Writer | Independent Author
Debut Novel In The Poisoner Series, Now Available
Available Now!
Hi, I'm Steve.
I'm the author of The Poisoner series with a wide range of interests and a fascination with getting as many of those stories told. While debuting in historical fiction, I also love the fantasy and science fiction genres and am working on several books that touch on those as well. I live in Minneapolis with my wife and two kids, finding small moments among the chaos to write.
I love connecting with other writers and anyone with a love for this wonderful industry. You can find me on Instagram at @bysteveretka.
The path to power in Rome is paved with poison.
Pelta Glaucia chose death over servitude when she poisoned her overbearing master, only to be spared from the gallows and apprenticed to Rome’s most infamous poisoner, Locusta—the woman who just put Emperor Nero on the throne.
Being a poisoner's apprentice is keeping her from a grisly execution, but her place there isn't guaranteed. Pelta struggles to stay afloat between the intense training and the patricians who look down on her. Now, unknown forces are conspiring to sabotage her chance at freedom.
That freedom comes at a cost. The life of a poisoner would mean the wealth and prestige Pelta’s never had. It would also mean taking the lives of strangers. Killing her master was one thing, but is she ready to make a career out of it?
Want a taste? The first Few chapters are available for streaming Here.
Works In Progress
The Poisoner's Flame
We find out what lies ahead for Pelta Glaucia in this sequel to The Poisoner’s Recruit, where ghosts from the past threaten to upend everything. The second book of The Poisoner series also sees Pelta finding new loves enter her life.
Historical Fiction
The world of tarenholm
Dive into The World of Tarenholm, a world where magic isn’t something conjured but an element in the very air to be shaped and channeled by those known as weavers. But when a chancellor is murdered, tensions across Tarenholm threaten to boil over.
Fantasy | Intrigue
Flour & Fig: A Tarenholm Tale
Another view into The World of Tarenholm, this time bringing the cozy vibes. When a mystic and his socialite boyfriend find themselves stranded in a small town, they do what any happy couple would do; settle down and open a shop that sells the bread and jam they’re so fond of making.
Fantasy | Cozy
Kingdom of the crows
Corvids have long been considered one of the smartest creatures in the animal kingdom. When a science experiment goes wrong, a raven named Nox with enhanced intelligence breaks out a group of other crows and raven as they fight to create a society of their own away from humans.
Sci-Fi | Survivalist