A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 57
April 30, 2022
Love You Right – Release Blitz – Julia Kent #Romance
OUT NOW–Love You Right (Love You, Maine, Book 1) by Julia Kent (@jkentauthor) #romance #romanticcomedy #romcom #contemporaryromance
Release date: April 26, 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs (https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/)
Audiobook Narrators: Erin Mallon and Teddy Hamilton
Tropes/Themes: Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy/Grumpy, Slow Burn, Missed Connection, Fish out of Water, Lumberjack vs. City Slicker, Standalone
Retailer Description:
A missed opportunity five years ago makes for an unexpected encounter now between two people meant for each other – but who square off in a very public battle of wills in the small town of Love You, Maine, where every day is Valentine’s Day. Can love conquer all in a town steeped in it?
Kell Luview refuses to be a sucker at love again. Five years ago, he left D.C. with his tail between his legs and his heart broken. Fiercely protective of his small town in rural Maine, he’s determined to save the family tree business and avoid his feelings at all costs, no matter how much he longs to solve the mystery of what happened in D.C.
L.A. native Rachel Hart hates being underestimated almost as much as she hates this small town. She has two goals on this trip: get out of the cheesy tourist trap of Love You, Maine with a completed business deal, and avoid running into Kell, her old friend from D.C. who never became an old flame because of a huge misunderstanding.
One that still aches.
When her rental car breaks down on a logging road and Kell comes to her rescue, it’s clear he’s a changed man – and not for the good. Grumpy and reserved, he pushes all her buttons, still stubbornly convinced she betrayed him all those years ago. He’s never forgiven her, and she’s never forgiven herself for carrying a torch for him.
An embarrassing incident gets the town gossip mill going when residents wrongly assume Kell and Rachel are the newest couple to find love in the most romantic place on Earth. But the townsfolk aren’t wrong for long…
As Rachel breaks through his defenses and charms the town, he faces his biggest fear: all those pesky feelings he’s been avoiding.
Because they’re all about Rachel now.
And maybe they always were.
Can Kell and Rachel fight their growing attraction in the one place in the world where you can’t avoid love?
If you’re looking for a fun read about enemies to lovers, forced proximity, heroines who get their comeuppance and sworn bachelors felled by unexpected true love, featuring a hot bearded lumberjack impervious to poison ivy, and a city-slicker, jaded career woman with a penchant for great coffee, set in a small town in New England – then this is your book.
Grab a cup of (properly good) coffee, a can of hot cocoa mix, a jar of Fluff and maybe some calamine lotion (just in case), and get your happymeter ready as you read the very first book in New York Times bestselling romantic comedy author Julia Kent’s Love You, Maine series – where love isn’t just a feeling – it’s a way of life.
✓Standalone
✓Enemies to Lovers
✓Small town romance
✓Lumberjack and city slicker outsider
… and a cat named Calamine
Short Description:
A missed opportunity five years ago makes for an unexpected encounter now between two people meant for each other – but who square off in a very public battle of wills in the small town of Love You, Maine, where every day is Valentine’s Day. Can love conquer all in a town steeped in it?
One Line Description:
Can Kell and Rachel fight their growing attraction in the one place in the world where you can’t avoid love?
Raw Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09R15LTCH
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic-ebook/dp/B09R15LTCH/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic-ebook/dp/B09R15LTCH/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic-ebook/dp/B09R15LTCH/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-you-right/id1606788218
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-right
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-right-julia-kent/1140922643?ean=2940160825670
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Julia_Kent_Love_You_Right?id=s4xaEAAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US
Print: https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic/dp/163880060X/
Website: https://jkentauthor.com/books/love-you-maine/love-you-right
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59694646-love-you-right
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Love-You-Right-Audiobook/B09Y9GVNV8
Amazon Audio: https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Right-Maine-Book/dp/B09Y9K3QR6/
iTunes: COMING SOON
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.
From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men’s room toilet (and he isn’t a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).
She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.
She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com
Social Media Links:
Website: http://jkentauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkentauthor
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/
Excerpt
“Kell,” she whispered against his mouth. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For this.” She motioned at the romantic dinner he’d created for the two of them, the wide table in this conference room an ample spread for a…
Ample spread.
“We haven’t even had dinner. Thank me after.”
She batted her eyelashes. “Is that an offer?”
“Rachel,” he said, moving his hand from her waist to cup her ass. “That’s more than an offer.”
He started to kiss her again, but she put her fingers on his lips. “If we don’t eat dinner first, we’ll never eat. And I have a meeting here in this very room, to try to pitch the deal again, in three days. Boundaries, Kell – boundaries. I refuse to have sex on this conference table.”
“The thought never, ever occurred to me,” he lied.
“Liar.”
“Caught.”
With a deep laugh he adored, she reached for the bottle of wine. “How about you uncork this and we start with a lovely glass.”
“Fine. The table is off the table.”
Social Media Content:
If you’re looking for a fun read about enemies to lovers, forced proximity, heroines who get their comeuppance and sworn bachelors felled by unexpected true love, featuring a hot bearded lumberjack impervious to poison ivy, and a city-slicker, jaded career woman with a penchant for great coffee, set in a small town in New England – then this is your book.
Why was she thinking about the guy she almost kissed five years ago? The guy who rescued her from near death in a lemur costume? The guy who didn’t believe her when she decided to warn him that his girlfriend at the time–half a decade ago–was just using him for access to his powerful uncle in Maine government?
The sound of her voice made him want to kiss her. Or turn on his heel and walk away. He wasn’t sure which. Given that he literally could not escape from Rachel now, that left only one option. Kissing her was on the table, though, no matter how tempting.
Release blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.
Love Your Right – Release Blitz – Julia Kent #Romance
OUT NOW–Love You Right (Love You, Maine, Book 1) by Julia Kent (@jkentauthor) #romance #romanticcomedy #romcom #contemporaryromance
Release date: April 26, 2022
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance
Cover Designer: Najla Qamber, Qamber Designs (https://www.qamberdesignsmedia.com/)
Audiobook Narrators: Erin Mallon and Teddy Hamilton
Tropes/Themes: Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Grumpy/Grumpy, Slow Burn, Missed Connection, Fish out of Water, Lumberjack vs. City Slicker, Standalone
Retailer Description:
A missed opportunity five years ago makes for an unexpected encounter now between two people meant for each other – but who square off in a very public battle of wills in the small town of Love You, Maine, where every day is Valentine’s Day. Can love conquer all in a town steeped in it?
Kell Luview refuses to be a sucker at love again. Five years ago, he left D.C. with his tail between his legs and his heart broken. Fiercely protective of his small town in rural Maine, he’s determined to save the family tree business and avoid his feelings at all costs, no matter how much he longs to solve the mystery of what happened in D.C.
L.A. native Rachel Hart hates being underestimated almost as much as she hates this small town. She has two goals on this trip: get out of the cheesy tourist trap of Love You, Maine with a completed business deal, and avoid running into Kell, her old friend from D.C. who never became an old flame because of a huge misunderstanding.
One that still aches.
When her rental car breaks down on a logging road and Kell comes to her rescue, it’s clear he’s a changed man – and not for the good. Grumpy and reserved, he pushes all her buttons, still stubbornly convinced she betrayed him all those years ago. He’s never forgiven her, and she’s never forgiven herself for carrying a torch for him.
An embarrassing incident gets the town gossip mill going when residents wrongly assume Kell and Rachel are the newest couple to find love in the most romantic place on Earth. But the townsfolk aren’t wrong for long…
As Rachel breaks through his defenses and charms the town, he faces his biggest fear: all those pesky feelings he’s been avoiding.
Because they’re all about Rachel now.
And maybe they always were.
Can Kell and Rachel fight their growing attraction in the one place in the world where you can’t avoid love?
If you’re looking for a fun read about enemies to lovers, forced proximity, heroines who get their comeuppance and sworn bachelors felled by unexpected true love, featuring a hot bearded lumberjack impervious to poison ivy, and a city-slicker, jaded career woman with a penchant for great coffee, set in a small town in New England – then this is your book.
Grab a cup of (properly good) coffee, a can of hot cocoa mix, a jar of Fluff and maybe some calamine lotion (just in case), and get your happymeter ready as you read the very first book in New York Times bestselling romantic comedy author Julia Kent’s Love You, Maine series – where love isn’t just a feeling – it’s a way of life.
✓Standalone
✓Enemies to Lovers
✓Small town romance
✓Lumberjack and city slicker outsider
… and a cat named Calamine
Short Description:
A missed opportunity five years ago makes for an unexpected encounter now between two people meant for each other – but who square off in a very public battle of wills in the small town of Love You, Maine, where every day is Valentine’s Day. Can love conquer all in a town steeped in it?
One Line Description:
Can Kell and Rachel fight their growing attraction in the one place in the world where you can’t avoid love?
Raw Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09R15LTCH
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic-ebook/dp/B09R15LTCH/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic-ebook/dp/B09R15LTCH/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic-ebook/dp/B09R15LTCH/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/love-you-right/id1606788218
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-you-right
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-you-right-julia-kent/1140922643?ean=2940160825670
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Julia_Kent_Love_You_Right?id=s4xaEAAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US
Print: https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Right-Enemies-Romantic/dp/163880060X/
Website: https://jkentauthor.com/books/love-you-maine/love-you-right
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59694646-love-you-right
Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Love-You-Right-Audiobook/B09Y9GVNV8
Amazon Audio: https://www.amazon.com/Love-You-Right-Maine-Book/dp/B09Y9K3QR6/
iTunes: COMING SOON
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. Since 2013, she has sold more than 2 million books, with 4 New York Times bestsellers and more than 21 appearances on the USA Today bestseller list. Her books have been translated into French, German, and Italian, with more titles releasing in the future.
From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men’s room toilet (and he isn’t a billionaire she met in a romantic comedy).
She lives in New England with her husband and three children where she is the only person in the household with the gene required to change empty toilet paper rolls.
She loves to hear from her readers by email at julia@jkentauthor.com, on Twitter @jkentauthor, on Facebook at @jkentauthor, and on Instagram @jkentauthor. Visit her at http://jkentauthor.com
Social Media Links:
Website: http://jkentauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkentauthor
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/
Excerpt
“Kell,” she whispered against his mouth. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For this.” She motioned at the romantic dinner he’d created for the two of them, the wide table in this conference room an ample spread for a…
Ample spread.
“We haven’t even had dinner. Thank me after.”
She batted her eyelashes. “Is that an offer?”
“Rachel,” he said, moving his hand from her waist to cup her ass. “That’s more than an offer.”
He started to kiss her again, but she put her fingers on his lips. “If we don’t eat dinner first, we’ll never eat. And I have a meeting here in this very room, to try to pitch the deal again, in three days. Boundaries, Kell – boundaries. I refuse to have sex on this conference table.”
“The thought never, ever occurred to me,” he lied.
“Liar.”
“Caught.”
With a deep laugh he adored, she reached for the bottle of wine. “How about you uncork this and we start with a lovely glass.”
“Fine. The table is off the table.”
Social Media Content:
If you’re looking for a fun read about enemies to lovers, forced proximity, heroines who get their comeuppance and sworn bachelors felled by unexpected true love, featuring a hot bearded lumberjack impervious to poison ivy, and a city-slicker, jaded career woman with a penchant for great coffee, set in a small town in New England – then this is your book.
Why was she thinking about the guy she almost kissed five years ago? The guy who rescued her from near death in a lemur costume? The guy who didn’t believe her when she decided to warn him that his girlfriend at the time–half a decade ago–was just using him for access to his powerful uncle in Maine government?
The sound of her voice made him want to kiss her. Or turn on his heel and walk away. He wasn’t sure which. Given that he literally could not escape from Rachel now, that left only one option. Kissing her was on the table, though, no matter how tempting.
Release blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.
April 26, 2022
The Guardian Trilogy – Blog Tour #EpicFantasy
Prophecy of the Guardian
Guardian Trilogy Book 1
by J.W. Baccaro
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Ultimate edition. Includes map of Seventh-Realm Earth, character and creature list.
“Not darkness, not light, perhaps something in between, and is claimed by the darkness…as theirs. Though being saved by the light, that which is saved must in turn save the world…”
Darshun Luthais has never experienced the Nasharin Frenzy—the unbending will to challenge a stronger opponent, no matter the cost. He doesn’t know what he will transform into, has never bonded with an elemental crystal and has never seen any of the unearthly creatures his father talks about. Even though he’s an infant in Nasharin years, his life consists of nothing but constant training, striving to unlock the sleeping power his so-called accursed race is born with.
But all that changes when he is pursued by a Dream Assassin in the dead of night. What he witnesses will forever change his outlook on life and lead him on a quest only the strongest can complete.
The Coming of the Light
Guardian Trilogy Book 2
The Wizard Crystals of the Elements have fallen into the hands of the Demon Lord Abaddon, reshaped to evil and forever corrupted they no longer can serve the Light. Abaddon now patiently waits in his northern kingdom for the coming of Saruinkai—the evening when the greatest spirits of Darkness rule the skies, and when he will unleash the power of the crystals against their own elements, sweeping destruction across the earth.
The Light’s hope now lies in the young Nasharin warrior Darshun Luthais—the chosen Guardian, for he is the key to stopping Abaddon’s black magic and end the war once and for all. But to do so he must cross over into Abaddon’s kingdom, and that means destroying the one who guards the border, a fallen angelic Throne—the secret to Asgoth’s three-hundred-year Rule and invincibility.
Led by the elvish lord Caelestias, Darshun and his companions must seek out and destroy the Throne, encounter a witch, and a horde of other vile creatures, only to stir up the entirety of Asgoth, coming face to face with them, a battle that will determine the fate of the world.
“…a sign to tell this overruling darkness that the Light is coming. Let them be the ones to try and pass through us for once. Their ungodly Rule and ways of cruelty has gone on far too long. Let them feel the terror they love to inflict in others…just this once…” ~Darshun Luthias~
Piercing the Darkness
Guardian Trilogy Book 3
While the Demon Lord Abaddon prepares to cast the Spell of Destruction and wipe out the glories of the earth for his own void of evil, Darshun Luthais, after a long oppressive journey, attempts to eradicate the source of his dark magic, the sacrificial Unholy Altar. But when the Dragon Gods unleash their barricade of fire the Delibious—a mystic realm of darkness, flames and witchery—Darshun must find a way through without tearing his soul from existence and save the earth from the coming annihilation.
J.W. Baccaro is the author of Prophecy of the Guardian and Blood Dreams. Always a lover of creativity, from works of literature to writing music with his electric guitar; even baking and cooking. When not working on his next story or lost in a good book, J.W. enjoys kicking back with a couple of tasty craft beers and binging on Kaiju movies, 80’s action flicks, Japanese animation and slasher films (particularly the one involving a hockey mask). Heck, he even enjoys a good romantic comedy. He lives in upstate NY with his wife Melissa, his son Alexander, his German Shepherd and his three cats.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$25 Amazon giftcard (WW),
Print Set of The Guardian Trilogy (US Only),
ebook set of The Guardian Trilogy (WW)
-1 winner each!
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
April 23, 2022
The Secret of Blossom Rise – Hindi Edition ब्लॉसम राइज़ का रहस्य
एक नौजवान नर्स एक ऐसे अस्पताल में काम करने जाती है जो पहले सेना का अस्पताल हुआ करता था और उसे वहाँ अपने परिवार से संबंधित एक राज़ का पता चलता है, साथ ही वहाँ के भूत भी उसे जाने-पहचाने लगते हैं. एक भुतहा लघुकथा.
#Ebook #Ghoststory #shortstory #IARTG
भूत, असाधारण, भयकथा, लघुकथा, भुतहा कहानी
https://books2read.com/BlossomRise-Hindi
indi
April 20, 2022
Swift Six Character Interview- Adelei #Fantasy
Character Name: Adelei aka Iliana Poncett of Alexander
Which book/world do you live in? The Boahim Trilogy, beginning in Book I, Amaskan’s Blood
Tell us about yourself:
I serve Anur, God of Justice, first and foremost, but beyond that, I’m fairly simple. I enjoy weapons-work and hunting, as well as working with my battle steed, Midnight. I’m nineteen but some days my years stretch further in the distance than I’m capable of seeing, which is a polite way of saying I feel old. Perhaps it’s the killing. I know I only kill when Anur requires and only to serve Justice, but the blood never leaves you.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
I feel that my strengths lie in my ability to deliver Justice swiftly and without…complications. Where others might worry about taking a life, I understand my role in the grand picture set by the Thirteen (the gods). My greatest weakness is my past. I love my adopted family, especially Master Bredych, my father, but he lied to me about my birth family. Sometimes it’s a challenge to know who to believe.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).
The Order of Amaska (including my adopted father, Master Bredych)—they took me in and made me who I am; King Leon Poncett III, my birth father; and Anur, God of Justice, may I find the way.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?
It means standing up for what is right and defending those unable to defend themselves. Heroism also means ensuring Justice is served. Always.
What do you think of your ‘creator’?
I have thirteen. While my life is Anur’s, I’m not as fond of the others. They aren’t always as fair and just as He.
Give us your favourite piece of advice:
Family is what you make of it, so choose wisely.
Links to book
Autographed copies can be obtained here: https://booksandchains.square.site/
Otherwise, links to book here: https://books2read.com/ravenoak
April 19, 2022
Book Spotlight – Embrace of the Shade #RomanticFantasy #Fantasy
Title: Embrace of the Shade, Part One in the Pantracia Chronicles
Author: Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Hansen
Genre: Romantic High Fantasy
Main character description (short). Amarie and Kin are the two main characters. Amarie is cursed with magic she doesn’t understand how to use and seeks to protect it from those who would abuse it. She is stubborn, independent, and totally badass with her weapons. Kin is more of an anti-hero. He serves a wicked master and seeks the same artifact Amarie does. He’s broody, dark, but defends those he loves with ferocity.
Synopsis: Amarie’s legendary magic could incinerate her enemies, but it’s her sword she trusts.
While running from the men who killed her family, she learns of an ancient text locked within the Great Library that might be the final key to understanding her curse. During the daring theft, a stranger inserts himself into her scheme. Kin’s roguish good looks and boundless charm threaten to distract her, but she has no intention of landing in the city jail.
Kin’s life, riddled with shadows and death, is as dark as his soul.
He embraces his power, given by a wicked master, but when he meets Amarie… She shatters the walls he’s built, piercing his solitude with vibrant light. But if she learns he hunts the power cursing her family, he will lose her forever.
Trusting him could risk her heart and her life, but it might be the only way to destroy the world’s most sinister evil. Unless Kin’s master finds her first…
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
“Impatient, aren’t we?” Kin thumbed through the book.
Amarie ground her teeth. “No, of course not. Why would I be? It’s not like I’m in a restricted section of the library with a stolen key and book or anything.”
“Unaccustomed to thievery?”
“Unaccustomed to getting caught.”
“We won’t get caught…” He paused, finger sliding down the page before he snapped the volume shut and slipped it into his cloak.
“No. I won’t get caught. And you won’t, either, if you keep up.” As she made her way down the stairs, she didn’t look back, able to hear his footsteps.
“Would now be a bad time to ask your name?”
She laughed. “I thought you heard my conversation with Caisus?”
“I did. But Samitha is too plain a name for you.”
She swore she could hear the smirk on his lips. “Did you have a better suggestion for a name I can use next time?”
He chuckled as they came to the bottom of the stairs, boots echoing against the tiles. “I won’t satisfy you with my suggestion until you give me your real name.”
Amarie stopped and spun to face him. She lifted her chin, a coy smile dancing on her face as she met his gaze. “Then, I suppose you shall leave me unsatisfied for our first felonious adventure. Doesn’t bode well for getting you a second. Much as I’d like to tell you it comes as a surprise…” She sighed. “Sadly, it doesn’t.”
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)? It’s the start of something epic. A story that’s been in the making for twenty years, with such complexities to the plot that you won’t even notice until the later books. The dialogue, the interactions, it’s all so authentic because of the way we write. As we tell each character’s story, you’ll see through the books as their fates start to entwine. Overlap. Weave together. Like the fantasy avengers.
https://www.facebook.com/PantraciaChronicles
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1403350093427347
Into the Shattered Mirror – New Release #Poetry
A dark poetry duology: war, politics, life, loss, nature and the vagaries of life feature in this special two-book collection.
Featuring – Shattered Mirror – A poetry collection & Beyond the Shattered Mirror
Only available on Amazon
April 18, 2022
Swift Six Author Interview – Raven Oak #Fantasy
Name: Raven Oak
Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):
I’m a disabled, geeky, enby and full-time SF/F author and artist. I live in the Seattle area with my partner and three special-needs kitties and we both enjoy gaming (tabletop, board game, and video games) and exploring the ocean. Cartography and linguistics are both hobbies of mine, and I love living in the Pacific NW.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short)
I have a lot of them so I’ll tell you about Book I of my Boahim Trilogy, Amaskan’s Blood.
It’s been described by others as Disney’s Tangled meets Game of Thrones. I don’t think it’s as violent as GoT but it’s a valid description in terms of the study of familial relationships and political intrigue. My short blurb for it is: Two sisters. Two loyalties. One path together. The two sisters didn’t grow up together and are the antithesis of each other. Adelei has been raised in the Order of Amaska, a holy sect of assassins that seek out Justice for their clients. Margaret is the very stereotype of spoiled princess. Through book I, as they grow to know each other, they both learn lessons from each other that make them better people. While the familial themes are going, there’s an ancient evil brewing because let’s be honest, there always is in epic fantasy. The trilogy is about how they deal with various shades of evil and what evil really is.
When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?
I’ve always written. My first publication was actually a children’s book I wrote and illustrated that was published as part of a university study on children’s literacy. Whenever I got into trouble, I made up a story to go along with it and explain what “really happened” and why it “wasn’t my fault.” Some people call those lies or super-elaborations but in my brain, they were stories. Adventures to entertain me and keep me from thinking too hard about the environment I grew up in.
When I was twelve, I discovered the majority of SF/F, specifically Anne McCaffrey. I liked her photo in the back of the book because she looked like my grandmother and even shared the same birthday (April 1st), plus the books I first found had dragons (my fav). After devouring the Pern novels, I spent my summer that year writing a 350+ page novel that was my own version of The Dragonriders of Pern. I didn’t know what fanfiction was but it was pretty much that. I even got map making supplies and drew my own maps. I drew dragons and characters as well. I was hooked. I’d written stories before then but never a full novel. After that book, I wrote a trilogy, and by the time I was in high school, I was writing daily of my own material (not fan-fiction). It wasn’t until college that I began to seek publication.
What writing plans do you have for the future?
I’ve got three novels, 1 short story collection, and 1 story in an anthology due out in the next twelve months! Right now, I’m working on revisions for most of those works with some pretty serious deadlines so wish me luck!
What do you like to read?
I read most genres: sci-fi, fantasy, horror, thriller, mysteries, urban fantasy, historical fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, etc. I don’t read a lot of romance unless it’s mixed into one of the other genres. Straight up romance and erotica tends to bore me as a demisexual. As far as my favorites, they shift all the time since I read a LOT, but some favs are: Rebecca Roanhorse, Neil Gaiman, Connie Willis, Jenny Lawson, and Shannon Mayer.
What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?
Don’t be afraid to experiment. It’s how we learn.
Author bio and book synopsis
BIO:
Multi-international award-winning speculative fiction author Raven Oak is best known for Amaskan’s Blood (2016 Ozma Fantasy Award Winner, Epic Awards Finalist, & Reader’s Choice Award Winner), Amaskan’s War (2018 UK Wishing Award YA Finalist), and Class-M Exile. She also has many published short stories in anthologies and magazines. She’s even published on the moon! Raven spent most of her K-12 education doodling stories and 500 page monstrosities that are forever locked away in a filing cabinet.
Besides being a writer and artist, she’s a geeky, disabled ENBY who enjoys getting her game on. She lives in the Seattle area with her husband, and their three kitties who enjoy lounging across the keyboard when writing deadlines approach. Her hair color changes as often as her bio does, and you can find her at www.ravenoak.net.
Amaskan’s Blood Book Synopsis:
Adelei was a master in her field, one of the feared Order of Amaska. Those who were a danger to the Little Dozen Kingdoms wound up dead by her hand. The Order sends her deep into the Kingdom of Alexander, away from her home in Sadai, and into the hands of the Order’s enemy, her birth father. The job is nothing short of a suicide mission, one serving no king, no god, and certainly not Justice. With no holy order to protect her, she tumbles dagger-first into the Boahim Senate’s political schemes and finds that magic is very much alive and well in the Little Dozen Kingdoms.
They say the truth depends on which side of the sword one stands. But they never said what to do when all the swords are pointing at you.
Links/Social media
Website: www.ravenoak.net
Mailing List: https://www.ravenoak.net/join-the-conspiracy/
Facebook Author Page: https://facebook.com/authorroak
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ravenconspiracy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/raven_oak
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_raven_oak/
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/raven_oak
Bookbub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/raven-oak
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Raven-Oak/e/B00P5PT4AM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kaonevar/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravenoak1
Book Spotlight – Amaskan’s Blood – Raven Oak #Fantasy
Title: Amaskan’s Blood (Book I of the Boahim Trilogy)
Author: Raven Oak
Genre: Fantasy (Epic Fantasy)
Main character description (short):
Adelei is a master in her field, one of the feared Amaskans. She serves as a deliverer of Justice on behalf of the Thirteen. Young and impetuous, she’s sent into the hands of her birth father in order to protect the family from assassins. She’s forced to juggle her feelings about the “job” and her relatives while learning the truth about her adopted family.
Synopsis:
Adelei was a master in her field, one of the feared Order of Amaska. Those who were a danger to the Little Dozen Kingdoms wound up dead by her hand.
The Order sends her deep into the Kingdom of Alexander, away from her home in Sadai, and into the hands of the Order’s enemy, her birth father. The job is nothing short of a suicide mission, one serving no king, no god, and certainly not Justice. With no holy order to protect her, she tumbles dagger-first into the Boahim Senate’s political schemes and finds that magic is very much alive and well in the Little Dozen Kingdoms.
They say the truth depends on which side of the sword one stands. But they never said what to do when all the swords are pointing at you.
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
Ida closed her eyes. “—Our task was simple. While the King was busy with the enemy at his border, we’d take the child Uncle Goefrin arranged for us to ‘protect.’ I swear to ya, Leon, I didn’t know what they planned. No one said they were to kill ’er. I thought—”
“You thought what, exactly? You would kidnap my children and wife? My family? To do what exactly? Go for a walk in the woods? Who the hell are you to take part in such a—” This time when Leon shook her, the tears fled their prison and leapt across her cheeks. “That’s what you are—you’re Amaskan,” he whispered.
She winced when his fingers squeezed what little flesh clung to her bones, but she didn’t look away.
The quiet anger within left him breathless, yet he lifted her off her feet before he flung her to the floor with a snarl. “Who are you? What are you to crawl into my bed, into my heart? For ten years—”
The knock at the door startled them both. “Your Majesty?”
“Send the captain away,” she hissed from where she’d fallen, her robe torn where she’d tripped over it.
“Why should I do anything you ask?”
“Because I’m the only one who knows where your daughter is.”
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
If you love stories about what it means to be family and what it means to seek justice for all, you’ll love this book.
Cover Art (add as attachment please)
Links etc.
Autographed copies can be obtained here: https://booksandchains.square.site/
Otherwise, links to book here: https://books2read.com/ravenoak
April 17, 2022
Book Spotlight – Darkness Holds the Son #Fantasy
Title:
Darkness Holds the Son
Author:
D.L. Gardner
Genre:
Fantasy: Noble bright
Main character description (short).
Jareth, father of two and devoted husband, Jareth has been goat herding to please his wife and life down the stigma of his former occupation, i.e. mercenary. He’s in his early 30s, strong, able, and restless with a passion to protect his family and find the cure for his son.
Synopsis:
Darkness Holds the Son takes us to a small village named Tuluva where Jareth, an unemployed mercenary, and his wife and two children are raising goats to sustain themselves. Things go well for them until the land-baron of Ogress raises their taxes, forcing Jareth to pick up his crossbow and return to the battlefield. Jareth has an even more pressing problem than keeping his family out of debtor’s prison, though. His son Crispin has seizures that are caused by magic and if Jareth doesn’t find the source soon, it could be fatal as the boy hears voices instructing him to kill his father. On Jareth’s quest, he discovers that the same affliction is haunting all the children in the kingdom.
Join Jareth, his wife, and King Barin in this new adventure as they search the Neverworld and half of Casdamia to find and destroy that which has taken the youth of their world captive.
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
“What was it like?” Jareth asked as he held the boy’s hand. “What do you feel when this thing happens?”
“Everything around me, you, Mother, the fire, the room, it became a blur. I saw only that boy, but it wasn’t really him, not in the flesh. It was his ghost. He talked to me.”
“What did he say?”
Crispin glanced out the window and shook his head, his eyes red. “I can’t tell you.”
“You must, Son.”
The hesitancy bothered Jareth. What could a vision possibly tell his boy that would make him ashamed?
“Tell me, Crispin. We’ve always shared our thoughts. Let me carry this burden with you.”
Crispin trembled and wiped his face. Jareth squeezed his hand as the boy drew a breath.
“It’s not easy,” the boy said.
“I’m here for you.”
“He wanted me to tell you that you’re fighting for the wrong cause. He said you shouldn’t draw arms with the King’s soldiers, or the baron’s or any of the lords.”
“What?”
“He said I should convince you to join the insurrection that is growing throughout Casdamia and Potamia, if you know what’s good for you. He said our generation, the children they…” Crispin stopped and wiped his eyes.
“What about the children?”
“He said we will rise to conquer at a young age and slaughter all those who are in our way—that we’ll rule both the kingdoms, and he wants me to—”
“He wants you to do what?”
“Father. I can’t.”
“He wants you to do what, Crispin? Tell me. I need to know.”
His son looked deep into his eyes, tears welling in his own.
“He wants me to kill you if you don’t.”
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
The Sword of Cho Nisi series, and particularly this book, is unique, filled with action, and is meant to make the reader think. What if your children were stolen away by a dark and magical force and there was little you could do to save them? Would you fight all odds to find them? It’s a story about parental courage and passion.
Cover Art (add as attachment please)
Links etc.
