A.L. Butcher's Blog, page 82

Broken Toys – Blog Tour #Thriller

Broken Toys
by Glenda Thompson
Genre: Thriller



Texas Ranger Noah Morgan has his life together—with a great job and the girl of his dreams. Too bad it’s all based on a lie. A single phone call threatens to bring it all crashing down. After an irate citizen complains shoddy workmanship has left him with a booby-trapped driveway, and the local sheriff’s office is too busy to respond, Noah takes the call. The investigation of local scam artists uncovers a human trafficking ring. Noah fights to avoid being swept back into the sights of his murderous family—people he escaped at the age of seventeen.

Can he keep his past a secret or will his carefully crafted life come to a violent end?

Goodreads * Amazon





A sixth-generation Texan with Scottish roots, Glenda Thompson can ‘bless your heart’ with the best of them. As a former emergency medical technician married to a south Texas Lawman, she’s used insider information from both their careers as inspiration to build her Broken world of Texas Rangers with hidden pasts and dark secrets. When she’s not busy embarrassing her children or grandchildren by dancing in the middle of a country road during a rainstorm, she can be found huddled in her writing cave with her law enforcement technical adviser/husband working on another story in her Broken universe.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads




Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$25 Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tears and Crimson Velvet – NN Light Awards – Finalist

Hurrah! I am delighted to announce Tears and Crimson Velvet is a finalist in the NN Light Book Heaven category for short stories in 2020

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/2020-nnlight-book-awards-finalists

 

Madame Giry finds herself embroiled in the tragedy unfolding at the Opera house; mystery and murder stalk the corridors and, it is said, a ghost haunts the place. Giry knows the truth, for she recalls the caged man she met so many years ago. This is her story, their story.

When murder and mystery begin at the Opera House one woman knows who is behind it, and what really lies beneath the mask. Secrets, lies and tragedy sing a powerful song in this ‘might have been’ tale.

A short, tragic tale based on characters from Phantom of the Opera.

A Legacy of the Mask Tale.

https://books2read.com/TearsandCrimson

December Indie Authors Bookish Event

Enter to win an e-book bundle of all 27 books featured in the Indie Authors Bookish Event on NN Light Book Heaven:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775089

Open Internationally.

Runs December 8 – December 13, 2020.

Winner will be drawn on December 16, 2020.

All spotlights will be grouped together at this link.

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/indie-authors-bookish-event

Features from

Jami Gray

P.L. Parker

Carla Krae

Marlo Berliner

Brenda Whiteside

Sharon Buchbinder

Natalina Reis

Robyn Rychards

Cynthia Woolf

Jennifer Wilck

Theresa Dale

A.L. Butcher

Cadence Vonn

Marie Tuhart

Lis Anna-Langston

A.D. Britten

N. Christine Samuelson

Marie Tuhart

Claire Marti

Sherry

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Contos de Erana: Apenas um Erro

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https://books2read.com/ToEJOM-Portuguese

Coel, o bardo, acha que sua vida mudou para pior, mas ele ainda não conheceu o Thiefmaster.

Coel, o bardo, acha que sua vida mudou para pior, mas ele ainda não conheceu o Thiefmaster. Uma noção mal concebida de ganhar mais dinheiro para pagar sua dívida e escapar de um passado sombrio deixa o menestrel em uma situação da qual ele não pode escapar e com uma barganha mortal. Ele sobreviverá ao seu erro? Quem é este misterioso patrono?

18 classificado para conteúdo adulto.

#Fantasia

#História de fantasia

#Edição portuguesa
#Tradução portuguesa

Writing, Editing, Formatting and Promotional Services

If you are interested in my writing, editing, proofreading, formatting or cover art services (basic covers) check out my Fiverr gigs – or contact me using the form below.

Submit a form.

Editing/proofreading and formatting short documents (any type/genre) up to 10,000 words.

https://www.fiverr.com/share/oWNDdx

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Editing of longer documents (fantasy/historical fiction) – other genres considered.

https://www.fiverr.com/share/AprxLB

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Synopsis writing – historical fiction or fantasy – other genres considered.

https://www.fiverr.com/share/pwQWBy

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Dirty Dozen Author Interview – L. J. Kerry – Dystopian/New Adult

Author name: L.J. Kerry

Are you a ‘pantser’ or a ‘plotter’? I’m definitely a ‘pantser’

What piece of advice do you wish you’d had when you started your publishing journey? Don’t give up, self-publishing is an option if no literary agents want you.

What are your views on authors offering free books? Do you believe, as some do, that it demeans an author and his or her work? To each their own to be honest. I don’t think it demeans an author’s work, I find this can entice somebody to actually purchase a book and some do see it as a marketing magnet.

How do you deal with bad reviews? It depends on the review’s content. If it is a critical review that can help me grow as a writer, I will take those comments on board and implement them into future work. However, if it doesn’t help me as an author I ignore it.

How much research do you do for your work? What’s the wildest subject you’ve looked at? I do a lot of research for my books, it takes a huge majority of my time. The wildest subject I’ve looked at is how much weight a bird’s nest can hold before it breaks, turns out not that much.

What’s the best advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? Just write. Ignore it if it’s bad you’ll clean it up later.

What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve received about writing/publishing? Don’t pay for an editor.

Tell us about your latest piece? My debut novel LISTED is a New Adult Dystopian novel about Judas Wells defying his country’s ruthless regime to rescue Nadine Ellis from her execution. This leads them both into a desperate situation and a fight for their survival.

What’s your next writing adventure? My next writing adventure is LISTED’s sequel REBOUND. Following on from the events of book one, my main characters are finding the past repeating itself but with a much more sinister twist.

With the influx of indie authors do you think this is the future of storytelling? Definitely, especially with the recent loss of publishing houses making competition in the traditional world even more difficult. Hopefully in the future we can see more indie authors in bookstores.

Are indie/self published authors viewed with scepticism or wariness by readers? Why is this? Yes self/published authors are viewed with a lot of skepticism and I think that is because of the stereotype that we publish poor-quality books that are either cheesy, and riddled with errors. I know there is a large majority of the poor-quality work in the self-publishing world but there are some self-published works which challenge traditional publishing.

Is there a message in your books? There is light in a dark time

Links

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram – @ljkerrybooks

Website: www.ljkerrybooks.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20632594.L_J_Kerry

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/l-j-kerry

Bio

L.J. Kerry was born and raised in Sheffield, England. She has always loved to read and write from a young age, some of her favourite genres are Urban Fantasy and Dystopia.

Now living in Derbyshire, England. L.J. Kerry likes to spend her free time (aside from reading or writing) playing video games, travelling and learning new languages/cultures.

Dirty Dozen Character Interview – Judas Wells and Nadine Ellis

CHARACTER NAMES: Judas Wells / Nadine Ellis

Tell us a little about yourself.

Judas – I’m 23 and come from the country of Denmé, the oldest brother of my two younger siblings Gabrielle and Michael. There’s not much else to say, I’m not allowed hobbies aside from my government mandated tasks.

Nadine – I’m 21 and come from the country of Olympia and the youngest sibling in my family. I like photography, going to the gym and hanging out with my best friend Payton on weekends. 

How did you end up in the situation you’re currently in?

Judas – You’ll have to read the book.

Nadine – I know how Judas got in his, but yeah read the book.

Is your life now as you envisioned it? If not – then why?

Judas – HA! No. I lost my freedom when I was six years old, and have been a puppet since. My dad always told me how great the old country was, and wished I grew up there.

Nadine – Yes and no. Life takes us on weird journeys.

Have you committed a crime? What was it? If not, what circumstances would cause you to commit a crime?

Judas – Yikes. Erm, read the book.

Nadine – I got a DUI once from drinking cough medicine

Do you have a moral code? If so what might it be

Judas – Act how you expect to be treated, treat others like poop get it in return.

Nadine – I second that.

Would you kill for those you love?

Judas – Who’s to say I haven’t already?

Nadine – Depends who

Would you die for those you love?

Judas – Yes

Nadine – Again depends who

Who is your greatest enemy?

Judas – Our Leader, hands down.

Nadine – President Sanchez or Our Leader as Denmé citizens call her.

Tell us about your family?

Judas – I have my mum, my younger sister Gabrielle and my youngest brother Michael

Nadine – I live with my mum and dad, and older brother Wyatt.

What is your greatest skill/asset?

Judas – I think the government mandated tasks have made me a man of all trades

Nadine – My dad taught me self defense since I was a child

Do you believe you will be successful in your quest?

Judas – Hopefully

Nadine – Let’s kick ass! Ha, ha, ha!

What do you think of your author/creator?

Judas – If you take my mental health and run over it with a train and then a second train that is what my author has done to me. Seriously, why?

Nadine – I think they’re great, we were promised pizza for going through with this…still waiting for that pizza.

For the author

Books in which this characters appears:

LISTED by L.J. Kerry

Links, short author bio…

L.J. Kerry born and raised in Sheffield, England. She has always loved to read and write from a young age, some of her favourite genres are Urban Fantasy and Dystopia.

Now living in Derbyshire, England. L.J. Kerry likes to spend her free time (aside from reading or writing) playing video games, travelling and learning new languages/cultures.

www.ljkerrybooks.com

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https://amzn.to/3o9b3WX Listed on Amazon

Gli Imp Della Cucina E Altre Storie Oscure

https://books2read.com/KI-Italian-ImpDellaCucina

Gli Imp della cucina e altre storie oscure – sei brevi racconti di caos e malizia.

Vincitore del miglior fantasy 2018 su NN Light Book Heaven.

Imp maliziosi, calzini mancanti, ladri astuti e divinità sconcertate caratterizzano questa raccolta di brevi romanzi fantasy.

#Fantasy, #Racconti, #Adattoallefamiglie

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La Cittadella Splendente – The Shining Citadel Italian Edition

https://books2read.com/CittadellaSplendente-Shining-Citadel-Italian

Chi domina in questo gioco di intrighi, dove la magia è proibita e gli elfi sono schiavi? Un viaggio in cui le credenze vengono infrante come vetro, la verità non è accettata e i mostri dei tempi antichi abbondando: condividete l’amore e la vendetta, la magia e la passione, i guadagni dell’avidità in un mondo di oscura fantasia.

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#FantasyDark, #avventuraFantasy, #Fantasyerotica #Fantasy

The Domestic Revolution – Review #History

The Domestic Revolution by historian Ruth Goodman is an interesting insight into how coal, and later soaps changed Britain, and the Empire. Everyone has heard of the Industrial Revolution, but in many ways the changing habits of how humans burned fuel for warmth, food-making and the domestic domain was more significant, if less well known.

For thousands of years humans have burned wood, peat, or variations thereof in the home – cooking and keeping warm. This practice shaped the landscape – wood was used everywhere – fuel, building, weapons, war, ships, homes etc. Land was managed, farmed, coppiced and the industries around this were important. Many folks did not travel far, and so utilised what was around them. Certain foods and ways of cooking do not manage on wood or peat, and others do not manage well on coal. 

Ms Goodman describes cooking on wood, peat, dung and charcoal, how it was sourced and the foods which worked best. Cleaning was done, largely with wood ash, lime and various other intriguing ways.  Ash doesn’t work on coal dirt and so hot water became the norm, and new vessels for boiling, new detergents and new roles.

Then came coal – which burns differently from wood, cooks differently, is used in industry differently, heats differently. People, pots, manufacturing, transport, food, housing, cleaning and pretty much every aspect you can think of changed with it, or as a result. Coal creates smoke which leaves smuts, dirt and dust. It produces pollution and is much harder to clean off. All those coal fires – say goodbye to your family tapestry, and your old cleaning habits. Bring on different smelting, transport, industry, soap-making, production and recipes.

The domestic hearth was, for much of history, the female domain, and although the records from women are scarce, from the 19th Century the records do bring to life the challenges, solutions and habits of women, from highborn ladies, to the lower classes. Status was important, and coal and soap brought with them status. 

The book is a little slow to start, but the author knows her stuff and the book brings an interesting view on the lives of our ancestors, and how change, once it starts can be inexorable.

A good book for writers, and readers of history/historical fiction/fantasy as a reference to living with wood fires and coal, foods, cleaning and the role of women in these times (who became more tied to the home as things changed).

4 stars