. There will be games and giveaways, too, so be sure to tune in.

Launch Party Page

Thank you all for joining me on my author journey. Your support means the world. I hope you all enjoy my new book. Please share it with friends and family who love fantasy. Give it as a gift this Christmas. And if you love it, please leave a review. It’s the biggest thank you I can receive.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

-Stephanie Cotta

Linktr.ee/StephanieCotta

December Newsletter

November Wrap-up:

Happy December, book friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful November, and a happy Thanksgiving with family and friends. I spent the holiday weekend with my family and my husband’s family, enjoying lots of scrumptious food, relaxing, reading, and playing video games. I even did a fun Christmas decorating job for a client whose house I decorate every year. It was a nice break from writing and editing, allowing me to exercise some of my other creative skills.

Last month, I didn’t get in as much writing as I wanted. Our gas water heater broke mid-November, which also supplies heat to the house. So, we’ve been without heat or hot water since then. This has been a bit of a stressor for me, and two rooms in the house had the floors torn out from water leakage damage. So things have been a bit crazy!

With all that said, I managed to add 5k words to book 3 in The Iron Kingdom Series. I’ve also done a lot of thinking on the manuscript. I’ve been debating adding in another character’s POV, which would appeal to younger readers. So, to start, I’m going to write brief glimpses into his viewpoint and see how I like it. I’ve handed off what I’ve written so far to a trusty critique partner to see what she thinks of the plot and pacing so far. I’m going to give myself grace and time on this manuscript to get it where it needs to be. I’d love to finish the first draft by the end of the year. Hopefully, I reach that goal!

Four Days to Release!

My second book, The Wraiths of Arjun (the sequel to The Conjurer’s Curse), is only a few days away from releasing. I can’t even begin to tell you all how excited I am to have a second book being published by Monarch Press. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported and encouraged me with my writing to get to this point. Holding both books in my hands is a dream come true. And I am so thrilled I get to share my new book with you in four days! I hope you all love the continuation of Rowan’s, Akaran’s, and Tahira’s story.

Preorder Promo

Now until release day, I am doing a special preorder promo for anyone who preorders a physical copy of The Wraiths of Arjun. I’ll send you a free bookmark and sticker. Just email me a screenshot of your order, along with your address, and I’ll get your book swag sent to you asap! (US only) Email me at: s.daniellacotta@gmail.com

You can preorder your physical copy or ebook using the links below; or check it out from your favorite online book retailer. And remember: Christmas is just around the corner. So consider getting the book lover in your life something new to read over the holiday season.

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Upcoming Event:

My book signing event for The Wraiths of Arjun is coming up soon, just a little over a month away. It will be at the Medford, OR Barnes & Noble on January 6, 2024 from 2-4pm. I will be making a Facebook event for it and will also do a reminder email as we get closer to the event date. If you’re in the Southern Oregon area, I would love to see you there!

Podcast News:

Check out The Ink Mages podcast if you love all things fantasy. It’s been amazing highlighting fellow fantasy and sci-fi authors on our show. This month of December, we have several interviews lined up, along with some festive Christmas episodes in store. So, be sure to check our podcast out on YouTube and Spotify. Also, please help us by subscribing to our channel, sharing the episodes, and leaving a comment. You can find our episodes by CLICKING HERE: The Ink Mages

This December, are you looking for a fantastic adventure to read snuggled up next to the hearth? If so, and you haven’t had the chance to read my debut YA Fantasy The Conjurer’s Curse yet, then snag a copy and get reading! It’s an adventure you won’t want to put down.

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Thank you, book friends, for supporting me, encouraging me, and for reading my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful December and a Merry Christmas!

-Stephanie Cotta

Linktr.ee/StephanieCotta

November Newsletter

October Wrap-Up

Happy November, book friends! Last month was a recuperating month for me. September was so busy that for October, I really wanted to focus on writing, make more time for reading, and spending time with my family. I wrote less on the weekends for this reason, and it also gave my brain a break so I could find joy in other things.

I made significant progress on Book 3 in The Iron Kingdom Series in October. I’m at 88k words and shooting for around 100k. Even though I made big strides in writing this book last month, I also experienced several slumps that really did a number on my head. I felt like everything I wrote was not good or interesting; it was a clear sign I was reaching a burnout point. So, I’m planning to incorporate more things I like to do that can take my mind off writing, like drawing and painting. Which means you may start seeing character art on my social media during this fall season.

An exciting thing that happened last month was receiving my proof copy of The Wraiths of Arjun from my publisher. Getting to hold my new book in my hands was a surreal moment for me. It’s the most amazing feeling seeing all your hard work condensed into the final product: a physical book. I LOVE seeing my two books side by side–it will never get old!

A few days ago, I visited the Medford, OR Barnes and Noble and scheduled my book signing for The Wraiths of Arjun. It will be on January 6, 2024 from 2-4pm. I will be making a Facebook event for it and will also do a reminder email as we get closer to the event date. If you’re in the Southern Oregon area, I hope you can make it!

One Month Away till Release!

The Wraiths of Arjun is nearly a month away from its release date, and more book reviews are pouring in! I am so grateful to all my ARC readers who are leaving such positive reviews on Goodreads and on other online book retailer sites. I made this highlight-reviews-pic so I could see all the wonderful praise in one place!

With us nearing the launch for The Wraiths of Arjun, that means it’s preorder time. You can preorder your physical copy or ebook using the links below; or check it out from your favorite online book retailer. And remember: Christmas is just around the corner. So consider getting the book lover in your life something new to read over the holiday season.

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Podcast News

The Ink Mages podcast, hosted by myself and my author friend, Angela R. Hughes (Author of the Once and Future Chronicles Series) has 8 episodes out now, so be sure to check them out on YouTube and Spotify. Our show has all the Nerdy Banter you could want in a podcast. Please help us by subscribing to our channel, sharing the episodes, and leaving a comment. You can find our episodes by CLICKING HERE: The Ink Mages

Watch our Latest Episode on Monsters

This Fall, are you looking for a fantastic adventure to get lost in? If so, and you haven’t had the chance to read my debut YA Fantasy, The Conjurer’s Curse yet, then snag a copy and get reading! It’s an adventure you won’t want to put down.

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Thank you, book friends, for supporting me, encouraging me, and for reading my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful November and a Happy Thanksgiving!

-Stephanie Cotta

linktr.ee/StephanieCotta

October Newsletter

September Wrap-up:

Happy October, book friends! September was a busy month for me, but also very productive. I led the Monarch’s Bookclub chat on Discord as we read through my debut YA Fantasy, THE CONJURER’S CURSE. I had a lot of fun giving readers a behind the scenes look at what went into my characters’ development and certain scenes in the story. I am looking forward to hosting it again once THE WRAITHS OF ARJUN releases.

Last month, I also go a new addition to the family: a corgi puppy named Fred. Having a puppy has been a big change for my writing/working routine, but he is a real sweetie and brings me lots of joy.

I spent half of September doing revisions on Heartsmith to get it ready for editorial rounds. I finished it on the date deadline for the development editor too! So once I sent that off, I dove back into work on Book 3 of The Iron Kingdom Series, which I’m calling THE GHOST’S GAMBIT at this point. Last month the word count was at 57k, so I’m glad to say I made progress on it over the past three weeks. (I took full advantage of the fall, rainy days, and let my imagination run free!) It’s currently at 73k words, which means I’m in the final push toward the end, I hope!

My interview with Jennifer Milius of The TufFish Show just dropped several days ago. I had a wonderful time chatting with Jen about my writing process, my books, and my podcast, The Ink Mages. You can watch the full interview below:

Watch Interview

Official Trailer for The Wraiths of Arjun

Two weeks ago, I released the Official Trailer for The Wraiths of Arjun. I’d been wanting to make one for months, so during my son’s soccer practice, I whipped this together and got it uploaded to my YouTube channel. You can watch it by clicking the link below. Please do me a favor and give it a like and subscribe to my channel. I’ve recently been adding short reels to my channel too, and hope to build the platform more in the future.

Watch The Wraiths of Arjun Book Trailer

Exciting News!

My fantasy series Swag Shop has new merchandise! Check out all the epic merch for my YA Fantasy, THE WRAITHS OF ARJUN! There’s an assortment of sweaters, hoodies, shirts, tank tops, drinkware, and accessories. I am in love with the FANTASTIC designs for The Wraiths of Arjun, and have also updated my designs for The Conjurer’s Curse as well. Have fun shopping at The Silver Star Shop! And be sure to take a photo of yourself with any item you purchase and share it with me.

Two Months till Release!

The Wraiths of Arjun is exactly two months away from its release date, and book reviews are pouring in! My book is in the hands of ARC readers right now, and their reviews are popping up on Goodreads. It’s so exciting seeing the high praise come in for book 2 in my fantasy series. With us nearing this book’s launch, that means it is ready for preorders. You can preorder your physical copy or ebook using the links below.

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes and Noble

Podcast News:

The Ink Mages podcast, hosted by myself and my author friend, Angela R. Hughes (Author of the Once and Future Chronicles Series) has 6 episodes out now, so be sure to check them out on YouTube and Spotify. Our show has all the Nerdy Banter you could want in a podcast. We discuss all things fantasy, world building, story craft, myths & legends, and our own books. During October, we will be covering some spooky topics like villains and mythical creatures/monsters, plus have author interviews, so be sure to tune in!

Please help us by subscribing to our channel, sharing the episodes, and leaving a comment. You can find our episodes by CLICKING HERE: The Ink Mages

Watch our Newest Episode: Crafting Villains

Fall is a wonderful time to tackle books on your TBR pile. So, if you haven’t had the chance to read my debut YA Fantasy, The Conjurer’s Curse yet, then snag a copy, pour yourself a nice cup of pumpkin spice coffee, light a candle, and get reading! It’s an adventure you won’t want to put down.

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

As always: Thank you to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and read my novels. You mean the world to me. I hope you all have a wonderful October!

-Stephanie Cotta

Linktr.ee/StephanieCotta

September Newsletter

August Wrap-up:

Happy September, book friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer. Now that it’s September and the start of fall vibes, it means I get to decorate my home for Autumn. Fall is my favorite season! I love the fall colors, the changing leaves, all things pumpkins and pumpkin spice.

Last month, I finished editing a manuscript for Monarch Press, and continued working on my own WIPs (work in progress). It was fun diving back into my YA fantasy series with Book 3 of The Iron Kingdom Series. I spent a lot of time brainstorming my ending, so taking a break from the story in July was beneficial. Now I feel like I have a clear direction. I am at 57k words, so I am over the halfway mark. I hope I can make big strides with this story in September. I will probably jump forward to the ending and get that blocked in, then work my way backwards. I really want to keep this at 100k or under. That’s the goal!

I also started the sequel to Heartsmith early in August! It was kind of a spur of the moment thing. But I wrote 5k words in two days and got a great start on the story. I’m not sure how much time I’ll devote to it this month, as I really want to focus on The Iron Kingdom Series. But when I’m ready to fully immersive myself in Steampunk again, I won’t be starting from scratch. So that’s a plus.

Over the past two weeks, I had the privilege to be on two podcasts, The TufFish Show and Living the Next Chapter. The first one will not air until the beginning of October, but the second one is live on YouTube. You can watch the interview below:

Watch Interview

Exciting Book News!

My YA Steampunk/Gothic Horror novel, HEARTSMITH is getting published!!! I am so excited that this story I started writing back in 2016 was picked up by my amazing publisher Jen Lowry of Monarch Press. It means so much to me that she fell in love with the story and the characters. I can’t wait for you all to read it!

I’ve spent the last week working on the Heartsmith manuscript, going over feedback from my publisher, and making adjustments here and there. I hope to have it finished and ready for editorial rounds by mid-September. I am overjoyed to begin the polishing process; I’ll keep you all informed along the way. Heartsmith will release October 2024!

Also, I commissioned my writer/artist friend X Zombie to do a character illustration of Arren Lockett, the main character from Heartsmith. Isn’t it so fun?! I may have her do more as we get closer to release day for this story.

Podcast News:

The Ink Mages podcast, hosted by myself and my author friend, Angela R. Hughes (Author of the Once and Future Chronicles Series) has 4 episodes out now, so be sure to check them out on YouTube and Spotify.

The Ink Mages Podcast has all the Nerdy Banter you could want in a podcast. We discuss all things fantasy, world building, story craft, myths & legends, and our own books. This month, we will be featuring several author interviews, so be sure to tune in for those!

Please help us by subscribing to our channel, sharing the episodes, and leaving a comment. You can find our episodes by CLICKING HERE: The Ink Mages

LinkTree/TheInkMages

Monarch Book Club

Join me on Discord for Monarch’s Book Club during the month of September! We’ll be reading through my debut YA Fantasy, THE CONJURER’S CURSE. So, if you haven’t read it yet, this is the perfect time to do so. Grab a copy, embark on an adventure, and join the fun with readers!

*I’ll be posting questions and hosting games related to this cleanreads book. I’m excited to chat and interact with readers!

Here’s the Discord link to join our chat:

Monarch Book Club

Did you Love THE CONJURER’S CURSE?

For those of you who have picked up my debut YA Epic Fantasy, I hope you enjoyed Rowan’s thrilling adventure. I would love to know what you thought of it. Please do me a HUGE favor and leave a review to share your love for the book to encourage other readers to give it a read. Reviews are an easy way to support me, and they have huge impact. I am blessed every time I receive one. To those of you who have already left reviews, I cannot thank you enough!

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

As always: Thank you to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and read my debut novel. You mean the world to me! I hope you all have a wonderful September!

-Stephanie Cotta

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August Newsletter

July Wrap-up

Happy August, book friends! I hope you all had a wonderful July and been enjoying the summer. I spent much of my time writing, reading, taking evening walks with my corgi Walter, hanging with the family, playing Final Fantasy XVI on the PS5, and doing archery with my son. It’s been wonderful seeing how much he enjoys it, too. My husband and I went to a concert earlier this week and saw George Thorogood and The Destroyers. Any Rock & Roll Fans?! Familiar with the song Bad to the Bone?! It was a fun concert, and I had a blast rocking out to those good, ‘ole tunes. Overall, July was a great month!

Book News

The ARC of The Wraiths of Arjun, Book 2 in The Iron Kingdom Series was sent out last month! Yay!! It’s crazy to think that this same time last year, I had only just finished writing the first draft. But now it’s “ready for reading”! And readers are already devouring the book. I’ve received excellent praise so far, with a few expressing they need book 3 in The Iron Kingdom Series ASAP! Just so you all know: I am working on it. I feel so encouraged by all the positive feedback, and I am so excited for everyone to read it when it releases December 5, 2023 from Monarch Press.

If you’d love the chance to read an early copy (pdf) of The Wraiths of Arjun, then consider signing up to be an ARC Reader. Spots are still available. I’d love to have you join my ARC Team! Click the link below to sign up, or click to discover more about the book if you’re curious to know what it’s about.

ARC Reader Sign Up

Discover More

With the ARC of The Wraiths of Arjun out in the world, I’ve been able to spend more time drafting other stories, which is what I love doing most–crafting magic on the page! I’ve increased my wordcount by a small margin in book 3 of The Iron Kingdom Series, and hope I can make greater leaps in the story during this month.

Last weekend, after a spurt of inspiration took hold of me, I started working on the Sequel to Heartsmith. I managed to block in the first 3 chapters and get full scenes and chapters written out. So, that got me a wonderful 5k words start to the story! I love how it starts–with gripping tension from the first page. Hopefully, more inspiration will hit me, and I can make progress with this story as well. It’s nice to know my characters are talking again, now that I am no longer in revision and edit mode on my previous project.

So, this means I once again have 2 works in progress going at the same time! They’ll likely both be fighting for my attention.

Exciting News!

I started a podcast! The Ink Mages, hosted by myself and my author friend, Angela R. Hughes (Author of the Once and Future Chronicles Series) is up live NOW on YouTube and Spotify.

The Ink Mages Podcast has all the Nerdy Banter you could want in a podcast. We will discuss all things fantasy, world building, story craft, myths & legends, and, of course, our own imaginative stories. You can find our first episode by CLICKING HERE: The Ink Mages Podcast. Part 2 of the episode will be airing August 8th – Be ready to check it out.

Please help us by subscribing to our channel, sharing the episodes and leaving a comment. See the Video link below for the first episode, HOW THE MAGIC HAPPENS.

Linktree/TheInkMages

Did you Love THE CONJURER’S CURSE?

Leave a Review on Amazon

Leave a Review on Goodreads

Buy The Conjurer’s Curse

As always: Thank you to everyone who has supported me, encouraged me, and read my debut novel. You mean the world to me! I hope you all have a wonderful rest of your Summer!

-Stephanie Cotta

My Linktree