A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 30
May 29, 2024
Always and Forever Series – Blog Tour #Romance
Get swept away by Nora Bloom’s romantic Always and Forever trilogy!
A Sister’s Secret
The Forever andAlways Series Book 3
by Nora Bloom
Genre: ContemporaryRomance
Newlymarried, Oliver and Lisa are having the time of their lives in theirsmall Alaskan town. The kids are thriving, and so is the familybusiness. The café and woodshop are everything Oliver and Lisadreamt of, and they almost believe they have it all.
Until their world is shatteredby the news of Oliver’s sister’s death.
Death by suicide, the policesay.
The local sheriff arrives atthe café and tells them the news, and Oliver must face his past,something that threatens to drag him down into an unseen darkness.Oliver starts to drink, and it threatens to tear their family apart.
Determined to heal Oliver’swound and keep her family together, Lisa investigates his sister’sdisappearance ten years ago. The more she digs, the more dangerous itgets until she realizes she has put her own family in great danger.She uncovers an unsettling secret that has been buried for yearsunderneath the small town’s thick ice.
A Sister’s Secret isthe third and last installment in the Forever and Always trilogy byromance author Nora Bloom.
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The One That Got Away
The Forever andAlways Series Book 2
Oliverand Lisa are living the dream. They are enjoying life witheach other in their small Alaskan town. They started a café andwoodshop together, and everything seemed complete with the birth oftheir little daughter, Julia.
Until someone from Oliver’spast shows up, holding the hand of a young boy. Ava was Oliver’sfirst great love, who disappeared overnight without a word. Now, sheis back and wants to create a family with him and their son. Oliverhad prayed for this moment to come, for her to return, but he thoughthe had moved on.
What will he do next?
What about his newfamily? Will he have to let them go to be a father to the son hedidn’t know he had?
Is he still in love withAva, and can he really trust her?
The One That Got Away isthe second book in the Forever and Always trilogy createdby romance author Nora Bloom.
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The Lies We Live By
The Forever andAlways Series Book 1
Oliver Thomasson has it all together.
He grew up in the samesmall Alaskan fishing town by the ocean where he still lives, and hehas become a fisherman just like his father and grandfather beforehim. He has no plans to fall in love, but plans—as we all know—havea tendency to change.
Lisa Montgomery is new in town.
Shehas never lived in Alaska before but quickly settles into this smalland welcoming town. She has no plans to fall in love either. In fact,it’s the last thing on her mind as she starts her new job at thelocal tavern.
Until she meets Oliver, and everythingchanges. Lisa tries to fight it since this is definitely not acomplication she needs in her life.
Despite her reluctance,Oliver doesn’t give up, and soon, she finds herself falling forthis stoic fisherman with a heart of gold.
But Lisadoesn’t talk about her past, and soon, it catches up to her,bringing a fierce storm to the quaint town and especially intoOliver’s life.
The question is if they can weather ittogether, or will they fall apart?
Is their newfound loveenough to face the demons of Lisa’s past?
The LiesWe Live By is the first book in the Forever and Alwaystrilogy by romance author Nora Bloom.
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NoraBloom is a distinguished author, recognized for her best-sellingromance novels. Her works seamlessly blend elements of suspense andmystery, creating a unique literary experience. Outside of herprofessional endeavors, she dedicates her time to her family, whichincludes her children, two cats, and a Goldendoodle.
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May 28, 2024
Le Miroir Brisé
Poésie traitant de guerre, de politique et des caprices de la vie. Commémoration des soldats tombés, vers aux accents fantasy sur la folie des politiques humaines, l’ennui, et poèmes plus légers sur la nature et l’environnement. https://books2read.com/ShatteredMirrorFrench
#Poésie, #Politique ,# guerre, #deuil , #nature, #vie
May 26, 2024
Check out the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles for a sizzling sorcery adventure
Looking for an audiobook or awesome read? Check out The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I
In a dark world where magic is illegal, and elves are enslaved a young elven sorceress runs for her life from the house of her evil Keeper. Pursued by his men and the corrupt Order of Witch-Hunters she must find sanctuary. As the slavers roll across the lands stealing elves from what remains of their ancestral home the Witch-Hunters turn a blind eye to the tragedy and a story of power, love and a terrible revenge unfolds.
18 rated (for adult content).
Available Amazon, Audible, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, Google Play, Scribd, Angus and Robertson, and more on the link below – hardback, paperback, ebook and large print editions.
#Fantasy or #FantasyRomance #Darkfantasy #Sexnsorcery Universal Link
https://www.books2read.com/Lightbeyondstorm1
May 24, 2024
Adventures in Self-Publishing. Think You Are Ready to Publish on KDP? Are You Sure….
There are soooo many folks on the KDP forum who embark on what they think is a get rich quick scheme and are sorely disappointed. They do little to no actual research, or decide that Tiktok Tom or You-Tube Eunice must know all there is to know.
Nope. Sorry. It’s not a get rich quick scheme, it’s not a passive income.
Here’s some advice to would be publishers….
1 – MAKE SURE YOUR BOOK IS READY to be published – again, this is a business. You wouldn’t go into any other business with little to no knowledge. Customers expect a decent product, which has been properly formatted and (preferably professionally) edited. At the very least get the book beta read and proofread. Would you buy a book full of typos, plot holes, badly formatted etc? Thought not.
Every book has something that needs attention. But, in part, that’s a matter of opinion. However the basic stuff – decent editing, decent formatting etc will often be the difference between someone buying and enjoying your book and them not, getting a refund and leaving a snarky review.
If English isn’t your first language then write in your mother tongue. Or hire a good translator. Do not use Google translate…. Do not use AI. It will show.
Formatting is not that hard to learn (heck I learned it). And there are plenty of vids on use of headers and styles in MSword. Or there’s Kindle Create.
If you can’t afford an editor at the minimum run it through Grammarly, Word’s editor and then get at least one other person with a good grasp of the language to read it through. You won’t spot your own mistakes.
2 – READ THE KDP FORUM – read the forum posts from the established members. (particularly the Know your payments/reports etc) and the countless posts from people who didn’t follow the rules. There are some snarky people there (I include myself in this) who give what might be seen as…abrupt or rather sarcastic answers, but mostly this is due to people not bothering to do any research, or read any of the guidance and then making mistakes that could be avoided. KDP is unforgiving. It’s not a training ground. If you break the rules, inadvertently or otherwise then it’s likely your book will be blocked, and possibly your account terminated. That said, forewarned is forearmed – read the forum – see what other people have done wrong, and then avoid it.
There are many successful author/publishers there who do follow the rules, do know what they are doing and will give advice. Although it might not be the advice you want to hear…
3- SUCCESS IS RELATIVE – don’t compare yourself to other authors. People write and publish for many reasons. Some books sell, some don’t. Most don’t. If you write to make a living at it you need to be very good, very lucky and very persistent. But many people write because they enjoy it, they have a story to tell, they like to be creative. One person may view getting a book published and a few dozen copies sold as success, the next person won’t. They are both correct.
4- REVIEWS – bad reviews happen. Deal with it. Unless the review is defamatory, inciteful etc it’s unlikely to be removed because Jonny or Jane didn’t like your book. Reviews are for other customers, not to boost your ego. Your friends, family and other people can’t review your book. You can’t review your book. Read the review guidelines. Not everyone will leave a review or a rating. Reviews don’t sell books. A good product and good marketing and good luck and hard work sells books. Sometimes.
5- LEARN NEW SKILLS, Self-publishing is not just about writing. If you can’t afford to hire someone to format or edit your book, or produce a nice cover, or market it, then expect to learn how to do some or all of these. Any business requires you to have certain skills to succeed. There are countless people on the KDP forum who start on the journey with nothing, and expect it to be an instant money giver. No. You may have the most awesome idea for a book, sure, go write it, but there’s a great deal more than that in publishing.
6- It’s SELF-PUBLISHING – i.e. you do what you need to do yourself – (see point 5). Age is not a barrier to learning new things. KDP will allow you to upload your manuscript and publish on their site, and give you effectively a store front, but they will not edit, market, or format your book. They will expect certain criteria to be met, they expect rules to be followed. If anyone purporting to be KDP offers to ‘upload’ your book for you, run for the hills. They are NOT kdp.
7- AUTHOR NAME MUST BE A HUMAN NAME – you can publish with a name other than your legal name but it has to be a human sounding name. So ‘JP Smithson’ is fine. ‘JP Colouringbooks’ isn’t. People have had their accounts terminated for this.
8- DON’T BE A JERK. The forum members and top contributors on the forum give their advice and time for free. If you have an issue and want advice expect to give the information in order to get that advice. None of us work for Amazon, so don’t get snarky. Ditto – if you do need to contact support and deal with a KDP rep. Be polite, give the information clearly as to the issue and don’t expect an immediate fix. Don’t get snarky or unpleasant. They are just doing their job, it’s not their fault you don’t read the help pages, or didn’t understand something.
9- YOU CANNOT PUBLISH THE SAME CONTENT OVER AND OVER. No, you can’t have the same notebook interior and slap ten different covers on it.
10- IF YOU GET TERMINATED YOU CANNOT SIMPLY OPEN A NEW ACCOUNT. You can’t. You can’t use someone else’s details either.
KDP’s rules for publishing Don’t like them? Don’t trust Amazon? Don’t publish there. There are other options, but all of them have similar criteria. It’s a business – remember that.
Links to the Help Pages and TnC. READ THEM.
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help?ref_=TN_helpMay 23, 2024
What is the Secret of Blossom Rise?
When a young nurse takes a job at an old military hospital she finds the answers to an old family question – what is the secret of Blossom Rise Hospital? Who is the long-dead man who walks the grounds?
#Ebook #Audiobook #Paranormal #Ghoststory
May 21, 2024
Faeries Don’t Lie – Blog Tour #YA #Fantasy
Can Two Worlds Survive an Augury?
Faeries Don’t Lie
Heart of the Worlds Book 1
by TF Burke
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Can Two Worlds Survive an Augury? Releasing a Chandarion’s god-like magic into the world isn’t what sixteen-year-old Aunia, the village’s outcast, intends. She only wants to impress Mathias, a visiting seventeen-year-old pegasus flyer, who fiercely believes the choice—either Faery or Mortal world surviving—has come. Her action calls forth the Boggleman, a soul-sucking ghoul, who abducts her dad, eats her faery friends, and sets Dagel demons on her isolated village. And worse. The worlds of Ahnu-Endynia are full of faeries, pegasi flyers, myths, secrets, and themes of belonging, despite being misunderstood. And if you don’t watch carefully . . . You might be pulled into the Betwixt. . . the space between the worlds.
TF Burke currently works with NYT David Farland’s Apex-Writers as an admin and marketing specialist, where she schedules industry leaders for weekly multi-Zoom calls, provides content for social posts, and hosts several writer-focused Zooms. Her published works includes hundreds of newspaper articles, blog posts across various platforms, anthologies, including MURDERBUGS, the second volume of the Unhelpful Encyclopediam a collection of short stories in WHIRL OF THE FAE, and the first book of the Heart of the Worlds Series, FAERIES DON’T LIE. When not writing or wearing other hats, she can be found with a sword and a dagger in her hands for medieval-style fencing tournaments and melees, something she’s been doing since 2010.
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May 20, 2024
Shadow Cast – Blog Tour #ParanormalFantasy #Romance
You can’t cast shadows in darkness.
Shadow Cast
The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 6
by A.L. Hawke
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
You can’t cast shadows in darkness.
It’s the start of my second year of graduate school at Hawthorne University. (I wasn’t canned, okay?) Bryce and our dean organize an orientation meeting to recruit witches. Yep, it’s time to teach Alondra’s “honors” program.
Everything goes fine until that slithery snake-witch, Adder, barges into my home. She claims I’m cursing her master, Enora, haunting the dreams of her Abaddon coven. I’m not. Honest. But sometimes Alondra pops up inside me, acting outside of my control.
We hold a séance to ask the ghost possessing me to go away. I don’t see ghosts or spirits. I see evil. But you know, it’s funny, no one else seems to.
My sole mastery of necromancy might just be enough to protect Bryce and my unborn baby—or save my greatest adversary.
Cadence Hawthorne returns in this sixth book in the Hawthorne University Witch series.
Content Warning: Shadow Cast contains profanity, sex, adult situations and, of course, witchcraft.
**On sale for Only 2.99!**
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Ravens
The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 5
When evil lands on my doorstep.
While Bryce and I are finally enjoying some quiet time together, a dark, shadowy figure crashes into our door. And it isn’t a small black bird this time. A devil is hurt, asking for my help.
Well, I just have too many problems of my own now. People don’t want to talk to me. And Bryce isn’t touching me. So what’s a witch to do? Haul up my legs, sit on a pentagram in a circle of candles, and murmur to myself.
My best friend Maddie thinks I’m under a curse. But, honestly, I feel like I have to do whatever it takes to save this town, even if it means teaming up with my archenemy witch Enora.
Evil empowers me. But this dark spellcasting also intends to drive a stake right through my heart and the heart of Hawthorne University. See, not only am I feeling alone, I’m getting expelled.
Cadence Hawthorne returns in this fifth book in the Hawthorne University Witch series.
Content Warning: Ravens contains profanity, sex, adult situations and, of course, witchcraft.
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Witch Mirror
The Hawthorne University Witch Series Book 4
Reflections of a wicked witch.
Bryce and I are trying to revive Alondra’s old metaphysical history class. We’re in college again, this time teaching. But It’s stressful under our former teacher’s shadow. Not only that, there’s a new demon-witch messing with my love life. So I’m going through that again. Well, at least this time I have Alondra’s magic to protect me.
Actually, not only do I have her magic, her spirit is inside me, possessing me. But don’t worry, Alondra’s ghost is a positive force here to help Hawthorne. I mean…are you good, Alondra?
A witch council is gathering at my house to reflect on ways to save us. They’re convinced Alondra is evil, but Alondra and I are unsure they know what they’re doing. Well, if I can’t hold things together—inside and outside of myself—I fear my plans of finishing graduate school at Hawthorne U. and starting a family are going to shatter.
Cadence Hawthorne returns in this fourth book in the Hawthorne University Witch series. Some spoilers cannot be avoided, but Witch Mirror is a stand-alone novel that can be enjoyed without reading the preceding books.
Content Warning: Witch Mirror contains profanity, sex, adult situations and, of course, witchcraft.
**ebook On sale for Only .99cents!**
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Don’t miss the rest of the series!
**Audiobooks of Books 1-3 are On Sale for only $2.99!!**
Find out more HERE!
A.L. Hawke is the author of the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.
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Signed Hardcover of Witch Mirror,
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May 19, 2024
Monsters in Hell Blog Tour #ParanormalFantasy #DarkFantasy
Things are changing, even for the Devil and his subordinates, in ways that will cause exciting, if not outright liberation . . .
Monsters in Hell
A Heroes in Hell Collection
created by Janet Morris
Genre: Dark Paranormal Fantasy Anthology
In the Heroes in Hell series, Monsters in Hell continues existing plot lines and relates new stories with characters from all epochs of human history as they struggle against torment and even more common problems derived from their unique personalities and backgrounds. But wait, things are changing, even for the Devil and his subordinates, in ways that will cause exciting, if not outright liberation . . .
The Green-eyed Monster – Janet Morris & Chris Morris
The Pied Piper of Harmelin – A.L. Butcher
Dogs of War – S.E. Lindberg
The Tarnished Horde – Joe Bonadonna & S.E. Lindberg
From Hell to Eternity – Joe Bonadonna
Fire in the Blood – Chris Morris & Janet Morris
Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.
Christopher Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but occasionally uses pseudonyms.
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Choice of print or ebook copy of Monsters in Hell,
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May 18, 2024
Meet the Kitchen Imps
Ever wondered where your socks go in the laundry, or why you can’t find your keys? The Kitchen Imps have the answer.
The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales – six short tales of mayhem and mischief.
Winner of the 2018 best fantasy on NN Light Book Heaven.
Naughty imps, missing socks, cunning thieves and baffled gods feature in this collection of short fantasy fiction.
Universal Link https://books2read.com/KitchenImps
May 17, 2024
The Her Instruments Trilogy Blog Tour #ScienceFiction #Adventure
Dive into a universe of friendly aliens, glamorous space elves, insane pirates… and the gutsy human merchant who’s just trying to hold it all together…
Earthrise
Her Instruments Book 1
by M.C.A. Hogarth
Genre: Science Fiction Adventure, Space Opera
“The thrills are nonstop, the alien cultures and races are well developed and fascinating, and there’s just the right amount of humor to keep the whole thing fizzing.” — Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Reese Eddings has enough to do keeping her rattletrap merchant vessel, the TMS Earthrise, profitable enough to feed herself and her crew. So when a mysterious benefactor from her past shows up demanding she rescue a man from slavers, her first reaction is to run for the hills. Unfortunately, she did promise to repay the loan. But she didn’t think it would involve tangling with pirates over a space elf prince…
Book 1 of the Her Instruments trilogy is a rollicking adventure set in the expansive Pelted universe, and kicks off an epic space opera series where the fate of worlds hangs in the balance. Fans who enjoyed Firefly or Andromeda will like this series.
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Rose Point
Her Instruments Book 2
Reese is only just getting used to running the Earthrise in the black—and with an Eldritch in her crew—when a trip to a colony world gives rise to a whole new problem: Hirianthial is showing powers that even the Eldritch rarely have, and that only in legend. He badly needs training, support and advice, and the only place he can find them is… at home.
To see the world of the Eldritch is a once in a lifetime opportunity, a thing of fantasies and rumor. And to finally meet the Eldritch Queen, the author of so many of Reese’s windfalls! You’d have to twist her arm to get her to admit it, but Reese can’t wait to go. But a court out of fantasy and a breathtaking land aren’t enough compensation when they come packaged with a rabidly xenophobic species whose world is falling apart. The last thing they want any part of is some mortal interloper.
Is Reese ready for the Eldritch world? Better to ask: are they ready for her?
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Laisrathera
Her Instruments Book 3
The Queen of the Eldritch has offered Reese Eddings a life out of a fairy tale, one beyond the imagination of a poor girl from Mars who’d expected to spend her life eking out a living with a rattletrap merchant vessel. Unfortunately, the day Reese reached out to accept Liolesa’s offer, Hirianthial’s enemies betrayed him–and his entire planet–to a race of sociopathic shapeshifters with dreams of conquest. Now the only thing between Reese and a castle of her very own is a maniacal alien despot, his native quisling and all the Eldritch dead-set on preventing the incursion of aliens at any cost, including the ousting of their current usurper, who happens to be an alien himself…
Reese, Hirianthial and the crew of the Earthrise have been battling these pirates since Hirianthial’s capture inspired their fateful meeting, but to beat them Reese will have to own the power she’s always denied herself, and Hirianthial must make peace with his bloody past and uncertain future.
The stakes have never been higher, and this last time will count for all. The final battlefield awaits.
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A Rose Point Holiday
Her Instruments Book 4
With the Eldritch civil war over, a castle to renovate, and a wedding to prepare for, the last thing Reese is thinking about is taking a break. But the new year is coming and the Eldritch take their holidays very seriously, so Reese decides it can’t hurt to observe the local proprieties. Who knows? Maybe it’ll make good practice for what Felith is calling the wedding of the century. Of course, that was before Reese realized it was going to involve gifts. And decorating. And a town full of recalcitrant Eldritch tenants who have no reason to trust her…
“A Rose Point Holiday” is a short, pastoral novel set during the last days before Reese becomes Theresa Laisrathera Eddings, lady of Rose Point Castle and the surrounding lands of Firilith. The Eldritch have never seen a holiday quite like this one!
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Daughter of two Cuban political exiles, M.C.A. Hogarth was born a foreigner in the American melting pot and has had a fascination for the gaps in cultures and the bridges that span them ever since. She has been many things—-web database architect, product manager, technical writer and massage therapist—-but is currently a full-time parent, artist, writer and anthropologist to aliens, both human and otherwise.
Her fiction has variously been recommended for a Nebula, a finalist for the Spectrum, placed on the secondary Tiptree reading list and chosen for two best-of anthologies; her art has appeared in RPGs, magazines and on book covers.
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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Signed and Doodled copy of Earthrise,
$20 Amazon giftcard
– 1 winner each!
