I am delighted to welcome fantasy author A.L. Butcher to Beyond Romance today. She has kindly agreed to answer some questions, as well as to share a bit from her fabulous series The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles.Hello, Alex. Where
did your idea for this series come
from?
I’m
a gamer (yes, I’m a nerd but I write fantasy – what did you
expect?) – and I’ve written adventures for games for some years.
I was playing an online RPG (Roleplaying Game) with some friends, and
we’d had quite a long story arc set up when unfortunately the game
group broke up.
The
Light Beyond the Storm grew out of this – I adapted the stories I’d
written into a world of my own creation (which I’d been working on
for something else) and so the story was born.
Originally
it was just the first book, but the world expanded, and the
characters told me they needed more adventures.
That’s
the thing about being a storyteller – the stories don’t end.
There’s always something that pops up – some inspiration which
triggers a scene, then perhaps a short story, then a novel, then a
series.
Writing
helps me escape – if you write you create worlds, people,
situations. Anything is possible, everything is possible.
What
have you learned on your writing and self-publishing adventures?
Writing
and self-publishing are steep learning curves. It’s not simply a
case of putting words to paper (or screen) – writing is a craft and
crafts take time and energy to learn.
I’ve
studied creative writing, social media marketing, mythology,
copyright law, how to format, learned (and still learning) Photoshop,
copyediting and proofreading, and a whole host of skills I didn’t
have a decade ago. And that’s important – at least to me. If I
can do most of it myself I’m in control and it’s cheaper too.
I
see lots of authors on the KDP forums and facebook with no clue about
how to be self-publisher, or even how to go about finding these
things out and lots who are simply not willing to try.
Self-publishing
is a business – you are the publisher – it’s up to you to
market the book, to ensure it’s properly edited, has a decent
cover, doesn’t breach someone else’s IP or copyright, abides by
the rules of the publishing platform such as KDP or Draft2digital
etc.
If
you cannot or will not be able to do these things for yourself –
hire someone if you can afford it, if you can’t then at least learn
the rules of the publishing platform and get advice from experienced
authors and publishers. I’ve found the community helpful and
supportive – but it’s give and take. I’ve helped out with
formatting or editing for free – but then I’ve had covers made
for books for nothing, or swapped critique. There are people willing
to help and advise if you ask around– and if you do hire someone –
ask for their credentials, what they have done before.
There
are ways to promote your work for free or low cost – but marketing
is hard work – it takes time to build an audience and you need to
do it often and vary what you do.
What
are your top 10 favorite books/authors and why?
Not
in any order:
I,
the Sun – Janet Morris – not only is this an amazing
biography of a remarkable man but through this book I was lucky
enough to meet Janet and Chris Morris, and become friends with these
lovely, talented people, and write for Perseid Press.
Watership
Down – Richard Adams – it’s a beautiful, enchanting story
that’s both simple and complex. It’s not just a story about
rabbits – there’s adventure, the theme of the destruction of the
natural world by humans, loyalty, courage and beating the odds. I
have read it many times and I always cry.
The
Count of Monte Cristo – A Dumas – possibly the greatest
revenge story in the world. It’s exciting and the antihero is
awesome.
Wuthering
Heights – Emily Bronte – same reason as Monte Cristo. I’m
team Heathcliff.
Phantom
of the Opera - Gaston Leroux– I love this story –
it’s tragic, exciting, mysterious and has spawned one of the things
I love most. The original novel is also a mystery (Leroux was also a
mystery writer) as well as a horror. I still cry.
The
Odyssey – I love mythology – especially Greek and Roman
myths. It’s great adventure, filled with mischief, monsters, morals
and more.
Lord
of the Rings – I love the mythic storytelling – the grand
adventure and that in the end it’s the simple folk who save the day
– Samwise and Frodo. It’s a tale of friendship, courage, magic
and a rich lore that permeates British culture.
Thud
– Terry Pratchett – I love all of the Commander Vimes
stories. He’s a complex character – a good man who knows it’s a
fine line between being a good man and a bad one and that he could
easily go down the dark path and become what he seeks to fight. He
hates rules and bends them whenever possible.
Schindler’s
List – because everyone should read this book.
I
read fantasy, gothic horror, crime fiction such as Sherlock Holmes
and Agatha Christie, true crime, historical fiction, history, science
fiction, classics and biographies.
Pen
or type writer or computer?
Definitely
computer. I have awful handwriting – so much so I used to get
detention at school for handwriting practice. I think I may be
dyspraxic – I’m super clumsy, I fall over, walk into things, I
struggle to tell my left from my right, I have poor spatial
awareness.
I
hold a pen between my first and second fingers with my fingers
wrapped around it. That is a comfortable writing position for me.
Because I rarely write anything freehand now my handwriting is barely
readable anyway. Writing freehand also makes my hands hurt – I have
a neurological condition called fibromyalgia and I get pain and pins
and needles in my hands. Typing on a keyboard doesn’t hurt as much.
I
also have a spellchecker, delete, and a whole host of info near to
hand if I use the PC or laptop. I haven’t used a typewriter
for…maybe 30 years. We had a Victorian one at my parents’ house
years ago – it was an awesome, antique piece of kit but it ate
fingers. If you used it for more than about 20 minutes your fingers
would be shredded.
Do
you have any advice to offer for new authors?
Write
what you want to write, and what you want to read. Don’t give a
damn what anyone else thinks. Write for yourself, for the joy of it,
for the worlds and people you create.
If
you want to self-publish – then go for it. There are pros and cons
to it, of course. But that’s true of traditional publishing as
well. Do what is right for you. Keep in mind self-publishing is hard
work – you don’t have the backing of a publishing house – so
the marketing, editing, getting cover art etc. is your
responsibility. That said, you can publish the quirky stuff, the
non-mainstream stuff and have some success with it.
Excerpt
From
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I
Archos
followed with only a fraction of his attention on where they were
going. He was tired and knew he needed his magic for a while longer.
As he walked, he trailed the storm behind him. Out in the darkness,
he let it go and suddenly the full fury of the storm was allowed to
rage.
“Run,”
he breathed. “Run now!” Although by now his muscles ached and
were not too obliged to respond without protestation.
They
ran as the clouds raged in the sky and released rain in huge drops
that froze. Whipping water determined to soak everything it could
find, it was a rain that obscured the vision and chilled the bone.
Wind roared in from the south, battering the banners and slamming the
casements of the upper windows, raining glass in shards. The storm
twisted in a tempest in the courtyard, sucking up stones and wood and
slamming them into walls, ground and people, without prejudice. Angry
clouds spat forked lightning, cleaving the sky like the vengeance of
the gods and grounded within the walls of the fort and on the roof,
splitting tiles and bringing fire even in the driving rain.
As
they reached the coach, the horses skittered in fear and Olek pulled
the door open and jumped up, almost dragging Archos and the girl
inside. He hastily pulled one of the soft rugs onto the floor, then
leapt out and up to the seat as the thunder rolled and lightning
sliced the air just behind them. Archos would trust no one else to
drive in such a situation, and besides Simon had business elsewhere.
The horses began to run in fear and it took all Olek’s skill to
bring them under control enough to steer. Looking behind him, he saw
mayhem. The roof burned, and he could hear the sounds of panicked men
and terrified horses, even at this distance. Three mounted riders
rode out of the fort towards them. As the carriage picked up speed,
he steered it to the forest trail.
Archos
heard the storm rage and the frail breathing of the girl beside him.
He flipped up the window and grinned when he saw the chaos of the
storm unleashed. He felt a little hollow for having held the storm
for so long and he saw the horses panic as thunder rolled close. The
hoof beats behind them grew closer and he knew Olek was struggling to
control the carriage as it rocked and bucked around him. As they
approached the forest path, he looked down at Dii and gently he
touched her, feeling her Power even now and it gave him strength.
“I
bloody well hope you have a plan, my lord, those riders are gaining
on us, our horses are terrified, and your storm seems bent on killing
everything!” Olek screamed back to him.
Closing
his eyes, Archos tried to calm himself and summon the Power he
needed. “Just drive for the gap in the trees, off the road,” he
yelled back.
Olek
looked around in the darkness and the mayhem of the storm. “Gap?
What gap? Oh gods, if it was any man but you, I would think you mad.
I hope you have Power enough left for this.”
“So
do I, my friend,” muttered the Archmage.
As
the trees rapidly approached, Archos drew his Power and slammed his
staff into the floor. “Wood to my will, let us pass where there is
no gateway. Wood to my will, hide us from sight!” he cried into the
darkness and the rapidly approaching trees.
As
the spell ended, a gap appeared as branches turned and trees bent
aside. The carriage plunged into the dark wood as the greenery
slammed back behind them.
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.
*18
rated for adult scenes and violence.
Available
as ebook, paperback, hardcover, large print and audiobook.
Universal
Link https://www.books2read.com/Lightbeyondstorm1
The
Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm - Book II
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.
*18
rated for adult scenes and violence.
Available
as ebook, paperback, hardcover, large print and audiobook.
https://www.books2read.com/ShiningCitadel
The
Stolen Tower – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book III
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.
*18
rated for adult scenes and violence.
Available
as ebook, paperback, hardcover, large print and audiobook.
Universal
Link https://www.books2read.com/StolenTower
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 Chroniclesand
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.
Alex
is also proud to be a writer for Perseid Press where her work
features in Heroika:
Dragon Eaters, Heroika Skirmishers – where
she was editor and cover designer as well as writer – as well as
Lovers
in Hell and
Mystics in Hell
– part of the acclaimed Heroes in Hell series.
http://www.theperseidpress.com/
Awards
Outside
the Walls, co-written with Diana L. Wicker received a Chill with
a Book Reader’s Award in 2017.
NN
Light Book Heaven awards:
The
Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales won the best fantasy for 2018
Echoes
of a Song - one of her Phantom tales – won the best fantasy in
2019
Tears
and Crimson Velvet won the best Short Story category in 2020
Dark
Tales and Twisted Verses – won the best Short Story Category in
2021
Blog
https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/about-a-l-butcher-fantasy-author-poet-author-promotion/
Facebook
Author Page https://www.facebook.com/LightBeyondtheStorm/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/libraryoferana/
Amazon
Author Page
http://amzn.to/2hK33OM
BookBub
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-l-butcher
Goodreads
http://bit.ly/GR2iqokvK
Linked
In
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-butcher-8342ab13b/
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Author Network
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Google
Play
https://play.google.com/store/books/author?id=A.+L.+Butcher
Smashwords
Author Page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ALB123
Apple
Author Page https://books.apple.com/gb/author/a-l-butcher/id895849667
Apple
Audiopage
https://books.apple.com/us/author/a-l-butcher/id895849667#see-all/audio-books
Kobo
Author Page
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/search?query=a+l+butcher
Perseid
Press Author Page
http://www.theperseidpress.com/?page_id=523
Barnes
and Noble Author Page
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22A.%20L.%20Butcher
