Steven K. Smith's Blog

It’s July 4th weekend, but fireworks have been booming across the globe for months here in the summer of 2020. The world is gradually moving out of quarantine from the COVID-19 pandemic, yet most faces wear masks, many fear that infection rates are spiking, and no one knows how school will look in the fall. Racial protests have also exploded with outrage over police brutality to the African American community and matters of institutional racism...

Deleted Scene from Escape from Monticello: The Virginia Mysteries Book 8

Copyright 2020 by Steven K. Smith

R U Ready?

The text beeped on Sams phone on the kitchen counter. 

Mrs. Murphys white SUV pulled up to the driveway. Shes here! Derek hollered.

The boys met Caitlin halfway down the driveway, her face in a mischievous grin. Come on, I have something to show you guys.

When they walked up to her car, a furry yellow head leaped up at the backseat window, almost tumbling out on top of them....

Wandering through the cemetery in Richmond’s St. John’s Church, one can discover a lot of history amongst the faded old grave markers. The church itself dates back to 1741 and sits in the Church Hill section of Richmond, the original footprint of the city. Its claim to fame, and the likely reason for its survival and current status as a National Historic Landmark, is that it housed the Second Virginia Convention on the cusp of America’s Revolution. There, Patrick Henry delivered his passiona...

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Hi everybody. It’s been a while since I’ve sent something out so I wanted to share a brief update as well as three middle grade books I’ve been reading that your kids (or you) might enjoy.

On the writing front, I’ve been working on a new series called Brother Wars, which builds off two of my short stories, Pitch Black Dark and Rapids Ahead, about the rivalry between ten-year-old Harry and his older brother Randy. I’m close to looking for beta readers open to writing early reviews, so if y...

I’m very excited to share that my new parenting memoir, Splashing in the Deep End: Adventures Raising Boys, is now available! Check it out on Amazon here.

Life with small kids is not easy, but it just might be the best thing out there. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should laugh or cry at the end of a long day, you’re not alone. Steven K. Smith, children’s fiction author, husband, and dad to three boys, recounts in equal parts humor and sentiment the adventures of raising young children...

Today is the day, my new book, Secret of the Staircase, is officially available! Thanks to everyone for their support.

You can find it online at Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions. It will be available on B&N.com shortly, and locally in Richmond at The Jefferson hotel gift shop, Fountain Bookstore, bbgb books, and hopefully more!

About the book:

Something’s lurking beneath the famous staircase at The Jefferson, Richmond’s historic downtown hotel. Back in 1895, when the hotel opened, real...

I’m really excited to share that Summer of the Woods, Book One in The Virginia Mysteries series, is now available as an audiobook!

I worked with a great narrator, Tom McElroy, to produce this first book, and I’m very happy with it. It’s a bit surreal to hear someone else reading back your words, but he did a good job. Hopefully this new format will be attractive to families that listen to books on car trips, younger readers, or just folks who want to have it to listen to as they’re doing oth...

I did some last-minutefact checking this past weekend as I get closer to the launch of my new book, Secret of the Staircase (The Virginia Mysteries Book 4). The story takes place at Richmond’s historic downtown hotel, The Jefferson. The new book is schedule to release in late October, so be on the lookout!

I’m always looking for readers who would like an advance copy in exchange for an honest review, so if you’re interested please contact me! Kindle versions can also now be preordered on Am...

I flipped up the video screen in our SUV just in time for my two oldest boys to catch the New York skyline. They immediately began to argue about which building was the Empire State versus World Trade versus Dad’s office. As Mom held the EZ-Pass against the windshield to pay the $12 to enter the Lincoln Tunnel, we officially entered the Twilight Zone (a.k.a. Manhattan) for the weekend.

My wife and I moved away from the city of blinding lights 14 years ago. Since then we were married, moved t...