Hi, Maria Caiazza here. I do most of my "blogging" elsewhere, but I figured my own website would be the best place to direct you all to the goings on in the Escapism Entertainment author and content creator world.

First up, we have new YouTube videos on my channel:

Maria's Monthly Update - I go over my monthly achievements, celebrate wins, and set goals and productivity benchmarks.

Let's Play Fields of Mistria Ep 3: Operation Saturday Market - In this episode, I make the silly choice to speed run an in-game quest that has no time limit!

Let's Play Fields of Mistria Ep 4: Weekly Traditions - If you've ever lived in a small town, you know that it's those perennial things that happen around your home that really bring life and vibrance into a place that can grow dull and mundane at times. In Mistria, there are two weekly traditions that we get to experience for the first time in this week's episode.

My First Book Trailer - Be Still My Undying Heart releases in July, and I wanted to make a book trailer to get the word out there to readers that it was coming. I think it turned out pretty well for my first attempt at something like this. What do you think? Drop me a comment on the video.

Let's Play Skyrim! A Blind Playthrough in 2025?? Part 01 - Because our resident variety streamer, John, was deployed when Skyrim released in 2011, he missed the game and its spoilers almost entirely. Now, he gets to play it fresh after only having ever seen the memes of the intro and a couple random phrases. 

Let's Play Fields of Mistria Ep 5: Into the Mines - Why am I like this? I keep speed running parts of a game that have zero time limits... Welp, here goes nothing.

Second, we have my first newsletter in quite some time. I've recently made the decision to move over to Substack for this to help naturally increase my reach via an algorithm with the hopes to eventually use it to replace my Patreon. Look for more updates here in the future as I build up to my new release in July.

Maria Caiazza Author & Gamer - My "Why" - If you've ever wanted to read about an independent author's journey and the reason why I do what I do, look no further. This post is about as good of an "about me" as I could ever write.

On Life Having Other Plans, New Releases, and Panic Writing Newsletters - I panic wrote a newsletter using my old convert kit account. I haven 't migrated everybody over to substack yet, so I decided to send one last one there before making the switch. Also, I had committed to sharing out a couple of book swaps today (5/11/2025), so I needed to make sure it got out there in an expeditious fashion.

Behind the Scenes: The Making of Be Still My Undying Heart - With just over a month to go until release day, I share the story behind the story. How did this dark fantasy romance come to be? Well, believe it or not, it all started with a D&D fanfiction that I wrote. Check it out to learn more.

Third, I have newsletter swaps and cross promos to share. These links are time-sensitive, and I will do my best to label when they will deactivate.

In the author world, promoting your novels is a difficult thing. If you post anything about your books on social media and it even smells of self-promotion, your algorithm gets throttled unless you pay to get views and potential clicks, which usually don't earn out on the investment. So, authors band together and share each others books in newsletter swaps and cross promotions in hopes of getting similarly interested reader's eyes on their book. I admit, my mailing list is very small (only two people). I plan to do a post about that sometime, but I'll save that for my new, shiny Substack. Let's get to the links, shall we?

Passport to Paranormal - A cross promotion with a focus on all works with a paranormal spin. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Tales of Dripping Crimson - Welcome to Crimson, Maryland—a quaint resort town on the Eastern Shore. Whispers of supernatural activity dance with the salt-laced breezes. Beneath its quaint façade lies a world of dark desires and ancient secrets. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Twin Flames, the Story Begins - The fate of the world resides in the hands of a gentle soul who cares naught for war or fighting-only for the creatures and plants of the realm of angels. Aree spends her days observing and interacting with the creatures and plant life here in the heavenly realm. She spends her nights with her lover and protector Archangel Michael. (Ends 5/31/2025)

The Endless Song - There is magic in the very soil on which you walk. In this world, it can gain the power to corrupt the innocent and create chaos. The Devourer could once again become the Destroyer (Ends 5/16/2025)

Forced Together Romance Trope - A group promotion featuring books with the forced proximity trope. (Ends 5/20/2025)

Great Historical Fiction - A group promotion featuring books in the historical fiction genre. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Coming Soon Preorder Event - A group promotion featuring books that release after May 31st, 2025. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Stock Your TBR (Enemies to Lovers - Love the enemies to lovers trope? Add these great reads to your to be read list today! (Ends 5/31/2025)

Mystical Midnights: Dark Paranormal and Fantasy Romance - Look no further for your favorite dark fantasy and dark paranormal romance books. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Paranormal Romance on KU & Sale - Find new PNR on kindle unlimited or discounted on sale for the month of May! (Ends 5/31/2025)

Immortalis: Must Read Vampire Romance - Love immortal romance? Go batty with buying here! (Ends 5/31/2025)

All about the MC - This one is f or main characters who really make the story come alive. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Vampires and Shifters Sale - Need more vampires in your fiction? What about wolf shifters or some other kind of shifter? Find your new favorite paranormal and monster romances here. (Ends 5/31/2025)

Dark Fantasy and Sci-Fi Readers Bundle - Looking for more dark fantasy books to tickle your fancy? We've found an amazing selection of books from indie authors for you to choose from. (Ends 6/23/2025)

FOURTH! (A NEW SECTION), we have a new book! Maria accidentally missed the pre-order button when setting up her audiobook of Be Still My Undying Heart on Audible, and you, lucky reader, can snag it early. Grab your copy now.

Finally, that's it! I'll be back to update you all with more goings-on as they happen. Thanks for supporting our little corner of content creation, and welcome to Escapism Entertainment.