A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 168

Word of the Week – Misandrist

I’ve been thinking of ways to vary the types of posts from the Library of Erana. After all variety is the spice of life, they say.

So I am starting a Word of the Week post – basically either myself or my followers can suggest a word, preferably an uncommon or unusual one, and I’ll look up meaning and origin. The Library of Erana is a hall of words – so we may as well find some:)

Today’s word: Misandrist – suggested by fantasy author Janet Morris.

NOUN: a person who dislikes, despises, or is strongly prejudiced against men.  It’s parallel is misogyny – a word more familiar (hatred of women).

This is a word which appeared in the 19th Century in The Spectator (1871).

Translation of the French “Misandrie” to the German “Männerhaß” (Hatred of Men)[5] is recorded in 1803.[6] Misandry is formed from the Greekmisos (μῖσος, “hatred”) and anēr, andros (ἀνήρ, gen. ἀνδρός; “man”).[7] 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misandry

Use in literature: Miss Haversham in Dickens’ Great Expectations was a caricature of a misandrist – jilted at the alter she thus hates men and uses the protagonist to exact revenge.

Arguably The Vagina Monologues is misandrist work as all the male characters are rogues, brutes and reprehensible individuals.

I’d like to say I haven’t read the latter of these but read Dickens many years ago and can’t remember much of the story.

Audiobook Narrator Interview Number Seven – Melanie Fraser

Name: Melanie Fraser

*Tell us a bit about yourself:

I was born in Cape Town, South Africa to where my father had moved during WWII. I made the decision at the age of 3 to become a ballet dancer! Following my training there and after the family moved to England – post-Sharpeville  – I continued full time theatre training. As an actress, singer and dancer I later appeared  in theatre, film and television. After a long break away from performing, during which time I qualified and taught professional classical ballet in the UK and abroad, I returned to acting and now perform on screen and as a voice over artist.

How did you become involved with audiobook narration and production?

Gary Terzza told me about BeeAudio’s new Studio Certification Course and that they were establishing a UK network. Helen Lloyd, with whom I had worked in a few theatre productions, runs the UK side. The course introduced me to audiobook narration as well as production.

Tell us about some of the titles you’ve narrated. Do you have a favourite amongst these?

These are on audible (UK and USA sites)

‘A Gentleman’s Daughter: Her Love’ (Reina M Williams)

‘The Promise’ (Elizabeth Chappelle)

‘The Final Dawn’ (Alice Catherine Carter)

 ‘Princess in Peril’ (Janet Whitehead)

 ‘A Murderer’s Heart’ (Julie Elizabeth Powell)

 ‘Lady Concealed’ (Jane Bridges)

‘Dirty Business’ (Julie Elizabeth Powell)

  One of my favourites is The Final Dawn, a compelling story of treachery and murder set in Stalin’s era/

Do you have a preferred genre?  Do you have a genre you do not produce? Why is this?

At the top of my list is espionage, then historical and crime/thrillers non-fiction and fiction as these stimulate my interest and I always buy these books.

I’m not drawn to narrate erotica, science fiction and fantasy (involving elves and pixies) and wouldn’t usually buy books in those genres.

What are you working on at present/Just finished?

Currently I am nearing completion of an historical fiction set during the Anglo-Boer War called, ‘Crossing the Vaal’ by Archie Vincent.  It is beautifully descriptive and my top favourite to date.

*Tell us about your process for narrating?  (Be as elaborate as you like.)

I start by reading the whole book before auditioning. Production begins by marking up the whole script with any pronunciation, unusual words etc listed or researched. I liaise closely with the author if there are any queries.

The characters are all colour coded on the script and a spreadsheet sets out the ages, types of voice and other information for reference. Accents are sourced via the IDEA, You Tube, film and other archives. I engage a tutor – always a native speaker – in whatever foreign accent is needed.

After recording and proofing, the editing takes considerable time. My studio is in a quiet area. Nevertheless, noises such as cars, planes, lawnmowers, barking dogs occur, picked up by my extremely sensitive microphone and are all removed. Each chapter is paced and proofed again with a final QC done before mastering, saving to the required format and specifications of the publisher after which the whole production is uploaded. An ongoing backup procedure is followed throughout the production so that nothing is lost……

What aspects do you find most enjoyable? 

I love the actual narration and really enjoy getting totally immersed in the story.

Do you consider royalty share when looking for books to narrate? If not why is this?

Yes, so far I have done mostly these but now give preference to projects with a PFH rate.

Do you listen to audiobooks?

Yes. I’m currently listening to David Rattray’s ‘The Dead Moon’ a thrilling history of the Zulu Wars in the 19thC.

*With many people owning MP3 players do you think this is the future of storytelling?

Whilst many people like listening to books whilst doing other things such as travelling, there are also people like me who prefer to read a book. For me it is partly because after many hours of working with sound, I like peace and quiet. I think they both have their value.

Please tell us a silly fact about yourself.

I have a dimple on each shoulder!

Where can we learn more about you?

http://www.melaniefraser-voice.com

http://www.spotlight.com/5892-8977-4349

https://www.acx.com/narrator?p=A25CGL7F987D8R

http://www.beeaudio.com/narrator/melanie–fraser

http://www.audible.co.uk/search?searchNarrator=Melanie+Fraser

uk.linkedin.com/in/melaniefraservoiceuk

Social Media links:

I am not on Facebook or Twitter

MELANIE HAS ALSO BEEN RECRUITED TO NARRATE OUTSIDE THE WALLS – my latest short story with Diana L Wicker.

https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2015/08/25/outside-the-walls-fantasy-short-story-new-release/

Review – Being Max’s Mom – Rebecca Miller

Being Max’s Mom – Rebecca Miller

5 stars!

http://www.amazon.com/Being-Maxs-Mom-Adventures-Spectrum-ebook/dp/B0110JMYNA/

#Biography, #autism #specialchild

This is not usually the sort of book I’d read, but it was recommended by a friend. I’m so glad I picked it up. I read the whole thing in a few hours – I seem to recall looking at the clock and it was 2 am when I finished.

Max Miller is a young man whose life has been filled with challenges, even from before he came into the world.  In a world largely against Max and his courageous and determined mother, Rebecca, knew there was a fight to be fought, and my god was it fought.

Max is autistic – branded ‘unteachable and unreachable’ his mother was advised to send him to an institution. Instead her love, a hell of a lot of support, work and sacrifice have resulted in a boy who is not only ‘a good egg’ but a writer, and advocate for autism and the organiser of an arts project. Not bad for a child written off by doctors, family, and society. Ms Miller herself continues to study, to work and to fight and her intelligence and her love show through on every page.

Ms Miller’s language is easy to follow – in many ways this book is a diary of their lives – and the reader can truly relate to a mother fighting to get her son educated and accepted. Never does she say ‘why us?’ but she is realistic.  There is no bitterness here, sadness perhaps, but no not bitterness.  Ms Miller has done her research and her views are apparent but never does she say I think you should do this – the book provides the experiences of a parent raising a disabled child – but is not a ‘how to’. Autism is complex, misunderstood and no two cases present the same.  This book is an insight into a world, little understood and widely shunned. Read this  it will open your eyes and your heart.

Book Blast – The Dragon Stone Trilogy #DSTBlast

 




Blast  Info

Titles: Dragon Stones / Return of the Dragon Riders / Vosper’s Revenge
Series: Dragon Stone Trilogy
Author: Kristian Alva
Publication Date: July 31, 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis

Dragon Stones
 

Sequestered deep in the capital, the tyrannical Emperor Vosper weaves a plan to destroy all the dragons. He succeeds in driving them to the very brink of extinction. Only a handful of dragons and riders remain; living in exile in the desert. When young Elias Dorgumir finds a carved dragon stone in the forest, it brings empire soldiers to his doorstep, and puts Elias on the run with a bounty on his head.

With some help from his friends, Elias must escape the emperor’s wrath and try to make it to the safety of the dwarf caverns. Elias holds the key to the salvation of the dragon race. Is Elias strong enough to save himself and halt the evil that is spreading across the land?

* * *

Return of the Dragon Riders

The evil emperor Vosper gathers his troops in the east, poised to conquer the entire continent. His target is the rebel city of Parthos, a constant thorn in his side, and the last sanctuary of the Dragon Riders.Besieged from all sides, the remaining Dragon Riders come out of hiding. Forced to fight for their lives, they leave the safety of the desert, traveling across the land to gather intelligence and shore up forgotten alliances.At the center of it all is Elias Dorgumir, the key to an ancient prophesy, and Vosper will do anything to get his hands on him. Is it too late for the Dragon Riders to save Elias and stop Vosper from destroying the only refuge they have left?

* * *

Vosper’s Revenge

As the races of Durn stand on the brink of war, the power-hungry emperor plans his conquest of the entire continent.The dragon riders are fragmented. They have been scattered across the land; weakened by the discovery of a traitor in their own ranks.

Are the riders strong enough to defeat Vosper before he destroys them all?

Author Bio


Kristian Alva was born into a family of writers and teachers. She worked as a staff writer and a ghostwriter before publishing her own manuscripts. She currently lives in the United States with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading all genres, especially epic fantasy.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Goodreads



 

Author Interview Number Ninety-Five B. W. Foster – Spec Fic

Welcome to Brian W. Foster

Where are you from and where do you live now? From Louisiana and living near Los Angeles.

Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc. I’m a speculative fiction writer. My first novel is epic fantasy. My second, superhero. I also have plans for a scifi alien invasion series.

I deeply prefer character driven stories to plot driven ones. Everything that happens must flow from who the characters are.

Are your characters based on real people? When I started planning my debut novel over a decade ago, I figured, “Cool, I’ll use me and my three best friends as inspiration for the main characters.”

Bad idea. Horrendous.

Those influences still form some of the foundation of the characters, but the resemblance otherwise is pretty shallow.

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. My writing is based on taking a character and putting him/her into an interesting situation and seeing what happens. I want to really put the reader inside the character’s head to experience the events. If the character falls flat, the story falls flat.
Technically perfect. Good technique makes for a good reading experience. If the reader can’t comprehend the writing or is constantly disengaged by the words, you’ll lose that reader.
Solid plot. A good writer can make it interesting to read about a character washing dishes, but an interesting plot makes it a lot easier to engage the reader without being an awesome writer.
Great world-building. Frankly, other than maintaining some level of consistency, the world of my stories just doesn’t matter all that much compared to the other factors.

What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot? A well-written book can put you inside a character’s head, giving you the opportunity to become that person, experience crazy events from that person’s eyes. Movies and video games cannot immerse me like a good book can. I strive for that immersion in my writing. Time and reader feedback will tell if I’m achieving it.

What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers? Clarity – If your reader doesn’t understand what the crap is going on, they’re not going to be engaged.

Conflict – If there’s no conflict, there’s no story. The reader is going to be bored.

Character – Events that make up your plot have no relevance outside that which is filtered through the emotional lens of your POV character.

What are your best and worst marketing tips? Do whatever it takes to build an email subscriber list. I offer free and exclusive content through mine, and you can sign up for it at http://eepurl.com/bvSmRP

Second best marketing tip is to concentrate on your writing. It’s better to spend your time producing your next book than trying to sell your last one.

I don’t really have a “worst” tip.  Maybe spend tens of thousands of dollars on a TV ad? Though that seemed to work for James Patterson …

Most authors like to read, what have you recently finished reading? Did you enjoy it?

Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy Book 2) by Pierce Brown. About 10% into the book, I thought, “Why did I buy this thing the day it came out?” About 25% in, I thought, “Oh. That’s why.” Fantastic book.

Can you name your favourite traditionally published author? And your favourite indie/self-published author?

Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, despite some flaws, is still my all-time favorite series from a traditionally published author.

I’d go with Jim Bernheimer for my favorite indie author for his self-published Confessions of a D-List Supervillain, though Robert Bevan is a close second for Critical Failures.

What are your views on authors offering free books? It works if you do it right. Make sure you know how to do it right before you do it, though.

Book links, website/blog and author links:

http://www.authorbrianwfoster.com

Outside the Walls – Fantasy Short Story – New Release

It’s here – revised and expanded for 2015! The first incarnation of Outside the Walls appeared in Bellator – but we’ve expanded the story to close on 10000 words.

Written with my friend Diana L. Wicker – author of the fantasy series set in Feyron – it was such fun to be writing together again.

Please see her author profile and website:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6573605.Diana_L_Wicker

https://talesfromfeyron.squarespace.com/

When war comes to Havenforth its fingers touch high born and low born alike. Many flee its pernicious grasp but as the refugees flood in who will be left outside the walls to fend for themselves? Duchess Eleanor shows kindness to a wounded man, when others simply left him to die and finds courage and loyalty abound in the shanty town.

A short tale of love, war and courage.

#fantasy #shortstory

http://www.amazon.com/Outside-Walls-Alexandra-Butcher-ebook/dp/B014G6X9FG/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outside-Walls-Alexandra-Butcher-ebook/dp/B014G6X9FG/

https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/its-here-bellator-an-anthology-of-space-and-magic/

Soon to be appearing on Smashword and the associate stores.

Author Interview Number Ninety-Four – Christopher Bryant – Fantasy/YA

Welcome to Christopher Bryant             

Where are you from and where do you live now? I was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky.  I have been trying to escape ever since.  There’s nothing wrong with the state, its beautiful horse country, but it’s not where I see myself calling home.

Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc.I write fantasy adventure books for young adults.  I am also in the process of creating children’s books.  My first published book is The Sword of Hope Destiny Awaits, the first in a series I’m writing.  The second book, Dark Origins is complete and looking to be published.  The third is in the works.  For the children’s books, I am basing them off my mom’s and my grandmother’s dogs.  Each book will have its own theme, but told from the dog’s perspectives.  I’ll call the series The Adventures of J. Bird and Space Monkey (the dogs’ nicknames).

Where do you find inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere and in everything.  One of my favorite things to do when I get writer’s block or need some new inspiration is I go driving.  It could be something small, like a cross made of two stick tied together with a small yellow ribbon on the side of the road or maybe a house that’s built into the side of a hill covered in dead trees.  There’s always something out there that can make a story really pop.

Do you have a favourite character? If so why? Yes, my favorite character is Tiberius.  Aside from the fact that the name is awesome, he’s a kid who wants to prove he can do more than everyone thinks he can. In my series, that plays a big role in his personality.  Proving to himself and everyone else that he can do more.  He’s not just the help.

Do you have a character you dislike? If so why? There is only one character so far I don’t like, but at the same time he’s kind of awesome.  His name is Chingon AKA the black knight.  He was a good guy turned evil and he stands just under 5 feet tall.  His armor is made of charred remains of his body, harder than any man made steel and a helmet of great evil to match.  I like him for that and the wicked blade he carries.  What I don’t like about him is he shows up everywhere taunting the boys and causing problems.  If there’s something going down, he’s usually behind it.

Are your characters based on real people? In a way, yes.  A lot of the character aspects are based on me and my little brother and the turmoil we face in each other’s company.   Also, for book 3, the people who have been helping me along the way are getting their own characters in their own town that contributes to the series as a whole as thank you.

Have you ever used a person you don’t/didn’t like as a character then killed them off? I have yet to use a person I don’t/didn’t like and kill them off in the book, but I did have to kill off a character, which surprisingly was hard to do.

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? Research is super important, if not for an actual geographic example to write from, for the little things like the way the wind blows, the feeling you get when the sun is in your eyes, a cross on the side of the road, etc.  Research is very important.  Same thing goes with books that are nonfiction or are fiction based on an actual location.  How can a person write about it if they know nothing about it?

Is there a message conveyed within your writing?  Do you feel this is important in a book? Yes, there is a very important message conveyed within my writing.  Not only does each book contain its own message, the series as a whole does too.  The first and third in the series are told from the good guys perspective and the second and fourth are from the bad guys view.  Aside from the story itself being a growing up tale for the main two characters, each learning to become the person they were meant to be or knew they could be, the series is written from both sides to show the differences between good and evil.  How difficult, but rewarding, it is to be the hero.  Having to follow the rules and not do bad.  It also shows how chaotic and freeing it is to be the bad guy, having no rules, doing what they want and possibly the consequences of their actions.

I do feel it’s important to have messages like that in a book just because if we don’t put them there, how will a child ever learn the differences, the meanings, to follow their dreams, to never give up, etc.

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…) Solid plot, great world-building, great characters, technically perfect.  I chose this order because without a plot, there is no story.  Once you have a plot, the next thing to do is create your world.  You can’t have characters without a world for them to live in.  Although, it can be done either way, characters first or world first.  Once your characters are right, your world is complete and everything fits well with your plot, its technically perfect.

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? My book is available in ebook and also paperback.  We are currently working on creating a graphic novel based on the series as well as an audio book for all books in the series.

Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? I self-edit and I also get my books professionally edited.  I do believe a book suffers without professional editing.  No one is perfect.  What harm can come from having someone else look over what you’ve looked over and make suggestions?

 What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot? A book, compared to a movie or video game can provide a much richer experience.  Sure, you get actual faces and see the locations on a game or movie, but you can’t get that detailed view of an area or a person or even their personality without a book.  An author paints a picture with words in a way that a movie or a game can’t.  Books also contain much more than a movie or game shows, a backstory, scenes or chapters that weren’t added, etc.

What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers?

Never give up.

If someone tells you no, don’t let it discourage you.  Keep fighting for what you believe in.

Stay positive.

Can you give us a silly fact about yourself? I’m a red head and red heads have no souls. lol

Book links, website/blog and author links:

www.theswordofhope.com

http://tinyurl.com/pyh4c5h (amazon)

https://www.facebook.com/Sword.Of.Hope

https://twitter.com/TheSwordofHope

Character Interview Number Twenty-Nine – Dii’Athella

 

Tell Us About Yourself

Name(s): Dii’Athella, or just Dii. I’m told it means Flower of the Dawn in the Elvish language.

Age? I’m not sure. About 25 summers or so, I think.  I was never allowed ‘birthdays’ as you call them. Elves live longer than humans, even in captivity, so for my people I am quite young. Unless, of course, hardship or disease takes us. I’ve heard of elves living several hundred years but that is very rare these days. There is magic which prolongs life, but it is little known, hard to cast and the price paid very high.

Please tell us a little about yourself. I’m an elf, and a Forbidden. In the land of Erana that means I am a slave, or at least I was. Elves have no rights, we are property. We have no recourse to law, our culture is nothing but fragments of a lost glory, and we cannot move freely. I am also a sorceress. Although that, too, is illegal. The Order of Witch-Hunters deem magic to be wicked, and elves to be the bringers of the greatly feared Plague. I’m a mage, my blood flows with magic. Even in hiding that is so. Either one is magical or one isn’t. I cannot change that any more than my Elven birth.

In my former life I was used as the plaything of rich men. I was given or sold to them, to pleasure them. My Keeper thought it amusing to have an educated slave – it brought me even lower I suppose. Literacy is not common, especially amongst elves. The Order of Witch-Hunters don’t encourage knowledge and people thinking for themselves. This leads to questions, and the seeking of answers about the world. For them, this is bad. I love to learn. Ignorance helps to divide us. Knowledge is power.

Now I am a healer, herbalist and a scholar. I am also a rebel and a traitor, or so you’d say. That is correct yes, when one fights against the established rulers? If so, then I am proud of it.

There is more, but you’ll have to follow my adventures to discover that.

Describe your appearance in 10 words or less. Red curly hair, tattoos, slender, beautiful (so I’m told).

Do you have a moral code? If so what is it? Morals in Erana are not quite the same as in your world. We have love, honour, friendship, trust and all those things but there is no law, save what the Order decide. It is not law for it serves not the people, it serves the Order and slavers. I am, by my birth, my magic and my race a criminal and so I break what passes for law in our land.

I have killed, although I try and avoid it as I am a healer. I have stolen to feed myself, although I am not sure apples count. I have harboured criminals, I have lied and I have stood by whilst others died. I have led people into traps, but they were Witch-Hunters and deserved it. Morality is relative to one’s position. I cannot afford to follow the ‘moral code’ the Order espouse. I spent enough time as a slave, and in the Order dungeons to know that.

I am devoted to my family – my real family – not the bastard who stole me and raised me in his house.

I am kind, and I will defend my friends before myself. I like to help people. Archos told me it is because I was so eager to please as though not to be beaten, or worse. A lonely child longing to be liked. I have no idea if this is the truth but I suppose it explains a lot. It was a way to protect myself and now is habit.

I think I am trustworthy and discrete. When one’s life is a lie then one gets used to keeping secrets.

Would you kill for those you love? Yes. I would also kill for a cause I love. Freedom.

Would you die for those you love? Yes, and technically I have. Or close enough.

What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses?

Weaknesses:

I don’t think I am very brave.

I am emotional – I suppose it is because of my earlier life. There are all these awful memories in my head and I can get upset about things. Archos says I am strong, a survivor. I don’t see it. Sometimes my emotions get the better of me.

My magic.

Strengths:

I am clever and resourceful. I had to be.

I’m kind and except for the Order I don’t tend to hate.

I learn fast.

My magic.

Do you have any relationships you prize above others? Why? Archos. He saved my life. He is kind, clever, fascinating and unbelievably desirable. Mages tend to be passionate and we are. He does not treat me simply as another elf. Finally my life has some worth.

Olek – Olek is like a brother to me. I trust him with my life. He’s amusing, he is loyal to Archos. They have a special friendship, very close with much shared between them. He was with Archos long before I came to live in Tremellic and they value the friendship. Thus so do I. Olek is very complex. One of those people who is not what he appears.

Ozena, my dear friend. She has also suffered much at the hands of slavers. But she is feisty and speaks her mind, far more than I. I suppose I was used to not being allowed to, or no one caring what I thought. Ozena is much bolder. When we first met she stood up to Lord Archos, challenged him on points and won the argument. Not many people would dare, or if they did dare they would most likely regret it. Archos still chuckles about it. I think he likes the challenge.

Do you like animals? Do you have any pets/animal companions? I have a raven, well to be precise she’s a Spirit Bird – a familiar you might call her. Ethnii chooses to be with me and I am honoured. She’s named after the Goddess of the Sky. She has some magic of her own, and she is very clever. The Shaman Kherak Var gave her to me, as a protector.

There are several horses too, plus goats, chickens, and such like in the manor grounds and the paddock.

I was never allowed a pet in my old life. My….foster brother had dogs but I was not allowed to pet them or make a fuss. I used to put crumbs down for the mice and sometimes the squirrels would come to my window but they don’t count, I suppose.

Can you remember something from your childhood which influences your behaviour? How do you think it influences you? *Looks sad.

My childhood? You want to know about that? It was difficult… cold, frightening and devoid of much love. Malana, my Keeper’s mistress tried to be kind and protect me but she was often as frightened of him, or sometimes would do nothing so she would not be beaten.  I was often hungry and I was used….

I never got to know the parents who brought me into the world.

Do you have any phobias? Being returned to the Witch-Hunter dungeons. I’d rather die than return there.

Please give us an interesting and unusual fact about yourself.I know Shadowplay – at least a bit. Not many people do.

Tell Us About Your World

Please give us a little information about the world in which you live. Erana is a world of magic. But it is a world in which magic is forbidden. It is a world of inequality, martial law and prejudice. Yet it is a world of possibilities if one is brave enough or fortunate enough to find them. It’s an old world, full of surprises and strange creatures. Parts of it are very beautiful. Tremellic is a secluded valley close to the Jagged Peak Mountains, it is very fertile. The plains I have not seen very much. Then, of course there’s the Shimmering Forest.  The forest elves say it is alive, I don’t mean in the usual way, I mean sentient and cunning. There are many myths about the ancient forest, not all of them are simply myths.

The Tree of Always – the oldest tree in that part of the forest is supposed to be the mother of all the apple trees which grow. The tree is so old it has seen the elves rise and fall, it has seen the world change. Is it really the oldest? Who knows, there is nothing living to disprove it.  There are many lost magics and lost creatures – hiding from the scourge of magic until such time as it is safe to return.

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. Officially not really. The humans nod in the direction of the gods when it suits. There are temples to Syltha – the goddess of healing and the gods in general but it is more a vague belief, hedging one’s bets you’d call it. Racial memories perhaps.

The trolls are the most spiritual – they have gods and spirits for pretty much everything. Our neighbours, the Var tribe, worship the Goddess of the Sky, called Ethnii’a by them or Kal Rean by the trolls. I suppose you could say she’s the mother goddess. She’s powerful and capricious. Her children are the sun and the moon.

Archos is….well that would be telling, let’s just say he honours to Sky Goddess above others.

There are minor gods, demigods and nymphs. These are, or were, magical beings from the early times. There are but a few left and those in hiding. We found a nymph, Oeliana in the Shimmering Forest. She guards the forest pools.  There are elementals too. Creatures of magic which are the essence of the world, the essence of magic. Once they were common, but even an elemental can be hunted and slain. Once they were worshipped and honoured, now if they are remembered at all it is with fear.

 

I think the forest elves have many local spirits and gods, but as I’ve said their culture is almost gone so it’s hard to tell. The city elves cling on to the old beliefs – they have little except faith and hope.

The Witch-Hunters don’t encourage belief in the gods – that’s close to magic for them, but I’ve been told individuals may belief, all be it vaguely. The gods exist, or existed. Acknowledgement is another matter.

Does it affect my behaviour? Of course. I’m a mage, we KNOW the gods are real, we KNOW the magic is real and won’t be tamed. We tend to follow the Lady of the Skies and the goddess of healing. I’m a light mage so of course I honour Syltha too. It pays to honour the local gods – after all one may need their assistance. Magic is magic.

Name and describe a food from your world. Once we had roasted Salamander. Olek eats anything so he liked it. No one else did. Giant Salamanders spit acid and they are disgusting and slimy. Not the best meal. We didn’t have much choice. I learned long ago one will eat anything if one is starving.

We have many forms of wine – some from grapes from the warmer lands, and other fruits such as blackberries, rosehips, and elderberries.  There are cider orchards too – both pears and apples.

The trolls eat a seed bread. It is much flatter and harder than other bread, like a cracker from your world. Wheat doesn’t grow that well in their lands but there are the hardy mountain grasses which provide a kind of flour.  It is easy to store and doesn’t go stale.

Ozena tells me her village ate mainly what could be gathered or farmed from their goats. Milk, goat cheese and yoghurts. They have hunters too – so wild pig, deer and birds are on the menu.

Tremellic has many farms – sheep and goats, pigs for bacon and a few cows for their milk. We have makers of cheese, a few hunters now and Archos is contemplating getting some deer to add to the food stores.

Our housekeeper makes divine honey cats. Oats, butter, honey and sometimes fruit. She has a secret recipe.

Does your world have magic? If so how is it viewed in your world? You need ask after all I’ve told you?

Does your world have different races of people? If so do they get on with one another? The humans blame the elves for the Plague, for the ills of society and for, well, being elves. The trolls tend to keep themselves to their mountain villages but do sometimes trade. It’s not that they don’t like the other races, just most humans either haven’t seen one or have odd misconceptions about their ways. Foolish ideas such as trolls eat people. They don’t, well not unless they get REALLY hungry. Something about a seven foot tall horned warrior who can shapeshift into a bear or a trollish shaman who can predict the future seems to worry many people. A lot worries the humans.

The elves are generally too oppressed to trust anyone much. The humans enslave them, and the trolls are distant. Once the elves, trolls and humans worked together.

Tremellic is probably more forward thinking than anywhere else. That is Lord Archos’ doing. He sees the advantage of alliances with trolls and elves. What’s that phrase on your world? ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’ The Order are strong, they rule by force after all – so any alliances against them is valuable.

On rare occasions trolls will marry an elf or human. There are a few half trolls around. Half-elves are common – usually an elven mother – willing or not. Half-elves are slaves as much as elves.

Then there are the fae and the keres… Which shouldn’t exist but do.

Author notes:

Book(s) in which this character appears plus links:

The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I

http://www.amazon.com/Light-Beyond-Storm-Chronicles–ebook/dp/B0088DQO9C

The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book II

http://www.amazon.com/The-Shining-Citadel-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00D4CF6W8

The Stolen Tower – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book III

http://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Tower-Light-Beyond-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B00U8A9044/

THUNDERCLAP.

As Book I has just been re-released here’s the promotional Thunderclap. Please support, like and share.

http://thndr.it/1E6kCII

(For further links please see the links on the linky pages.)

 

Website/Blog/Author pages etc.

A. L. Butcher is the British author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles fantasy 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.

 

Blog: https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6430414.A_L_Butcher

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alexandra-Butcher/e/B008BQFCC6/

Twitter:@libraryoferana

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarkFantasyBeyondTheStorm

 

Author Interview Number Ninety-Three – Robert Eggleton – Spec Fiction

Welcome to:  Robert Eggleton

Hi Alex and thank you for inviting me to be interviewed.

Where are you from and where do you live now? I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., but I grew up around Charleston, West Virginia. Let me elaborate a little because your question ties directly into the plot and character development of my debut novel, Rarity from the Hollow.

Shortly after I was born, my father graduated from television repair school in Cleveland. My family returned home to West Virginia. Even though I didn’t remember living in Cleveland, during my childhood I would brag to my peers that I’d been out-of-state since I was born in Ohio. It boosted my social status because very few of my peers had been anyplace other than their own ghettoes.

Similar to the protagonist’s father in my novel, my own father had PTSD caused by World War II traumas that he treated with alcohol. Before I started elementary school, he had become so dysfunctional that my mother would run him off. He would return when sober, “fall off the wagon” and my mother would run him off again, and again. Since we couldn’t pay the rent regularly, we moved frequently — shacks and dilapidated houses in one impoverished neighbourhood after another, into and out of the rural hollows outside of our small town. Typically, I would change schools three or four times a year. Everyplace that we moved, I would brag to my peers that I’d been out-of-state, and they were impressed.

After my father died in a house fire, my family moved into a housing project when I was fourteen. At sixteen, I no longer needed to lie about having been out-of-state because I’d gotten my driver’s license and it was true. I moved out of the Project my second year of college, got married, graduated from West Virginia State College, and was awarded a Masters of Social Work degree by West Virginia University in 1977. I have been employed in this state for over fifty-two years, more than forty of which were in roles related to child advocacy. Today, we own a small house in a low-income neighbourhood on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia.

The theme, “out-of-state” was incorporated into Rarity from the Hollow. The protagonist is Lacy Dawn. Her mother, Jenny, begins the story as a down-trodden victim of domestic violence. After an off-planet comical adventure, Jenny doesn’t need to brag anymore about having once gone out-of-state.

“Out-of-state” was also an element of a scene during which Lacy Dawn delivers psychotherapy to classmates at school. In this scene, a boy’s father is unemployed because the coal mine had shut down. The boy is being treated by Lacy Dawn for anxiety related to the family’s intention to move out-of-state so that the father can look for a job in Cleveland.

“Out-of-state” was also used in two scenes involving the android. In the first scene, the android had been assigned by Universal Management to perform a job on another planet. He had to leave Earth, leave Lacy Dawn. At this point in the story, the android was beginning to fall in love and to modify his programming so that he could feel more human-like emotions. In this scene, the android sheds his first tear because he has to leave the Hollow and go “out-of-state” for a new job.

The last scene that mentions “out-of-state” involves the android’s return to the Hollow from the out-of-state job. In this scene, he is introduced to Jenny as Lacy Dawn’s fiancé for when she’s old enough to marry. Following is an excerpt showing, in relevant part, Jenny’s head thoughts at one point in the scene:

It’s unusual for a man to promise to come back home and ever be seen again…They’ve been together for a while and I ain’t seen a mark on her. That’s unusual too. He ain’t got no private parts and that’s another good thing. Hell, if I get in the middle, she’d just run off with him anyway. I‘d better play it smart. I don’t want to lose my baby.

A book review of Rarity from the Hollow published by The Missouri Review noted its “out-of-state” theme:

“And just when you think enough is enough, this world is too plain ugly…Lacy Dawn, her mother and her dog take off for a trip to the mall ‘out of state’ with Lacy Dawn’s android friend, now her “fiancé”…  In the space of a few lines we go from gritty realism to pure sci-fi/fantasy. It’s quite a trip….”

Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc. The broadest genre classification for my writing is mature speculative fiction. Similar to the way that Heinlein used juvenile voice to address very serious and complex social issues of his day, my writing reads like YA, but it is not intended for younger youth, or anybody of any age that is not open-minded about contemplating emerging controversies and debates. It is not YA or any of its subgenres. In the 1970s, Ursula K. Le Guinn coined the term, “social science fiction” and Rarity from the Hollow fits better within that subgenre than any other, but I don’t want to limit myself to even that categorization because I tend to move into magical realism and other subgenres in some scenes.

The SF/F cross-genre that I’ve used is a backdrop. It is not hard science fiction and includes elements of fantasy, everyday horror, paranormal, true-love type romance, mystery, and adventure. I do not write to fit within a particular genre or subgenre, but I am willing to tone down a story to fit YA expectations as long as the story does not lose its essence if a market is available. I also enjoy inserting satire into otherwise dramatic scenes, as well as puns and even potty humour when it fits the character, and to contrast tragedy.

Where do you find inspiration? I’ve held back my creative juices for so long that it’s not a matter of “finding” inspiration as much as it is managing it toward a structure the results in productivity. At this point, anything and everything in my present or past experiences, regardless of how mundane, can trigger inspiration. I even dream about characters and plot twists.

Do you have a favorite character? If so why? Lacy Dawn is my favorite character because she is so flexible. She can be smart or dumb, colloquial or prim, beautiful or plain…. Like a chameleon, Lacy Dawn adapts to dominate, sometimes subtly, scenes that a rigid character would have difficulty. Maybe she’s my favourite character because she reminds me a bit of myself, especially when I was younger. For example, when I was fifteen my two front teeth were knocked out by a policeman. I wore a partial plate for several years. Anytime that I went to a junk yard to buy a used auto part in those days, I would take out my partial, change the accent of my voice, dress for the occasion, and I always got the best prices. Other guys would ask me how, and I would shrug but the truth is that I was playing a Lacy Dawn before I had given her a name.

Do you have a character you dislike? If so why? Sometimes I absolutely hate Lacy Dawn. She can be so hard headed. If a scene or an action doesn’t make sense, she refuses to play the part. I assert that I’m the writer and, thereby, in charge. Sometimes, like a bad parent I tell her, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out.”  She’ll turn her back on me and just wait it out until she gets her way. It really ticks me off, but looking back, she’s always been right when we’ve had an argument. Please don’t tell her that I said that or I’ll never live it down. I guess that any writer who doesn’t create characters that are not both loved and hated is not a very effective God.

Are your characters based on real people? Yes, my characters have always been based on real people, and I have met a lot of people. I have been a professional social worker for over forty years. This work has involved interacting with a lot of “characters” – “street” people, homeless folks, those who had mental illnesses or addictions, as well as, corporate leaders, business owners, supportive and abusive family members, governmental authorities, legislators, rich benefactors and food stamp recipients of all ages, races, genders…. If Sears still produced a catalogue, it would run out of pages before I could blurb about all of the characters inside my head.

My protagonist is based on a real person. One day in 2006, during an adolescent group psychotherapy session that I was facilitating, a traumatized a little girl sat a few feet away from me, around the table used to complete therapeutic worksheets. When it was her turn to talk, she didn’t stop with mere disclosure of detail about her trauma – acceptance of it was just a stepping stone. She spoke of hope and dreams, a future involving a loving family that would respect her physically and spiritually. Her presentation inspired other victims. It inspired me to pursue my life long dream to write fiction.  During that therapy session, my protagonist was born. This little girl was my role model of victimization to empowerment. I haven’t stopped writing about her since. Her name is Lacy Dawn, and I recommend that you not mess with her or it’s hard to tell what you’ll get.

Have you ever used a person you don’t/didn’t like as a character then killed them off? No, but I sure have wanted to. I still want to kill this person – I mean character – and in the most horrible way imaginable. This guy is only known as Faith’s father. He didn’t deserve a first name because he was so mean. Faith is Lacy Dawn’s best friend. Faith’s father is best known for his role in a short story entitled, “Stainless Steel” which was published in a now defunct science fiction magazine. Another version of the same story was available on the Alphelion site for a while, but I recently asked that it be taken down because an Australian blogger wanted to reprint it with a new cover. Depending on when this interview is posted, your readers can contact me through the direct link on the Lacy Dawn Adventures website and I’ll give them the address for the blog if they want to meet a very mean daddy. Lacy Dawn and Faith hatch a murder plot in the story, involving the near violation of the First Law of Robotics by the android, but …. I don’t want to spoil it for potential reader. It’s free to read the story.

Only the existence of evil can absolutely guarantee the existence of good.

Chronologically, “Stainless Steel” precedes Rarity from the Hollow. The girls were eight years old. Early in Rarity from the Hollow when the girls are eleven, this man killed Faith. It turned out okay though. Faith becomes a ghost and is still Lacy Dawn’s best friend. All things considered, she’s better off in this form. I guarantee readers one thing, this man is not going to die a natural death if I have anything to do with it, and I do. I am going to name the character first, however, so that passersby can take good aim to spit on his tombstone.

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 favorite resources? For my type of writing interests, research is less important than if I was into writing hard science fiction, and the world building had to be based upon more reasonable scientific projections of the future. When I’ve needed information, I’ve only used search engines. For example, I needed a name for a planet that had a Biblical reference because of the theme of the story. The story was not religious but the planet’s history was predominated by long series of invasions. I remembered a similar scenario from church Sunday school when I was a child. I used a search engine and came up with the name “Achaia” for the planet. Look it up and let me know if you think that it was a good name. There are plenty of other similar examples, but the worlds that I build just have to be visible in the reader’s mind, and a person can see almost anything even if it is hallucinatory. I research as much as I think is needed to make the scenes feel real for the reader.

Is there a message conveyed within your writing?  Do you feel this is important in a book? Yes, there are many messages in everything that I have written and will write. That’s why I think of my writing as social science fiction – that’s what it’s all about. But that doesn’t mean the messages will be interpreted by one reader the same as interpreted by another. I don’t write or want to read anything that is “preachy.” Heck, I don’t even think that religious literature, like the pamphlets that one finds on the floors of public toilet stalls, should be so preachy. I wouldn’t want to touch such content, even if it would have been delivered under more sanitary conditions. I want to write about important issues that one person may think support a particular position but the next reader finds the opposite. I don’t have the answers to the most important questions and challenges that humans face.

Your question reminds me of a line from Rarity from the Hollow that a reviewer had pulled out and posted on a blog because she thought that it was significant for some reason:

A person can know everything, but still not have a true answer to an actual question.

The narrative of this novel addressed social issues: poverty, domestic violence, child maltreatment, local and intergalactic economics, mental health concerns – including PTSD experienced by Veterans and the medicinal use of marijuana for treatment of Bipolar Disorder, Capitalism, and touched on the role of Jesus: “Jesus is everybody’s friend, not just humans.” These messaged do not advocate for anything specific. In my opinion, it is critical that such messages be in every piece of literature, even comics and erotica, but each of us have to find truths within our own hearts and minds.

One of my personal truths is that enough is not being done to prevent child abuse / exploitation in the world. Author proceeds from the Lacy Dawn Adventures project have been donated to Children’s Home Society of West Virginia: http://www.childhswv.org/

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? Rarity from the Hollow is available electronically as a .mobi, epub, or .pdf file. It is also available as a paperback. I’ve not looked into audio or large print, but both are great ideas to consider.

Thanks for the great interview.

Purchase links:

http://www.amazon.com/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B007JDI508

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rarity-Hollow-Robert-Eggleton-ebook/dp/B007JDI508

http://www.doghornpublishing.com/wordpress/books/rarity-from-the-hollow

Public Author Contacts:

http://www.lacydawnadventures.com

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13603677-rarity-from-the-hollow

https://www.facebook.com/robert.eggleton2

https://twitter.com/roberteggleton2

Author Interview Number Ninety-Two – Amy DuBoff – Science Fiction

Welcome to Amy DuBoff

Where are you from and where do you live now? I was born in San Diego, but I moved to Vancouver, Washington when I was seven—I’d consider Vancouver my hometown. I now live in Portland, Oregon, just across the Columbia River. I love the green and mountains around here!

Please tell us a little about your writing – for example genre, title, etc. I write primarily in the science fiction genre. My main series is something of a science-fantasy space opera, rather than pure science fiction since it includes telekinesis and subspace travel that might not align with conventional notions of physics. I like to write grand, character-driven epics.

Where do you find inspiration? I have always seen inspiration in everything around me—from personal life experiences to the worlds crafted by others—and those things have all become a part of my own creation. After years of taking in little ideas here and there, I felt the world growing in my head was finally ready to be experienced by others. I write now to share that vision. It is the culmination of all that has inspired me throughout my life.

Do you have a favourite character? If so why? Wil, the central character of my Cadicle series, is my favorite. He’s driven by duty to serve the needs of his people, but he has a deep sense of morality. I find the struggle between doing what’s necessary and doing what’s right to be an interesting thing to write about.

Is there a message conveyed within your writing?  Do you feel this is important in a book? There are definitely some political commentary undertones in my book series. I think that’s a key differentiator between science fiction and some other genres.

At its root, my series takes a critical look at the path of humanity and questions the balance of power.

As the series progresses, I get into some deeper issues of the true nature of power—corporate influence on politics, and how information can be controlled. Though set in a fictional scenario, these issues echo the ongoing evolution of our own world.

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…)

Solid plot is most important to me. Regardless of how fun a ride is with characters and the world, if the story isn’t going anywhere, I’m going to be disappointed.
Great characters are critical. Characters are how a reader connects with the story. Even if the plot is stellar, if the characters are boring or one-dimensional, the story is going to be lacklustre.
Great world-building is what immerses the reader in the world. There should be internal consistency, and the reader should be able to understand what it would be like to live in that world.
Technical perfection is ideal, but everyone has a different style. While the common goal is for a book to be typo-free, authors have different voices—a “technically perfect” sentence is somewhat subjective and will vary from author to author.

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? My series is currently only available as an ebook from Amazon. I originally went for wide ebook distribution, but I wasn’t seeing sales on other platforms. Since going Amazon-exclusive, but I’ve been getting a steady stream of borrows, so I’m very happy I went that route! I do intend to offer a paperback version through CreateSpace in the near future.

Do you self-edit? If so why is that the case? Do you believe a book suffers without being professionally edited? I do most of my line-editing myself, since I work as a business writer by day and I’m used to looking at my own writing objectively. But, I always get multiple sets of other eyes, as well. I don’t think an author can really edit their own work unless a significant amount of time has passed. Even then, it’s easy to miss things. I think it’s more important to have multiple people (with good attention to detail) read it and comment, rather than it being necessary to hire a “professional.” Even professionals can miss things.

Do you read work by self-published authors? I do. I have been extremely impressed by some of it, and disheartened by others. I have read some self-published books that don’t even follow proper dialogue formatting. That’s not acceptable, and it gives all self-published authors a bad name. Readers deserve a top-notch experience, and I strive to give that as a self-published author. I welcome feedback and am always seeking to improve my craft.

What are your opinions about authors commenting on reviews? How important are reviews? I like to thank readers for writing a review. So few write one. Though commenting on everything isn’t realistic, I especially want to show my appreciation to the fans that read a book immediately after release and take the time to write a review.

Reviews are really important for self-published authors—mostly from a marketing and visibility perspective. For example, Amazon’s search algorithms are skewed toward books with a higher number of reviews (I’ve heard 50+); also, many marketing sites have a minimum number of reviews before a book can be signed up for a promotion. So, a note to readers: if you read a book by an indie author that you really like, please write a review!

What are your views on authors reviewing other authors? Authors tend to be more critical than pure readers. I think it’s great to read the work of other authors for ongoing learning and growth, but sometimes the reviews can be overly harsh. Readers don’t always want to know about—or care about—technical flaws in the book, which an author is more likely to point out. I’d encourage authors to approach reviews from a reader’s perspective rather than pick it apart in the way one would in a writing workshop.

What experiences can a book provide that a movie or video game cannot? A book can get into the head of a character much more than something video-based. But, more importantly, a book allows the reader to envision their own version of the book’s reality. An author can give clues, but it’s ultimately up to the reader to picture the main characters and the setting. That’s invaluable.

What three pieces of advice would you give to new writers?

Never assume your book is perfect: There are always opportunities to improve. Listen to feedback, even if it seems overly critical.
Read: Study the pros and understand what makes a story and the way it’s written resonate with readers.
Collaborate with others: Having a support network is critical as you go through the writing process. Establishing a group of trusted advisors can help you grow, and those people will also be advocates if you want to pursue publishing in the future.

Can you give us a silly fact about yourself?

I love B-movies! I grew up on Mystery Science Theater 3000, and I adore the terrible made-for-TV SyFy Channel original movies. My favorite is Megapiranha.

Book links, website/blog and author links:

Personal website: amyduboff.com
Amazon Author page with books: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-DuBoff/e/B00TT9JK7C
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13532362.Amy_DuBoff
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authoramyduboff