www.libraryoferana.wordpress.com
A. L. Butcher is the British author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles fantasy series, and several short stories in the fantasy and fantasy romance genres. She is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet and a dreamer. When she is grounded in the real world she likes science, natural history, history and monkeys. Her work has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as evocative.
·
What
is your book about?
Currently
I have 3 adult fantasy novels in the LightBeyond the Storm Chronicles series, and two short story books – the Tales
of Erana – which are set in the world of the novels. Not to mention several
other shorts in various anthologies with the Indie Collaboration, Stencil
Press, and the Goodreads Smashwords group, and not least Of Blood and Scales in Heroika: The Dragon Eaters.
·
What
inspired you to write this particular story (and/or series)?
The Light Beyond The
Storm Chronicles loosely evolved from an RPG character, a
background I’d written and something else I’d been working on. It’s a mix of
genes, as it were. The follow on books come from there. The short stories
feature lore and legends, plus minor characters from the world.
My
story in Heroika features a mercenary, a priestess, a desperate mother and the
fight to save a kingdom. The characters are different aspects of heroes – The
merc will risk his life for his land and the woman he loves and her child; the
priestess for her honour and the chance to be free in a land which despises her
faith, the mother will consider committing blasphemy to save her child and
fulfill the promise to a dying man and all them risk death to stop a civil war.
Each must make a sacrifice – belief, honour, blood, and even life.
As
to what inspired me, well I’d say it was the challenge of writing for this
antho in the company of authors involved, the definition of heroism and the
fascinating idea of the Dragon Eaters. Those who do what must be done despite
the odds against them, those who survive and fall for what they hold true.
·
Do
you have specific techniques you use to develop the plot and stay on track?
Not
really. Usually I have an overall idea – and I let the plot and characters sort
it out. I know where it has to go, and hopefully it gets there. That said I write what I like to read. Does it
work for me? Does it work for my beta readers?
·
Was
there any research involved in your work?
For
the novels I do a fair bit of research. For example weapons and armour,
herb-lore and flora and fauna. I also had to research whether salamanders were
edible. Let’s put it this way, unless your name is Bear Grylls they ARE, but
you’d probably wish they weren’t.
·
Share
the biggest hurdles in the marketing process.
I
dislike marketing. When I am out shopping it annoys me when a pushy salesperson
approaches and tries to talk me into buying their product. I know it’s just
their job but still. However in this business one must be a salesperson so I do
have some sympathy. The biggest hurdle
is finding the line between annoying spam and promoting one’s work. Some
readers, particularly on sites like Goodreads, do not like authors promoting in
any form. Finding what works – (if anything). That’s hard.
For
me I do quite a lot of interviews such as this one – it’s a good way to network
and I’ve made friends through the process, and of course new books. I
reciprocate interviews on my own blog. I use Twitter – but mostly for
non-promo.
·
What
project(s) are you working on now?
I’ve
just published The Stolen Tower – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Book
III so I’m working on the next book – at least in the planning stage, plus a
couple of short stories.
I’m
also currently studying a course on mythology, I find it fascinating to track
heroes from ancient times to heroes today. What features are shared? What
differences are there? Is mythic storytelling at the basis of our
cultures? I’ve read the Odyssey before,
some years ago, and it’s a wonderful story – the ultimate adventure, the
ultimate journey.
·
Is
there anything else you would like to say to your readers?
Enjoy
the ride. Books are what makes us free. A book can take you to new world, they
can make you laugh, they can make you cry, they can teach you about others, and
yourself. Books are one of the greatest of humankind’s inventions. Storytelling
makes us human.
·
Where
can readers find you and your book(s) online?
(See attached).
Author Bio:
A. L. (Alexandra) Butcher is the British author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles fantasy series, and several short stories in the fantasy and fantasy romance and horror genres. She is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet and a dreamer. When she is grounded in the real world she likes science, natural history, history, mythology and monkeys. She has a background in history and politics which are sometimes reflected in her work. Her books have been described as 'dark and gritty' and her poetry as evocative.
A. L. (Alexandra) Butcher is the British author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles fantasy series, and several short stories in the fantasy and fantasy romance and horror genres. She is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet and a dreamer. When she is grounded in the real world she likes science, natural history, history, mythology and monkeys. She has a background in history and politics which are sometimes reflected in her work. Her books have been described as 'dark and gritty' and her poetry as evocative.
The
Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I
In a dark world where
magic is illegal and elves are enslaved a young elven sorceress runs for her
life from the house of her evil Keeper. Pursued by his men and the corrupt
Order of Witch-Hunters she must find sanctuary. As the slavers roll across the
lands stealing elves from what remains of their ancestral home the
Witch-Hunters turn a blind eye to the tragedy and a story of power, love and a
terrible revenge unfolds.
Available as an e-book in
all the Amazon stores, Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Apple, and the Smashwords
associate stores.
Also available as a
paperback and Large Print on Createspace and Amazon.
Who
rules in this game of intrigue where magic is forbidden and elves enslaved?
Journey where beliefs shatter like glass, truth is unwelcome and monsters from
ancient times abound: share the romance and revenge, magic and passion, and the
wages of greed in a world of darkest fantasy. (Please note the 18+ rating.)
What stalks the land cannot be, but is.
Where magic is outlawed a troll Shaman calls from her
deathbed to her heiress, Mirandra Var, daughter of the storm. Mirandra vows to
find her missing kin, sort friend from foe, and claim the dangerous secrets
guarded by unthinkable creatures. If she succeeds, she will become the leader
of her tribe. If she fails there will be no tribe to lead.
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