Rising Stars: Meet Steven Foley of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Foley.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey with book reviewing, which has evolved into book influencing, started back in 2009. I was mysteriously sent a physical ARC (advanced review/reader copy) of Carolyn Turgeon’s Godmother: The Secret Cinderella Story. I remember being so confused at how, and why it was sent to me. I never requested it, nor had I even heard of the author before. I contacted the publisher and let them know I was sending it back so I wouldn’t be charged any fees/for the purchase I never intended. They informed me it was a gift, and if I felt compelled, to write a review for it. As an avid book reader, I thought: “Well, it’s a free book, and I enjoy writing. I can do this!” After that, I reached out to Carolyn and she had sent me every book of hers since. She even came to visit me in New Orleans one year, and personalized every book! (I highly recommend checking her novels out!) Since that moment, I researched book reviews and just figured it out on my own. I’ve reviewed countless books since. In 2020, at the height of COVID, I had the opportunity to run a vampire book club where we featured selected vampire novels by authors I carefully curated. The authors would join us on a live video chat each month, with autographed copies of their featured book. I had the immense honor of working with Charlaine Harris, Christopher Golden, David Wellington, Dacre Stoker, Chloe Neill, Tara Vanflower, and some indie authors as well. Due to health issues I regretfully left New Orleans in 2025, and relocated to Corpus Christi to live with family while doctors figured out my issues, resulting with an autoimmune illness. I wasn’t able to work, and needed something to do to keep my sanity. I chose to dive back into the one big passion I have, and that’s my love for books. I have been running a Bookstagram account where I feature horror books predominantly, in addition to young adult literature, and various other novels spanning genres when I connect with them. At the end of 2025 I made the conscious decision that I wanted to do more with my account, and have actively been doing so since. From that, I have now had this great opportunity to tell my story in this article, I have been booked for Book Bliss’s Books in Charleston event June 20 as debut author Elke Chantil’s (Whispering Snowflakes) official influencer, and her Social Media and Engagement Manager. On May 14, I was informed that I will be one of the attending content creators for the Columbus Book Festival July 10-12. I am currently on a handful of author street teams: Amber V Nicole, Sarah Glenn Marsh, De Elizabeth, in addition to reviewing quite a handful of upcoming titles that will be releasing later this year. Lastly, I started an Editor in Publishing course through Elvtr in April that concludes in mid-June, as I will be professionally switching into an official career in the publishing industry, while still promoting books I love on my platform. I am grateful to all the publishers, authors, and for this article! Note: I am available for bookings. Contact me via my Instagram, or my email.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say that when I was just doing book reviews, it was a smooth road. The hardest thing then was just doing the research of what books are coming out, and which ones would I connect with most. I forgot to mention while I was doing reviews in 2009-2011, I did quite a lot of author interviews and I was terrible at them. I loved them, but I was terrible! During The Vampire Library Book Club (ended in 2021), it helped me to be more confident in the interviews, but to also ask more relevant, open-ended questions. The journey as a book influencer has more struggles I think. Some of the issues I have dealt with are predominantly reader burnout. When one reads books at a rapid pace due to time constraints it takes a lot out of me. Especially when I read so much horror, which is my favorite, but horror often deals with intense themes like death, abuse, grief, and trauma. Sometimes I have to stop reading entirely and take small breaks before I resume a new novel. Sometimes I have to read “buffer” books in between darker novels. I usually will read a genre that I typically don’t enjoy just to break down the feelings and mental anxieties. The other main struggle that I find I encounter is the denial notification, or the complete lack of any notification when I request ARC titles, and when I apply for various influencer programs. The majority of influencer programs only notify those accepted. It’s very disheartening to scroll your feed and then see the new influencers who were chosen for a specific program you applied to , and yet they didn’t have the courtesy to send ANY notification…at all! That takes a lot of toll on our mental health. And I don’t think that these programs actually even take that into consideration. If I had one wish in the industry, it’s that all programs could extend the courtesy to notify applicants that either the influencers have been selected, or to just send a polite denial email rather than leaving us hanging with uncertainty and anxiety.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think I answered most of this in previous response, but I would continue with what I’m most proud of. I think what I’m most proud of is establishing connections with publishers, authors, book reviewers, and book influencers. There’s a sense of excitement knowing that I get to read a book prior to publication. To help provide feedback of what does/doesn’t work, and to hype up attention for books that I know are going to sell well! What sets me apart from others? I would say that when I’m on a street team for any title/author, that they will get 110%! I will promote the F out of them through the entire campaign. Some authors I’ve only worked on with one or two titles, and I still have that connection that we talk often and I still will promote their title/them even when the book is officially released into publication and available for purchase. I take it seriously, because I believe in them, their book, and I believe this is my calling.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I haven’t been around Texas much, just in Corpus Christi and Houston.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3234932
• Instagram: @vampyrelibrarian