A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 140
January 9, 2017
Book Spotlight &Tour – Pink Moon – #Paranormal #Romance #Fantasy
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Book Title: Pink Moon
Author Name: Tonya Coffey
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance
Hosted by: Ultimate Fantasy Book Tours
Cast from her home, Jessa struggles to find a place among the realms. With the loss of power, her premonitions are vague and tormenting. However, with Micha at her side, she has hope for the future.
Micha has found his stride as the Ancient King. Nevertheless, the Shadows refuse to allow a Faerie sit on the Ancients’ throne, keeping them apart. Instead of fighting against the Shadows, he focuses his rage on the one who stole Jessa’s powers, a hidden heir herself. When he thinks he has everything under control, he is pulled into a dire situation that will force Jessa’s hand.
Accepting what needs to be done, Jessa takes a risk to save Micha – a choice that may be her last.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33116535-pink-moon
Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/New-World-Bk-Pink-Moon-ebook/dp/B01N6968RI
Giveaway https://goo.gl/forms/aqDZUBzdr81CXQBJ3
Author Bio:
Tonya grew up in a small town in Kentucky where she lives with her husband and two teen boys. Together, they motivate her to be the best at whatever she faces. If she isn’t writing or reading a fantasy novel with lots of action, you will find her sitting in front of a canvas, painting the landscape which is so abundant around her home.
Visit her at:
Website: http://coffeytonya.wixsite.com/tonya-coffey
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Tour dates and events
Date: 9th of January
http://www.yabookdivas.com Spotlight
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-Reviews-Virginia-Lee/650529651718400 Blog Post
http://staceyschneller06.wordpress.com Spotlight
https://hoplessromancenovel.wordpress.com/ Blog Post
http://yalitreads.com Interview
http://www.guyvestal.com/home Spotlight
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/ Blog Post
Date: 10th of January
http://author-a-m-proudfoot.tumblr.com/ Excerpt
http://www.dreamlandteenfantasy.blogspot.com Spotlight
https://imacoffeeholicbookworm.wordpress.com/ Spotlight
Date: 11th of January
www.aoifesheri.wordpress.com Excerpt
http://tometender.blogspot.com/ Review
Date: 12th of January
http://rainnes.blogspot.co.uk/ Spotlight
Date: 14th of January
www.basicbookblog.com Spotlight
https://wordpress.com/post/libraryoferana.wordpress.com Spotlight
https://jbronderbookreviews.com/ Review
https://lovesgreatreadsblog.wordpress.com/ Spotlight
http://rockinbookreviews.com Review
Date: 15th of January
http://allthingsfantasy.tumblr.com/ Excerpt
http://the-avidreader.blogspot.com Spotlight
http://bookraider.weebly.com Interview
January 8, 2017
Author Interview 125 – Christian Warren Freed – military fantasy #Authorinterview #milfantasy
Welcome to Christian Warren Freed
Where are you from and where do you live now? I am originally from New York but a 20-year career in the US Army sent me all over the world and dumped me in North Carolina.
Please tell us a little about your writing – for example, genre, title, etc. I write military fantasy. With an MA degree in military history as well as multiple years of combat experience I am able to take personal experiences, ancient battles, and combine them in a fantasy setting. Since retiring I have had 21 novels published. Hammers in the Wind: Book I of the Northern Crusade has been the overall #1 free book on Amazon 5 times in the past two years.
Where do you find inspiration? Everywhere. I remember walking by a light post at night and an idea struck. One of my longer stories: Beyond the Edge of Dawn came from a series of ideas that came to me while I was running around the bombed out palace where we had Saddam Hussein awaiting trial back in 2005. Inspiration can come from anyone and any situation.
Have you ever used a person you don’t/didn’t like as a character then killed them off? Yes! I can honestly say I have killed the same person in almost every one of my novels. Except for my memoirs from Iraq and Afghanistan of course. It is a liberating feeling. After all, how can I get in trouble for having a certain person devoured by a dragon??
Sort these into the order of importance: Great characters; great world-building; solid plot; technically perfect. Can you explain why you chose this order? (Yes I know they all are important…) You have to have a solid plot. Otherwise, the characters will just stumble through situations that aren’t engaging or interesting. There have to be memorable characters- ones the readers will love and others they will despise. Creating emotion from the reader is extremely important. I have found that the world develops around my stories and continues to evolve as I explore deeper. Technically perfect, well, that’s what editors are for….
In what formats are your books available? (E-books, print, large print audio) Are you intending to expand these and if not, what is the reason? All of my books are in both E-book and print formats. At some point, I plan on verging into audio.
Do you think indie/self-published authors are viewed differently to traditionally published authors? Why do you think this might be? Of course, they are viewed differently. Let’s face it, anyone with internet access can ‘publish’ a book without going through the steps of finding an agent or and editor and then on to the big publishing house. That doesn’t mean it is quality or even that it should be published. I’ve read tons of bad self-published books. I think that if people put more time in their craft they would produce better products. Often times the issue isn’t in the writing, it’s the lack of editing, formatting, etc. Still, there are some self-published books that are just as good as traditionally published works- too bad they don’t get the same shot at fame.
What are your opinions about authors commenting on reviews? How important are reviews? Reviews are a tricky subject, at least in my opinion. We all want them, though some are willing to compromise integrity to get them. For me personally, I see the reviews as a way of spreading word about my books. Good or bad, word spreads. Amazon has their system in place that occasionally helps authors. At the end of the day, the reviews don’t make or break my books. I sell thousands of copies every year and some don’t have any reviews. At some point, it is about creating a name for yourself, a marketable brand.
What are your best marketing/networking tips? What are your worst? Do everything, even if it seems silly, but do it within your budget. The only way to fail at marketing is by not trying. Build an email list. Join groups. The worst thing you could do is wait until AFTER you are published to begin marketing.
Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it? I just discovered Django Wexler and his Shadow Campaign series. The Thousand Names was a fast read filled with good characters and good action.
Can you name your favourite traditionally published author? I would have to say, at this point in time- and I am not a man with very many favorite anythings- that my favorite author(s) is Steven Erickson and his cohort Ian Esslemont. Together they crafted the world of the Malazan Empire. Erickson has his sweeping epic the Malazan Book of the Fallen while Esslemont fills in the story gaps with his Malazan Empire books. Absolutely awesome books unlike most of the fantasy out there in the way they use different races, gods, and magic.
Book links, website/blog and author links:
http://christianfreed.wixsite.com/christianwarrenfreed
https://www.facebook.com/ChristianFreed/
https://twitter.com/ChristianWFreed
https://christianwfreed.wordpress.com/
Review – Wind from the Abyss – #Fantasy #Scifi Janet Morris
Review
5 stars
Wind from the Abyss – Book 3 of the Silistra Quartet – Janet Morris
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wind-Abyss-Silistra-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B01M5HSQX2/
The third book of the Silistra series is, perhaps, the most passionate, the most evocative and the most enthralling. This is a book about power, amongst many other things. The power of biology, of technology and the problems it can bring, the power over another, and the power over oneself. Silistra is a supremely crafted world, apart from ours but terrifyingly familiar in many ways. It is, a could be – a might be, and the denizens thereupon are reflections of humanity.
Estri – our protagonist – is a shadow of what she was, and beholden to a man who is demigod, ruler and profit. He shapes his world and brooks no competition or threat. Estri, now little more than a slave, must find herself, and her past and future and use them to save herself and her world. Does she do it? You’ll have to read to find out. I’ll just say it’s a long and difficult journey, filled with sacrifice.
You’ll quickly be entranced by the world and its characters, and although it helps to have read the earlier books, even without that it’s a tumultuous journey. This is not for the faint of heart, nor those who want an ‘easy’ read. It’s cerebral, lyrical and evocative. You have been warned.
January 7, 2017
Book Spotlight – When the Morning Comes – mystery/romantic suspense
Title: When the Morning Comes (Book One in the Land’s End Series)
Author: S.W. Frontz
Genre: mystery, romantic suspense
Main character description (short). Samantha Patrick-mid-fifties-wife, mother, grandmother. She is a survivor, having lived through her mother’s savage murder, and being kidnapped and raped as a teenager.
Synopsis: Samantha and her husband, Sheriff Andy Patrick live on the quaint island of Land’s End. They moved here thirty-seven years ago to start a new life after Samantha’s father committed a horrible crime that got Samantha’s mother murdered and Samantha kidnapped and raped. Samantha had kept a secret all these years but when her past comes back to haunt her, there’s no way to keep her secret without putting her family in danger.
Brief Excerpt: Samantha Patrick’s eyes popped open and she sat up abruptly in bed, breathing like a locomotive. She looked around the room, disoriented, not sure if she were still in the old warehouse or in her room. She sat there for a minute. She put her hand out to her right, patting the bed to see if her husband Andy was there. Touching the softness of his white hair, she sighed in relief. It was only the nightmare. Thankful that she was safe in her own bed she glanced at the clock. The red numbers glowed at her. One fifteen a.m. Sighing, she reached behind her to plump the pillows and she settled back down under the covers. No more sleep for her. She had gotten another letter this morning. It said: “I’m watching you.” She didn’t want to disturb Andy so she turned onto her left side to wait for the morning to come.
Why should readers buy this book? It has something for everyone, mystery, crime, romance, and a pretty decent ending with the promise of more to come.
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https://twitter.com/swfrontzauthor
https://www.instagram.com/s.frontzauthor/
http://www.swfrontzauthor.com/
The Shining Citadel – now in audio #fantasy #Lightbeyondthestorm
Hurrah! First new release of the year:)
The Shining Citadel is now out as an audio edition, narrated by Rob Goll. It sounds wonderful! Rob is versatile, filled with passion for his craft and I’d have no problem at all hiring him again.
So anyway the book:
The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book II
Who rules in this game of intrigue where magic is forbidden and elves enslaved? A journey where beliefs shatter like glass, truth is unwelcome and monsters from ancient times abound: share the romance and revenge, magic and passion, and the wages of greed in a world of darkest fantasy. (Please note the 18+ rating.)
We welcome back Dii, Archos, Olek and Ozena and meet some new folks – good and bad. This is a book of revelations – many of them most unwelcome – of heroism, the issue of choice, the nature of good and evil and of course magic and mayhem.
I think Dii really comes into her own here; starting to become the woman she always should have been it’s not an easy journey. That’s reflected in the epic quest to find a lost elven citadel, and discover that truth may be relative and certainly not what it first appears.
Audible UK http://adbl.co/2iSW5GF
Amazon UK http://amzn.to/2iOOWoB
Audible.com http://adbl.co/2i3tf5t
Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2j1DSnF
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January 6, 2017
Author Interview 124- Kim Padgett-Clarke – Romance
Welcome to Kim Padgett-Clarke
Where are you from and where do you live now? I live in Blackpool in the UK
Please tell us a little about your writing – genre, title, etc. Made Of Glass is a contemporary romance with a dark element
Where do you find inspiration? From absolutely everything. I can be reading a newspaper, watching TV, or from real people. An idea can come from anywhere.
Are your characters based on real people? They are not based on anyone in particular but the theme running through the story is one that most people can relate to such as control freaks, being overly protective and vulnerability.
In what formats are your books available? (E-books, print, large print audio) Are you intending to expand these and if not, what is the reason? Made Of Glass is available as an E-book and paperback. I am looking into other formats.
Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? I do self-edit initially but then I send the book to a professional editor and copy-editor. It is a long time since I have been at school so my grammar and punctuation skills are not great. Sometimes you get involved with the story so deeply that you can’t see the flaws or you might go off-track so I feel an editor is very important. Unless you are top-notch at both of these skills it can result in a book that doesn’t look as professional as it could be.
Do you think indie/self-published authors are viewed differently to traditionally published authors? Why do you think this might be? Things are changing in the publishing world and I believe that indie authors are finally gaining respect. The vast majority of indie books with professional covers and content would sit beside any traditionally published book and I bet the buyer would not know which is which.
Do you read work by self-published authors? Definitely. I have come across some gems along the way which I would haven’t have read otherwise.
When buying a book do you read the reviews? I do read the reviews but if a book didn’t have any reviews I would still think about buying it if the storyline appealed to me. I wish more of the general public would leave reviews if they like a book even if it is a one-liner as getting feedback is so valuable to the author.
What are your reviews on authors reviewing other authors? It can be a good thing because they would look at the book in a different way. They would have more experience in pointing out areas that are strong and areas that are weak.
What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot? Movies and video games are developed from someone else’s imagination whereas with a book it is your own imagination that sees the scenes and what the characters look like so that’s limitless.
What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers?
Keep writing even if it is just for pleasure. Research outlets and markets if you intend to sell your book. Don’t give up even when it feels like an uphill battle.
What are your views on authors offering free books?
I have just finished a Goodreads Giveaway for Made Of Glass. Quite a lot of people entered the competition so it is great to know that all these people would have liked to read the book and it is a great way to get your book to a wider audience. It also increases the chance of getting that all important review.
Do you have a favourite movie? One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. I have seen it so many times that I could almost quote the script.
Do you have any pets? I don’t have any pets myself but I do cat and dog sitting and walking dogs. It’s the best of both worlds because I have the wonderful experience of having an animal without the vet’s fees etc!
Can you give us a silly fact about yourself? I like collecting skulls. Not real ones of course! I think it comes from my early teens as I used to watch an awful lot of horror movies and read horror stories. I have t-shirts, handbags, money jars etc with skull images. All my friends know what to buy me for Christmas and birthdays.
Book links, website/blog and author links:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32864582-made-of-glass
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00CUFR5HO
https://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00CUFR5HO
January 5, 2017
What stalks the land cannot be, but is #
What stalks the land cannot be, but is #fantasy #stolentower #lightbeyondthestorm http://amzn.to/2ivJjeL
January 4, 2017
#Reader #Interview 21 Micah Goettl
Welcome to Micah Goettl.
Where are you from? United States
Please tell us a little about yourself. I’ve been playing violin for about 7 years; writing for about 8. I love ballroom dancing. I love sewing. Most artsy things are on my radar. I’m not good at math but am constantly looking to improve myself, so am reading educational books nonstop, though my true love is fiction.
On average how many books do you read in a month? I’m weird with this. Sometimes I can read a 400 page book in 2 days and then other times I’ve got a 150 pager and it takes me 3 months. I guess it would average at 1 – 2.
Where is your favourite place to read? Anywhere with good lighting and a comfortable chair. I generally curl myself into the living room armchair next to the window.
*What genres do you prefer and why? Do you have any genres you avoid? I prefer mystery/thriller and fantasy. I like some dystopian too. I avoid erotica. I’ve read some romances with erotic elements (sex scenes) but if anything gets too steamy and graphic, I put the book down.
Why are books important to you and what does reading bring to your life? I think books teach you a lot about life, even crazy, out-there things that seem to have no base in reality. People are people and fiction portrays elements of their truth. Books provide a place to meet people without having to leave the house, so there’s a plus.
Do you have a favourite book or author? Why do you think you like this book/author so much? Favourite author would have to be Timothy Hallinan. He writes with such humor and genuineness. Many parts for his books (I love the Poke Rafferty thrillers) have moved me to tears. Every character, no matter how despicable, has a kernel of humanity in them. It’s wonderful. But, oddly enough, my favourite book, the one I’ve read over again and in which I’ve marked my favourite passages, is Howl’s Moving Castle. For some reason the story calls to me. I think the heroine finding her confidence is what does it. And the hilarious banter between characters. And the slow-building love story. Basically everything about this book is wonderful.
What medium do you prefer – e-books, audiobooks or paper books? Would you care to expand on this? I prefer paper. Nothing feels more precious in the hands than a good solid hardcover. E-books have their place though. For example, if I’m eating a taco while reading, just propping up my Kindle in front of me and keeping one pinky finger clean for swiping the screen is ideal.
How do you usually find the books you read? For example: recommendations from friends, promotion on social networks, your local library, following authors you already know? Recommendations come into play big time, but for the most part I just browse through the shelves of a subject I’m interested in and pick up the book that appeals to me most.
When choosing a book what makes you stop and give it a second look? What makes you turn away? A great cover pulls me in. Turns me away? Scanning the first chapter and getting a flat, average main character. Also, a good back-cover blurb is important. I don’t prefer the “excerpt” blurbs.
*Do you read reviews by others and if so do they influence your choice? If a friend has not recommended the book to me then I do read reviews to help me make a decision. I don’t want to waste money on something that won’t appeal to me. Just like I scan the Parents Guide before watching a questionable movie, I leaf through positive and negative reviews to garner whether or not the book might be up my alley.
Do you “judge a book by its cover?” Sometimes. But there are books I’ve read with kind of lame covers that are honestly good.
What do you think is the most important aspect of a book for you? Plot, world-building, strong characters etc.? What turns you off? I think all of these are important but character is paramount. No matter how cool the world, no matter what an awesome plot you have, if I don’t like your characters, the book is relegated to the unfinished shelf.
Does the behaviour of an author affect your choice to read one of their books? Not really. I may not approve of actors sleeping around and divorcing every few seconds, but I still watch their movies. Similarly, the dubious actions of authors don’t negate the fact that they write well.
What are your views on authors commenting on reviews on sites such as Goodreads? I don’t think it is necessary. One author can’t reply to every single review, so a thank you here and there or a flame on a bad review doesn’t make a whole lot of difference in my opinion. People know that an author is going to be thankful for a positive review and they also know they’ll be put out at a bad one. It goes without the author’s confirmation. Let people say whatever they’re going to say and read the reviews quietly from behind the computer screen.
If you had to pick three favourite books to take to a desert island what would they be?Well, Howl’s Moving Castle, of course. Austenland. Percy Jackson. (Oh, this is hard because I love Rick Riordan’s books; they are hilarious and it’s hard to pick just one.) The Lightning Thief. Start from the beginning I suppose.
Do you think bricks and mortar bookshops are in decline? Maybe the small ones, but places like Barnes and Noble will stick around. Like everything, though, I think the market will rise again, then fall again, then rise again. It’s a cycle. In the words of Stephen Fry: “Books are no more threatened by Kindle than stairs by elevators.”
#Book Spotlight – Stillwell: A Haunting on Long Island – Michael P Cash #Paranormal
Author: Michael Phillip Cash
Synopsis:
Paul Russo’s wife just died. While trying to get his family’s life back in order, Paul is being tormented by a demon who is holding his wife’s spirit hostage on the other side. His fate is intertwined with an old haunted mansion on the north shore of Long Island called Stillwell Manor. Paul must find clues dating back hundreds of years to set his wife’s soul free.
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Chelshire, Inc.
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