What drew you to the paranormal genre?
I’ve held a fascination for all things paranormal, ever since I was a little girl. So, once I knew I wanted to pursue writing it was a natural fit for me to right in the horror/dark fantasy/speculative fiction genres.
Did writing for anthologies aid your writing style?
Absolutely! When you’re given specific word limits to adhere to, it teaches you to write concisely which I found a great skill to have once I moved forward with my novels.
Did you find the switch from short stories to novel length challenging?
Not at all, though they are certainly different. With novels you need to make sure there’s a lot more fleshing out of the characters/places etc.
What inspired your debut novel, Fates’ Fury?
I’m not sure when the idea first came to me. It wasn’t an ‘ah ha!’ moment, but more like an idea that simmered beneath the surface for awhile. It was in 2012, when there was a lot of talk of the Mayan Calendar, and it got me thinking about what would the ancients think if they could see us now?
Can you tell us about the story behind Fates’ Fury creation?
Essentially, the Fates’ have decided enough is enough and mankind have to go. They start killing people off as they hunt for the Tablet of Destinies, which will allow them to eradicate us for good. Three friends, Jonah, Tristan and Ava find themselves in the middle of it all, when they each have increasingly strange encounters before they’re approached by a man in the middle of a thunderstorm claiming he’s Zeus. He tells them of an Alliance of ancient gods and goddess prepared to help fight against the Fates. Yet the Fates are more powerful than man the gods combined…
Your follow up novel Leroux Manor is set in England. Did you visit England for research?
I wish! That would have been amazing! Just lots of research, I’m afraid. Though one day I’d love to visit for real.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I’m boring—it’s my desk! We moved into our first home a few months ago, and it’s the first time I’ve had a space solely dedicated to writing and I’ve loved setting it up.
Do you feel your environment affects your writing?
100% I hate feeling pent in by clutter or a stuffy room. I love fresh air (even in winter, but it gets super cold here.) and I often have oils in the diffuser to aid concentration and focus. I have drawings by my daughter on the wall, as well as a moon calendar, a framed copy of Fates’ Fury and a Dali print. I like greenery too, and have a little terrarium hubby put together for me, and a couple of potted palms. I’m also a massive procrastinator so I also have to make sure there’s nothing on hand to aid that.
Has your BA in psychology given you insights into how a character would react to a situation? Has it helped in the creative process?
Yes, I think it has. There’s just an overall deeper understanding of human behaviour and what motivates certain personalities. I think its especially helpful when writing in the darker genres.
Where can readers find your books?
On Amazon for both ebook and paperback, and anywhere else you can buy ebooks!
Which social media platforms can we find you on?
Website: https://lizbutcherauthor.com.au
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lunaloveliz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunaloveliz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Liz-Butcher-1394868604152823/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13845425.Liz_Butcher
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/lizbutcherauthor/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00X6XN5O6
With the global effects of COVID19 restricting gatherings, how have you managed to promote your books?
By relying heavily on social media! I’ve also had some wonderful friends sharing it around, which I’m so appreciative of.
Is there any message you would like to send to your fans and readers? Thank you so much for your support!
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 released her own collection, After Dark, in 2018.
Her debut novel, Fates’ Fury, released September 2019 and Leroux Manor in September 2020.
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 