A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 157
June 11, 2016
Character Interview Number Thirty-Eight – Estri of Silistra
Tell Us About Yourself
Name (s) Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi
Age: Three hundred forty Silistran years old
Please tell us a little about yourself.
First, I must say that your language is difficult, not one intuitive to me. Nevertheless I shall try to answer you in your own tongue. Excuse my syntax, and I will tell you what I can.
Once I ruled the greatest house of pleasure in the civilized stars. When I reached my majority of three hundred years, I undertook a quest to find my father at the behest of my dead mother. So I left my position as Well-Keepress in my beloved Astria, and nothing has been the same for me since. All I thought I knew, I now question. So many truths proved false, so many assumptions groundless, so much love lost and found. I have greater powers now than I once did, but wisdom can triumph over power, and color all life anew.
I have been many things: aristocrat, outcast, picara, slave, ruler. I have served powers greater than my own, and baser than my soul could stand. I have had everything, lost everything, and gained knowledge by seeking love along the way. Doubtless I am wiser now than when I began my journey out of Astria, having learned that true wisdom comes only to a loving heart. But where love lies, there hatred takes root, and envy, and fear, and dangers undreamt. And yet, love is the key to every mystery: to life and death and creation itself. For without love, what are we, but a brief glimmer seen against eternal night? Where are we in this combustible universe? What arms hold us safe? What we learn, exploring, brings us home to ourselves, to our own loves, our own hearts. Creation plays no favorites, seeking only change. Love can surmount all, I once believed as a naive girl, and believe it yet.
Describe your appearance in 10 words or less. Copper -skinned, copper-haired, with a body to please the gods.
Do you have a moral code? If so what is it? Silistra’s moral code I still hold as mine: my world was wrecked and sundered by unbridled lusts for power. We who remain must rebuild not only our population, but our faith that whatever man destroys, nature can put to rights . . . given time.
Would you kill for those you love? I have done so, and killed that I myself survive.
Would you die for those you love? Would that I had the chance. To die for something is an honor. To die for nothing is a cruelty greater than any other.
What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses? Ha. You must not know my people, to ask such a thing. Some say my strengths are in my blood, that I was bred to this battle between the spirit and the flesh, between man and woman, between life ineffable and life everlasting, a battle long conceived before ever I was born. Some say my coming was devoutly to be wished, and others say I and those who love me are travesties, a flaw in the natural order. I myself say that life and love are their own justification, where passion rules.
Do you have any relationships you prize above others? Why?What entitles you to know my heart, my mind, my soul? Shall I feed you platitudes, disarming truisms and children’s tales? Of my beloveds, you need to know very little, perhaps only one thing: “We are all bound, the greatest no less than the meanest,” as my lover says. I prize the sky and earth and every creature upon it with a love fierce enough to defeat even the foolishness of man.
Do you like animals? Do you have any pets/animal companions? I have whatever walks or crawls or slithers or swims, slinks or flies free in our air. We are part of our world’s nature, sometimes its victims, but never its masters. I have friends among the honest killers of the wild, for all kill to eat and thrive and risk their own lives so their offspring will survive. Sometimes I ride on the backs of those who roam the plains or stalk their prey, or live cheek by jowl with them; sometimes not. But they are not mine any more or less than I am theirs.
Do you have a family? Tell us about them. You haven’t the time to hear my story. I’ve written some of it; look there to see my mother, my father, my lost child, my relations, deadly every one. My bloodline is old: to live so long, to prowl the universe and shower in star’s breath, my family well learned the wisdom of survival, when to destroy and when to succor.
Can you remember something from your childhood which influences your behaviour? How do you think it influences you? Where I live, some can survive for hundreds of years or more. When my mother bade me seek my father, she sent me on a trek more dangerous than my young and foolish self understood. Before then, I thought that men and women were put on the ground to reproduce, to conserve, not to destroy. To claim my heritage, I learned hard lessons — about the nature of life, and the degree to which we are all controlled by the wisdom of our sex. And thus did I blindly go forth to claim my inheritance, thinking all I had to do was ask and the universe would serve my pleasure. I learned otherwise, in the doing; that the world turns by a greater will than mine; that reality is the child of biology, that all things come into being by strife; battling against men, against women, and sometimes against the gods themselves.
I learned many lessons about what men will do to win, and what women will do, and why. I learned that men who punish men and women lust to rule all; that women who punish men and women lust after dominion, and how dangerous both can be.
From childhood’s days to these, I have strived to keep my wits well about me, and shape my own fate.
Please give us an interesting and unusual fact about yourself. In my three hundredth years, I was known as the most beautiful and exotic courtesan in the civilized stars. I commanded a great price.
Tell Us About Your World
Please give us a little information about the world in which you live. Silistra is a planet in the Bipedal Federate Group. Our main exports are our life-extending serums. Our men, in their romance with machines and technology, warred until our planet and its ecology were nearly destroyed and life on the surface became nearly impossible. One result of this war was that conception became very difficult, and those who could conceive a child had power. Then did our leaders develop the life-extending serum which gave us some hope of not becoming extinct. For thousands of years, a few survivors languished in underground shelters, while women took power away from the men that had nearly destroyed us all.
When the time came that Silistrans could live above the ground, we instituted the Well system, where fertile women could come to find a man who could impregnate her, and the nature of our culture, under the guidance of our spiritual leaders, became life-conserving, rather than life-destroying.
Does your world have religion or other spiritual beliefs? If so do you follow one of them? Please describe (briefly) how this affects your behaviour. On Silistra, some believe in gods, some are descended from gods, some meet with gods, face to face. Whether or not we believe in gods, the gods who made us take a hand in our fates. We are a culture that values those skills by which an individual mind can shape the future. Our dhareners, interpreters of the will of those gods who walk with mankind, guide our development by choosing our paths and making our laws.
Do you travel in the course of your adventures? If so where? I have been to places on Silistra that are thought mythical and mystical, where few outsiders have ever been; I have gone to the places where gods hold sway, and seen what few Silistrans have ever seen. I have traveled among the stars, and farther.
What form of politics is dominant in your world? (Democracy, Theocracy, Meritocracy, Monarchy, Kakistocracy etc.) On civilized Silistra, our government is controlled by our dhareners, our spiritual leaders, and by the Well-Keepresses, hereditary matriarchs, or by the cahndors, hereditary patriarchs. But our governments have no simple rule by the lowest common denominator as seen on other worlds, nor the rule by wealth, nor are we controlled by a theocracy as you will know the term. The composition of our high councils varies, depending on where one lives or travels. Like our government or not, it has kept us safe from the depredations of plutocracy and the tyranny of mercantilists and their machines. Some parts of Silistra are timocratic, some oligarchic, and some, such as the Wells, are controlled by a hereditary matriarchy or patriarchy.
Does your world have different races of people? If so do they get on with one another?We are few, and some are black, brown, copper-colored, red or white. On Silistra, what is in the heart, the mind, and the bloodline determines status, not the color of skin.
Name a couple of myths and legends particular to your culture/people. Silistran myths are predominantly memories, from before the fall of man. My favorite is the legend of Se’keroth, and if you read my writings, you will see why.
We also have a divination system, called Ors Yris-tera, that guides some of us and helps us forecast the Weathers of Life. But on Silistra, any legend that survives is a memory of truths from the past or a portent of the future. Or both.
What is the technology level for your world/place of residence? What item would you not be able to live without? Most of us live without technology, as you know it, by choice. The off-worlders who visit try to seduce us with their machines of ease and speed, but we have lived upon and below the surface of a world ravaged by technology for too long to be fooled. True strength lies in the one’s mind and heart. If we wish to do more than a person should, the old weapons and tools of our fallen past still exist in our ‘hides,’ where those who lust for those can still find them.
Book(s) in which this character appears plus links:
High Couch of Silsitra: https://www.amazon.com/High-Couch-Silistra-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B01B1M1JBY/
The Golden Sword…………. https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Sword-Silistra-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B01FCMA7LM/
The Silistra Quartet consists of four books in chronological order: High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind from the Abyss, and The Carnelian Throne. The first two books are now available in hardcover, trade paper, and e-book “Author’s Cut” editions from Perseid Press. The final two books will be available from Perseid in 2017.
The Bantam and Baen editions of the Silistra Quartet are out of print.
Author name: Janet Morris
Website/Blog/Author pages etc.
http://www.theperseidpress.com/
http://www.amazon.com/Janet-Morris/e/B001HPJJB8/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
https://www.blackgate.com/2016/03/19/vintage-treasures-the-silistra-quartet-by-janet-morris/
June 8, 2016
Prophet of Chaos Tour – Spotlight and Character Interview
Tell Us About Yourself
Name
Amy Reese, Acolyte of, well, I suppose I should say both Lord Hate and Lady Lust, but I do a lot of work for all of Hell’s Pit Lords. We’ll just stick with Amy, I guess.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
It may sound like a cliché, but I grew up in a really religious family. My parents were hugely active in the church, I was in the youth group too. Then there was, well, something really terrible happening with our youth pastor. I won’t go into details, but the whole church imploded after that. It set me out looking for something different, something that spoke to me. That was when I heard the good news about our Dark Lord! Some would say I’m bad, that I’m evil. I’d challenge them to check their perspective. I’m evil according to who, the Bible? Everyone’s evil according to that. That’s how they get you and control you.
Describe your appearance in 10 words or less.
Some say I’m like an alt-model, but that’s pretty reductivist.
Do you have a moral code? If so what is it?
I’d say moral codes are the whole problem with humanity right now. It has us all as slaves to Heaven’s endless rulebook, and it’s so arbitrary! Well, I shouldn’t say arbitrary. It’s really about God and all of his prudish angels trying to control our bodies and our minds like good little sheep. I don’t buy into any of that. I look out for my fellow acolytes, but if I have an ethos I would say it’s all about liberating humanity from those oppressive bible-thumpers. That’s my cause. Morality doesn’t necessarily enter into it, because it’s really more about the objective. If you want to liberate people, sometimes that means getting your hands dirty, and that’s something I’ve shown I’m totally willing to do. It’s all for the greater good.
Would you kill for those you love?
I’ve done more than my share of wetwork for my church and for my fellow acolytes. It’s all part of serving the Dark Lord’s cause. People who stand in the way often deserve what’s coming to them. I’ve even had to do some of the other acolytes in. Reverend Matt has sent me after members of our church that have turned their back on us. Those have been the hardest. Not that I don’t understand that we have to get rid of traitors, they pose the biggest threat to us since they know too much, but because knowing they were so close to really living for themselves. They almost broke Heaven’s hold over their mind and body. It’s always a shame, but I suppose I’m doing them a service.
Would you die for those you love?
There was a man named Ethan, he was a Hell of a Necromancer. He almost brought Heaven to its knees. I didn’t know him for very long, but I wish I’d been there when he made his last stand fighting by his side. I would’ve died for him, but he turned me away. He said I could do more, inspire more if I stayed alive. He might’ve been right, but it would’ve been amazing to go out in a blaze of glory with him.
Do you have a family? Tell us about them.
I don’t really talk to them anymore. After my Betrayal Rite, the thing I had to do to join my church and become an acolyte, it caused a big public scandal. They disowned me. My fellow acolytes and Reverend Matt, my Sorcerer, they’re my family now. And I’m always out recruiting, bringing more people into the fold. Reverend Matt says I’m one of the best in his entire flock.
Tell Us About Your World
Please give us a little information about the world in which you live.
Well, I’m from the DC suburbs. I suppose that is like a whole separate world. So much politics, news, and media. I follow all of it, but it’s more like a disease. The whole system sickens me, because in the end it’s nothing but a big web of oppression designed to keep us all in line and marching to Heaven’s drum.
Do you travel in the course of your adventures? If so where?
Occasionally I go out of town to pick up relics, network with other acolytes, and even recruit some out-of-towners that can be helpful to our cause. Sometimes I go to less normal places, I’ve even seen parts of Hell in visions. Mostly I stay around the DC area. That’s where Reverend Matt and the Pit Lords need me.
Does your world have magic? If so how is it viewed in your world?
You know, most people don’t know about it, but magic’s kinda common. Well, not that common, but it’s certainly out there. Most people think it’s not real, but it’s all around them. Maybe not one in a hundred, or even one in a thousand, but at least one in every ten thousand either has some innate power or has figured out how to claim some for themselves. Those of us that serve Hell can get it even if we don’t have any innate talents by forming a Covenant with a Demon (“selling your soul” like most people say really dumbs down the significance of the bond it forms) or, how I’ve gotten most of my powers, by bringing people into the fold. The more souls we turn to Hell’s cause, the greater our power grows. That’s why Reverend Matt is so strong, he’s done both and brought countless souls over to the service of the Dark Lord.
Others, of course, get their powers from different places. The churchies get it through praying, following the rules, doing the bidding of the Seraphim, whatever it is that earns them God’s favor with its accompanying blessings and consecrations. The Grays, though? The people that serve Limbo? I honestly have to admit I don’t understand how their power works. There’s a reason people call the Demigod running the whole show “Chaos.” From what I understand, it’s just sort of available to them? Where’s the fun in that? It sounds like cheating, but I understand it’s much harder to call on and control than the uncut stuff we get from Hell.
Does your world have different races of people? If so do they get on with one another?
Race is a social construct, like religion. Something the powers that be have created to keep us fighting among each other instead of uniting and overthrowing our real oppressors. At least, that’s if you consider people, or humanity alone. There are people out there that are not quite human, I guess. I recently met a Defiler, someone who’s kept alive by having Demon blood injected into them. He certainly doesn’t look very human any more, he’s all mutated. Then there are the other hybrids. There are half-Demons, you may have heard of them. The ignorant call them Devilkin. They look mostly human but typically have a lot of arcane power with them. Then there’s the Nephilim, what’s born when a human and an Angel have carnal relations. That’s naturally frowned upon, by almost everyone. The right way for an Angel and a human to have children creates an Archon. They conceive it via immaculate conception, like Jesus, I guess. They, I don’t know, hold hands in a church for awhile until it just happens? I’m no expert on that stuff.
Does your world have any supernatural/mystical beings? Please tell us about some.
There are countless! So many different flavors of Demons, Angels and celestial creatures, and then there’s all the other stuff that comes from Limbo. I’ve gotten to know a lot of the Demons, though. Since Reverend Matt is a Summoner, he can pull them from Hell to our world. It really comes in handy when we have to deal with hostiles from Heaven or Limbo. I’ve seen Cerberi, those cute and vicious three-headed dogs that roam all of Hell’s Circles. I’ve also spoken with a Malthus, the pink bird-man sorcerors of Hate’s Circle. I’ve even beheld the beauty of a Sitri, the seductive life-draining Demons that wander Lust’s Circle. I’ve also seen an Astaroth, another of Hate’s creatures with it’s spiny arms and body. I never care for those, though. I’m always worried I’m going to trip and kill myself just running into it. They’re seriously sharp, with those knife-like quills popping out of all of its body.
Within your civilisation what do you think is the most important discovery/invention?
I don’t know how any of us would do what we do without the internet, particularly the Deep Web. It’s where I can connect to so many other servants of Hell, meet the disaffected, rejected people that are ripe for hearing the good news of our Dark Lord. It’s how I found Reverend Matt and his flock, after all. The possibilities for connecting with like-minded or susceptible people are endless . . .
Author notes:
Book(s) in which this character appears plus links
Hand of Chaos – https://amzn.com/B00F64S25A
Prophet of Chaos – https://amzn.com/B01D8RE7DW
Author name – J. Hamlet
Website/Blog/Author pages etc. – http://www.jchamlet.com, http://www.twitter.com/jayhamlet
Synopsis
Nathaniel is a man of many gifts. First and foremost is the power of Prophecy. Whenever he sleeps, he dreams of triumphs and tragedies alike, and how to either make them happen or prevent them. With that knowledge, he’s thwarted the world-shaking schemes of Angels and Demons alike. Not surprisingly, every elite agent of both Heaven and Hell are always hunting him, wanting to be the one to take down the notorious man known to most as The Prophet. He’s spent most of his life as a homeless drifter: hiding, dreaming, and passing along the intel from his revelations to those who can take actions, be they government agents, freelance wizards, or less savory occult figures.
Recently, he’s been plagued by a series of recurring visions that threaten to force him out of his shadowy life and into the spotlight. He’s seen the world ready to plummet into a new dark ages. A Senator with presidential aspirations is on one side, backed by the most ruthless of Heaven’s forces and seeking to transform the world into a brutal theocracy. A church of Demon-worshipping terrorists also stand ready to launch a bloody revolution through mass murders, demonic possession, and civil war that will literally bring about Hell on earth. Nathaniel stands in the middle, struggling to stop both sides from realizing their chosen versions of humanity’s future with everything in his mystical arsenal. And he can’t do it alone.
Author Bio
J. Hamlet has made what you might call a career out of being a red tape slinger and beltway bandit and has lived in and around Washington, DC for most of his adult life. Originally from the dirty sands of Chesapeake, VA, he’s been writing to pass the time and exorcise his demons since he was a teenager. He wrote many horrible books back then. These are better, at least he hopes so. His writing blends many different genres: spy thriller, supernatural thriller, and philosophy into an intoxicating and original mash. He also enjoys nerding out about food, baking, beer, homebrewing, and taking too many pictures of his dog.
Social Media Links
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumblr
Giveaway: There is a giveaway for this tour. One (1) $25 Amazon giftcard and five (5) $10 Amazon giftcards. Ends 6/17. Open Internationally. Void where prohibited.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ff6a4f1f186/?
June 6, 2016
D-Day – remembered
I don’t often post my poetry up but having spent the weekend with some military veterans I’ve been reminded of the sacrifice many paid, and still pay so that I may live in a country which is free. Both my parents served in the military, and my father was wounded in action and still carries the scars (physical and otherwise). Admittedly this was not from the WWII but there are few lives in Europe that weren’t touched in some manner by that war. The Normandy Landings were a masterstroke of planning and strategy but it’s hard to imagine, at least for most of us, what went in then and the price paid on those beaches.
There were nearly 20000 casualties (from both sides), including very many dead. Many argue this was the turning point of World War II.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/06/06/d-day-landing-sites-pictures_n_5458026.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings
Originally written in 2004 for the 60th anniversary of D-Day – it’s now 12 years on and still rings true. To those who fell, and those who survived – this is for you.
D-Day Remembered
They stand abreast, so proud, so sombre.
Old men now, some blind, some lame,
Upon chests of valour medals gleam.
They reflect upon the past,
Comrades buried beneath the serenity.
They ran on that day, they fell. They died. For our future.
They charged into the mouth of hell,
Upon that summer day.
Numbers dwindling then as now.
Men of such honour,
Heroes of our time.
All time.
Then, now and forever.
(c) A.L Butcher, 2004, 2016.
Withering Rose (Once Upon a Curse #2) by @DavisKaitlyn #BookReview + #Giveaway! #BATB
Withering Rose (Once Upon a Curse #2) by Kaitlyn Davis Genre: YA Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retelling Release Date: May 17th 2016 Summary: A USA Today Recommended Series! Wha…
Source: Withering Rose (Once Upon a Curse #2) by @DavisKaitlyn #BookReview + #Giveaway! #BATB
May 31, 2016
KDP and Self-Publishing – a noob’s guide
There are many people who aren’t fans of Amazon for one reason or another, but it has to be said publishing-wise they have a large chunk of the market and should not be ignored. Form my own perspective I sell far more on Amazon than it’s competitor, but of course there are other authors who’ll tell you they sell well on Barnes and Noble, or Kobo.
I lurk on the KDP forums (Kindle Direct Publishing) and every day the same questions/complaints get posted. It never ceases to amaze me that newbies can’t or won’t read the FAQ and TOS and then whine when they get stung for something they claimed they were unaware of. When you log in or sign up the help and terms pages are handily down the left hand side and thus, easily accessed. They aren’t hard to find.
https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A32I2OF1510VZV
So here’s a quick breakdown for newbies:
Read the FAQ and TOS. Really. This is a contract – you agree to it when you publish there. If you don’t like the terms then don’t sign and don’t publish with KDP. There are other sites – Lulu https://www.lulu.com/ for example. They publish to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, I-books and, of course their own site; Smashwords, Draft2Digital and several others. Of course these sites have their own rules too.
Payment – make sure you are clear on the terms of payment (which are listed in the FAQ…). No publishing platform is going to pay you the instant you sell that book. If you want that sell from your website – and good luck to you. Amazon’s payment terms are 60 days after the end of the month of sale. So I sell a book in May I get paid at the end of July. The minimum price you can sell your book for on Amazon is 99c (which is about 77p in the UK). For 99c to $2.98 you receive 35% royalties, between $2.99 and 9.99 that goes up to 70% in most stores. Keep in mind however any country without its own base store which must use Amazon.com pay out only 35% – do to taxes and transfer costs apparently. So some .com sales will show as 70% and some as 35%. Amazon is not trying to con you. They pay out monthly and with EFT for any amount. There is no minimum. You must supply bank account details. For cheques they pay out when you hit $100/£100 etc. (per store as these are paid individually for both EFT and cheque) so if you only sell a few now and then in some stores you’ll be waiting a long time. Amazon do not pay to Paypal.For comparison Smashwords pay out 60% from their own store sales and slightly less from affiliates. They do pay to Paypal but they pay out quarterly for Smashwords sales and the affiliate stores report on different timescales so some appear more quickly than others, which can be confusing.
https://www.smashwords.com/about/supportfaq#Royalties
https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=AE24XS35AM53P
If you don’t get paid when you think you should read the FAQ about payment – in case you decided to ignore point 1 and 2. It may be the case the bank details are incorrect (it happens). Check them carefully. You will need an IBAN and BIC for accounts not in USA, these can usually be found on your statements and are different to your regular account number. If needed your bank can supply them. If your bank account details look alright then check your sales. Orders and sales are not the same – see my next point. If you need to contact Amazon then use the ‘Contact Us’ link in the bottom right of the screen. Give them time to investigate.
Sales and Orders – KDP issue reports (second tab – the one after Bookshelf on your account page). A lot of people get confused here. There is a graph which shows ORDERS. This covers all your titles in all the stores – so everything is lumped in together. It’s on a rolling 30 days so everyday it changes slightly. It looks nice but it isn’t actually that useful. Orders do not always turn into sales – payment might not go through, the buyer might change his or her mind or somesuch. Then we have ‘Month to Date’ report. This shows actual sales. It’s done per store (so Amazon.com, then Amazon.co.uk, then Amazon.de and so on). It also shows refunds, freebies and price matching. This is the most accurate report (usually) and is updated daily (usually). A sale can show up in a couple of hours or a couple of days. There is the prior six weeks report – which personally I don’t see much use for; and promotions – which reports any promotions you have going. It is up to you to tall the payments up. They are produced in Excel so download them and add them up (or copy them into Excel and let that do it. There is NOT a running total of sales. Smashwords does this (which is useful) but their reporting is confusing as the affiliate stores report on different time scales and eventually the reports of books per store gets huge.
One thing that comes up a lot – ‘I know my friend bought the book but the sale isn’t showing up’. Unless they actually show you the sales receipt then you cannot guarantee it was an actual sale. People lie (often with good intentions) and say they have bought the book when they haven’t. They may have downloaded the sample, or are intending to buy it but they haven’t actually done so. I always buy a copy myself when I publish something – if the sale shows up then it’s all working fine. Honestly if you think Amazon (or whoever) is trying to diddle you out of your money you probably shouldn’t be doing business with them.
Bad reviews – they happen. Deal with it. Someone somewhere won’t like your book. It will have too much sex/not enough, too much violence/not enough, too much world building/not enough and so on. Some folks say what they think and damn the consequences. Remember reviews are for readers not authors and any vindictive review is going to appear as just that – vindictive. Give readers some intelligence, many will just scan the reviews for ones which have a similar view to themselves, or look for key points. There isn’t much the author can do. Don’t respond, don’t attack the reviewer (at least not in public). Move on. Do you like every book you read? No. I thought not. Amazon’s review policy is what it is. You can’t change it no matter how much you shout.
Reviews. Amazon have cracked down on reviews as of late. Many authors complain about reviews being removed – honestly there is not much to do about it. If Amazon deems there is a relationship between reader and reviewer then there is a chance that review will go. How Amazon finds out, or thinks it finds out is anyone’s guess. Theories are same IP addresses (so living in the same household), facebook friends, and such like. Officially family and friends are not eligible to review your book as it’s deemed a biased review. It is a bit zealous – someone who shares a group with you on facebook or happens to know someone you know might get their review removed. Then again they might not. There’s not really any rhyme or reason to it. Only the actual reviewer can request the review to be reinstated.
Contacting Support. If you have a problem then us the contact us link. You will need to be logged in with the correct email account you originally used to sign up. If not Amazon will not help (after all you could be someone else). Support usually get back to you within 24 hours. Now often the replies are ‘check the FAQ here’ or similar and a bit…vague. If this is the case reply back on the same ticket and ask for clarification. It might take a bit of back and forth so be patient and polite. Getting abusive to the KDP reps is going to get you nowhere.
If you make changes to your manuscript, such as fixing typos or whatever and reupload it don’t unpublish. Just upload it to the current ASIN and mark it in the edition with a code (I put V3+date) so I can check on the look inside. Readers who have already bought the book will NOT automatically get the update, even if they have the autoupdate enabled. If the changes are substantial you can ask Amazon to push out the new copy and then readers who already own it can download it if they wish. It’s a pain to do and the changes really do need to be pretty major – new chapters or such like. It’s not worth doing for the odd stray typo. The autoupdater not working is a known bug which Amazon don’t seem keen to fix. Oh and don’t bother deleting the book from your kindle and re-buying it. That doesn’t work (trust me on this I have tried). I think I’ve been sent an email about twice for all the books I own stating there was updated content (and both really needed it – one was pretty much unreadable).
KDP Select. This confuses a lot of people. Basically KDP SELECT is the promotional aspect of KDP publishing. You can easily publish to KDP without being in Select. KDP Select has some strict rules and people how transgress then risk at best having their books removed from the program and at worst having their account terminated.
If you opt to enter KDP Select by ticking the little box you CANNOT offer the digital version of your book ANYWHERE else. So not on your blog, not on Barnes and Noble, not anywhere else. KDP will find out, the big bad Zon check. You are locked into a 90 day term (rolling unless you uncheck the box) and even if you leave early then you are bound by this. I know an author who flouted this and Amazon threatened to close her account unless she removed the books from the other sites until the term expired. What does Select actually offer? Promotional tools. All the advertising such as the 5 days Free, Countdown deals and the Amazon ads are only available to Select. Your book will also been in the KENP program (basically someone in the Amazon Prime program can borrow your book for a couple of weeks and you get paid per page read.). There are lots of complaints about this new system as authors used to get a percentage of the KDP fund if their book was borrowed – so a 200 page novel would get the same as a 40 page novel. Pages read favours longer books, and is, arguably, fairer. Some authors do quite well on this scheme. Do I use it? Not really. I’ve had freebies for Warrior’s Curse, and a Countdown for Stolen Tower but neither netted much traction. That said I did little to actually promote them. As promotional tools they CAN be useful – but it must be remembered for the free books many people download them BECAUSE they are free. Reviews are even less likely and many authors and readers believe it degrades authors and their books. (See my guest posts on Mythic Scribes.)
http://mythicscribes.com/marketing/the-great-free-book-debate-the-readers/
http://mythicscribes.com/marketing/great-free-book-debate-authors/
More to follow another day.
Happy writing.
May 26, 2016
Blog Tour – The Captives – Cas Peace
A city besieged by evil…
Secure in his stolen stronghold, Baron Reen continues to sow chaos in Albia’s capital. Nowhere is safe from his malice and the King’s Guard is powerless to stop him. Crucial pieces of his plan are falling into place and soon his vengeance will be complete. All he lacks is the final game piece that will force his archenemy to her knees before him.Sullyan works frantically to solve the mystery of Reen’s newfound powers. She knows she is getting closer to the truth, but will she be too late to save the scarecrow’s captives?
The book is now live and here is a link that will take you to the correct Amazon page no matter where in the world you are. http://geni.us/DuwaAf
Cas lives in the lovely county of Hampshire, southern UK, where she was born. On leaving school she trained for two years before qualifying as horse-riding instructor. During this time she also learned to carriage-drive. She spent thirteen years in the British Civil Service before moving to Rome, Italy, where she and her husband, Dave, lived for three years. They enjoy returning whenever they can. Cas supports many animal charities and owns two rescue dogs. She has a large collection of cacti and loves gardening. She is also a folk singer/songwriter and is currently writing and recording nine folk-style songs to accompany each of her fantasy books. You can listen to and download all the songs from her website: www.caspeace.com
See the video of her performing live at the King’s Envoy book launch here:
http://www.caspeace.com/cas-peace/the-wheel-will-turn
Find out more at her website: www.caspeace.com
Connect with the Author here:
~ Author Facebook ~ Facebook ~ Website ~
~ Blog ~ Amazon ~ Reverbnation ~
Interview with the Author
In 10 words tell us about yourself.
British female, animal lover, singer, cactus grower, wife, horserider, Christian. (Not necessarily in that order!)
Can you remember the first story you wrote?
I can, and in fact, I still have it. It’s called “The Night of the Halo’d Moon”, and it was a young person’s fantasy about a world ruled by unicorns. I never quite finished it, but I might resurrect it one day. I like to think it did have some merit, even though I wrote it a good 30 years ago!
If you had to choose 10 books to take to a desert island which ten would it be?
The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge.
The Worm Ouroboros, by E R Eddison.
The King of Elfland’s Daughter, by Lord Dunsany.
The Lord of the Rings, by J R R Tolkien
The Chronicles of Morgaine, by C J Cherryh
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Bradley
Unicorns I have Known by Robert Vavra
Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney
Some sort of huge crossword compilation
And probably a book about boat building!
What is your most successful marketing tip (for your books)?
The best results I’ve ever had from all the different marketing I’ve done for my books have come from amalgamating a cover reveal/blog tour from Loving the Book with a Twitter campaign (I use Twuffer to schedule Tweets) and Facebook posts. The first novel in my Artesans of Albia fantasy series became an Amazon UK Bestseller the very first time I did this. I think it’s about keeping your book’s profile as high as you can, even if it’s only for a relatively short time.
What is the most useful piece of advice about writing you’ve been given?
I found this quote in a writing magazine and printed it out to hang above my desk. It has served me well over the years and it’s as relevant today as it was when I found it. My only regret is that I didn’t record who made the quote!
“ If you ever suffer moments of self-doubt, remember that every sucessful writer was once where you are now. Nothing is wasted. Every word you write, every page, every chapter, holds a lesson. Success may be just around the corner, and you may be closer to it than you think. Hold the faith – you just have to keep going, keep growing, keep writing fresh words.”
What’s your latest writing project?
Right now I’m working on the final novel in the Artesans of Albia series, entitled The Gateway. I wrote it years ago, but it needs a full edit. Once that’s done, I have an idea for a YA prequel to the series and I’m also a contributor to the Perseid Press HEROIKA brand anthologies. I will probably try to write more short stories as I enjoy the challenge.
Who is the biggest influence in your life?
Gosh, that’s a tough one. Writing-wise, I think I would have to say Elizabeth Goudge, because I discovered her writing very early on in my life and loved her style. I’ve never forgotten the first time I read The Little White Horse and the way it made me feel. I’d love to think I could write something that another young person might read and love and remember for the rest of their life.
On a more personal level, it would have to be my family. Not very exciting, maybe, but true nonetheless. My parents and my husband have been hugely supportive throughout my life, and my brother has been fantastic in helping me write, sing, play and record the unique folk-style songs that accompany my fantasy novels. I don’t know what I’d do without any of them!
If you could have a dinner party with anyone from history who would you choose and why?
I think I’d have to choose someone like Joan d’Arc. I’ve always been fascinated by the role of women in a male-dominated society, and especially so when the woman in question takes up arms. It is one of the themes of my own fantasy series, and is the reason I wanted to create a believable heroine who could hold her own, and in some cases surpass, strong male warriors. Yet I didn’t want her to be some kind of Amazonian, kick-ass female who kills everyone she sees. I wanted her to be feminine, and sometimes vulnerable, and to have all the faults and frailties of a normal woman, yet still to be a good and charismatic leader. That’s how I see Joan d’Arc, rightly or wrongly, and I hope I achieved this.
What would you cook for them?
Well, I happen to be rubbish at cooking. It’s not something I enjoy or find relaxing. In fact, if I do cook, I usually end up so fed up with what I’m making and the time it’s taken that I don’t want to eat it! My husband does most of the cooking in our house because he enjoys creating new dishes. I do all the clearing up, which he doesn’t enjoy, so it works out fine. But I do like omelets and I can cook them well, so anyone who dined with me would have to be prepared to eat eggs!
The first book in the series, King’s Envoy, is running a FREE KINDLE VERSION promotion from May 26th –May 30th. How flippin cool is that! There is not a universal Amazon link for that but here is the US link: https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Envoy-Artesans-Albia-trilogy-ebook/dp/B00FLXRW4I
and UK link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kings-Envoy-Artesans-Albia-trilogy-ebook/dp/B00FLXRW4I/
The Author has send us a song list, That also includes video of live preformances!
Artesans of Albia Songlist.
From King’s Envoy: The Wheel Will Turn. https://www.reverbnation.com/caspeacewithntn/song/14437202-wheel-will-turn-from-fantasy-novel
To see live video performance:
From King’s Champion: The Ballad of Tallimore. https://www.reverbnation.com/caspeacewithntn/song/18886105-ballad-tallimore-from-fantasy-novel
From King’s Artesan: Morgan’s Song. https://www.reverbnation.com/caspeacewithntn/song/18886127-morgans-song-all-that-we-are-from
From The Challenge: Meadowsweet. https://www.reverbnation.com/caspeacewithntn/song/21511143-meadowsweet
From The Circle: Larksong. https://www.reverbnation.com/caspeacewithntn/song/22333132-larksong
To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page
https://www.facebook.com/events/1719787791626264/
May 16, 2016
The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales by @LibraryofErana #BookPromo #Fantasy
Yay spotlight for the Kitchen Imps!
Title: The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales (Fire-Side Tales Collection Book I) Author: A.L. Butcher Genre: Fantasy Book Blurb: Naughty imps, missing socks, cunning thieves and baffled go…
Source: The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales by @LibraryofErana #BookPromo #Fantasy
Author Interview 111 – Lisa M. Wayman – Historical Fiction
Welcome to Lisa M. Wayman
Where are you from and where do you live now? I’m a navy brat, so I’m from lots of places on the east coast. After my Dad left the navy my parents decided we should live closer to nature, so I spent high school in upstate NY growing my own food and living in a house heated by wood. Now I live in Phoenix Arizona and I appreciate the convenience of the grocery store, though the food doesn’t taste as good.
Please tell us a little about your writing . ‘Longing for Home’ is my first work of fiction. It is a historical fiction novel set in the 1890s. There is a love story in the book, but it is mostly about finding a place to belong.
Where do you find inspiration? I was inspired to write my book by my Great Grandmother’s story. She came from Slovenia to America as a 17 year old. She traveled by train from Slovenia to France, then by boat to Ellis Island and then once more by train Wyoming to meet her father. She did this all without speaking English. I used her story as a jumping off place to explore my roots. I also found it was a good way to come to terms with my own itinerant life and to figure out what it means to be home.
Do you have a favourite character? If so why? I love the two main characters in my book: Irena and Seamus. The thing I like most about them is that they both have strengths and flaws. They struggle together and rescue each other. My sister-in-law also commented that she loves that Irena is a plain looking woman. I wanted them to be real people so that they were relatable and so readers would love them as much as I do.
Are your characters based on real people? Well, yes and no. I took traits of different people and spread them over the characters. I then let Irena say things to characters that I wanted to say to real people, but didn’t get the chance to. For example, the character Maureen is modelled after a woman who my husband was helping out. He had the best intentions and was being nice to someone having a very hard time. I was surprised by how jealous I became and how upset I was. To allow Irena (spoiler alert) to shout and slap Maureen felt wonderful. I didn’t do that in my life, I explained to my husband how I was feeling and he severed the relationship. In my life it worked out fine, in the book it is more dramatic, and in a way more satisfying.
Research can be important in world-building, how much do you need to do for your books? Do you enjoy this aspect of creating a novel and what are your favourite resources? I did a ton of research for this book. I’m kind of a history buff, so I had some baseline knowledge, but I certainly didn’t know the details. I started with Wikipedia for a general background, then went to the primary source. Old newspapers are available on-line and I read quite a few of them. The advertisements were great for all the little details of the time period. Another good source was Onthisday.com for an overview of what was happening in the world. While I was writing I read fiction that would inform how I understood my characters. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair helped me understand the Chicago meat packing district. Galway Bay by Mary Pat Kelly helped me understand the Irish experience. And really good writing by multiple authors – check out my book list on my website – helped me with the craft of writing. One of the reasons I wrote the book was to explore my heritage so I got on-line to the official Slovenia website http://www.slovenia.si/ and I looked for Slovenian bloggers, fairy tales, myths, ect. I even tried out some recipes and ordered Slovenian wine from Blue Danube. I am a PhD, so I’ve done research before and it was really fun to follow the trail wherever I wanted to instead of within the restrictions of scientific method.
Is there a message conveyed within your writing? Do you feel this is important in a book? I wanted to convey a message that resilience is possible. My characters live during the gilded age – the time of Downton Abbey, but Irena and Seamus are at the lowest station in society and struggle through poverty and racism. I don’t need books that end with perfect happily ever after, but I do think it is important to enhance the world. So I hope the reader takes away a feeling that big struggles can be overcome.
Sort these into 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…) Great characters absolutely first. A novel is a story and the reader is drawn into a relationship with the characters. My characters are complex enough with flaws and strengths that the reader feels a kinship with the fictional person and cares enough to be drawn deeply into the second most important aspect: a solid plot. The plot reveals who the characters are. I could tell you all about what the characters fear, aspire toward and secretly hope for, but it is much more interesting to learn about them by how they deal with their problems. I did have a hard time being mean to my characters, I love them so, but their trials are how they reveal themselves. The world building is the background for the story. It was important to me that it be historically accurate, but the point of the story was the characters, not a history lesson. Finally, technically perfect. Well, my editor will tell you this wasn’t my priority, I wanted to play with the words until my story was clear and the reader could see the action. I did pretty well with that, but not perfect and I am horrible at spelling and punctuation.
Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? I do both. I read, re-read and edit every time. I did at least three full reads with edits. Then I sent it to some beta readers who were ruthless and cut out an entire section and made me re-write the entire thing because it was ‘boring’. Then I re-edited. After all that I got a professional editor. She really helped to make sure that the writing was clear and technically sound. She discussed recommendations with me and I accepted 99% of her edits without question. There was one small thing that I thought changed the meaning and we discussed it and re-wrote it together. I was really lucky and the editor was collaborative and very helpful. I think it made the book really professional and the best quality. Some people might be able to do that without a professional editor, but I can’t.
Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it?
I just finished The ‘Guilded Hour’ by Sara Donati.I thought she did a very good job of developing the characters. I liked that it was set in the 1890s and as a nurse I was interested in the medical aspect of the book. The other book that I recently enjoyed (for the umpteenth time) was ‘The River Why’ by David James Duncan. For absolutely gorgeous writing that will move your heart read anything of his.
Can you give us a silly fact about yourself? I can’t swear. My Dad was a navy man, but he never swore, smoked or drank. No kidding, if he hits his finger with a hammer he says ‘gosh dang it!’ I know, weird right? Anyway, I grew up with no swearing at all and I was pretty nerdy in school so I didn’t hang out with anyone who did swear. My husband laughs if I try to swear because I get it really wrong. When my characters need to swear I have to get a ghost writer to help.
Book links, website/blog and author links:
http://www.amazon.com/Longing-Home-Lisa-Wayman-ebook/dp/B01DX080YG
lisawayman.com
https://www.goodreads.com/Lisa_M_Wayman
May 15, 2016
Back Catalogue 5 – Tales of Erana Interview
Originally published here: http://www.jeffreycollyer.com/#!Autho...
Today I talk to A.L. Butcher, author of the collection of short stories, Tales of Erana:Myths and Legends.
A. L. Butcher is the British author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles fantasy series, the Tales of Erana series, and several short stories in the fantasy and fantasy romance genres. She is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet and a dreamer. When she is grounded in the real world she likes science, natural history, history
and monkeys. Her work has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as evocative.
A.L. what made you decide to publish a novel?
The short stories came from lore and legends created for the world of my novels. They are mythic in style – similar to fairy tales or old-style legends. The original idea for the characters and world came from a mix of an idea I’d had for a while for a fantasy/mythic world and a character I had for a roleplaying game. Put simply I had a head filled with stories which wanted to be born.
Where do you get your inspiration to write?
Everywhere. Nature, history, myths, and things I read and see. I tend to get bursts of inspiration at the most inconvenient times, like in the bath or at work.
If you could pick just one phrase from your writings to preserve for future generations, what would it be?
Magic has its price and that price was war. Other tribes coveted the Relic, gift of the Lady of the Sky, and so fought the tribes of the Jagged Peaks, staining the rock with blood and even poisoning the streams. In the infancy of the world the mortal races were young and foolish. Some remained so.
Why have you chosen this collection for your spotlight?
I think the Tales of Erana series is a great way to highlight the world of Erana. I love myths and lore; these focus on the magic, the legends and other more minor characters in the world. I’d love to get more people to read and listen to the Tales of Erana, they are short tales and can easily be read over a lunch break or on the train so are a good introduction both to the fantasy genre and the setting. The lyrical prose reflects a time of fireside storytelling and great heroes.
The novels are more…adult and unsuitable for younger readers.
Where did the ideas for these stories come from?
From the lore surrounding the world creation.
Different authors have differing approaches to writing. Some prepare very detailed plot outlines before they begin on their first draft, while others have a much looser outline and like to see where the story leads them. What was your approach with Tales of Erana?
I’m definitely a pantser! I have an overarching plot for the series but the individual books and stories lead me along. For the short stories I usually have a vague idea of what I want but it is vague. Either the story ends up working – or it doesn’t.
Was there any part of the stories that surprised you as it appeared on the screen in front of you? If so, can you tell us about it?
The ending to Moon on the Water. It’s not an especially happy ending. Essentially it’s a story of war, love and revenge but it started out as a totally different story.
Some readers of fantasy like end-to-end action, while others prefer a greater emphasis on the personal journey of the main character(s). Where would the stories in the Tales of Erana sit between these?
Individual stories range from more action less ‘journey’ to the other way around. Moon on the Water is tale of forbidden magic, love and the war they bring; The Tale of Treyna the Beloved is the story of how the sun and moon became separated in the sky and the arrival of night and day in Erana – basically you could call it a creation myth of sorts. There’s not much action in that one – it’s the ‘journey’ of the elder gods; Storm Born is a lonely mage’s journey to create a companion – and the aftermath; The Legend of Oeliana is a tale of love, vengeance, magic and broken promises – it’s one of the tales which gives hints for later ones; the Blue Phial is a coming of age tale of a young apothecary. Overall I’d say these lean towards more ‘journey’ than action. That said one of the other tales in the series – Tale of Erana: The Warrior’s Curse is pretty much all action.
Are there any underlying messages hidden within the stories (e.g. life lessons, commentary on society, religion, etc) that you’d like to share?
The world of Erana is a world of myth, magic and monsters. It’s a world where half the population are enslaved, magic is forbidden and the land is run by martial law. There isn’t an intended message, except perhaps hope. There is always someone to fight for those who cannot defend themselves. And the world will be what it will be – despite the people on it.
Authors can grow quite attached to some of their characters, and sometimes that attachment can be with minor characters who maybe don’t have a big part to play in the novel. Are there any characters from Tales of Erana who you’d like to explore in more depth?
In the paperback collection (Tales of Erana: Volume One) we find Coel – an unwilling hero thrust into a situation beyond his control. He is not a bad person, but he does have to do potentially bad and dangerous things – although in the end for a good cause. Coel will appear in a later book/novella. At least I hope so – he’s fun. (He also appears in Nine Heroes.)
And finally, how influential do you think fantasy is in today’s society?
I belief it is at the core of our cultures. Western Civilisation has a basis in Ancient Greek and Roman culture, not to mention Nordic, Judeo-Christian and many others. Whether or not one is religious it is easy to see the heroic/mythic/fantasy elements. Example – I’m British, we have St George, several other saints with mythic backgrounds, dragons, fairies and, of course, King Arthur. We have a great tradition of storytelling, and fantasy authors too. From an early I was told fairy tales, fantasy stories about sentient kitchen equipment, and I read CS Lewis, Lewis Carole, and many others.
Thanks very much for your time A.L. I wish you all the best with your various stories from the world of Erana.
You can purchase Tales of Erana: Myths and Legends in various formats from the following links:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
And on Audio Book
Book Spotlight – The Golden Sword
Book – The Golden Sword – Book II of the Silistra Quartet
Janet Morris – fantasy, science-fiction, epic
Beginning in May 02 2015, after more than 30 years of print, the four volumes of The Silistra Quartet are being published in all-new Author’s Cut editions by Perseid Press, revised by Janet Morris. The second of these, The Golden Sword, released in May 2016.
The Silistra Quartet is a series of fictional memoirs by the High Couch of Silsitra herself, Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi. The books chronicle the adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in tomorrow’s universe, The Silistra Quartet is Mythic Fiction, combining elements of science fiction and fantasy with mythology, metaphysics, and magical realism from a distant realm.
The Golden Sword
http://www.theperseidpress.com/
Overview: The Battle of the Sexes is never over…
She had the power to create planets.
The sixty carved bones of the Yris-tera foretold her ancient fate.
Her heritage of power took her beyond time and space and stole from her the
one man she loved.
Enslaved on the planet Silistra tomorrow’s most beautiful courtesan unleashes the
powers of the gods.
Overview: High Couch of Silistra: Biology dictates reality
One woman’s mythic search for self-realization in a distant tomorrow…
Her sensuality was at the core of her world, her quest beyond the civilized stars.
Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.
Praise for the Silistra Quartet:
“Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure.” – Charles N. Brown, Locus Magazine
“The amazing and erotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in tomorrow’s universe” – Frederik Pohl
“To be an outcast in Silsitra means travel and Estri is a traveler between stars and planets as well as between time. The best single example of prostitution in fantasy is Janet Morris’ Silistra series. […] Each the books exhibits a consciousness its form as an historical autobiography; the author appends glossaries for each novel and includes prologues, epilogues, biographical sketches, and copious notes to guide the reader into a better grasp of the mult-levels of the work, […] To be an outcast in Silsitra means travel and Estri is a traveler between stars and planets as well as between time. — Anne K. Kaler, The Picara From Hera To Fantasy Heroine
FOR ADVENTUROUS READERS ONLY
“Long ago the human colonists of Silistra waged a war so vicious that centuries later the planet has not recovered. Men and women alike suffer from infertility — the deadliest legacy of that deadly war. Because the birth rate is so low, the Silistrans value above all the ability to bear children . . . and their social order is based on their fertility and sexual prowess.
“On a planet desperate for population, women hold the keys to power. These are the adventures of Estri, Well-Keepress of Astria and holder of the ultimate seat of control: the High Couch of Silistra.” — Jim Baen, publisher, Baen Books.
“The best single example of prostitution used in fantasy is Janet Morris’ Silistra series… Estri’s character is most like that of Ishtar who describes herself as “‘a prostitute compassionate am I'” because she “symbolizes the creative submission to the demands of instinct, to the chaos of nature …the free woman, as opposed to the domesticated woman”. Linking Estri with these lunar and water symbols is not difficult because of the moon’s eternal virginity (the strength of integrity) links with her changeability (the prostitute’s switching of lovers). […] Morris strengthens the moon imagery by having Estri as a well-keepress because wells, fountains, and the moon as the orb which controls water have long been associated with fertility, […] In a sense, she is like the moon because she is apparently eternal, never waxing or waning except in her pursuit of the quest; she is the prototypical wanderer like the moon and Ishtar. She is the eternal night symbol of the moon in opposition to the Day-Keepers […] At her majority (her three hundredth birthday), she is given a silver-cubed hologram letter from her mother, containing a videotape of her conception by the savage bronzed barbarian god from another world. […] If Estri’s mother then acts as a bawd, willing her lineage as Well-Keepress to her daughter, then Estri’s great-grandmother Astria as foundress of the Well becomes a further mother-bawd figure when she offers her prophetic advice in her letter: “Guard Astria for you may lose it, and more. Beware of one who is not as he seems. Stray not in the port city of Baniev …look well about you, for your father’s daughter’s brother seeks you”. Having no brother that she knows of does not stay Estri from undertaking the heroic quest of finding her father.” – Anne K. Kaler, The Picara: From Hera to Fantasy Heroine.
https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Sword-Silistra-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B01FCMA7LM/
https://www.amazon.com/High-Couch-Silistra-Quartet-Book-ebook/dp/B01B1M1JBY/
