Ten Questions with…A. L. Butcher
Today, we are joined by A. L. Butcher, who is the author of The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles, as well as various short stories. Welcome!
* * *
Author Bio: Alexandra Butcher is a British author, who lives in the South West UK. When she isn’t writing she enjoys reading, history, nature, watching movies and going to the theatre. She has a background in sociology, politics and history which have been useful in her writing career. She has a variety of pets, who eat a lot and don’t pay the rent.
Author Site: http://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/
You can find her books on Amazon (Book I and Book II), Smashwords (Book I and Book II), Barnes & Noble (Book I and Book II), and iTunes (Book I and Book II).
About the Writer
1. What five words describe you?
Creative, rebellious, loyal, weird, forgetful
2. What was the first story you ever wrote? I mean the really bad one we all have that you’re trying to hide in the back of closet now that you’re published?
Oh gosh, I have no idea. I have written stories and poems for as long as I can remember. If you mean other than at school – let me see. I have some fan-fic around Phantom of the Opera if that counts. I was trying to write a novel as well using an adaptation of the character. Fortunately it is stuffed under the bed in a notebook.
3. What inspires you?
Nature, other people, history, dreams, things I think of in the bath.
4. What distracts you?
Pretty much everything. I have a terrible concentration span. Facebook and the internet are the worst. I am actually pretty good at multitasking as my brain seems inclined to be able to focus on several things at once more than one thing. I was always terrible in exams – 3 hours of trying to concentrate on one thing was really hard for me. Even if I knew the information it was getting it out of my head and onto paper without my bra.in wandering off which I struggled with
5. What’s your favorite story? This can be specific, as in a particular book or even story-driven movie, or general, like “I’m a sucker for a hero looking for redemption story.”
I don’t have one particular book or story above all the others but I do like anti-heroes or heroic type fantasy. I like a troubled character. One of my favourite books is The Count of Monte Cristo, which is the ultimate revenge novel. I like a book which hooks me in early, it needs to be exciting and plausible. I hate silly and implausible plots and weak characters.
* * *
About the Writing
1. Tell us about your currently available titles.
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book I
The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book II
I also have short fantasy stories in the following anthologies:
A Splendid Salmagundi
Wyrd Worlds
No Sleeves and Short Dresses
2. What’s your favorite part about writing these stories?
I love the journey of the story. I usually know the beginning and the end but how I get there is up to the characters. I like the research too. There isn’t a huge amount but I have studied herblore, geography, historical weaponry and other useful subjects.
3. What would your characters say about you? Be honest!
I hate to think! Why are you so mean? Stop getting distracted and write our stories.
4. Who would play your favorite character if they made a movie of their story?
Oh gosh. For Archos someone older – maybe Ian McKellan; for Dii, I actually have no idea; Olek perhaps Zachary Quinto or Alexander Siddiq; for Ozena Jennifer Lawrence or Zoe Saladana.
5. Do you have any projects currently in the works you want to talk about?
I am working on Book III of the series. I am also working on a number of anthology pieces, both for my own collection, the Indie Collaboration and a couple of fantasy ones.
Hopefully at some point there will be a book of erotic short stories.
* * *
Thanks for joining us today, Alexandra, and good luck with your stories!
