A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 45
April 19, 2023
Book Spotlight – Path of Relics #Scifi #Gamelit
Basic Book Spotlight
Title: Path of Relics: Aether Shard
Author: DJ LeJeune
Genre: Science Fiction / GameLit
Main character description (short): Terry is a down-on-his-luck gig-worker in a job-starved future who loves to play video games. He’s hardworking, but suffers from low self-esteem.
Synopsis:
He entered the contest to win cash…
Now millions could die.
Random gigs and ramen noodles… that’s how out-of-shape gamer Terry survives the job-starved future of 2044. Until he’s accepted into the Path of Relics tournament—the most anticipated virtual reality RPG event of the decade—where he has the chance to win some real loot.
But does he have a fighting chance against the world’s top Active-VR athletes?
Not to mention the ancient dungeons, puzzles, scorpion-wolves, and all-too-realistic NPCs the game world throws at him. And just how advanced is this “Portal Rig” that lets him physically experience the fantasy world as if he were transported there?
Worse, could his suspicions be true?
Are the strange and deadly malfunctions plaguing Manhattan somehow triggered by Path of Relics?
Now, outmatched and exhausted, can Terry’s mysterious ability to level-up quickly and his meager martial arts skills help him avert catastrophe in the real world?
Lose yourself in a fantasy world of dead gods, lost civilizations, and forgotten lore, made possible by the advanced technology of 2044.
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
As Terry feared, their HP only whittled away. They must be high-level. Terry yelled as he neared the scuffle, drawing attention away from Chris.
Two of the four men broke off, racing to meet him.
He whirled his Kali sticks, deflecting each of their attacks in turn. Then Terry whipped around and caught the nearest man with solid strikes to hip and neck. He leapt back as the man’s companion thrust forward with his blade.
Together, the two men pressed Terry, putting him on the defensive.
He shuffled back through the obelisks, blocking and dodging. Still, he took a couple of hits, bringing his health down by a quarter.
These NPCs were high-level. Unlike the goblins, they fought smart, pushing Terry between them. His heart thundered, straining at the collective effort of the fight and his earlier sprint up the stairs.
The killing intent in the men’s eyes chilled him. Up to this point, he’d only fought creatures in PoR. Battling human NPCs was disturbing.
He wondered briefly if they might be special, like Jade. In the heat of battle, it was impossible to tell, but it didn’t matter. He needed to turn that seal back on, no matter what. Lives in the real world were at stake—lives he knew weren’t faked by an algorithm.
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
If you want an adventurous escape that’s a mix of Ready Player One, Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones, give Path of Relics a try. Experience the action, secrets, real-world stakes, and compelling weak-to-strong progression, plus get a sneak-peek into the near future of advanced AI and full-immersion VR.
Links etc.
Website: https://djlejeune.com
Amazon Path of Relics Link: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Relics-Aether-Seeker-Odyssey-ebook/dp/B0B9RRJ2MQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djlauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJLAuthor
April 15, 2023
Threshold Series – Blog Tour and Giveaway #Scifi #Thriller
Threshold
The Threshold Series Book 1
by Janet & Chris Morris
Genre: SciFi Thriller Adventure
Set a millennium from now on Threshold Terminal—virtually a Grand Hotel in space— a young test pilot, Joe South, is thrust five hundred years into his future and finds himself in the thick of interstellar smuggling, intrigue, and the rough underworld of an alien environment. It is a time of danger and ever-shifting powers . . . and the destinies of a lost test pilot, an underworld scavenger, and two young lovers become irrevocably intertwined . . .
**For the month of April, Threshold is Perseid Press’ featured title and is on sale for only $2.99!**
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.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Bookbub
Amazon * Amazon * Goodreads * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Amazon
April 9, 2023
エラナの物語: 神話と伝説 – Tales of Erana Myths and Legends Japanese
魔法が違法でエルフが奴隷にされている世界で、あえて昔話に耳を傾けるか？
神話、魔法、怪物の5つの物語。
https://books2read.com/Tales-of-Erana-Japanese
月が水面に映る: 女神と戦士の愛と、それがもたらした恐ろしい呪いの物語。愛されるトレイナの物語: 死すべき女性が2人のライバル神々に追われるとき、天国さえも魔法で呼び起こされる。嵐生まれ: 孤独な魔術師が嵐の生き物との交際を見つけますが、魔法は代償を要求します。青い小瓶: 恥ずかしい間違いをしないように、指示をよく聞くレッスン。オリアナの伝説: ニンフ、ヒキガエル、嫉妬魔法、借金返済の物語。#ファンタジー, #神話と伝説, #暗黒ファンタジー, #ショートストーリーズ
April 6, 2023
Spring Gifts for Mom – Audiobook Event
There are some awesome audiobooks here – and a chance to win some!
https://www.facebook.com/events/586936736690206?active_tab=about
April 5, 2023
Roaring Rogues Blog Tour #Paranormal #RegencyRomance
Ensnared By Innocence
Roaring Rogues Book 1
by Larissa Lyons
Genre: Paranormal Regency Romance
2022 Maggie Award of Excellence Finalist
Changing into a lion isn’t all fur and games.
A Regency lord battles his inner beast while helping an innocent miss, never dreaming how he’ll come to care for the chit—nor how being near his world will deliver danger right to her doorstep.
If Darcy possessed a roaring libido and grappled with feline curses…
Lady Francine Montfort may have led a sheltered life till her parents’ untimely demise but that doesn’t mean she’s ignorant. Neither is she blind to the conniving ways of her persistent aunt, who’s determined to marry Francine off for her own selfish gain. Forced to drastic measures to avoid the wretched woman’s scheming, Francine concocts her own masterful plan.
She might need to beg a favor from Lord Blakely—the sinfully alluring marquis who inspires all manner of illicit thoughts—but she’s determined to help him as well. To ease those mysterious, haunting secrets that torment him so…
When Lady Francine, the epitome of innocence, requests he pose as her betrothed, Blakely knows he should handily refuse. He’s baffled when unfamiliar, protective urges make themselves known, tempting him to agree while danger stalks ever closer.
Alas, it’s fast approaching the season when Blakely loses all control. Either Francine satisfies his sexual appetites or he’ll be forced to reveal his beastly side. And that will never do. Not now that he’s come to care for the intrepid miss.
Standalone ~ HEA ~ 80,000 word Novel
Note to Readers: This love story between two people contains a lot of sizzle, including one partial ménage scene that gets rather…growly.
A much shorter version of Ensnared by Innocence was previously published; this second edition is three times as long and freshly rewritten.
**On Sale for a limited time!**
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Deceived By Desire
Roaring Rogues Book 2
Meet a Shakespeare-quoting shapeshifter who wants nothing to do with love…
Cursed into the form of a lion without nightly sex, Lord Nash Hammond wants only two things—his liquor strong and smooth, and his wenches wild and willing. What he doesn’t need is a virgin!
Nash senses the man across from him in the cramped stagecoach is trouble, a danger to the veiled woman accompanying her lofty “protector”. Nash knows he’s no hero, yet she keeps asking for his help. And how is it the vexing female knows so much about his secrets? Ones that could rip her apart if she only knew it…
And the spunky “lady” from the streets who masquerades as another man’s mistress…
Blessed with the second-sight—or cursed, depending upon which relative she believes—Laney sees her two possible futures: bleak and a soon-deceased victim (ack!) or frolicking with her fellow stagecoach passenger: a golden-eyed, tawny-haired gentleman—who’s anything but.
The miserable rip who’s already stepped on her dress, who keeps staring…
Nash is surly and rude and resistant to her every effort to speak with him. When they stop for the night and she overhears him order a “strumpet” to bed, Laney takes the doxy’s place, convinced she can pretend well enough. After all, she’s pretended to be a mistress for years. She’ll satisfy his needs, but refuse his money—demand he listen and help her instead. Then she’ll be safe.
Until, along with her body, Nash starts to claim her heart as well.
Reader Advisory: While Deceived by Desire is laugh-out-loud funny in places, it contains a short *vision* of violence and brief references to past abuse. Beyond that, expect a fun and sexy good time because…
Changing into a lion is all fun and growls—until it isn’t.
HEA ~ Book 2 – Roaring Rogues Regency Shifters ~ 97,000 words
A shorter version of Deceived by Desire was previously published; this second edition contains several new chapters characters, and is freshly rewritten.
Book 1 – Ensnared by Innocence, FINALIST – Maggie Award of Excellence 2022
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo * Smashwords * Other Links * Bookbub * Goodreads
A lifelong Texan, Larissa writes steamy regencies and sexy contemporaries, blending heartfelt emotion with doses of laugh-out-loud humor. Her heroes are strong men with a weakness for the right woman.
Avoiding housework one word at a time ;-), Larissa adores brownies, James Bond, and all things feline. She’s been a clown, a tax analyst, and a pig castrator (!) but nothing satisfies quite like seeing the entertaining voices in her head come to life on the page.
Writing around some health challenges and computer limitations, it’s a while between releases, but stick with her…she’s working on the next one.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Gift Card of Choice from
Amazon, Apple, B&N, Google, Kobo or Smashwords!
(1 winner)
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
April 4, 2023
Her Dark Enchantments – Blog Tour #DarkFantasyRomance #Fairytale
Her Dark Enchantments
by Rosalyn Briar
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance, Fairytale Retelling
The Wicked Fairy. The Mistress of All Evil. The villain of Sleeping Beauty goes by many names, but where did she come from?
Myravelle Spinner grew up in a tower with only spiders, spindles, and stone walls for friends while her mother spun gold for the king. She wondered why her mother refused to teach her fairy magic until one fateful mistake led Myravelle to become the healer in the king’s Sleepy Wood Company.
Drained from years of waking soldiers from a cursed sleep, Myravelle must now choose a new canvas–a man whose life she drains with a dagger to fuel her healing powers. A ritual binds her to Byzarien Dumont, who loathes fairies for the fires that left his family impoverished and his body riddled with scars. His burning hatred causes Myravelle’s enchantments to wilt, leading the king to threaten her mother’s life.
Byzarien can only see Myravelle as a beautiful spider who strings men along her web, while Myravelle considers love a weakness for the king to exploit. With their families in danger and soldiers rotting in a death-like sleep, the pair must learn to trust one another before the dark magic spinning in Myravelle’s soul unravels once and for all.
The Wicked Fairy never asked to become a monster…
Sharp and sexy, Her Dark Enchantments is a deliciously dark romance that will plunge you deep into the fairy woods, proving every villain is the hero of their own story. Majestic with her blades and blood magic, Myravelle is the goth queen I would be proud to serve. Lyrical and richly atmospheric, if you love underdog heroes and sensual slow burns, look no further for your next favourite read.
—Lily Rooke, author of The Dying Light
Amazon * Apple * Kobo * Smashwords * Quill&Crow Publishing
Books2Read * Bookbub * Goodreads
**PreOrder Her Dark Enchantments and you can enter for a chance to win lots of goodies from the author!**
Everyone who enters the giveaway will receive digital copies of both Her Dark & Enchanting Poetry and Her Dark & Enchanting Spellbook. These are lovely companion pieces to the novel.
Head to the author’s website with proof of preorder and ENTER HERE!
Rosalyn Briar is a former teacher, a mother of two fearless daughters, and a wife to her soul mate. She loves reading, traveling, and playing board games. More importantly, she believes in fairy tales. When she is not reading or writing, you might find her playing dress-up or gleaning through the woods for wildflowers with her princesses.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Her Dark Enchantments Swag Box,
$20 Amazon giftcard,
1 winner each!
April 3, 2023
To Kill a Necromancer – Spotlight #EpicFantasy
Basic Book Spotlight
Title: To Kill a Necromancer
Author: C. M. Alongi
Genre: epic fantasy novella
Main character description (short): Jinua is a young, headstrong woman sent onto her first mission by a god.
Synopsis:
In a world of greed, gods, and monsters, paladins are chosen to do what no mortal human can. Granted divine attributes of their chosen deity, they protect the broken fragments of human civilization from any and all threats. Often from necromancers, those born with the ability to speak with and raise the dead. Such a power inevitably corrupts and turns each and every necromancer evil.
Right?
Jinua has just received her first assignment as paladin: to execute a necromancer terrorizing a small town with an undead army. But what should be a straight-forward mission turns complicated when another necromancer reveals himself as an ally, flying in the face of everything Jinua’s ever heard about his kind. Can she trust him to help her on her quest, or is he an even greater threat?
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
“For the grace and glory of Jadiim! With him on our side we cannot fail!”
The townsfolk didn’t just cheer, they roared at her. It was a feeling more potent than holy fire in her veins.
“Those of you who wish to stand and fight with me, gather whatever weapons you have and meet me back here in two hours,” she ordered. “Everyone else, pack enough food and supplies for five days, just to be safe. Albin will lead you away. I’ll send a runner to get you when Enejel is dead.”
“And if you fail?” he asked.
She gave him a flat look. “Then you keep going to the next town, and we wish better luck to the next paladin Jadiim sees fit to send.”
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
It’s a short novella—quick and easy to read—so you get a good idea of my writing without having to sink a bunch of time or money into it.
And it’s a fun, crazy, bloody ride!
To Kill a Necromancer:
https://www.youtube.com/cmalongi
April 1, 2023
Swift Six Author Interview – Derek Power #Fantasy #Mythology
Name: Derek Power
Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):
Being born and bred in Dublin, Ireland, I grew up with a healthy history of myths and legends in my blood. My grandfather instilled in me a love of reading from a very young age, pushing anything printed into my hands and then asking me about it when I was finished reading it. This led to my life long love of reading. I was probably one of the few people in my school year who asked for ten or twelve books at Christmas time, most of which I’d have finished reading before the holidays were over. The Kindle was probably the most amazing device ever invented, as my shelves buckled under the load and my floors wound up home to mounds of books going digital was just the best thing. All that reading over my formative years I guess getting into writing was bound to happen to some degree. Although the day job is one that involves working on computers, I never forget meeting my English teacher in the university canteen and telling him that I hadn’t gone into a writing degree. I didn’t think you could see a man’s heart break physically, but that day I saw what happens when somebody else’s dream for you is broken. With any luck I will keep the love of stories, both reading and telling, going in my two little ones. My wife and I have read to them since they came home from the hospital and even now I can hear one of them reading despite it being way past bedtime.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)
I mostly write about Filthy Henry, the fairy detective. He is Ireland’s first and foremost fairy detective, working cases that involve magical crimes which usually come about when the magical and mortal worlds collide. The series is a fantasy-comedy one, based in modern-day Ireland. Each book is self-contained so that a person can read them in any order and not really need to now what came before, or spoil what would come after. The cases then are based off the old Celtic myths and legends, with little tweaks so that they fit into a modern day setting. In the first book, for example, Filthy Henry has to work a case involving a leprechaun’s stolen crock of gold.
When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?
I dabbled on and off during my teenage years, but never anything serious. Then in university I entered a short story contest and won it, which sparked an interest in writing again (after seeing my English teacher in the canteen) so I dabbled again. But it wasn’t until 2012 that I started writing properly. The idea for Fitlhy Henry popped into my head after I finished reading a Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. I grabbed a notepad, wrote out the rules for his universe, and then started plotting the first novel. Before I knew it I had ten pages of an outline and I was off to the races. After shopping the first novel around a few places and sadly getting nowhere I went down the indie publishing path and the adventure has been a blast. Filthy Henry now has five novels, four short stories and a podcast to his name.
What writing plans do you have for the future?
Right now I am working on a crime novel that doesn’t have any magic or sci-fi in it. It is grounded and based in the real world. It’s actually been fun to write because it is a challenge for me to not revert to form and throw in some comedy. I’m hoping to get the first draft done before Easter and then get into re-write mode. After that I have three more Filthy Henry novels planned out, which will be fast to write since I know the characters so well.
What do you like to read?
Basically anything. I mainly read sci-fi and fantasy, but recently I’ve been getting into crime stories and murder mysteries. My Kindle is always fully loaded with about ten books to read and then I sacrifice sleep to get through them.
What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?
Oh drafts are your friend. When I started writing first I spent so long trying to get the perfect line, craft the perfect chapter, and I never got past page one for weeks. The lesson being that you just need to get the story written first, then pass over it a few dozen times. Draft one just needs to be written, then draft two to infinity can be for refining, fixing, tweaking, adding, subtracting. All you have to do is get the first one finished.
Author bio and book synopsis
Bio:
Derek Power is the mind behind Filthy Henry, the fairy detective. Born and bred in Dublin, he currently lives in Skerries with his family. He predominately focuses on comedy-fantasy works, but has dabbled in sci-fi noir with his novel ‘Duplex Tempus’.
When not writing he spends his days refreshing the inbox wondering when Hollywood is going to come knocking for the film rights to his books.
Filthy Henry: The Fairy Detective:
Filthy Henry is Dublin’s first and foremost fairy detective. Something of a niche job since most people do not know that fairies are even real, let alone need a detective. But when The King of the Leprechauns has his crock of gold stolen by some humans he requires the services of a detective. Lucky for him Filthy Henry is just the man he needs. The only problem is nobody in the world can stand him. Which does not really bother Filthy Henry as he is not too fond of the world either…
Links/Social media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcpower_author
Blog: https://www.powerwrites.com/
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/ap/xqkYXL/Derek-Power
Podcast: https://shows.acast.com/filthyhenry
March 29, 2023
Till the End – Blog Tour and Giveaway – Post-apocalyptic Zombie Interracial Romance
Till the End
by Remy Marie
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Interracial Romance
Zombies, cults, and a desperate search for a cure…two friends must test the limits of their relationship in this action-packed apocalyptic romance where secrets are the key to survival.
The US government has been keeping a secret…
During the Vietnam War, they created zombies, and if the undead ever escaped, they created a backup plan.
Code Z.
A last-ditch contingency for if their ill-advised creation should ever cause an outbreak.
Unfortunately, the day has come for that plan to be enacted.
Navy SEALs Malcolm White and Zack Morris are on a mission to rescue the Governor of Virginia from the spreading zombie invasion when they learn that Malcolm’s friend Anne Yamaguchi, and Zack’s wife Kelsey, are stuck in a mall in the midst of a zombie attack.
Abandoning the mission, Malcolm and Zack rush to save them and bring them to the safety of the Little Creek Naval Base. However, they discover that only those who are married to a member of the military are allowed to find sanctuary on the base. That is when a plan is devised, Anne and Malcolm pretend to be married, to protect her from the worst of the plague.
Soon Anne and Malcolm discover this plan creates more problems than it solves. Not only will the couple find themselves struggling to uphold the ruse, while also evading zombies and vengeful demonic cults, they will find that living a lie changes their growing feelings for each other. Feelings that could have the potential to ruin their friendship forever.
This fast-paced apocalyptic romance will leave you turning pages late into the night as stakes rise and friendships are tested. Will a cure be found? Or will the world fall to a monster of its own making?
TW: This book contains mature scenes, gore, sexual assault, and elements of horror
“A modern-day Zombie novel is only the beginning of this unique take on an old favorite. Following the characters as they try to survive, not only against the undead but against man’s brutality. I enjoyed this story from start to finish and was rooting for the characters throughout. Some heart-stopping moments, which meant I struggled to put the book down.”
Remy Marie is a romance author who loves to write about charming heroes and brave heroines. While writing never came naturally for Remy, he continued to strengthen his craft, by constantly reading and writing. If he is not writing or reading, he is usually watching TV with his supportive wife, aggressively cheering for his college and professional sports teams, playing video games, or crunching numbers at his daytime job.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner, WW,
Signed paperback of Till the End – 5 winners, US only
March 24, 2023
Malevolence – Blog Tour #GothicHorror #Audiobook
Malevolence: The Tragedy of Lorna
by Robert Hazelton
Genre: Gothic Horror Audio Drama
Sins of the past infringe on the events of the present. A young woman unwittingly becomes the center of an immortal struggle, one born of obsession, love, and vengeance. With innocent lives on the line, reality itself may well fracture. And it all comes down to the decisions of a girl hundreds of years in her grave…and her modern incarnation caught up in the Tragedy of Lorna.
Robert Hazelton has been writing short fiction, novels and music his entire life. As the founding member of Deadly Nightshade Botanical Society and a long time member of the band Abney Park, he has traveled extensively and performed countless shows in exotic locales.Robert writes in a variety of genres but keeps drifting back to modern fantasy/horror. He considers Elizabeth Moon, Frank Herbert, and Steven Pressfield to be his biggest influences.
Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$50 Amazon
