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Who Was Octavia Butler?

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Who was Octavia Butler? BookRiot look into her early life, literary bibliography, and fascinating facts about her life and writing approach.


Who am I?” reads an old jacket cover of Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, “I am a forty-seven-year-old writer who can remember being a ten-year-old writer and who expects someday to be an eighty-year-old writer. I am also comfortably asocial, a hermit in the middle of Los Angeles. A pessimist if I’m not careful, a feminist, a Black, a for­mer Baptist, an oil and water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, cer­tainty, and drive.”

This famous description is catchy, but it barely scratches the surface of who Butler was. Her legacy as the first Black woman science fiction writer precedes her, but she was never too fond of labels. As her many interviews and novels show, there was a lot more to her than a simple by-line.

Octavia Estelle Butler was born to Laurice and Octavia M. Butler (née Guy) in Pasadena, California, on June 22, 1947. Her father passed away when she was still a toddler and young Butler was raised primarily by her mother and grandmother. She went by Estelle to everyone except her mother, who lovingly called her “Junie.”

Her mother was a domestic worker who cleaned houses for a living. She would sometimes take Butler with her to work, and because she wasn’t allowed in, Butler would wait in the car. On the few exceptions of these days, Butler would follow her mother inside. Sometimes she would hear people speak about her mother in disrespectful ways. As a child, the anger and humiliation she felt on behalf of her parent were directed at her mother, for not standing up for herself, rather than the people who insulted her.

“I will never do what you do,” Butler recounts telling her mother in an interview with Daniel Burton-Rose, “What you do is terrible.” At the time, her mother hadn’t said anything, but looked hurt. Years later, Butler came to regret her words, “I carried that look for a number of years before I understood it…I didn’t have to leave school when I was ten, I never missed a meal, always had a roof over my head, because my mother was willing to do demeaning work and accept humiliation.” Later, it would be people like her mother who Butler saw as heroes and who would inspire her to write her most famous novel, Kindred.

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The party was supposed to be the highlight of the summer. If only I’d known that night would destroy our lives… The Street Party: An unputdownable, gripping domestic psychological thriller by Claire Seeber

The Street Party: An unputdownable, gripping domestic psychological thriller

by Claire Seeber
3.7 stars – 408 reviews
Everyday Price: $3.99
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:
The party was supposed to be the highlight of the summer. If only I’d known that night would destroy our lives…

All the neighbours were laughing, drinking out of plastic glasses and getting along. I almost felt happy. Almost forgot about the terrible argument earlier and the sinister messages I’d been receiving from a strange address all week, threatening to expose the lies behind my perfect life.

As we finished with the red and gold fireworks and welcomed everyone back to our house, I believed that everything would be okay.

But I didn’t know who I was inviting in.

I never could have imagined what would happen here, in our home, after I’d gone up to bed.

Everyone saw something different.

It’s my daughter’s word against the story the boy from down the road is telling. But how can I find out what really happened that night without everyone finding out the truth about me?

Can an unlikely teen prevail against a relentless enemy, or will evil alter mankind’s destiny forever? Angels Of Omnis: Addiction by Lola StVil

Angels Of Omnis: Addiction (Angels of Omnis, Book 1) (Guardians series)

by Lola StVil
4.1 stars – 2,468 reviews
Everyday Price: $0.99
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:
“Gossip Girl” meets “The Mortal Instruments”

“I crave her. I need her. I love her. And that is the reason, we will all die…”

I’m a proud bookworm who is jealous of the heroines she reads about. They’re always brimming with courage and going on adventures. The most courageous thing I’ve done is drink milk two days past it’s expiration date. Nothing new or exciting ever happens to me. I play it safe at every turn and live a spectacularly unremarkable life.

Until…

I was attacked by a hoard of Demons and rescued by the Japanese twins from my history class. They confess to being part of a six-member team of Angels; sent to earth to find me.

Wait, what?

It turns out, they are here to get me to reveal a secret; one I don’t even realize I’m keeping. If the Demons learn the secret before the Angels, they’ll use that knowledge to bring hell on earth. The twins present me to the team leader– Marcus Cane. Marcus is stubborn and bossy. He’s also ridiculously hot. I forget how to breathe when he’s near and feel panic when he’s away. But we could never be together. He’s the most powerful Angel on earth and I’m, well…me.

Also, he has a girlfriend. She’s stunning, intelligent and quick to kill. That should have been enough to make us stay away from each other, it wasn’t…

****This dark YA paranormal romance has over 1,000 five star reviews and is perfect for lovers of Twilight, Fallen, and Immortal Instruments!*****

It’s your giveaway post! Get your free entry word and check out My Husband’s Daughter: An absolutely heartbreaking and gripping emotional page-turner by Emma Robinson

Brought to you by:

My Husband’s Daughter: An absolutely heartbreaking and gripping emotional page-turner

by Emma Robinson
4.4 stars – 9,817 reviews
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

Wow!!! Where to even begin?? Mind you, it’s hard enough to write this with blurry eyes through tears!!… Absolutely heartbreaking and a real tear jerker.’ Kirsty Whitlock ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cara took a deep breath and let it out slowly. ‘She’s not just my daughter,’ she said as she turned to face Jack. This man she had once loved, but who she hadn’t seen for nearly five years. ‘Sophie is your daughter too.’

It is just past ten o’clock on a cold Friday evening when Rebecca and her husband Jack’s doorbell rings. Outside is a woman who introduces herself as Jack’s ex-girlfriend Cara. And she’s holding the hand of a shivering, blue-eyed, four-year-old girl. Who she claims is Jack’s daughter.

Rebecca is shocked to discover he has a child from his last relationship – even one he hadn’t known about. Because becoming parents isn’t part of their life plan. They like children, but they also love their freedom and spending time together uninterrupted; the way that, if they wanted to, they could travel the world at a moment’s notice.

But Cara needs them. Because Cara has a devastating secret that she can’t tell anyone yet. Not even her daughter. A secret with the power to change all of their lives.

A secret that will ultimately mean Rebecca has to ask herself – could she find it in herself to welcome her husband’s child into her home, and into her heart?

A heartbreaking and powerful emotional women’s fiction novel about love, friendship and what it truly means to be a parent, perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Jodi Picoult and Kate Hewitt.

Go to Giveaway Central to enter and to say thank you here is a bonus entry word: husband

Book Freebies! Five free Kindle reads!

Sponsored By:

Dead Cat, Run

by Annabelle Lewis
4.6 stars – 27 reviews
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

You’re where you’re meant to be. Run, if you can.

High school senior Jenny Gallagher’s psychic abilities have made life in her small New England town rocky. Her premonitions and déjà vu have given her a reputation, one she’s not happy with. Tragedy is about to strike, however, and oddly, this time, she doesn’t see it coming. Is her gift betraying her?

Not far from Jenny, Wellesley Professor Maximus Dyer also has a gift—a painful and useless one. His ability to see the past has brought him insight into history, but otherwise, he’s never known what to make of it. The psychic shocks he receives through his unprotected hands have made any genuine human relationships beyond his grasp. Then someone who doesn’t trigger a vision enters his life—a dog?

Sidrah Keeling runs determinedly optimistic throughout her life, trying hard not to ask the big questions about why. Her foresight, her ability to see glimpses of the future in her dreams, often drives her to follow a path she doesn’t understand. Alert and listening, with the guardrails of security she’s erected in place, she’s forced again to follow her dreams. This time to a man. Who is he?

Lurking deep in his sensory deprivation tank, Turner Black sees it all. Born out of the great chaos of time, he once again feels the forces of good gathering to move against him. Not in this life. This time, his darkness will reign supreme. The hunt for his antithesis will begin again now. He can’t wait to feel his opponent in destiny bleed.

A fast-paced contemporary mystery thriller with a supernatural hierarchy, Dead Cat, Run will keep you up all night, glued to your seat.

* * *

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A Merry Royal Layover: A sweet royal romcom Christmas novella

by Teri Wilson
4.2 stars – 11 reviews
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

From the USA Today Bestselling CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY anthology!

When a veterinarian traveling to a remote European village to volunteer at an animal shelter during the Christmas holidays gets an unexpected first-class upgrade, she meets a charming stranger in the airport lounge who may or may not be the country’s crown prince.

This sweet holiday royal romcom novella has Love Actually vibes, a baby sloth-loving Prince Charming, a snowy Christmas Eve at London’s Heathrow Airport and more!

* * *

The Secrets I Never Told: A Historical Novel

by Nirit Elyovich
4.7 stars – 13 reviews
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

Based on a true story, The Secrets I Never Told is a gripping historical novel beginning in early 20th-century Eastern Europe and making its way through the moving tale of one woman and the dark secrets that shadow her life.

Life has never been kind to Fania. Although on the outside she is an educated, impressive woman, her soul is sad and raging. For years she has carried on her shoulders regret for her miserable decisions, of which she tells no one, not even those closest to her.

In 1917, heartbroken after the early death of her husband, Fania finds herself in a strange new place, forced to stand alone against the lies and secrets which, if revealed, will expose the weakest sides of her and disgrace her in front of everyone who is dear to her.

On her deathbed, Fania makes a fateful decision to tell her life story to the transparent man who has lived beside her all her life. This is the start of a harrowing journey of revelation, which leads Fania back to the most difficult and painful times in her life – for the first time, and maybe the last.

* * *

Angels Of Omnis: Addiction (Angels of Omnis, Book 1) (Guardians series)

by Lola StVil
4.1 stars – 2,468 reviews
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

“Gossip Girl” meets “The Mortal Instruments”

“I crave her. I need her. I love her. And that is the reason, we will all die…”

I’m a proud bookworm who is jealous of the heroines she reads about. They’re always brimming with courage and going on adventures. The most courageous thing I’ve done is drink milk two days past it’s expiration date. Nothing new or exciting ever happens to me. I play it safe at every turn and live a spectacularly unremarkable life.

Until…

I was attacked by a hoard of Demons and rescued by the Japanese twins from my history class. They confess to being part of a six-member team of Angels; sent to earth to find me.

Wait, what?

It turns out, they are here to get me to reveal a secret; one I don’t even realize I’m keeping. If the Demons learn the secret before the Angels, they’ll use that knowledge to bring hell on earth. The twins present me to the team leader– Marcus Cane. Marcus is stubborn and bossy. He’s also ridiculously hot. I forget how to breathe when he’s near and feel panic when he’s away. But we could never be together. He’s the most powerful Angel on earth and I’m, well…me.

Also, he has a girlfriend. She’s stunning, intelligent and quick to kill. That should have been enough to make us stay away from each other, it wasn’t…

* * *

Sissies Adventure Series 3-book Box Set

by Marisa Howard
4.9 stars – 21 reviews
Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:
Pack your bags—the Sissies are going on vacation! And big sissy can’t wait to show little sissy all the fun things to do, from swimming and building sandcastles to hiking and dancing. Join the Sissies as they visit the sea, the mountains, and Mexico.Marisa Howard is a children’s book author who resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and two daughters. With a penchant for poetry and years of experience with aesthetics, she seeks to create beautiful stories through the eyes of a child, based off of travel and adventure. In sharing the joy of exploration with young readers, she hopes that the bonds of sisterhood shine through the short stories and illuminate how having a sister is one of life’s most precious gifts.

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The world is full of tigers, but only some of them are real. Learn their ways and you’ll become stronger, wiser, and more resilient… Beware False Tigers: Strategies and Antidotes for an Age of Stress by Frank Forencich

Beware False Tigers: Strategies and Antidotes for an Age of Stress

by Frank Forencich
FREE with Kindle UnlimitedLearn More
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

The world is full of tigers, but only some of them are real. Learn their ways and you’ll become stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

Our world is in turmoil, bearing down on our minds and bodies with increasing pressure, acute crises, and wicked problems. Our aboriginal bodies—sculpted for success in wild, outdoor environments—have no idea how to adapt. Cortisol surges through our tissue, driving us toward impatience, distress, dysfunctional behavior, and declining health.

The standard narrative tells us that stress is an individual problem with individual solutions. It’s a lifestyle issue, a medical condition, and a challenge to our personal well-being. But the standard narrative gets it wrong. In fact, stress is a systemic, psychosocial problem and a global health issue. It’s a shared predicament that demands collective action. The good news is that stress can actually be the key to unlocking a more functional and fulfilling future for all of us.

Beware False Tigers is a book about focus. It’s about responding appropriately, to the right tigers, in the right proportion, at the right time. As you’ll discover, our encounter with stress can be fascinating, powerful, and incredibly meaningful.

Don’t miss this smart biography with a $13 flash price cut! Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik

Family eBook of The Day:

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

by Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik
4.8 stars – 4,382 reviews
Text-to-Speech: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

New York Times Bestseller

Featured in the critically acclaimed documentary RBG

“It was beyond my wildest imagination that I would one day become the ‘Notorious RBG.” — Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 2019

She was a fierce dissenter with a serious collar game. A legendary, self-described “flaming feminist litigator” who made the world more equal. And an intergenerational icon affectionately known as the Notorious RBG. As the nation mourns the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, discover the story of a remarkable woman and learn how to carry on her legacy.

This runaway bestseller, brought to you by the attorney founder of the Notorious RBG Tumblr and an award-winning feminist journalist, is more than just a love letter. It draws on intimate access to Ginsburg’s family members, close friends, colleagues, and clerks, as well as an interview with the Justice herself. An original hybrid of reported narrative, annotated dissents, rare archival photos and documents, and illustrations, the book tells a never-before-told story of an unusual and transformative woman who transcended divides and changed the world forever.

Today’s Book of The Day is sponsored by this week’s Kids’ eBook of The Week:

The Trace: A YA Sci-Fi Adventure (Whitewashed Book 1)

by Adelaide Thorne
4.7 stars – 38 reviews
Everyday Price: $4.99
FREE with Kindle UnlimitedLearn More
Text-to-Speech and Lending: Enabled
Here’s the set-up:

The ruthless Grifters want Ella Kepler, and they won’t stop until she’s theirs.

WINNER: Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Summer 2019 – Best Science Fiction

“Thorne does an amazing job showing the complexity of war: the who-is-right and who-is-wrong when both sides have desires that make sense, the pain it inflicts upon generations, the search for truth, and the inner-battle we all must face when choosing which side we will and should fight for… I highly, HIGHLY, recommend this book.” ~ K.A. Parkinson, Author of “The Chosen Chronicles”

When Ella’s metahuman abilities manifest and draw the attention of the Grifters, she seeks safety from the paramilitary training academy of the MTA. Thrust alongside soldiers programmed to fight or die, Ella struggles to stay afloat, hopeful that the Grifters will forget about her.

But Grifters have a long memory, and their nature isn’t compassionate. If Ella doesn’t give them what they want, someone she loves will pay the price—and it will be all Ella’s fault.

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the first book in the “Whitewashed” trilogy, a story of an endless battle between powerful enemies, and the girl who’s stuck in the middle 18 years too late. [DRM-Free]