#BlogTour - The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles; We Have A Character As A Guest, And A #Giveaway Too!

I have a special guest for you today, who crossed to our reality just to meet you all. I'll let him introduce himself.

So, tell everyone who you are.

I am the Shadowdancer, but for those who know me well I am called Olek.

Welcome, Olek. So, tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a half-elven male, I live in Harkenen, in the Tremellic valley. I think I’m about forty, or thereabouts. Let me see... I like food, good weapons, good wine, horses, and antiques gathered from hidden places. I dislike the Witch-Hunters, slavers, bad wine, and rats. Rats taste terrible, and the little buggers get everywhere.

My lady, Ozena, says I’m two men – Olek who enjoys food and good company, laughs a lot and is kind – and the Shadowdancer who will kill a man with barely a thought, a man who has done things which would give most men nightmares.

I hope it's the first of those we have with us today. Anyway, how did you end up in the situation you’re currently in?

Which particular situation? The breaking into a fort full of armed Witch-Hunters; the hunting down of slavers; the liberating of elves; the quest to find an invisible elven city that may not even exist?

I go where my master, the Oncoming Storm commands I go, and where it suits us. My life is rarely dull.

Yeah... I can see that. So, is your life now as you envisioned it? If not – then why?

I doubt anyone’s life turns out exactly as they first envisioned. I am the bastard half-breed son of a whore. I am a thief, a murderer, and an outlaw. Officially I’m dead. But then again, I’m a half-elf – society says I have no rights, no property and I belong to my master as a chamber pot, or a fine rug belong to him. Elves and half-elves are little more than slaves so my prospects were not exactly outstanding. As it is, thanks to Lord Archos, I am wealthy, powerful, and educated. Our lives are not exactly...normal.

Fair enough. By the way, do you believe in monsters?

Yes, of course. I’ve fought with undead, giant salamanders, and Witch-Hunters. I suppose depending on your point of view I could be described as a monster or a monster hunter, and monsters can walk on two legs, be charming, and look like ordinary folks.

That's true. So, you call yourself a monster. Have you committed a crime? What was it?

Define ‘crime’... I assume you mean an act which goes against the laws of the land. The laws of Erana are restrictive, and oppressive, and so I tend to ignore them. Have I committed a crime? How long do you have? I’ve killed so many people I’ve stopped counting. It really does get easier after the first one, believe me. Although my first was self-defence. I’ve stolen everything from food to survive, to family heirlooms, to people, to horses, to money, jewels and books. I’ve burned buildings and sabotaged armies. My existence is, technically, illegal so I may as well have some fun.

OK then. But, do you have a moral code?

It’s more of an amoral code. I am loyal to a fault, and I would never betray those I care for – but as I said I am an assassin, a thief, I’ve been a whore, a blackmailer...

Do I only kill ‘bad’ people? That is a relative term. I don’t kill just on a whim – and I’m careful about it – most of the people are a danger to us, and what we fight for. Or have done something wicked... but not all. Good and bad are such...woolly terms. And it depends which side you come in from.

That's a valid point. So, I think I know the answer to this, but would you kill for those you love?

I do and I have.

I thought as much. But, tell me, would you die for those you love?

Without a doubt.

Good for you, though I hope it never comes to that. Anyway, out of curiosity, how do you think others see you?

That depends on if they meet Olek or the Shadowdancer.

Yes... I imagine that's too true. So, Olek, how do you define ‘heroism?'

Someone who does what must be done no matter the personal cost. One who will fight when others can’t and who will

That's a good definition. By the way, do you believe in god(s)?

Only a fool doesn’t believe in the gods in a world of magic. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not devout, but in a life such as mine it does no harm to nod to the gods now and then.

That's a fair answer. Out of curiosity, if you could have three wishes what would they be?

The first would be that the land of Erana could be free from the tyranny of the Order of Witch-Hunters; the second would be some dragon scale armour – Drakescale is good but dragonscale – now that’s legendary; three – a child perhaps. Although I doubt, I’m a very good role model.

You're probably right on that last point. Still, a child changes people as if by magic sometimes, perhaps that would happen to you. Assuming you believe in magic... Do you believe in magic?

I’m an adept, I live in the house of a sorcerer lord. You take a guess.

I'll take that as a yes. Anyway, Olek, thanks for stopping by today.

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Books in which this character appears:

The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I
The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book II

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About the author:
British-born A. L. Butcher is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer, a lover of science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her prose has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as ‘evocative’. She writes with a sure and sometimes erotic sensibility of things that might have been, never were, but could be.

Alex is the author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles and the Tales of Erana lyrical fantasy series. She also has several short stories in the fantasy, fantasy romance genres with occasional forays into gothic style horror, including the Legacy of the Mask series. With a background in politics, classical studies, ancient history and myth, her affinities bring an eclectic and unique flavour in her work, mixing reality and dream in alchemical proportions that bring her characters and worlds to life.

She also curates speculative fiction themed book bundles on BundleRabbit.

Her short novella Outside the Walls, co-written with Diana L. Wicker received a Chill with a Book Reader’s Award in 2017 and The Kitchen Imps won best fantasy for 2018 on NN Light Book Heaven.

Alex is also proud to be a writer for Perseid Press where her work features in Heroika: Dragon Eaters; and Lovers in Hell – part of the acclaimed Heroes in Hell series.

Social Media links
Website http://www.libraryoferana.co.uk/books.html
Blog https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/about-a-l-butcher-fantasy-author-poet-author-promotion/
Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2hK33OM
Smashwords Author Page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ALB123
Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/LightBeyondtheStorm/
Indiebound Author Page https://www.indiebound.org/search/book?keys=author%3AButcher%2C%20A.%20L
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Goodreads http://bit.ly/GR2iqokvK
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-butcher-8342ab13b/
Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/blog/libraryoferana
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.co.uk/abmonkey/

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