Hello there everyone.

I hope you are all ready to face the opportunities the week can bring.

For any of you with the Monday Blues however, I have the perfect remedy, in the form of some more Author Interview goodness!

Let me introduce to you all Australian author Liz Butcher, as she kindly delves into what motivates her as a writer, along with sharing her writing experiences.

Thanks for reading folks and happy reading as always 🙂

 

Hi there Liz, a sincere pleasure to have you here today to discuss your latest novel release, along with your own passions, influences and writing experiences.

Thank you for having me!

Let’s start first with your newest Fantasy novel release “Fates’ Fury”, which was just released at the end of September this year. Tell us more about the plot and themes of this book, along with giving us some background information on what is at stake for your protagonists and antagonists, plus providing us with an insight into the world that they inhabit too.

The last thing Jonah Sands expected on his thirtieth birthday was to have his life thrust into the hands of a dangerous, red-haired woman – or to be the only person in the world to survive an encounter with her.

As the death toll skyrockets, Jonah and his two best friends, the siblings Tristan and Ava Carter, find themselves at the epicentre of inexplicable phenomena – a stranded ferry transforms into a barge headed for the Underworld; young girls levitate to whisper ancient riddles; technology across the globe is controlled by some unseen hand. And it all seems to lead back to the woman with red hair. When a stranger finds them in the midst of a thunderstorm and offers his otherworldly assistance, Jonah finally unravels the truth about who he really is. And what it means for the rest of humanity.

Fates’ Fury is set in the here and now, and poses the question, do we deserve to be here? If there was an entity or a power out there with the ability to wipe us out, would they? Or is there enough goodness, enough redeemable qualities within the human race, to justify another chance?

You also have a book that is a collection of short stories spanning a variety of genres called “After Dark”. Can you give us some insight into what links the stories in this collection together and give us a summary of the gripping tales that we will find within?

It’s a slightly eclectic collection, leaning towards horror and dark fantasy, and is made up of a combination of short stories and drabbles. While the stories contain varying elements of the paranormal/supernatural, there’s also focus on the human condition—what motivates and drives us, what makes us strong, or weak, fearless or fearful.

Considering the collection contains thirty-seven pieces of work, I won’t go into too much detail! My favourites would be:

Dormir – a tale of Old Man Time who is approaching the end of his existence, and his friend, Death, who realises he has some unfinished business before the end of everything.

Amber – a story inspired by the song A Forest (The Cure) and is about a village that sacrifices maidens to the forest to ensure their good fortune. It’s told from the perspective of one such maiden both before and after her sacrifice.

Gethen – a possession story told from the perspective of the entity doing the possessing, rather than from the host or witnesses to the events.

Sail Away – a look at an ancient sailor who finds himself on the other side of a monstrous storm, forever changed.

If you could invite any one of your characters to dinner, which one would it be and what would you cook for them?

Tricky! I think I would invite Old Man Time, as I imagine he’d have an endless supply of entertaining tales and wisdom to share. At his age, I wouldn’t think he’d have much of an appetite, as he prefers to suck on his pipe. So perhaps we’d share a nice whiskey instead.

If your novel or any of your short stories were to be made into films (or even a TV series), who would you cast in the lead roles?

This is such a fun question and I narrowed it down to a handful of characters from my new book, Fates’ Fury. The main character, Jonah Sands, should be played by Max Irons, as he’s equal parts charming, handsome and brooding. Tristan Carter who frequents between joviality and seriousness (with a preference for the former), I would give to James Franco, while his feisty and passionate sister Ava, would be played by Sophia Bush. Their parents, the well-travelled and wise Alex and Mallory Carter would be played by Tom Hanks and Gillian Anderson. The modern and quick-to-anger Zeus has to be Eric Bana, while the graceful and solemn Isis would be Zoe Saldana. The reverent ad wise Enki I see played by Naveen Andrews, while the rock-star-like god Hades has to be Jared Leto, and his creepy, secretive sidekick, Charon, a perfect fit for Paul Bettany.

A girl has to dream, right?

What would you choose as your own personal mascot or spirit animal when it comes to you and your style of writing?

Hmm…an owl? I do most of my writing in the pre-dawn/dawn hours, so that’s a good fit.

What do you think most characterizes or defines your writing? Do you have any writing quirks or themes that constantly crop up in your stories?

I love coming up with twists and trying to surprise the reader. It wasn’t until I compiled After Dark that I realised trees play a role in quite a bit of my work, which was interesting.

What do you find the most difficult thing about writing? And what do you find the easiest?

For me, the most difficult thing about writing is finding the time. With a day job four days a week and my wonderful toddler, I can be a little more time poor than I would like. The easiest part for me is coming up with ideas and concepts. I have a whole box of index cards full of ideas—now I just need the time to write them all!

Who are some of the authors, musicians, poets and/or historical figures that inspire you?

We’d could be here for days listing them all, but off the top of my head, Robert Smith, Stephen King, David Bowie, Sigmund Freud, Stephen Hawking, Robert Plant, Anne Boleyn, Homer, Billy Corgan, J.K. Rowling.

Do you listen to music when you are writing and if so, then what type of music do you listen to?

Usually music without lyrics. I love listening to movie scores – Sinister and Insidious are hands down my most played. I also like listening to dark, tribal type music.

What sort of research do you do to write your books?

It depends on what I’m writing. Fates’ Fury required some research, more for confirmation/clarification to select the best deities etc. For an upcoming work, I’ve interviewed people, so it really depends.

Why do you write? What inspired you to become a writer?

Because I love it! It makes me happy, and I feel off and cranky when I don’t get to do it. It’s my outlet.

What keeps you motivated during creative slumps? How do you deal with Writers Block?

I’ve only really had one creative slump, which came halfway through writing Fates’ Fury. I think it was a combination of pregnancy and lack of planning, haha! Anytime I tried to ‘pants’ writing, that’s when I have issues with writers block. So, to avoid it I became a ‘plotter’ instead and make sure I have everything outlined before start writing.

You have access to a time machine. What advice would you give to your younger self?

You’ll eventually decide writing is your passion, so get cracking on it now! Believe in yourself!

How do you spend your free time when you are not writing?

With my husband and our three and half year old! They keep me both occupied and entertained.

What are you views on audiobooks and would you consider having your novels made into audiobooks? If so, then who would you get to narrate them?

I would love to have my books converted to audiobooks; I think they’re a great idea. For After Dark, Tony Todd would be an epic choice. His voice sent chills down my spine when I was thirteen watching Candyman. For Fates’ Fury, I think James Spader or Vera Farmiga would be fantastic narrators.

Tell us more about your upcoming projects. Are you working on anything specific or have plans in the pipeline?

Always! I have a young adult horror called LeRoux Manor which I’m working with my editor on and I’m almost finished the draft for Never, Never which is paranormal/crime novel. I have two other novels in the plotting stage and a serial I am cowriting.

Finally, are there any nuggets of wisdom that you can impart to other aspiring writers?

Firstly – Just jump in with both feet! Don’t question if you’re any good or not, because you will get better. Get it all down—the first draft isn’t supposed to be perfect. Secondly – Also, a fantastic editor is a must. Thirdly – do it because you love it.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you for joining us Liz, we look forward to exploring all of the exciting characters and worlds in your books 🙂

Bio:-

Liz Butcher resides in Australia, with her husband, daughter, and their two cats. She’s a self-confessed nerd with a BA in psychology and an insatiable fascination for learning. Liz has published a number of short stories in anthologies and has released her own collection, After Dark, in 2018. Her novel, Fates’ Fury is set for release, September, 2019.

You can connect with Liz via the following Social Media channels:-

Facebook:- Liz Butcher – Author (FB)

Goodreads:- Liz Butcher (Goodreads Author)

Instagram:- @lunaloveliz (Instagram)

Pinterest:- Liz Butcher – Author (Pinterest)

Twitter:- @lunaloveliz (Twitter)

Website:- The Website of Liz Butcher (Author of Horror, Dark Fantasy & Speculative Fiction)

You can buy her books here:-

Buy Liz Butcher’s books in the UK/Europe

Buy Liz Butcher’s books in the US/Rest of the World

If you too would like to be interviewed on my blog at TooFullToWrite and you have a book or a series of books that you would like us to chat about then fill out the Contact Me form here with your details and we can arrange a future interview slot.