A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 65
February 27, 2022
McCool Mythos Blog Tour and #Giveaway #Horror
McCool Mythos: Tales of the Dark and Mysterious
by M.I.H. McCool & John R. McCool III
Genre: Horror
Think carefully before turning the cover…
Prepare yourself for an escape into a world of the harrowing and peculiar. McCool Mythos: Tales of the Dark and Mysterious is a collection of bite-sized tales brought to you by the brother/sister duo, John R. McCool III and M.I.H. McCool in their debut collaboration.
From stories following average people facing supernatural horrors to legends of strange circumstances involving even stranger creatures, each tale is sure to make you think twice before shutting off the light.
M.I.H. McCool grew up in southern Mississippi and currently resides in the little town of Danville, Illinois with her chunky pug, Otis, and her turtle, Roosevelt. When not writing, McCool can be found participating in her community’s rich theatre scene, making decorative color-changing potions, writing nerdy articles for 101 Militia Gaming, and enjoying being the ‘cool aunt’ to her nieces.
Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads
John R. McCool III hails from a small town in the great state of Mississippi. He fell in love with writing at a very young age, oftentimes writing stories during class rather than paying attention. He now resides in Danville, Illinois where most of his time is spent attending to the day-to-day operations of a local coffee shop, which is like a second home to him. When not writing or sipping coffee, John loves spending time with his wife and kids who give him the inspiration to pursue all of his dreams.
Facebook * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Swift Six Character Interview – The Girl #Sci-fi #Fantasy
Character Name: The Girl (I have several aliases depending on the situation)
Which book/world do you live in? I live in the Sunspear world. I have been on this journey from the beginning and still remain despite close calls.
Tell us about yourself: I usually avoid this question.
There’s only two people left that know who I am and that’s Alika and Alena. I wish they didn’t know. I’m always afraid of putting them in danger, but it can’t be helped. My parents are both dead. Their death haunts me for different reasons, one I grieve still and the other I wish it had come sooner. You must think me a horrible person for saying such a thing, but if you knew the truth maybe you wouldn’t think so. Perhaps you still would. I’ve seen close up the ugliness of the Black Dragon, and so I fight them. However, my past requires I battle differently. I routinely rotate between a number of roles to get the job done. I’m the shipping dealer, the disguised Black Dragon soldier, the security advisor, and the list goes on. You’d think I would be confused, but I keep it straight. Part of it is I have to. Survival is a strong motivation. It’s a deadly game I play. So, one day I’m Chris the shipping dealer, another day to another person I take on another random name for my shipping cover, then another day I’m Kate the advisor, and then another day Dante calls me … (She shakes her head). I still can’t understand that one, how he sees me like that. Alika tells me Dante sees clearly when it comes to me, that I’m one with the distorted vision on that one. He hasn’t convinced me yet. Of course, no one sees the images I do, the gift from the Ancient One. I tell myself it’s a gift, and it is because it helps us in a lot of ways. Yet, there are images I can’t get out of my head, that I can’t unsee. Honestly, it scares me to death. It’s something that you can’t extinguish with a sunspear blade like a Black Dragon agent.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Strengths, huh? I’m excellent in a fight, but a give a lot of credit to my teachers, Alika and Alena. I can also get into about anything electronic; it’s invaluable in the operations we carry out, with hacking into systems and creating clearances. I’m always had a knack for it, just like my… well I guess that kind of stuff isn’t passed down in genes, but sometimes it feels like it. I can play whatever role needed or at least so far, I’ve been able to. Some are harder to reconcile than others once the scene is played out, but I have to bury it and move on from the aftermath. There’s a line, and certainly I’ve walked it more than once now. Honestly, I’m certain I’ve stepped across it. Beyond those, strengths get hard to find if the truth were told with my vision, but others disagree with my assessment. Alika and Alena frequently tell me I’m my worst critic, that I don’t see this incredible person I am. It’s easier just to nod and pretend to agree with them those times. They already know that’s all I’m doing. They try to convince me I’m not to blame for everything I place on myself. I see the failures though, the ones I didn’t make it in time to save, like my … (She looks down momentarily). I guess that’s one of my weaknesses. Any victory is swallowed up in the memories of what I couldn’t change, of what the Black Dragon has taken away. It drives me to never let them have victory again and that means protecting those around me at all costs. I vow never to fail them again, and that’s a good thing. However, sometimes the anger boils to the surface faster than I realize, and it consumes me all over again. Regrettably anyone in the path of it feels its fury, and I hate it about myself. I don’t know how many times I’ve had to beg for Alika’s forgiveness, but thankfully he never gives me what I deserve for how I act. Instead, he gives me a hug and affectionally calls me by the name he uses on me still, his child. I’m grown now, but I’m okay with that name, because I still feel like a child in so many ways. That desire to protect those around me and to fight for them is also what gets me into many of the messes I find myself in. Even though we go in with a plan for an operation, I’m impulsive and change the game plan on my own. If that means it’s my last stand so that someone I care about survives, I’ll make that trade any day.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).
I consider Alika and Alena my family now. Alika is an Elder, one of those called to the task of training sunspear-bearers. However, he’s so much more than that to me. He’s shown me the love of a father, but never been afraid to challenge me at the same time when he knew I was moving into dangerous waters. Alena, a spear-bearer herself, has helped trained me, but more than that she is the sister I never had. She has seen me through the darkest moments of my world and been the shoulder I cried on. They both continued all the teachings of the Ancient One. The Ancient One is this other one in my world that some days it’s a wonder He doesn’t leave me be. Somehow though as many times as I come unravelled, He’s there to reassure me I’m still His and that He has me in His hands. As far as my world, I’ve seen different landscapes at various points in my life. I’ve lived as a child in a household that seemed to the rest of the world as normal and played my role to survive. Then when it fell apart to the outside world finally, I became formally accustomed to a new world, one that frequently saw the inside of bars as a shipping dealer. Then there’s the other side of me, the other world I found myself drawn into or better yet, the person I found myself drawn to. That would be Dante. I saw him in the visions and tried to tell myself that’s all it was. I knew better. I had admitted the truth to myself long before he understood. It scares me to death though even as I long for every moment I get with him. If anyone finds out what he means to me, what’s growing between us, what will be the price? If something happened to him because of me, that would be it. The final blow in my world.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?
A hero… I guess for a lot of people it’s measured in how many kills you make with a blade. If you took a poll in many of the places I hang out, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s your top answer. It’s a pretty shallow measure though. Not to say those good with the blade don’t qualify. I mean, those I consider closest to me now are all masters with a blade. Yet it’s their heart and spirit that’s behind the blade that makes them a hero. It’s why they swing the blade repeatedly and keep getting up to battle again that gives them the title. Yet there’s those that never swing a blade, and yet they are heroes as much as the others. I watched that battle too, the one who is bent over from wounds of battles and yet struggles over and over again to one’s feet until the strike of the death wound. What the two have in common is what is heroism. It is the willingness to give of oneself, to put it all the line, in order to stand up against the darkness and to protect others.
What do you think of your ‘creator’?
Liz, as we know her as, is a lot of things. Somebody else asked Dante and I about Liz recently. She’s a lot of things. She pushes herself hard and keeps to an insane schedule. It’s no surprise then how she pushes us. I’m grateful for the splashes of down time she does give us. I’ve learned to treasure that time with Dante (she smiles). She does put us through a lot though, and I guess in some ways for that I could say I didn’t like her too much sometimes. I can’t though, because she never has us go through it alone. She’s steadfast and has proved herself a true friend. She fights beside us, reminding us we’re stronger than the battlefield in front of us. Sometimes that means being the shoulder to cry on. She gets that battlefield too, and it doesn’t scare her. She listens to us too, willing to help, but still lets us direct our own way. Honestly, I can’t blame her for the mishaps, because I do rush into things a fair amount of the time, especially when it involves people I care about. Liz gets me though, and I can be me with her too. There are other people it feels similar with, but Liz really does know all my secrets after all. Sometimes there’s parts of me that I don’t like, that I can’t imagine how anyone would still stay if they knew all of it. Yet, she does, because she doesn’t leave those she cares about. But I guess that’s what it comes down to with Liz. Even though we go through a lot of stuff with her, she loves us as we are and so we trust her. Because we’ve seen her heart, and so we’re not afraid of the journey ahead since she’s traveling with us.
Give us your favourite piece of advice:
That’s a tough one. I’ve been given so much training and words of wisdom already in my small number of years. Some I try to practice because they really are wisdom, but I find I’ve regrettably failed at keeping those at crucial moments. Others I’ve practiced not as much for their true wisdom, but to survive in the situation I found myself. It’s not a noble reason to follow it, but sadly it’s what I had to do. I suppose one of the best pieces of advice I ever got was from Alika. “Do not fear what is ahead. You are equipped for the path you chose. Remember who you are and cling to that truth.” It is the moments that I have strayed from that path, forgotten who I am, and believed the lies of the darkness that I have paid the price.
Links to book
https://books2read.com/TheSpinningOfDeception
https://books2read.com/Deceptions-Hold
https://books2read.com/ShadowedBonds
Social media links for author
https://twitter.com/Elavenderauthor
https://facebook.com/elizabethlavender.author
https://instagram.com/elizabethlavender.author
https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Lavender/e/B07ZLS4G93
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-lavender
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19685019.Elizabeth_Lavender
(13) Elizabeth Lavender | LinkedIn
February 25, 2022
Swift Six Character Interview – Vance Turbo #SpaceOpera #Scifi
Character Name
I am, Vance Turbo, HERO OF SPACE FLEET.
Which book/world do you live in?
I live in SPACE ACADEMY DROPOUTS, a story of adventure and romance and not at all a story about how I got dragooned into service with Space Fleet’s intelligence service after I dropped out because I was expendable. My world is the utopian Community, of which Earth is a new puny member, and it is a truly good organization that never does anything shady to preserve the seemingly idyllic life of its citizens. No sir.
Tell us about yourself
I, Vance Turbo, HERO OF SPACE FLEET, am the nephew of legendary Space Fleet Captain Kathryn Tagawa. Yes, Vance Turbo is not my name. Shocking, I know. I am a genius and quite good at what I do and what I do is be a wiseass. I didn’t ask to be dragooned by Division Twelve but I’m doing my very best to try to stop some weapons of interstellar destruction from falling into the hands of terrorists. But hey, no pressure.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
As yes, I am a genius (allegedly). However, my greatest ability is to be able to snark my way through the most traumatizing as well as distressing encounters that would drive most people to space madness. I can usually think my way around most problems rather than solving things with fusion pistols or barrier shields. I’m also stuck being the only sane man on my starship of weirdos and outcasts.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).
In addition to my Aunt Kathy, I am closest to my crew (even if they don’t appreciate me). The closest of the crew to me is probably the ship’s AI, Trish. Trish was designed for a top of the line warship and is one of the most powerful machines in existence but somehow got stuck with the tugboat we’re operating. My next favourite person is Hannah O’Brian, a mercenary demihuman bounty-hunter who is the most competent person onboard but has the military discipline of a wild T-Rex—which she hunts on her home planet. Finally, the third person I care for most is my ex. Which is not a state I’m used to. Lieutenant Leah Mass, who is a biomodified human with telepathy and every bit as determined to be a star in Space Fleet as I used to be. Except she’s become an agent of the intelligence service and I’ve become a dropout.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?
Heroism means doing your duty to your crew and then your mission. I dropped out of Space Academy because I couldn’t deal with the responsibility. Because of my carelessness, another student was killed even if I was cleared of all culpability. However, since I’ve been conscripted, I now have to do the best job I can because people are counting on me whether I want them to or not.
What do you think of your ‘creator’?
CT Phipps? I’m uncomfortably stuck with him.
Give us your favourite piece of advice:
There is no job too large or too important not to run away from. Too bad I can’t seem to follow it properly.
Links to book
Y Goedwig Olaf – Argraffiad Cymreig – The Last Forest – Welsh Edition
Pan ddaw pobl i gwympo’r goedwig olaf, maent am gael sioc ysgytwol. Stori ffantasi dywyll fer am ddigofaintr byd natur.
#Ffantasi #Ffantasitywyll
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
https://amzn.to/3HqjzdKFebruary 24, 2022
The Dark Brothers Series – Blog Tour #ReverseHarem #FantasyRomance
Sold To Serve
The Dark Brothers Book 1
by Kyra Alessy
Genre: Dark Reverse Harem Fantasy Romance
A woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. Three cruel mercenaries who could be her saviors … if they don’t kill her first …
Kora ran away to start a new life where she was in control of her own destiny and her own body. Instead, she was captured and auctioned to the highest bidders: Three former mercenaries with black hearts.
Mace is their leader; ruthless and unforgiving. Kade lives in the shadows and, if his growls are anything to go by, may not be a man at all. The third one, Lucian, seems to delight only in wine and tormenting their new possession until she breaks … and she might. Kora wasn’t a slave before and she must keep that secret at all costs. If they learn who she is, she’ll be forced to marry a man who scares her far more than her harsh masters.
Can she escape these three dangerous Brothers who have begun to show her that there is more to them than their tragic pasts? And if they find out her secrets, can she trust them not to throw her to the wolves?
Sold to Serve is the first book in the Dark Brothers Series of dark fantasy RH romance. If you like enemies to lovers, deliciously dark antiheroes and your love stories with bite, you will adore this book by Kyra Alessy.
Unlock the first standalone adventure in this amazing series today!
Author’s Note / DISCLAIMER: There are aspects of bullying in this, dark, why choose romance as well as dubcon and violence. 18+, my friends! If you like that sort of thing, I’m pretty sure you will enjoy this story. Although the road to happily ever after might be a rough one, arriving there is guaranteed (Also, no cheating and no cliffhangers. Not ever!)
**Start the series for FREE!**
Bought To Break
The Dark Brothers Book 2
A woman freed from chains. Three ruthless mercenaries seeking revenge. Intense attraction that won’t be denied … whatever the price.
Lana’s days are filled with backbreaking work and her nights are spent hiding from her master’s son, but, when dangerous mercenaries pass through her village, her life is changed forever…
She’s thrust into an outside world she’s only ever dreamed of.These warriors are unlike any men she has ever known. Driven by desperate vengeance, they’ve been broken by the tragedies of their pasts. Viktor is gruff and hard, Sorin, quick-witted and funny, and brooding Kane wields a power that terrifies her. Each hides sadness that rivals her own and Lana is drawn to them as well as their dangerous desires.
When a formidable enemy threatens them, can her bond with the three mercenaries save them all? Can she help them find the humanity they’ve lost, but more importantly, will they want her to?
Bought to Break is the second standalone story in the acclaimed Dark Brothers Series of dark fantasy romance. If you like enemies to lovers, flawed alphas who protect their resilient woman, and your love stories with bite, you will adore this book by Kyra Alessy.
Unlock the second standalone adventure in this amazing series today!
**Author’s Note: This is a dark, why choose fantasy romance with scenes that some have called ‘darker than the first book’. You have been warned! (There’s a happy ending of course, though!)
Kept To Kill
The Dark Brothers Book 3
Lily has been alone for most of her life. Held as a captive. Used as a weapon.
The mercenaries who ‘rescue’ her are as intriguing as they are brutal, but Lily is still a pawn in the games of men. They’ll use her and cast her aside if she lets them. That’s if she survives what comes next…
Quin, Commander of the Dark Army, has only one goal and will let Lily die if it serves his purposes, but he’s also drawn to her in a way that makes him wish for more. No one is safe from Mad Mal, a monster who kills to satisfy dark needs. He will make her pay for tempting the other beast he hides within. And the playful Bastian seems harmless, with a taste for wine and women, but he might just harbor the darkest soul of them all…and the darkest secrets.
Each man has his own twisted torments and fierce desires that Lily cannot fathom after her years a captive. But as the days and nights go by, she begins to realize she needs something she never thought she’d have and it may not be the freedom she always yearned for at all.
Can she unlock the hearts of these men who care for nothing and no one to find the pieces of themselves they buried long ago, or will they decide their mission is more important than the woman who brings them to their knees?
Kept to Kill is the third standalone in the Dark Brothers Series of dark fantasy romance. If you like strong, but desolate heroines, antiheroes that make your blood run cold even as it heats up, and your Happily Ever Afters with some darkness before the light, you will love this book.
Read the next dark adventure in this amazing series today!
Authors Note: This story contains knife play, angst for the FMC, and, although she can hold her own, things are not great for Lily at first. If you don’t enjoy that kind of story, continue at your own risk.
**You don’t need to have read the other books in the Dark Brothers series to enjoy this book, but it helps.**
Caught To Conjure
The Dark Brothers Book 4
A powerful witch who escaped a cruel life. Three stubborn enemies who would drag her back. Can they save their world together or will past hatred prove stronger than love?Growing up hated and despised, Vie escaped her uncle and the three men who made her miserable. She vowed never to return to that life nor to let herself be treated like that again.
But then they found her…
Drake, Krase and Vane might be mercenaries of the Dark Army, but their loyalties lie elsewhere. They’re marked by their wretched pasts, their hatred of witches and their allegiance to a cunning zealot.
When tasked to retrieve a witch with untold powers, they don’t expect to find Vivienne, the mistreated pariah from their academy days. But gone is the downtrodden, awkward girl they knew. In her place stands Vie, a force to be reckoned with, someone who confuses them and makes them feel more than hatred.
Can Vie stand up to those who tormented her? Can she make them see that she’s not their true enemy? That she needs their help to save their world? Or will they ignore the fire that burns between them and hand her over to a fate far worse than death?
Caught to Conjure is the fourth standalone in the Dark Brothers Series of dark fantasy romance. If you like the angst of bully, antiheroes that make you hate them before they become your favorites, and your happily-for-nows with some darkness before the light, this book is for you.
Read the next dark adventure in this epic series today!
Authors Note: This is an 18+ dark romance that some may find triggering. It is not real life, its fantasy, but continue at your own risk.
**You don’t need to have read the other books in the Dark Brothers series to enjoy this book, but it helps.**
Trapped To Tame
The Dark Brothers Book 5
A woman fighting to survive. Three fae males on a mission. Can love save their worlds from destruction? Or will hatred ensure their deaths?
Eve lives an indentured life, controlled by her keeper, forced to fight for others’ gains. She thrives on combat because it’s all she knows … because she can win and to lose means her body is the victor’s prize.
Drax, Priest and Fie are fae mercenaries on a mission to save their kind. When an unclear vision leads them to a mysterious woman who can hold her own in a fight with a man three times her size, they know they’ve found the one they’ve been searching for … and she’s nothing like they expected.
This starved, unkempt, half-breed female is an enemy. The men will do whatever’s necessary to ensure her cooperation and, if she gives them any trouble, they’ll make her wish she had died in the fighting rings. She WILL help them succeed in their mission …
Or she’ll die trying.
Trapped to Tame is the fifth standalone in the Dark Brothers Series of dark fantasy romance.
If you like hot, fae males, antiheroes you love to hate, strong heroines, and your multiple POV stories with some darkness before the light, tap now!
Read the next dark adventure in this epic series today!
Authors Note: This is an 18+ dark romance that some may find triggering as it contains violence and scenarios you personally might find disturbing. It is based in a fantasy world but please continue at your own risk.
**You don’t need to have read the other books in the Dark Brothers series to enjoy this book, but it helps.**
Seized To Sacrifice
The Dark Brothers Book 6
She has no memory of her past. They remember her crimes well. Can love save them, or will everything they care about be destroyed?
She doesn’t know anything about herself, not even her own name. Trapped in a cage, all she can do is wait for her turn to be auctioned … until a mercenary dressed in black releases her.
She’s drawn to him and the other two lords of his keep, but though their eyes are always on her, all she sees in them is hate. They don’t want her to be free. They know who she is, they despise her for wrongs she can’t recall, and they might not be the men they seem to be at all.
With their world on the brink of destruction, she may be the only one who can protect it … if she can remember who she is. But time is running out. A powerful enemy is searching for her and, when he finds her, he’ll use her to make sure there’s nothing left to save.
Can she unlock her past before it’s too late? Are these men who claim to be hers really who they say they are? Can she trust them?
Seized to Sacrifice is the final book in the Dark Brothers Series. If you like hot monsters, antiheroes whose hate turns to love, strong heroines, and your multiple POV stories with some darkness before the light, tap now!
Read the next dark adventure in this epic series today!
Authors Note / WARNING: This is an 18+ dark, enemies to lovers, why choose romance that some may find triggering as it contains violence, dubcon sexy times with monsters (Yeah. That’s right.) and depictions of almost-rape (not within the h@rem) and other scenarios you personally might find disturbing. It is based in a fantasy world but please continue at your own risk.
**You don’t need to have read the other books in the Dark Brothers series to enjoy this final story, but it helps because a lot of characters from the other books are part of the tale.**
Dark Realms. Dark Anti heroes. Dark Fantasies.
Kyra was almost 20 when she read her first romance. From Norsemen to Regency and Romcom to Dubcon, tales of love and adventure filled a void in her she didn’t know existed. She’s always been a writer, but its only now that she’s started to tell stories in the genre she loves most – which at the moment are very ‘why choose’!!
Follow her on Instagram, Goodreads, Twitter or Facebook for all the up-to-date info on release dates, exclusive content and other general awesomeness from the Dark Brothers’ world because she is literally ALWAYS online unless she’s asleep – much to her husband’s annoyance – and she loves interacting with her readers! In Kyra’s books, the road to happily ever after might be rough, but its well worth the journey!!
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$10 Amazon
February 23, 2022
Swift Six Author Interview CT Phipps #Scifi
Name: CT Phipps
Please introduce yourself (250 words or so):
Hello, my name is CT Phipps and I am the author of SPACE ACADEMY DROPOUTS. I am a science fiction and fantasy author who has written the Supervillainy Saga, Agent G, Lucifer’s Star, and Cthulhu Armageddon among others.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short):
SPACE ACADEMY DROPOUTS is a humorous space opera taking place a couple of centuries in the future when humanity has been contacted by aliens and taken to the stars. We’re kind of the Belgium of the galaxy, though, and not everyone is happy about that.
After Vance drops out of Space Academy, he ends up getting dragooned into their secret service and put on a suicide mission to recover sun destroying weapons. What’s worse is his crew is a bunch of misfits that he has to ride herd on. Vance wonders why they’re putting such an oddball collection together to do such an important mission but time is running out to solve the mystery.
When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it?
I have always been a huge Star Trek, Mass Effect, Babylon Five, and other space opera scifi fan. Space Academy Dropouts is an extended homage to those franchises. I have been writing since college but only started to get good at it around 2015 or so. That’s when my first published works started happening.
What writing plans do you have for the future?
In addition to Space Academy Dropouts, I have the book Daughter of the Cyber Dragons coming out. It’s a cyberpunk street adventure that I think people will absolutely love. It stars Keiko “Kei” Springs who is a Rider, a mercenary courier, who is working in the arcology of New Los Angeles. Well, suffice to say, her latest job proves to be quite a bit more complicated than she expected it to be and she ends up teamed up with a crew of misfits that don’t know who to trust.
What do you like to read?
I’m a science fiction, cyberpunk, urban fantasy, and superhero fan. Which, coincidentally, is a lot of what I like to write. I love writers like Anna Mocikat, SC Jensen, Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs, David Niall Wilson, and others.
What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure?
Don’t take the advice of people who promise you the moon marketing wise. There’s a lot of scammers out there.
Author bio and book synopsis
AUTHOR BIO:
C.T Phipps is a lifelong student of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An avid tabletop gamer, he discovered this passion led him to write and turned him into a lifelong geek. He is a regular blogger on “The United Federation of Charles” (http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/).
He’s the author of Agent G, Cthulhu Armageddon, Lucifer’s Star, Straight Outta Fangton, and The Supervillainy Saga.
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
“Boldly going because they’re completely lost.”
The newly renamed Vance Turbo has sabotaged his own career at Space Fleet Academy due to a desire to atone for training accident. Unfortunately, his actions result in him getting press-ganged into an expendable crew of misfits recruited by a legendary starship captain. Their mission? To recover a collection of lost sun-destroying missiles that could restart a galactic war. Unfortunately, Vance is smart enough to know something is wrong with this picture. After all, no sane person would recruit this crew to save the universe.
SPACE ACADEMY DROPOUTS is an all-new series from the hilarious duo of C.T. Phipps (Supervillainy Saga, Agent G) and Michael Suttkus (I Was a Teenage Weredeer, Lucifer’s Star) that lampoons the space opera as well as military science fiction genres.
Links/Social media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Willowhugger
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charles.phipps.946
Author Page: https://ctphipps.com/
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491731877784498/
February 20, 2022
Book Spotlight – Space Academy Dropouts #SpaceOpera
Basic Book Spotlight
Title: Space Academy Dropouts
Author: C.T. Phipps
Genre: Space Opera
Main character description (short): Vance Turbo (real name: Vannevar Tagashi) is a highly capable senior at Space Academy. However, he has gotten himself close to being thrown out and decides to blackmail his way into dropping out instead. He is snarky, irreverent, and highly capable in his field but very inexperienced.
Synopsis:
Vance Turbo finds himself dragooned into serving the secret service of the galaxy-spanning Community after he drops out of Space Academy under suspicious circumstances. Put in the worst crew in the galaxy, there’s something very strange about them being used for a mission that’s vital to the safety of the universe. Will he figure out what’s really going on? Can he survive with his ridiculous crew? Will they save everyone or doom us all?
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
“Cadet Vannevar James Tagawa—” the lion-faced alien said, sitting behind the desk in front of me. He had six arms and all of them fit in a snug red uniform with a silver badge on the right lapel that signified him as the Commandant of the Academy.
“Correction, sir,” I replied, smoothly. “I’ve had my name legally changed to Vance Turbo.”
The Commandant, whose name was a series of roars I couldn’t pronounce, stared at me. “No one calls you that. We’re also here to formally kick you out of the Academy.”
“I’m hoping to persuade you otherwise,” I said, smiling broadly.
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
It is snarky, hilarious, and action-packed. I think if you love Star Trek, Mass Effect, Star Wars, or anything like them then you’ll love this.
Links etc.
Social Media Links
Author Page: https://ctphipps.com/
Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491731877784498/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Willowhugger
Space Academy Dropouts: https://www.amazon.com/Space-Academy-Dropouts-C-Phipps-ebook/dp/B09Q1MS51G/
February 19, 2022
Swift Six Author Interview – Tahani Nelson #Fantasy #MilitaryFantasy #Femaleheroes
Name: Tahani Nelson
Please introduce yourself (250 words or so): My name is Tahani Nelson, and I’m the author of the Faoii Chronicles, a female-led military fantasy series. I’ve always loved reading, but growing up I struggled to find heroines that I could identify with or aspire to be. Women in classic fantasy always seemed to be damsels in distress or love interests. Even when I could find an awesome heroine with dreams and aspirations, more often than not it seemed she’d meet a guy halfway through the novel and that would be her main focus. I was so over love triangles by the time I turned 16. So now I write all the heroines that young me looked for and couldn’t find—and it turns out I wasn’t the only one searching. Together, we’ve built the Faoii Army—readers that have followed me through everything and come out the other side triumphantly through every obstacle. I think at this point I’m most famous for always attending readings, signings, and events in full armor and warpaint. I know a lot of people told me it was weird when I first started doing it, but you don’t get anywhere in this world without taking a few risks. And let me tell you—a fantasy lover will cut across a room to talk to someone in cool-looking armor. It’s a great conversation starter, and even if someone doesn’t buy my books the first time they pass my booth, there’s no question that they’ll remember they saw me.
Tell us about your book(s) – title, genre etc (short) The Faoii Chronicles is a completed military fantasy series that focuses on the unforeseen aftermath of war. We all have the power to forge new destinies and futures—but ripples can cause tidal waves, and even the smallest actions can change the Eternal Tapestry in monumental ways.
When did you start your writing adventure? What was the inspiration for it? According to my father, I’ve been writing “books” my entire life. I didn’t really start exploring it seriously until high school, though, when I wrote a 360,000 word monstrosity filled with tropes and two-dimensional characters. But I’ve always had supportive, loving people in my life, and they helped me to practice and hone my craft. I published my debut novel, The Last Faoii in 2017, and with the incredible support of the Faoii Army, it’s grown beyond anything anyone ever expected. It’s truly been an honor.
What writing plans do you have for the future? Honestly, I don’t know right now. The Faoii Chronicles have been the center of my existence for so long that I’ve kind of forgotten what my life was like before I started it. Now that the series is complete and available everywhere, I’m paralyzed by choice. I can keep writing military fantasy or I can move on to something with dragons or I can explore the science fiction world I created in a short story called “Honeysuckle Sky.” I’m free to do anything. I have no doubt that inspiration will strike and carry me forward the same way it did for my first series. You haven’t heard the last of me.
What do you like to read? I love fantasy, but I also come back to the classics quite often. Fahrenheit 451 is my favorite novel of all time, and I read it anytime I worry about whether or not my words have worth. When I search for something new, I try to support indie authors, because I know how much of a difference a single sale can make sometimes. And ripples can cause tidal waves.
What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you’d started your writing adventure? Stop comparing yourself to other writers. There will always be someone who writes more than you each night. Who sells more copies or who attends more events or makes more in royalties. It is so easy to get discouraged when you’re constantly comparing yourself to other authors—especially on social media. Those highlighted reels of other people’s “best of” moments while you only focus on your “bloopers” track. Comparison is a thief of joy. It is a soul crushing habit made specifically to extinguish whatever sets your soul on fire. Instead, I encourage you to think about where you were a year ago. Or five. Or ten. That person in the earliest stages of writing would have believed you could ever come this far. They would be so proud of you. And rightfully so. You’d be their hero. YOUR hero. And that’s exactly how it should be. If you must compare, then only compare the author you are now to the author you were then. And keep going. I can’t wait to see what author you’ll be.
Author bio and book synopsis
Tahani Nelson is an author and English teacher in Billings, Montana. With hundreds of 5-star reviews and an ever-growing army of Faoii at her back, Nelson has become a common attendee at author events, Renaissance festivals, news programs, and conventions across the US– always wearing full armor and a face resplendent with warpaint. While her most notable appearances have been at the Indie Audiobook Awards and Fantasycon discussion panels, she most frequently gives presentations about empowerment and creating strong, healthy female role models in modern media.
Synopsis of The Faoii Chronicles
The Faoii Order is the shield of Imeriel. Wielding both magic and blade, these women have held back ancient evils and maintained sacred rites for millennia. But when a dark war uncovers secrets that even the Faoii cannot keep hidden, it starts a chain of events threatening the free will of an entire continent.
As old leaders fall and new ones rise to take their place, a warrior, a thief, and a launderer all strive to fix what’s been broken. But none can see how their actions affect the Eternal Tapestry—and all are unknowingly bound to the Threads that the others grasp.
In an intricate tale that spans centuries, The Faoii Chronicles is both empowering and immersive. Everyone has the power to forge their own destiny—and even the smallest actions can change the Weave in monumental ways.
Links/Social media
https://www.facebook.com/TheLastFaoii
https://www.twitter.com/TahaniNelson
Instagram: TahaniNelson
TikTok: TahaniNelson
February 18, 2022
Swift Six Character Interview – Henry Fitzroy#Vampire #Paranormal #HistoricalFiction
Character Name
Henry Fitzroy – formerly Duke of Richmond, bastard son of Henry VIII
Which book/world do you live in?
Anarchic Destiny – Book 2 of the Naturae Series
Tell us about yourself:
‘Dying’ when I was 17 was a trauma, but I was told if I became a vampire, I would still be able to fulfil my destiny to be King. Annoyingly, after I said yes to being made vampire, my half brother Edward was born, so I had to wait, hidden and captive for another 17 years, until he too died in 1553. But, when I found out about his plans for succession, I realised I’d been forgotten. I was no-one. I have to find my place in this new world, find a way to fulfil my destiny to rule.
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
I didn’t realise how liberating it would be to give up my soul, and so I would say my greatest strength is that I have no compunction about doing what is necessary to achieve my given purpose. I’m also super-fast, super strong, and, depending on the day or how I feel, super compassionate. Perhaps that is my weakness, but I still feel for the humans, even though most of my kind view them as fodder.
Name three important people/creatures/institutions in your world (such as lovers, pets, government institutions, leaders, gods etc).
The institutions in my world are the structures which enable people like me to rule – the Church, although I have wavering affiliation to it, and the monarchy. I’m ambiguous as to which of these institutions should remain once I get into power. On a personal front, I have few friends. Those I can count are Thomas Fairfax, a daemon, and, I suppose, my half sister, Elizabeth. She knows who and what I am, and means a great deal to me, possibly because I cannot influence her as I can mere mortals. She has the potential though, to be great, I have always sensed this about her and I hope that in the future our two realms can grow closer in proximity. Naturae is where I will set my sights though, the home of the fae.
What does ‘heroism’ mean to you?
I have thought a great deal about this, and my opinion of what it means to be a hero, and a leader, was largely influenced by my father, Henry VIII. He had his flaws, to be sure, but he was driven to greatness by passion. A desire to grow his influence, be the best. However, I am of the mind that life should be preserved where possible. I regret losing my mortal life, and mourn the loss of my soul. I am not about revenge, or killing for the sake of it, but rather, people should be allowed to choose how they live, not die because of what someone else thinks. I think that makes me quite heroic, I will always stand up for liberty. That is my passion.
What do you think of your ‘creator’?
She tries hard to make me into a sympathetic character, although I know at times I may make some choices which ordinary people could view as morally wrong.
Give us your favourite piece of advice:
Life is short, for humans. Make the most of it, live how you want to and with honesty and you will have no regrets when it is over. If, like me, you are destined to live a long life, then there is even more reason to be true to yourself, because hiding who you are will cause you untold miseries which you have your whole life to regret.
Links to book
www.books2read.com/anarchicdestiny
February 17, 2022
The Dreadbound Ode Series Blog Tour #Grimdark #Scifi #Fantasy
The Skald’s Black Verse
The Dreadbound Ode Book 1
by Jordan Loyal Short
Genre: Epic Grimdark SciFi Fantasy
Brohr has been lied to, abused.
All he wants is to live in peace, away from the ignorance of his village, to outrun the raging ghost which haunts him.
But a hidden evil seeks to harness his fury.
Accused of murder, hunted by ruthless soldiers, Brohr delves the way of the Skald, unlocking forbidden blood magic as he unearths terrible family secrets.
When the red moon is broken, and all is lost, it’s up to Brohr to lead a rebellion, or face the end of the world!
An epic blend of norse fantasy and grimdark sci-fi!
Praise for the Dreadbound Ode…
“Rich in detail, bringing his tale to life with a foreboding atmosphere and characters that are intense. Good dialogue, rapid-fire action scenes, explosive magic and wicked political machinations.” -Tome Tender
“This is extremely well-written grimdark and if you like your fantasy and sci-fi gritty…this is a book you should pick up.” -Booknest
“The Weeping Sigil never stops. It has a relentless forward motion. It’s painful, and its glorious, and there are twists and turns that I never saw coming. It made my heart pound and yes, there was even a tear or two.” – Sarah Chorn, author of Seraphina’s Lament
“Perfect for grimdark fans.” -Grimdark Magazine
“[The Weeping Sigil] took everything that I had loved from The Skald’s Black Verse and lifted it to a whole other level, and I for one can’t wait to see what Jordan Loyal Short will do next. This is a fantastic book, great for anyone who enjoys a delectable mix of fantasy and science fiction, with a good dash of grimdark.” – Beneath a Thousand Skies
“I love the cultures, the magic system, the spaceships and the interplanetary communication. There’s lots of action and peril. It’s a great book! I’d very much recommend it.” – Lee Conley, author of the Dead Sagas
The Weeping Sigil
The Dreadbound Ode Book 2
Adrift in the void, Henrik’s rescue is only a prelude to slavery.
But his new life on Tyria is not at all what he expected. When the illustrious House of Quoll purchases him, Henrik finds himself living in the home of his old enemy, Prefect Brasca Quoll. Desperate to hide the truth of his last days on Heimir, Henrik dives into the murderous game of Tyrianite politics. Devastated by the catastrophe on the Norn homeworld, the Federation teeters on the brink of civil war.
While the Shining Ones maneuver their champions for the final confrontation, Henrik’s fevered visions unveil the scope of Moriigo’s nightmarish rebellion.
Aboard a stolen voidcraft, Brohr and Lyssa hurtle into the depths of the starry abyss, on a desperate exodus in search of safe haven. But the outer reaches of the system are full of strange worlds, haunted ruins, and bizarre cults.
As anarchy grips the streets of Tyria, Henrik vows to reveal the true peril facing the Federation: Moriigo’s return! While rival electors, assassins, and federal inquisitors plot the downfall of House Quoll, Henrik must bind himself to the future of his onetime enemies, lest the horrors of his prophetic visions come to pass!
Travels in the Dark
The Dreadbound Ode Book 3
The final chapter of the Dreadbound Ode…Lyssa is going to the Dead Place and everyone she killed will be waiting.
As the Hidden One’s twisted plan to resurrect the Deep Gods unfolds, the only way to stop him is a secret buried in the land of death.
But Lyssa has not given up. If the Deep Gods can return, so can she.
Can Lyssa find a way back? Can she delve into hell’s darkest corners and emerge with the lore to stop the Deep Gods’ rise? Or will she become a lost soul, like so many of those she loved in life?
Ancient horrors will wake. Skalds will sing. And a blind seer will see the shadows gather.
Lyssa Pedersten has tasted poison, and hell had best beware.
Jordan Loyal Short is an author of epic fantasy. His first novel, The Skald’s Black Verse, is a dark and beautiful story about families, cultures, and beliefs at war with themselves. The protagonist, Brohr, must navigate the tangled loyalties and unforgiving biases of a planet conquered by invaders from another world. Using black magic, and the bizarre bond he shares with his stillborn brother’s spirit, Brohr unravels the truth about himself and an eon spanning war that has reached its end game.
Jordan has worked in a variety of industries, as a web developer, bartender, copywriter and more. He lives in Washington state with his wife where he is currently daydreaming about the end of the world.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner
Audiobooks of the first 2 books – 3 winners!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
