- The newsletter for April, 2026:
- There has been a concerted effort in recent months to tailor the blog posts more to the reader. That means my writing journey takes more of a backseat in most posts. Maximizing the focus on the reader by minimizing myself as the writer is something I’ve learned while studying freelance article writing. The newsletter will keep you informed with any upcoming novels and projects.
- The House That Wasn’t There was released December 6th, 2025. There’s always a lot that you realize you did wrong with your first book and try to rectify with the second. Unfortunately, there are also things I’m realizing that I did wrong with my second book release. Chief among them is the short window to promote the book before the release date and lack of ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) team. I’ve investigated the possibility signing up for an ARC reader service. If you’re interested in being an ARC reader for a future novel, send me an email. The House is available on Amazon. There’s also a preview and link available on the books section of this website.
- Reel Ghosts was released August 7th, 2024. Sales for both books have been slow, especially Reel Ghosts. I’m still fiercely proud of the originality of that book. In fact, the slow- building horror of it is more the style that I choose to read. Every book has its issues. With The House That Wasn’t There it was the rushed ending. Reel Ghosts was the overall length of the novel. The House is a better book overall, but Reel Ghosts fits my reading preference.
- If you have read either The House That Wasn’t or Reel Ghosts, please consider leaving an honest review. It helps other readers discover my work.
- My current work in progress is tentatively titled Cult of the Macabre. I have usually settled on a firm title by this point (75% finished with the first draft) but this is a tricky one. I like the title and feel it’s the most appealing to horror fans, however, I think that title comes with certain expectations that it may not be able to live up to.
- Here’s a one-sentence hook for Cult of the Macabre: Psychology students are supposed to warn people about cults, so why did I join one?
- Yes, it’s written in first person perspective, which isn’t my normal jam. I’m also interspersing some third person in; we’ll see how that goes.
- My mind is starting to turn to my next writing project. With recent books sales in mind, I think the choice is obvious. I should write a series. The first book in the series is the one that you focus on selling, with the hope that a significant number of readers that read book one will move onto read book two and so on. I’m still brainstorming ideas. Stay tuned.
- I’ve been busy with a new project that is unrelated to writing. Cooking has always been a passion of mine. I helped my mom cook when I was growing up. Now, my kids help me in the kitchen. I watch a lot of cooking videos on social media. I’d think, “I could do that.” I mean, how hard can it be, right? So, I started a TikTok account where I share cooking videos. The response has been positive enough that I’ve also started uploading those videos to YouTube. I’m still feeling my way through the process, but I’m having fun doing it. It’s called Roth Family Table. Check it out if you’re into quick and easy meals for busy people.
- This is the first newsletter. In the future it will be for subscribers only. You can get this newsletter and all other posts delivered to your inbox by hitting the follow button.
Thanks for reading,
Stephen M. Roth
Stephen Michael Roth 