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FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER.
The best way to stay updated on my books and schedule is to subscribe to my free email newsletter.
Three to four times a year I send out an email newsletter to my subscribers. In the newsletter, I include news and updates on my books, my schedule,
and something fun. The fun could be a deleted scene from one of my books, or an exclusive chapter, or an excerpt of a new short story. I won't ever send spam, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Please sign-up using the handy-dandy form at the bottom of this page. Yep - just scroll all the way down! :)
POISON STUDY 20th ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!
Readers and Friends!! Come celebrate Poison Study’s 20th Anniversary with me at Cupboard Maker Books on October 18, 2025!!! (157 N Enola Road, Routes 11/15, Enola, Pennsylvania, 17025, 1-717-732-7288). I can NOT believe it's been 20 years since POISON STUDY was first published by LUNA books, an imprint of Harlequin.
I also can NOT believe that the book and the series it spawned (12 novels and an anthology). I started writing POISON STUDY in 1995, when my son was born. I was sleep deprived and thought it would be fun. Ha! Little did I know what I was getting myself into. Five years and another child later, I had a first draft. Two years for revisions, three years to find a publisher (after 57 rejections), which happened on October 2003, then two years for the book to finally be released as a hardcover!! So actually, POISON STUDY is 30 years old. ;)
To celebrate the anniversary, we’re having a book signing from 6 PM to 8 PM that is free and open to all!! Next we’ll close the bookstore and party from 8 PM to 10 PM!! There will be refreshments and trivia and special prizes. Also there might be an exclusive novella from the Study world!
Tickets to the After Party cost $20.50 and to order your tickets, click on the button below. I hope to see you there!
ORDER TICKETS
THE STUDY OF FIRE
What happens if he returns to our world?
It will burn.
The danger certainly heats up in The Study of Fire, the third book of Valek's adventures and the companion novel to Fire Study. There's just no rest for Ixia's Chief of Security. Challenges are constant and new problems arrive daily, including a request to help Castletown's watch solve the mystery of a string of nighttime disturbances, and keeping a close eye on the Commander’s food taster as she schemes her way back into business. As if that isn't enough, the Commander’s life is threatened.
Writing this installment proved to be the hardest of the three. Which was a surprise because Yelena and Valek were only separated for 51 days, instead of 288. Yet, they were hardly together (curse you, Past Maria!!). Once again, Valek appears in Fire Study already knowing what's been going on. How, Past Maria? Did you even think of Future Maria when you were writing Fire Study? Apparently not! Despite my frustrations with Past Maria, writing these three books from Valek's POV was a fun challenge. I'm thrilled with the results, and am rather amazed how Valek's adventures all turned into entirely new books. Who knew?
The Study of Fire was released Worldwide. Digital, print formats (both paperback and hardcover), and audible editions are all available. Please note: Hardcover editions will only available through Amazon (ensure you're in your country's Amazon site). The button below will take you to my links page that has the full listing of where you can order a copy.
ORDER LINKS!
THE STUDY OF MAGIC
Frankly, I think death is the best cure for stupidity.
Can you guess who says that line? I'll give you four guesses: 1-Ambassador Signe, 2-Yelena Zaltana, 3-Roze Featherstone, 4-Leif Zaltana. It's one of my favorite lines from the book that turned out to be much harder to write than The Study of Poisons for many reasons. The first is the fact that Valek is not reunited with Yelena for 288 days!! The second is when he shows up in Sitia in Magic Study, he magically knows everything that's been going on with Yelena. Hmmm... How does he know when he's been in Ixia?? And what is he doing in Ixia all those seasons they are apart?? That's quite a bit of time to fill and I doubted my readers wanted to read 200 pages of him moping about missing Yelena. Valek sighs. Again. Instead, he was quite busy chasing down rogue magicians, training a new food taster, and working with his new corps members.
The Study of Magic is out NOW! Yay! You can order the eBook on all formats. As for print copies, if you live in the USA, you can order a signed and personalized paperback copy from Cupboard Maker Books. If you're not in the USA, you can order a signed and personalized paperback copy from me. The link to the Google form is with the other links (see buttons below). Warning - shipping is super expensive, however if you can order with a couple friends, it's cheaper overall to ship multiple copies to one address.
You can also be able to order a paperback copy from Amazon, or your local bookstore (they can order through Ingrams). Hardback copies will be available through Amazon (make sure you on your countries' Amazon site). And, yes, there is an audiobook edition narrated by the immensely talented Raphael Corkhill available as well.
You can find all the links for THE STUDY OF MAGIC BELOW:
ORDER LINKS!
THE STUDY CHRONICLES: Tales of Ixia & Sitia
If he could do the impossible, then he could go beyond impossible and dethrone a ruthless and corrupt King.
I've finally gathered all the short stories and novellas I've written over the years about Ixia and Sitia together into one collection. Woot! The quote above is from the collection and is a favorite of mine. It's from one of the three new stories I wrote for The Study Chronicles. Titled Diamond Study, it's about how the Commander went from a poor powerless boy into the most powerful man in Ixia.
It was fun to dive back into this vast and complex world, filled with dynamic and interesting characters, including a number of horses. It still amazes me that I created this extensive world from one idea. I sparked on having a food taster as a protagonist who gets involved with stopping a plot to overthrow a king. It was going to be one book. Instead, it led to twelve books and eight additional stories. Boggles!
This collection also contains a number of extra perks: Introductions to all the stories, artwork by the amazingly talented Dema Harb, an outline for Assassin Study, maps by the fantastic Martyna Kuklis, fun facts, and reader art!
You can find worldwide order links for THE STUDY CHRONICLES HERE:
ORDER LINKS!
THE STUDY OF POISONS
Fierce, determined, dangerous. No wonder her soul called to his.
At the risk of sounding egotistical, I just love that line above. It sums up Valek's growing attraction for Yelena so succinctly and perfectly. I had a great deal of fun writing Valek's side of Poison Study, especially the scenes where they were together. The challenge was figuring out exactly what Valek was up to when he wasn't with Yelena.
Just what problems was he solving? Who was he working with? How much did he really know? And how could I make it all fit with Yelena's timeline? Now I know the answers. And you'll be able to read about Valek's adventures when the book is released on April 15, 2023 in digital, print, and audiobook formats worldwide!
As I was writing The Study of Poisons, I discovered a few inconsistencies and typos in Poison Study (it's not a bow staff, it's a bo staff). For this book, I decided to fix those typos and also to include some new dialogue exchanges between Yelena and Valek.
The book also has a few other new perks, including an updated map of Ixia and Sitia and a map of the Commander's Castle Complex both created by Martyna Kuklis. Plus original artwork by Dema Harb. Woot!
For those in the USA, the best way you can help support me is to order your print copies through Cupboard Maker Books (bonus, they'll be signed). For my international readers, I know you love your bookstores, but they won't have copies of The Study of Poisons on the shelves. You can ask them to order it in for you, however, the best way to help me is to order your print copy through Amazon. (Sad fact: I earn about .70 cents per book if its sold through the bookstore (except CMB) and $3.50 per book through Amazon.)
You can find worldwide order links for THE STUDY OF POISONS HERE:
ORDER LINKS!
MERCH!!
I have a Redbubble shop! There are currently 8 designs based on my books (some have quotes as well). You can order T-shirts, stickers, water bottles, mugs, backpacks, iPad covers, pillows, etc...
The artwork was done by a number of my talented Soulfinders (if you're not a Soulfinder, scroll down for more information!!). The proceeds from the sale of these items goes into the cost of shipping prizes for my various giveaways throughout the year (more incentive to join the Soulfinders :).
Click on the link below to check out the shop. Thanks!
MARIA'S REDBUBBLE SHOP
SNYDER'S SOULFINDERS 4000!
My Facebook Reading Group has hit a couple of milestones. We are closing in on 4000 members and are celebrating 5 years as a group. Woot! Go us! I must admit, when I started the group, I worried about having enough engagement.
Pulling together a committee of minions...er...loyal readers, we planned posts and giveaways and put together a schedule. On March 15, 2019, I activated the group and...Oh. My. Stars. A flood of readers signed on and started posting. And they haven't stopped!
All those plans for naught, but no regrets as the people in the group have transformed from members into Soulfinders.
And just who are they? They post about books--memes, videos, recommendations. They post jokes about books/writing. They discuss which actor should play Valek in the movie (general consensus is Tom Hiddleston).
They share their artwork, they seek advice, and they send encouragement. And the most amazing thing about this fantastic group, is they don't hesitate to help others. I put out a call to help a woman replace her books that had been destroyed in a fire. Within 3 hours, I had enough money to send her a complete set of my books.
New members are ALWAYS welcome. To join the group, click on the button below. Please answer at least two of the questions so we know you're not a troll. :)
SNYDER'S SOULFINDERS
NEWSLETTER FORM:
You can contact Maria at maria AT MariaVSnyder DOT com
Updated July 2025
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