A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 73

Pride of Ashna Blog Tour and Guest Post #Scifi #SpaceOpera Emmanuel M Arriaga

Pride of AshnaFoundra Book 2by Emmanuel M ArriagaGenre: Science Fiction, Space Opera In the Outer Rim, a lawless region of space filled with violence, a young girl vows vengeance against the marauding pirate bands who brutally murdered her family. After enlisting with the zealous matriarchal Ashna Maidens who attempt to police the Outer Rim, Serah’Elax quickly becomes a powerful weapon. Meanwhile, a ruthless pirate band has taken over a cruise ship deep within Alliance space. They run into unexpected trouble when they encounter a few members of the highly trained force of military specialists known as the Founder’s Elites, who happened to be vacationing on the vessel. Disturbed by the boldness of the pirates, the Alliance tasks the rest of the Founder’s Elites with dealing a powerful blow to the marauders, who normally operate in the Outer Rim, once and for all. However, they quickly discover that things in the Outer Rim are not as expected. The young warrior and Founder’s Elites must come together to face an extradimensional threat left over from the Rift War that seeks to turn the last bastion of safety in the Outer Rim into something that could threaten the entire Twin Galaxies. Will the new allies have the cunning necessary to defeat this insidious threat or will it tear the Ashna Maidens apart from the inside? **Discounted price of $2.99 for a limited time!**Goodreads * Amazon FoundraFoundra Book 1 The Huzien Empire has existed for 80 millennia and a powerful invisible force known as the enesmic permeates every aspect of the Twin Galaxy. Neven is an engineer working for the pinnacle of scientific achievement known as the MinSci on the Huzien homeworld of Thae. His genius draws the attention of one of the immortal Founders and he finds himself drafted into the military as part of an elite group of special forces known as the Founder’s Elites. Not given much time to adjust, his team is called to investigate stories of otherworldly creatures attacking fringe colony worlds. Soahc is the most powerful wielder of the enesmic in the Twin Galaxy, he’s also incredibly cocky. That is until he senses a powerful shifting in the enesmic that he can’t explain. Terrified that something is horribly wrong, Soahc leaves his comfortable planet and hitches a ride with Neven and the Founder’s Elites as they investigate the carnage on the fringes of the empire. Neven, Soahc and their allies discover something ancient from another plane of existence. Something that exposes the fragility of their galactic empire as they fight to survive annihilation from enesmic beings. — *Reader Reviews for Foundra*“Well written, ambitious sci-fi epic.”“An entire space saga you won’t want to put down.”“Amazing characters, exciting new world, incredible writing.”“If you love reading about galactic empires, get your hands on this book.”“An elaborately fun sci fi story.” **Kindle Countdown Sale May 4th – 10th!!!**Goodreads * Amazon Emmanuel M. Arriaga grew up in the inner city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From a young age, he was obsessed with fantasy and science fiction. Breaking the shackles of a low-income life, Emmanuel developed an interest in science, technology and engineering. He went on to graduate from Pennsylvania State University with a Master’s in Information Science. For almost a decade, Emmanuel has sought to share his vivid imagination with the world, learning the art of story crafting and eventually becoming an award-winning author. With a love for travel, gadgets and volunteering, Emmanuel is enjoying life and helping others. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $10 Amazon gift card & 1 Foundra t-shirt with character of choicehttps://amzn.to/3xvhAki-3 winners! a Rafflecopter giveaway

NFTs as an author

I’ve been experimenting with a new concept, utilizing the new market of NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, as a means for connecting with new and existing readers. It’s been an interesting journey and I’ve had to dust off my experience with Photoshop’s more advanced capabilities to produce something worthy of the not insignificant cost of enshrining it permanently on the blockchain.

For background, NFTs are units of data on a digital ledger called a blockchain where each NFT represents a unique digital item and thus are not interchangeable. They are currently represented as digital items such as art, audio, videos, items in video games and other creative works (from Wikipedia). Once put on an online auction platform such as Rarible.com or Opeansea.io they can be purchased by interested parties with cryptocurrencies, typically Ethereum, as collectibles.

So, the question is, why should this matter to authors and readers? I’ve internalized this question myself while trying to determine what would be interesting as a reader to own from an author I liked. What I’ve come up with is something I’ve branded as Art Stories. These are short stories that I’ve written, woven into unique space art. It’s the marrying of art and writing in a way that I think truly expresses both forms of creativity. My first creation was called Ascension, based off of the short story by the same that I wrote back in 2014.

It was an interesting experience, and I’ve since started playing around with animations to make them more exciting. The possibilities are endless, and I think as the medium evolves, we’ll see more authors stepping out into the NFT world and more demand from readers. I’ve also started minting NFT collectibles from official character art for my upcoming sci-fi novel Pride of Ashna, due out May 4th. The first is such collectibles is out now.

Celebrate #Audiobook Month and Giveaway

NN Light Book Heaven presents #Audiobook Month

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/celebrate-audiobook-month

Check out audiobooks from the authors listed.

June Schedule –

Note: Date is for Eastern Standard Timezone (East Coast US/Canada)

1- Karen Michelle Nutt (Collided)

2- Jo A. Hiestand (Unfolding), Zola Blue (Four)

3- Willa Blair (Rose)

4- Mark Rosendorf, Aubrey Wynne (Earl)

7- Mona Sedrak (Gravity)

8- Tena Stetler (Hidden), Jane Lewis (Flyer)

9- Lucinda Race (Blends)

10- Veronica Blake, Laura M. Baird

11- Judith Sterling, Becky Villareal

14- Virginia Barlow, N. Jade Gray (Raider)

15- Jo A Hiestand (Known)

16- Karen Michelle Nutt (End), A.L. Butcher

17- Dalia Dupris

18- Jana Richards, Zola Blue (Bound)

21- Lucinda Race (Breathe)

22- Helen C. Johannes, Pamela S. Thibodeaux

23- Tena Stetler (Chocolate), Cecilia Corona

24- Jane Lewis (Wylder), N. Jade Gray (Cowboy)

25- Jo A. Hiestand (Unwilling), Aubrey Wynne (Dante)

28- Karen Michelle Nutt (Heart)

29- Mona Sedrak (Six)

30- Willa Blair (HHH)

Giveaway Information 

One lucky reader will win a $50 Amazon Gift Card

One lucky reader will win a $50 Amazon Gift Card

One lucky reader will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card

One lucky reader will win a $15 Amazon Gift Card

One lucky reader will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card

Direct Link:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db7750113

Open internationally

Runs June 1 – June 30.

Drawing will be held on July 1.

My Mum and Me – Blog Tour – Memoir

My Mum and MeMessages From Beyond the Graveby Kim KnightGenre: Memoir “Life after death is no longer a ‘possibility’ for me, it’s a reality. It was proven within seventy-two hours of Mum passing away.” Is there such a thing as life after death? If you’ve been looking for confirmation that the soul of a deceased person lives on, this memoir will provide all the proof you need. Experience a life changing story—a loss of a mother who was overseas at the time of her passing, and how she found her way back to her daughter within seventy-two hours of her being pronounced dead, then made her visit from the spirit realm unquestionably known to her daughter here on Earth, in time and space. Goodreads * Buy Link

Kim was born in 1983 and from London in the UK. She’s a mother to a beautiful little boy, an award winning romantic suspense and thriller author, and the #1 best-selling author of : My Mum and Me, Messages From Beyond The Grave (a memoir), 365 Days of Writing Prompts for Romance Writers, also The Art of Self-Editing for Writers. She’s also a best-selling author of an Unsolved Mysteries Series. Kim started her journey as a traditionally published author and later dived into self-publishing also. She also contributes as a writer to Aspiring Authors LLC Magazine.

As a reader she’s head over heels in love with romance, historical fiction, crime fiction, African- American, suspense and thriller genre books. As a writer, Kim enjoys creating steamy stories with a diverse and multi-cultural line up, within the romance, romantic suspense and general thriller and crime genres. Her other passions include learning about astrology, numerology, esoteric subjects, all things ‘witchy and strange’ and spirituality. When she’s not reading, or writing stories of her own fashion, make-up artistry, spending time at her sewing machine dressmaking, watching make –up and beauty tutorials on YouTube, and being a mum are things she’s probably doing.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Audiobook of My Mum and Me – 2 winners!$10 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Random Acts of Crazy – Blog Tour/Blitz – Romance/Comedy – Free Book

RANDOM ACTS OF CRAZY (Random Series, Book 1) by Julia Kent is FREE until June 15th!

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance

FREE EBOOK May 23-June 15, 2021

Description:

I never intended to pick up a naked hitchhiker wearing nothing but a guitar. A guitar. Really. I don’t collect guys like that (don’t ask what kind of guys I do collect), but when you spot a blonde, tanned, sculpted man with a gorgeous smile and his thumb poking up and practically begging you to stop – you stop.

And I definitely never thought I’d be staring into the bright blue eyes of Trevor Connor, the lead singer for Random Acts of Crazy, an indie rock star I followed like the slobbering fileshare fangirl I am. How he came to be nude and lost six hundred miles from home is quite the tale, but how we fell in love is even more unreal.

Because someone like Trevor Connor, headed to Harvard Law next year, isn’t supposed to want someone like me, a rural Ohio chick majoring in Boredom at Convenience Store University who is all curves and frizzy blonde hair and manners so unpolished they have sharp edges that make you bleed.

But he did.

When his best friend, Joe Ross, the bass player for Random Acts of Crazy and a man who makes Calvin Klein models look like Shrek, drove eleven hours through the night to rescue him, though, it got real complicated. It’s one thing to like two different guys and be torn.

What do you do, though, when maybe – just maybe – you don’t have to choose?

 

Shortened Buy links:

 

Amazon ALL:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_AznALL

Apple Books:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_AppleBooks

Nook:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_Nook

Kobo:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_Kobo

Google Play:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_GooglePlay

 

BookBub:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_BookBub

Goodreads:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_Goodreads

 

Amazon Audio:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_AznAudio

iTunes:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_iTunes

Audible:  https://mybook.to/RAOC_Audible

 

Author Bio:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. 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 lives in New England with her husband and three sons in a household where the toilet seat is never, ever, down

 

Excerpts and Teasers 

 When you’re coming down off  ’shrooms and NyQuil and find yourself naked in a car older than you, 600 miles from home, a kiss is about the only thing that can make it all better. — Trevor

The fact that he was fully naked and I was not was a kind of tragedy. We needed to fix that. — Darla

I luxuriated in the pure joy of this, his mouth warm and wet as his tongue explored me, my body swelling under his fingers, strumming me like I was a replacement for his destroyed guitar.

Play me, man. Play me all night long. — Darla

I had two goals:

Find a way back into her good graces so she’d let me make love to her.Get some pants, shoes and a shirt.

In that order. — Trevor

All I had were my wits and charm, and right now, the wits were pretty well blown.

Charm, don’t fail me now.– Trevor

 

Excerpt

Trevor

The ride from Darla’s house to the hotel room wasn’t a painful, silent trip, which is what I’d expected from my long-time friend. Shades of gray weren’t exactly his forte, and right now Darla, Joe, and I were about as grey as you could get.

Some sort of unexplained phenomenon was developing between the three of us, and now that we were down to just us two, it felt empty. Darker. Forlorn, yet not tense.

Just… unfulfilled.

Fortunately, I remembered how to get to the hotel, the roads laid out in an orderly manner, so unlike the Boston area, where the road map looked like it had been drawn by a nine-year-old drinking his second double espresso.

Yet another point for this place that until two days ago we’d have considered fly-over country, a vast green expanse with faded beige corn fields in between, a checkered patch quilt of nothing.

Not now.

Now it was far, far more.

Joe was in that half-drunk stupor that made him so much more fun than his normal, tightass state. How a guy who could attract women like light bulbs attract moths could be so insecure had puzzled me for years.

Something about Darla made him daring, though—that kiss had come out of nowhere. Coming upon them in that state, his hands groping what had just filled my own shortly before, her mouth so passionately entangled with his I could feel her need—being able to observe that, to share in that without feeling like we were competing for her—that blew my fucking mind.

You can do that? Really? Because no one told me that before. Ever. Not in the UU church’s sexuality class, not in any human psych class in college (not even abnormal psych), and not in any late-nights talks in the dorms, high as a kite and sharing sex stories (or even having sex while talking about sex).

Who did this? Who felt like this? How could I make sense of it if no one explained it to me?

I was on my own.

 

 

Freebie blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.

Allmother Rising Blog Tour – #DarkFantasy #Romance #LBGT

Allmother Risingby Elexis BellGenre: Dark Fantasy with Straight and LGBTQ Romance A broken-hearted priestess and a deposed prince team up with a ranger and a rebel with one too many secrets. In the name of The Allmother, they go to war to save their lands. A coup in a neighboring kingdom brings threats of invasion and fire to Priestess Rising Veliana’s home in the forest. Under the guidance of her goddess, The Allmother, she forms an alliance with the deposed prince, Tyrvahn, and his ex, Garle, the leader of a rebellion that’s been brewing for years.But Garle has many secrets, one of which could unravel Veliana and Tyrvahn’s budding romance and the future of these uneasy alliances. Veliana’s best friend, Kivala, tries to soften Garle with the ways of their fallen homeland, but what she learns chills her to her core.At war with a vicious man twisted by the god of greed, they can’t afford to fight amongst themselves. Can they overcome their differences to save their home and their goddess from the new king? Or will the forests burn over blood-soaked earth? Fans of magic and grit, high stakes and godly secrets will love this dark high fantasy novel with straight and LGBT romance. **Only .99 cents until June 1st!!**Goodreads * Amazon Elexis Bell writes gritty and emotional novels. Born and raised in the midwestern United States, she dreams of a cabin in the woods rather than a house surrounded by cornfields.She loves writing well-developed characters facing real problems in vibrant, magical worlds. Armed with a degree in psychology and a rollercoaster past, she sprinkles gut-wrenching emotions over high fantasy romance, science fiction, and the occasional thriller. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Win a Swag Pack with a signature card, magnet, sticker and three bookmarks! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Persephone Plus – Blog Tour #Fantasy #RomanticFantasy #Retelling

Persephone Plusby Stevie Rae CauseyGenre: LGBTQ Romantic Fantasy Retelling After a year of banishment in the modern world Persephone must convince Olympus that love comes in many forms. Persephone and Aphrodite must settle an old rivalry regarding their shared lover, or forfeit them to the mortal realm forever in this LGBTQ+ Romantic Fantasy with a HEA. As their time runs out and the Goddess of Love shows no sign of wavering, it is up to Persephone to find a way to save the mortal she loves, without hurting the Immortal she married. If you like old myths with modern twists and complicated romance, you’ll love Persephone Plus. **Only .99 cents!!** Add to Goodreads Amazon * Books2Read I write MG and YA Epic Fantasy that explore real-life themes. I believe that fantasy and fiction create a safe space for young people to explore the ins and outs of the world we live in and I aim to write the kind of stuff that entertains as well as fosters introspection. When I’m not writing or speaking to teens, I’m usually chasing my kids, going on wilderness adventures, and posting pictures of my pets on Instagram. Website * Podcast * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Signed Print copy of Persephone Plus – 1 winner,Audiobook of Persephone Plus – 5 winners$15 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Clothilde – Blog Tour and Giveaway – #Historical #Fantasy #Romance

ClothildeThe Comet Series Book 3by Miriam NewmanGenre: Historical Fantasy Romance Daughter of Norman aristocrats, Clothilde du Flaumier is hopelessly in love with the illegitimate son of a nobleman. Her father will never countenance their marriage, nor does the object of her affections want one. But who else is there for such a stubborn, reckless girl? Add to Goodreads Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Smashwords Fantasy poetry driven by myths and legends has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I was published in poetry before catching the romance writing bug. I bring that background to my writing along with a lifelong addiction to horses, an 18 year career in various areas of psychiatric social services and many trips to Ireland, where I nurture my muse. My published works range from contemporary fantasy romance to fantasy historical, futuristic, science fiction and historical romance. Currently I live in rural Pennsylvania with a “motley crew” of rescue animals. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $15 Amazon giftcard,ebook of ‘Flame of Normandy’ – Book 1 in The Comet Trilogy-1 winner each a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Weathering Old Souls – Blog Tour

Weathering Old Soulsby James J. Cudney & Didi OviattGenre: Metaphysical, Spiritual Historical Fiction Abigail has always struggled with the voices. From the relentless tyranny a woman faces on an antebellum plantation to the unknown prison camps in America during World War II, our heroine discovers the past in a way that changes her future. Moments from the past serve as guiding posts for the country’s growth, and also mark the transitions for Abigail’s own personal history. Her best friend, Margaret, partners with Abigail to discover the identity of the mysterious voices, while focusing on her passion and quest to become a United States senator. Through it all, a serial killer torments the country, romance blossoms between people they meet during the journey, and long-buried secrets come to light in devastating ways. As elements twist, numbers align and spiritual powers connect, no one will be the same again. Add to Goodreads Amazon * Books2Read Didi Oviatt is an intuitive soul. She’s a wife and mother first, with one son and one daughter. Her thirst to write was developed at an early age, and she never looked back. After digging down deep and getting in touch with her literary self, she’s writing mystery/thrillers like Search for Maylee, Justice for Belle, Aggravated Momentum, and Sketch, along with multiple short story collections. She’s collaborated with Kim Knight in an ongoing interactive short story anthology, The Suspenseful Collection. Most recently, she published her first romance novella titled Skinny Dippin’ which was originally released as a part of the highly appraised Anthology, Sinners and Saints. When Didi doesn’t have her nose buried in a book, she can be found enjoying a laid-back outdoorsy lifestyle. Time spent sleeping under the stars, hiking, fishing, and ATVing the back roads of beautiful mountain trails, and sun-bathing in the desert heat play an important part of her day to day lifestyle. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads James J. CudneyJames is my given name, but most folks call me Jay. I live in New York City, grew up on Long Island, and graduated from Moravian College, an historic but small liberal arts school in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a degree in English literature and minors in Education, Business and Spanish. After college, I accepted a technical writing position for a telecommunications company during Y2K and spent the last ~20 years building a career in technology & business operations in the retail, sports, media, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Throughout those years, I wrote short stories, poems, and various beginnings to the “Great American Novel,” but I was so focused on my career that writing became a hobby. In 2016, I committed to focusing my energies toward reinvigorating a second career in reading, writing, and publishing. Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! Didi and James are giving away 4 prizes as part of this marketing campaign. Winner will be drawn the week after release:$25 Amazon Gift Card$40 Psychic Services1 eBook of Weathering Old Souls1 physical book of Weathering Old Souls (US Only) a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Westwood University – Blog Tour #Fantasy #Paranormal #Romance

[image error] [image error] Westwood UniversityWestwood Chronicles Book 1by Alexandria JamesGenre: New Adult Paranormal Fantasy Romance [image error] 3 months. 90 days. 2,160 hours.That’s all it took for my world to fall apart.My life had always been so certain, I’ve had a concrete plan for as long as I can remember.Until the day I was accepted into Westwood University.Until I let anger morph my actions.Until I opened the gates of hell.Until him.His eyes are what first caught me, I was a fly in his web. Once I was bound in the threads, I was doomed. I let him consume me, all of me.I was in too deep when he told me the truth… Goodreads * Books2Read Alexandria James was born in California, but raised all over the US due to being a child of the military. She loves to laugh, sing and write– when not spending precious time with her family. Alexandria lives in South Florida with her husband and two sons. Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! $15 Amazon a Rafflecopter giveaway

Die Küchenkobolde und andere Düstere Geschichten #Fantasie, #Kurzgeschichte, #familienfreundlich

Die Küchenkobolde und andere Düstere Geschichten – sechs Kurzgeschichten voller Chaos und Unfug.

Gewinner des Preises für die beste Fantasy 2018 auf NN Light Book Heaven.

Freche Kobolde, verschwundene Socken, gerissene Diebe und verwirrte Götter begegnen Ihnen in dieser Sammlung von fantastischen Kurzgeschichten.

https://books2read.com/Kitchen-Imps-German

Die gebürtige Britin A. L. Butcher ist eine begeisterte Leserin und Weltenschöpferin, eine Dichterin und Träumerin, eine Liebhaberin von Wissenschaft, Naturgeschichte, Historie und Affen.
Ihre Prosa wurde als „dunkel und düster“ und ihre Lyrik als „beschwörend“ beschrieben.
Sie schreibt mit einer sicheren und manchmal erotischen Sensibilität von Dingen, die hätten sein können, nie waren, aber sein könnten.
Alex ist Autorin der Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles und der lyrischen Fantasy-Serie Tales of Erana.
Sie hat auch mehrere Kurzgeschichten in den Genres Fantasy, Fantasy-Romantik mit gelegentlichen Ausflügen in den Gothic-Stil Horror geschrieben, einschließlich der Legacy of the Mask-Serie.
Aufgrund ihres Hintergrunds in Politik, klassischen Studien, antiker Geschichte und Mythen, verleihen ihre Affinitäten ihrer Arbeit einen vielschichtigen und einzigartigen Geschmack. Sie vermischt Realität und Traum in alchemistischen Proportionen, die ihre Charaktere und Welten zum Leben erwecken.
Außerdem kuratiert sie für eine Reihe von spekulativen Fiction-Themenbänden auf BundleRabbit.
Ihre Kurznovelle „Outside the Walls“, die sie gemeinsam mit Diana L. Wicker geschrieben hat, wurde 2017 mit dem Chill with a Book Reader‘s Award ausgezeichnet und „Die Küchenkobolde“ gewann den Preis für beste Fantasy 2018 auf NN Light Book Heaven.
Alex ist auch stolz darauf, als Autorin für Perseid Press zu arbeiten, wo ihre Arbeiten in Heroika:
Dragon Eaters; und Lovers in Hell erscheinen – Teil der gefeierten „Heroes in Hell“-Serie. http://www.theperseidpress.com/

Auszeichnungen: 
Outside the Walls, gemeinsam mit Diana L. Wicker geschrieben, wurde 2017 mit dem Chill with a Book Reader’s Award ausgezeichnet.
NN Light Book Heaven Auszeichnungen:
The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales gewann den Preis für die beste Fantasy 2018
Echoes of a Song – eine ihrer Phantomgeschichten – gewann den Preis als beste Fantasy im Jahr 2019