Come see me this Saturday or next Wednesday at a local author event, or — if you’re not in southern New Hampshire or northern Massachusetts — I have a few other ways we can get to know each other better. But first, a funny. I don’t know who created this or I would gladly give credit. A friend shared it, and I knew I had to re-share as it hits all the literary, great character and twisted sense of humor notes that I love.

Manchester Craft Market (NH)

I love meeting readers at author events. Events are a low-key way for people to interact with their favorite authors, and if you happen to have read my books, I love getting direct feedback.

This Saturday, May 24, I’ll be with a dozen other authors at the Manchester Craft Market (MCM) in Manchester, New Hampshire from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. If you haven’t been to MCM before, it’s well worth a visit. I was blown away the first time I went. This store is filled with crafts, art, food, jewelry, clothes, books and more, all from regional artists and creators. Free admission of course. Manchester Craft Market is at the Mall of New Hampshire, 1500 South Willow St., Manchester, NH. (Note: Not in Manchester, Mass.)

The Hippo, which is New Hampshire’s biggest weekly entertainment magazine, ran this article today about the MCM and the author event. Article is on page 20, or here’s a screenshot:

(And if you missed it, here’s an interview with me that The Hippo published last year.)

Hancock Town Library

Then, on Wednesday, May 28, from 7:00 – 8:00 PM, I’ll be doing a free reading from Beautiful & Terrible Things at the Hancock Town Library. I’ll thrilled that I’ll be joined by my good friend and fellow author Dawn Reno Langley, who is in the midst of a book tour to launch her new novel, The Mystic. I’ve loved all of Dawn’s books, and had the honor of being an early reader on this one. It’s set in 1950s Malden, Mass., and explores racism and moral dilemmas with the pace of a thriller.

My latest, as you may know, explores racism, immigration and mental health. Dawn and I joke that we should have called our joint appearances “Books With Issues.”

After we read from our novels, we’ll take questions from the audience. Hope you can join us if you’re in the area! The library is at 25 Main Street in Hancock, New Hampshire. (If you do, note that parking is behind the library.)

Other Upcoming Events

I’ll also be at several Pride festivals in the coming weeks, in Portsmouth, NH; Manchester, NH; and Windham, Maine. Check out my full Calendar for details.

Why Pride? Because Beautiful & Terrible Things, while not an LGBT-themed novel, includes a nonbinary person and a bisexual in its diverse cast of charcters. Those representations, and the book’s overall quality, have earned it two LGBTQIA+ awards including a Gold in the Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards.

Further, my award-winning novelette, The Wallace House of Pain, is the story of a young man coming out to his straight-laced father. And the second book in my Young Adult Bit Players series has an LGBT theme as the gay lead in the school play is the subject of homophobic bullying.

Connect With Me

If you don’t live in my region, never fear — there are more ways to connect with me than you could ever need! I do post regularly on Instagram, Facebook and Bluesky, if you’re active on any of those platforms and want to follow my more frequent news there. I also post on TikTok but not as regularly as I hate being on camera! Making videos of myself is not my forte, but I am trying to get better at it.

My social media posts cover everything from what I’m working on now and book news (including new reviews), to topics related to my books (e.g. May is Mental Health Month), literary fun (witness Alice and Dorothy), to glimpses into my life (see the black-and-blue finger below – just trying to keep it humble haha!)

My own clumsiness amazes me sometimes! This little beauty is from using a pair of scissors. Yep, that skill we all learned in elementary school….May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Depression and bipolar are themes in contemporary novel “Beautiful & Terrible Things” and I am honored that so many readers find those depictions authentic and heart-rending. If you need help, please reach out to one of the many organizations offering free support. In honor of Frank Baum’s birthday, May 15, here’s a hilarious take on an imaginary meeting between Baum’s Dorothy and Lewis Carroll’s Alice

Here are links to my social pages, if you care to follow:

InstagramFacebookBlueskyTikTok

The post Alice Meets Dorothy; The Hippo; and Local NH Appearances appeared first on S.M. Stevens.