A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 36
January 27, 2024
Excerpt – Tales of Erana: Just One Mistake
Excerpt from Tales of Erana: Just One Mistake by A. L. Butcher
Darkness oozed lazily in the remainder of the room, nosing into corners, under furniture, and behind Coel, unseen, part of it detached. “That was quite a performance, bard. You have some talent, and not just your music. Although your judgement is flawed, it’s never wise to steal from a thief,” the voice was smooth, like liquid velvet and very sure of itself.
Coel’s hand moved towards the dagger nestling in his belt; it would not be the first time he had been called on to defend himself, although that was how he had ended up in this mess he thought bitterly. Just one mistake, then another and now, it would seem, another.
“I do not know of what you speak! I am not a thief.” His brain caught up and he continued, “How did you get into my room? The door was locked. I’m not a bloody fool.” Coel could hear his own heart pounding. There was something about this man which frightened him. He felt like a mouse beneath the gaze of a cat. Perhaps the hangman’s noose would have been the better option.
The slate-grey cloak swirled around boots of ebony leather and the cowled figure chuckled. “That lock was barely a moment’s work. I must have a word with the owner of this place about his security. I have yet to find a door in Erana which will not yield to me. You may as well remove your hand from that blade, or would you bet your life you are swifter than the Thiefmaster? I doubt it, boy, I doubt it. Believe me when I say you would be dead before that knife left its scabbard. It would be a pity to waste such talent, would it not?”
Coel removed his hand from the dagger, his sense telling him that continuing to draw it would be a terminal decision. Instead, he placed his hand on the table and the voice breathed into his ear, Coel shivered, he had not heard the man move.
“I thought not. Sensible lad, if a lying one. This too can be a skill which can save your life, if it is used correctly and with assurance,” Darius, the Thiefmaster told him.
This menacing shape was right behind him, and Coel began to turn, opening his mouth to protest; he found a gloved hand on his jaw, firm but not unduly painful. “Curious are we not? This may sometimes serve you well. As for other occasions, it is wise to accept things as they are, this is one such occasion… Coel.”
The bard caught his breath, how did this man know his name? The sweat began to pool in his back, making his shirt stick unpleasantly to his skin. Had this man been hired to kill him? Had his mistake finally caught him up? Yet as Coel’s brain frantically grasped at any hope and his fingers tried to overrule his brain and reach for the dagger he realised the man had said he was a thief. A robbery, that was not so bad. It would not be the first time.
“This is not a merely social call; you are honoured for the Master of Thieves does not always test a potential recruit’s skills for himself.”
“I usually charge for my skills, music and other kinds if that is what you prefer. I can be flexible and my tastes are…varied. Perhaps just this once I might offer them for free. Take the coin and the trinkets, take it all.” Coel’s brain finally caught up with the conversation, “What do you mean potential recruit?”
Please note – contains scenes of sex and violence.
Book Synopsis and Links
Ebook, print and audiobook,
An ill-conceived notion of earning more money to pay off his debt and escape a dark past leaves the minstrel in a situation he can’t escape and with a deadly bargain.
https://www.books2read.com/Justonemistake #Fantasy #DarkFantasy Adult rated.
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
January 25, 2024
Honey Moon Murder Blog Tour #LGBTQ #MMRomance #Cosy Mystery
Honey, Romance, and Danger…
Honey Moon Murder
Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 3
by Dahlia Donovan
Genre: LGBTQ MM Romance, Cozy Mystery
Honey, Romance, and Danger…
As August winds down, George Sheth and Murphy Baird are ready to put months of murder mysteries behind them. They hope for calmer days as they move in together. But it’s all for nought when his pug, Bumble, stumbles on the body of a new bride in the middle of the lane.
It’s clear Bumble didn’t kill anyone, but someone did—and they may have set their sights on George.
With a wedding party full of potential suspects, they find themselves caught between the police and angry family members. Can they make it safely through the end of summer alive?
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**Don’t miss the rest of the Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries!**
Honey Mead Murder
Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 1
https://books2read.com/honeybearmurder1
Honey Bee Murder
Honey Bear Cosy Mysteries Book 2
https://books2read.com/honeybearmurder2
Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.
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January 22, 2024
Troy – Cover Reveal and Blog Tour #EpicFantasy
Can a man born a slave change his destiny with one secret mission?
Troy
A Crown of Stones Origin Story
by C.L. Schneider
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Born of the Shinree, an enslaved fallen race, Ian Troy is magically bound to protect the kingdom of Rella. Since childhood, he trained to be their champion in a seemingly never-ending war. Called to the battlefield a brash young man of seventeen, Troy is anxious to show off his prowess with both magic and blade. He believes his role is vital to the realms of Mirra’kelan finally knowing peace.
Only, war is nothing like he thought.
After a year of being mistrusted and shunned simply for the blood in his veins—his magic restrained by an authoritarian queen—Troy has grudgingly learned his place. He follows orders and suffers their abuse in silence because the cost of insolence is a chain around his neck.
When Queen Aylagar handpicks him for a mission deep inside enemy territory, he thinks his time has come. Fate willing, he will prove to them all: Ian Troy is more than the “witch” they believe.
*Troy is a prequel story and takes place fifteen years before The Crown of Stones Trilogy .
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**Find the Crown of Stones Trilogy on Amazon!**
Born in a small Kansas town on the Missouri river, C.L. Schneider grew up in a house of avid readers and overflowing bookshelves. Her first full-length novel took shape while she was still in high school, on a typewriter in her parent’s living room. Though Schneider has been writing all of her life, Magic-Price (the award-winning first installment in The Crown of Stones Trilogy) was her first published novel.
While her main focus is epic and urban fantasy for adults, she dabbles in all areas of speculative fiction. Her stories tend to be dark, conflict-laden tales full of magic and mystery, action and intrigue, antiheroes and villains, monsters and myths, friendship, love, loss and sacrifice—with enough twists to give you whiplash.
Learn more about C.L. Schneider, and the magical worlds she creates, at clschneiderauthor.com, where you can read reviews, excerpts, sneak peeks and teasers, subscribe to her newsletter, and join her Street Team. An active part of the online indie author community, you can connect with her on social media, or visit the News and Events page on her website for a full list of C.L. Schneider’s in-person appearances in the NY, NJ, and CT area.
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January 20, 2024
The Immortal Rose Wyndham – Blog Tour #HistoricalFantasy #RomanticFantasy
This romantic adventure unfolds over 250 years, where the transcendent force of music and the belief in a higher purpose shape a narrative of mystery, magic, and miraculous encounters.
The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning
The Moon Singer Book 4
by B. Roman
Genre: Historical Romantic Fantasy Adventure
From 18th Century France to 20th Century San Francisco, the Promise of the Rose Crystal both empowered and mystified Grace Moreau and her daughter Rose Wyndham.
They fought for women’s rights, suffered prejudice and conspiracy theorists, and blazed their way through a male-dominated world to define their own roles in society. Through it all they poignantly resisted romantic desire, for if they fell in love the power of the Rose Crystal would be impotent and they – and their lovers – would die.
A romantic adventure spanning 250 years, B. Roman’s ‘The Immortal Rose Wyndham’ is a story where the power of music, and the belief in a purpose greater than oneself, provide the mystery and magic that creates miracles.
**The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning can be read as a standalone and/or prequel to the rest of the books in the series.
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**Don’t miss the rest of the collection!**
Every fantastic adventure, every romance, every heartwarming family story, every magical moment.
All four books in B. Roman’s The Moon Singer, a series of fantasy novels, now available in one volume. This collection also includes the prequel novella, Before the Boy, as a bonus.
https://mybook.to/MoonSingerCollection
B. Roman – in her own words:
Since childhood, I’ve been torn between two worlds: writing and singing. It’s difficult to serve “two masters,” as they say, but I was compelled to do so. When I was not singing, I was writing; when I was not writing, I was singing. I’ve learned, for me, that one creative expression nurtures the other. Much of my writing has a musical theme somewhere in the plot, or is the plot. Whether it’s in my non-fiction writing about the power of music itself, in children’s picture books and in writing music and lyrics for songs.
It is natural, therefore, that my adventure series (The Moon Singer) has its roots in musical theories and metaphors, entwined with the magic and mystery of metaphysical concepts and matters of ethics, faith, compassion, love, and heroism. Music provokes universal emotions and memories, and giving my characters a musical talent and/or identity enriches them and the reader experience.
*B. Roman’s books include the 5-book Moon Singer Series, two suspense thrillers (Whatever Became of Sin?; A Man’s Face), and (as Barbara Roman) three children’s books: Hubert in Heaven, Alicia & The Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13, and The Prince Who Was A Piccolo.
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January 18, 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
January 17, 2024
Outpassage – Blog Tour – Science Fiction
War and Mystery Beyond the Stars
Outpassage
by Janet Morris & Chris Morris
Genre: Science Fiction
WAR AND MYSTERY BEYOND THE STARS
Sgt. “Det” Cox has just spent three years under psych observation on Earth; now that he’s out-system, he isn’t about to tell anyone he’s seeing aliens again. Paige Barnett has lost everything, even her name, because she knows too much about the rebellion spreading through the Earth-Space mining colonies.
Together Cox and Barnett stumble upon the mystery at the revolution’s heart and learn why the rebels are willing to die for it.
Is their discovery humanity’s worst threat or greatest gift? The authorities are willing to destroy whole planets to keep the revolution’s secret from reaching Earth… What’s to stop them from destroying two people
“The Morrises’ blend of fast-paced narrative and meticulous research into near-space technology makes a novel you can’t put down.”
— C.J. Cherryh
“Action sequences that would make any writer proud. OUTPASSAGE is a wonderful book.”
–David Drake
“OUTPASSAGE might just be the perfect science fiction novel.”
— Jack Williamson
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Love Science Fiction?
For readers that are out of this world and can’t wait to find out what the future holds –
All SciFi books at Perseid Press are discounted for the month of January!
Get them now before they’re light years away…..
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 Outpassage ,
$10 Amazon giftcard
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January 14, 2024
The Earthborn Saga – Blog Tour and Giveaway #Scifi #Fantasy
Night is falling.
Embrace the darkness.
A Son of the Shadows
The Earthborn Saga Vol 1
by Steven Bissett
Genre: Science Fiction Fantasy
Night is falling. Embrace the darkness.
On the ice-clad prison world of Delta-13, where minds teeter on the edge of madness, mankind’s future dangles by a thread.
Living under the shadow of an imperial conspiracy, Rex Hunt discovers a psychic gift that will upset the balance of power in the entire galaxy.
As Rex grapples with his newfound power, prison psychiatrist, Dr. Lily Tselitel, delves into the chilling surge of madness among the inmates, pulling her closer to a secret as old as the galaxy itself.
Their paths converge as they uncover an imperial plot to build a weapon that threatens to suffocate the flickering spirit of rebellion in the galaxy’s fringe colonies.
Unbeknownst to the rebels, as they fight against the empire’s sinister plan, an ancient shadow looms over the galaxy, threatening to consume humanity’s vast colonies, and even Earth itself!
Discover the first book in an epic space opera where hope survives in secret taverns, and the line between life and death is blurred in the snowy expanse of Delta-13.
You’re just one click away from learning mankind’s fate.
The Beast Emerges
The Earthborn Saga Vol II
Ancient secrets. New battles.
An unyielding, insidious peril, the Devourers unleash chaos in the galaxy.
First in their malevolent sights: the ice planet Delta-13, next the enigmatic jungles of Preleteth. Rex Hunt, driven by destiny and cryptic legends, forges alliances in the galaxy’s darkest corners.
From pirate-infested asteroids to secret Imperial bases, danger lurks at every corner. When ancient prophecies from the sentient world of Preleteth point to a shadowy salvation, Rex’s fate becomes irrevocably intertwined with a journey that spans galaxies.
Every alliance forged, every secret unveiled, and every battle waged will shape the future in this grand space opera of courage, sacrifice, and cosmic revelation.
Dive deep with Rex and his crew as they embark on a perilous journey. If you think you’ve outsmarted the might of the Empire or the ruthlessness of the Devourers… prepare for your reckoning.
Jump into book two of The Earthborn Saga today!
The Crucible of Titans
The Earthborn Saga Vol III
Dreadnoughts. Devourers. Deception. In a star field of lies, can anyone be trusted?
Trapped aboard the Empire’s ultimate weapon, Sentinel, Rex becomes the crucial factor in the cosmic war against the Devourers.
But there’s a mysterious web of deceit beyond the battlefield. Driven by an intense hatred of mankind, an ancient being emerges as the parasite’s true puppet master.
Between the Empire, the Devourers, emboldened pirates, and a plethora of colonial revolutionaries, are there simply too many enemies to overcome?
The mysterious Krancis, architect of the Empire’s desperate gambit to survive, sends Sentinel on a collision course with the single greatest foe ever to threaten mankind. The battle to come is beyond colossal: it’s a celestial clash of titans that could cost Rex everything he has left.
Dive into this enthralling mosaic of military tactics, clandestine politics, and cosmic spirituality. Feel the universe quake under the weight of monumental choices. Here, heroes are born, villains rise, and entire galaxies crumble.
Ready for the next level of space opera?
The Tides of Retribution
The Earthborn Saga Vol IV
Will the Empire crumble under the weight of betrayal and invasion?
As the galaxy is besieged by the merciless Devourers and treacherous Fringers, one ship and one man stand as humanity’s final hope.
Can the enigmatic Rex, a master of shadowy psychic powers, and the massive warship, Sentinel, keep the relentless enemy at bay?
Rumors of alien infiltration and psychic omens shake the Empire to its core. Can Rex and Sentinel hold the line long enough for Krancis’ new experimental weapon to be deployed against their enemy?
As the hive-minded Devourers grow bolder and more ruthless by the day, the Empire finds itself fighting battles on multiple fronts. Eliminating high-level operatives providing intelligence to the parasite becomes as crucial as protecting the Empire’s teeming population centers.
Venture into this colossal clash, where an alien hive mind, the Imperium’s internal enemies, and the ticking clock that marks humanity’s doom converge. Witness as Krancis’ innovations offer a glimmer of hope, Rex pushes his psychic gifts to the limit, and the Devourers edge closer to ultimate victory over humanity.
Ready to discover what surprises await humanity?
Immerse yourself into the intrigue of book four of the Earthborn Saga today!
The Crusade of Vengeance
The Earthborn Saga Vol V
The tides are turning, but is it enough to save humanity?
When the Empire’s last gamble pays off, the Devourer’s end finally seems inevitable.
Armed with Adler fighters and Sentinel’s devastating cannon, the Devourer’s reign of terror might be on the brink of ending.
But the colossal enemy has one last trick up its sleeve and is spreading a devilish evil across the Empire in a desperate bid at victory. Armed with city-sized masses of stinking Devourer flesh, these psychic nightmares that consume life are being warped in from deep space to wreak havoc on the Empire’s core worlds.
And even as Rex powers Sentinel’s cannon to obliterate the Devourer’s latest monstrosities, a darker evil waits in the wings, a force that dwarfs all other threats.
Advanced weaponry meets arcane entities and the very fabric of the universe hangs by a thread.
Prepare to confront the real enemy in book five of the Earthborn Saga today!
Steven Bissett has been writing stories for over fourteen years. An eclectic author, he excels at seamlessly blending genres together to produce unique stories. With compelling characters, dynamic plots, and a crisp, candid style that holds nothing back, Bissett continues to delight readers of every age.
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January 11, 2024
Swift Six Character Interview – Fergushar the Tenth
Fergushar the Tenth (Fergus for short)
Which book/world do you live in?
I, alas, currently abide in Incolf, a cultureless country currently ruled by Her Dimwittedness Queen Siobhan the Third, though I proudly hail from the significantly more interesting land of Jocrom. My family ruled there for generations, and though my ancestors hailed from Incolf themselves, I consider myself to be a full-blooded Jocromite.
Tell us about yourself: (Name, race/species, etc.)
I am Fergushar the Tenth, Democratic Emperor and Death Lord of Jocrom, Soltan of the Pale Star. I was once a beloved ruler, noted intellect and a necromancer of great power. Then I had the misfortune to meet three out of Siobhan’s five pet sorceresses. We had, shall we say, some disagreements about how I was running my country, which—in my personal opinion—was none of their business.
Said disagreements led to their unlawful and unwarranted assault of my country, which led to its complete devastation and my transformation into an ostrich. Which, granted, has some perks. I do like being larger and longer in some areas, if you follow my meaning.
After all, who doesn’t like being able to poke their head above high walls?
I’m an adventurer – why should I recruit you to accompany me?
I can regale you with my many political triumphs over the course of my reign as Death Lord, as well as my myriad accomplishments in the course of my learning at the University of Zhai Ezan.
I also have a butt-shaped talisman that explodes when you tell it secrets. It’s great for whenever conversation dies down at parties.
Tell us about your companions? How do they see you?
Quin? What’s there to tell? She’s a half-wit half-rate writer with all the charm of a crushed snail. If she had any sense, she would see me as the genius I am, and as an underserving victim of her magical malfeasance. If she had an ounce of respect for me, she would change me back at once. But she does not. I have a feeling she doesn’t have much in the way of respect for me.
What’s your most heroic exploit to date?
I heroically defended Jocrom against Quin and her fellow witches. Though my efforts were in vain, I was able to hold them back for about…I would say two hours. Nobody can claim that! Even the great city of Galvinhame could only keep out a single Witch of Incolf for a measly minute before it was forced to open its doors to her.
What’s your greatest failure?
Well, since I am now effectively retired from politics—no thanks to Quin, I want to emphasize—I work as a freelancer magician in Basdolon. That’s Incolf’s capital, by the by.
And, well, there was an incident with a worm. Can’t even begin to tell you what went wrong there, I’m confident I unscrambled that cube the correct way, but it was supposed to summon an army of worms that would add nutrients to Dayzona Arcanics’ farmlands. Instead, it produced a single massive worm that consumed most of their livestock. Though if you ask me, I did those cows a favor. They were only going to be used for unholy Incolfian magical experiments, I’m sure.
Where do you think you’ll be in a decade?
Sitting back in my new palace in Jocrom, celebrating the tenth anniversary of my restoration to human form and having subsequently brought the Witches of Incolf to heel and conquered Incolf. I’ll let Quin live so she can write an article about it. Now that would be quite delicious.
Do you have a great love? (This could be a person/trait/item)
Well, I recently came into possession of a magic talisman: a body part from the famed philosopher and mathematician Urg. Yes, the Urg. Urg the Erudite. I have absolutely no idea what it does yet, but I feel privileged to have this piece of Urg with me, and I very much look forward to discovering what it’s capable of.
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January 10, 2024
Sandstorm – Blog Tour and Giveaway #UrbanFiction #Audiobook
A pitch-perfect, heartfelt, and enthralling story of survival, coming-of-age and redemption.
Sandstorm
by Joyce Yarrow
Genre: Urban Fiction
GOLD MEDAL WINNER – Cipa Evvy Award for Women’s Fiction
When you trade the straight and narrow for the crooked pathways of crime, it’s likely to become a permanent arrangement. Unless, like Sandie Donovan, you’re a born grifter, determined to use your knack for deception and crime to restart your life and achieve success as an actor.
A pitch-perfect, heartfelt, and enthralling story of survival, coming-of-age and redemption. Sandstorm is a suspenseful, pacy read about a compelling character whose adventures and misadventures are dramatic and exciting.
**ebook is on sale for Only $3.99 OR is in Kindle Unlimited!**
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Joyce Yarrow is an award-winning author of literary novels of suspense that, according to Library Journal, “appeal to readers who enjoy unusual mysteries with an international setting.”
Her coming-of-age novel SANDSTORM, won a the 2022 gold medal in Women’s Fiction at the CIPA/Evvy Awards and her historical thriller, ZAHARA AND THE LOST BOOKS OF LIGHT, has been awarded 5 Stars by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and translated into Spanish and Portuguese. Joyce’s other published novels of suspense include ASK THE DEAD, RUSSIAN RECKONING, and RIVERS RUN BACK (co-authored with Arindam Roy).
A New York City transplant now living in Seattle, Yarrow began her writing life scribbling poems on the subway and observing human behavior from every walk of life. She is a Pushcart Prize Nominee with short stories and essays that have appeared in Inkwell Journal, Whistling Shade, Descant, Arabesques, and Weber: The Contemporary West and the Los Angeles Review of Books. Yarrow is a member of the Sisters in Crime organization and has presented workshops on “The Place of Place in Mystery Writing” at conferences in the US and India.
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