THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles
Get a behind-the-scenes all-access pass to A.L. Butcher's The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Series!
***Synopsis***
Book I – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles features the adventures of Dii, an escaped elven mage, and Archos the mysterious human who helps her. In the world of Erana magic is illegal and elves are, to all intents and purposes, slaves. The land is ruled by the tyrannical Order of Witch-Hunters.
Often people aren’t
who they seem, and the good-guys are very much antiheroes.
Book I is dark – it’s not for the faint hearted – there’s violence, death, dark magic and a corrupt society. There’s also kindness, love and the will to help those less fortune, who cannot speak for themselves – and risk much doing so. Oh yes… and there’s sexy scenes….
The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles - Book II features our heroes, seeking a lost elven relic and a legend that may or may not actually exist. There’s intrigue, plots aplenty, wicked creatures, unwelcome secrets and at least one character discovers the truth is not what he thought it to be.
The Stolen Tower – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book III.
This adventure
follows Mirandra – a troll princess who must prove her worth to lead her Tribe,
she undertakes a dangerous and arduous journey to reclaim a ruin, and find the
reason her kin are disappearing or being murdered. We have monsters that
shouldn’t exist, unlikely allies and sacrifices no one should have to make.
What is the sub-genre and trope? Did your characters lead you to this genre or was that decided before the story began?
It’s fantasy and dark fantasy/Fantasy romance, with a good helping of erotica elements.
Are you more character or plot driven?
I think the characters come first, then weave the plot around themselves. Sometimes they misbehave and go off on an unforeseen adventures.
With many main and secondary characters, how do you keep them separated in your mind? Do you have a story/vision board above your workspace?
I have a lot of notes. Well, I say notes it’s more like files and folders with documents with random thoughts on.
I have a over arching plot for the story/series but how I get there….the characters tell me. Sometimes.
I know from previous interviews that characters take on a life of their own. Were any of the characters in this series determined to take their own direction instead of where you initially wanted them to go?
Oh yes, in book II Marden and Th’alia definitely lead me a merry dance and went a way I hadn’t initially planned.
Are any of the male/female POVs based on anyone you know?
No, not really.
Was there any one character/scene that was harder to write about than the other?
Several scenes in book I were unpleasant things happen to Dii.
A scene late on where the heroes arrive just too late.
Book III – two characters die and I cried….
What is your favorite book in the series?
I like all of them, but I guess if I have a fav, it would be Shining Citadel, as it’s a fun adventure and the characters go through so much and discover who they really are.
I know that we aren’t supposed to have “favorites” as far as our children, but seriously, who’s your favorite character and why?
Ohh, Archos. He’s a lot of fun to write. He’s badass.
Series question - Who is your favorite couple and why did you decide on their dynamics?
Probably Olek and Ozena – they are very different. Ozena is young (18 or 19) has been raised in a secluded elven village and has virtually no experience of the world beyond her village. She’s only just into adulthood, has no experience of romance or men. She’s a good person, more because she’s never needed to be anything else than innately good.
Olek is worldly, experienced, and can switch from being the funny, lighthearted companion to the most feared assassin in the land in a heartbeat. He’s not a ‘nice’ person – he’s a killer, a thief, a liar and an outlaw but he is also decent in a morally fluidic sort of way. He does what he needs to do, and doesn’t shirk from it but he can also be extremely kind and gentle.
Ozena is swept off her feet by this mysterious, intriguing man, in her time of need. Her world is turned upside down and she has to trust strangers to help her. Olek sees a young woman who is more than she believes herself to be – she’s pretty and kind. But he knows the world is a dark, dangerous place and he wants her to understand that, to be able to take care of herself if needed and not to yield to the horror which befalls many elves in the hands of humans. Ozena develops a lot over the series, she has to mature quickly and question what she is capable of – and if she can live with the consequences.
How do you get inside these characters’ heads to find their perfect HEA?
I don’t think there is one. There’s love and loyalty but in a world where their very existence is a crime there can’t be a HEA until that is rectified.
What scene in this book/series sticks out the most for you? Why?
The scene on the bridge of ice in Shining Citadel – It’s the turning point for Marden and in many ways for them all. The truth is not what they thought it was, and after this scene they realise there are monsters abounding that shouldn’t exist, Dii learns her heritage, Archos realizes he’s not invulnerable and they all discover they can’t go home until they find the lost Citadel.
Series - Were any of the books harder to write than others?
Every book has its challenges. I think in many ways the first one was the hardest.
I didn’t have as much confidence then, and at the time my mother was dying of cancer – I really wanted her to see it before she did (she did) but it was a very difficult time.
This question is if you write in MULTIPLE POVs not just the hero and heroine - I love the multiple POVs in a book. It’s not just the hero and heroine, but we get inside the heads of multiple characters throughout this series. I feel that it gives the story further depth. Do you think you will write another book or series following this multiple POV outline?
Yes, I do. Often the chapters alternate between the POVs.
How long did it take you to write this book/series?
Book I took me a year or so, Book II was more, Book III – took a couple of years.
It’s not my main job and I can only write if I’m emotionally and mentally in a place to do so. I’m also disabled, so often I’m just too tired, or broken to put anything coherent together.
How did you come up with the title for your book and series?
Dii is the Lady of the Light (although this isn’t fully revealed until book II) and Archos is the Lord of the Storm.
If you met these characters in real life would you get along?
No, they’d probably be upset at all the mean things I do to them.
Series question – Did you know in advance that you were going to write this as a series or did one of the characters in book one demand their own story?
It started as one book, but I think by the time I finished book I the series was taking shape.
I have a companion series – set in the same world – one book has five tales of lore and legends, one is an adventure set in the past, and one features a secondary character from the main series and his…minion.
If your book/series were made into a movie, which actors do you see as playing your characters?
I have absolutely no idea!
Can you give us a hint as to what we can expect next? Whether a new book and series or a sequel to an existing series? Can you share a small tease?
I’m currently working on Book IV (which is being very tricksy). It follows on from the events of books II and III. I’m also writing a novella for the companion series.
https://readingbydeb.blogspot.com/2023/02/author-at-glance-al-butcher.html
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 Pubshare - for the most part - the Here Be Series
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 and Lovers 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
Connect with A.L. Butcher:
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 terrible revenge unfolds.
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.
THE STOLEN TOWER by A.L. Butcher
The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Series - Book Three
https://www.books2read.com/StolenTower
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment