Aristata Press is delighted to announce that BUTTERFLY DREAMS has been shortlisted for the Foreword Reviews INDIE Book of the Year in Literature.  Foreword is a well-respected platform for discovering and reviewing the best in University and Independent publishing.

“I am deeply impressed by the scope and range of books submitted this year. Each Finalist represents a significant contribution to the literary landscape and underscores the crucial role that independent authors and publishers play, ensuring a steady flow of diverse and thought-provoking content. The INDIES not only honors outstanding literary achievements but also helps to qualify and connect these exceptional books with librarians and booksellers alike,” said Christopher Nesbit, INDIES Award Director.

“Part of the INDIES joy for me is rediscovering so many fantastic books that didn’t get the attention they deserved when first released or were too quickly forgotten. This best of 2023 competition will once again put the spotlight on what makes indie publishing the soul of the book industry,” shared Matt Sutherland, Executive Editor.

Winners in each genre, along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s Indie Publisher of the Year, will be announced in June 2024.

BUTTERFLY DREAMS follows Grace McGuiver, a budding anthropologist who arrives in the Azores Islands to conduct her dissertation research on the annual festival cycle. Little does she know that her arrival will set into motion a series of deadly events that will challenge her emotionally and professionally. Ill-equipped to deal with the patriarchal culture in which she finds herself, and facing unknown foes, she discovers the power of gossip, superstition, and religious fervor.  In her quest to unravel the island’s secrets she forges unexpected friendships and finds the person who could turn out to be the love of her life.

ANNE MCCLARD holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Brown University. Butterfly Dreams is her first novel, inspired by research done in the Azores for her doctoral dissertation. Aristata Press plans to release her second novel, Margaux and the Vicious Circle later this year.

Praise for Butterfly Dreams:

Lisa Kusel, author of The Widow On Dwyer Court, raves, “Anne McClard weaves a mesmerizing tale of love, sacrifice, and cultural exploration in Butterfly Dreams. Set amidst the enchanting backdrop of the Azores Islands, where tradition and mystery collide, an anthropologist studying festivals finds herself entangled in a web of accusations and superstitions. Prepare to be captivated by a story that blends ancient folklore, personal resilience, and the fight for truth.”

Bruce Campbell, award-winning author and co-author of This Rough Magic: at Home on the Columbia Slough, praises Butterfly Dreams, saying, “Butterfly Dreams occurs on an Atlantic isle where three oceanic plates collide, providing an energetic setting for Anne McClard’s astonishing novel of transformation, hope, dreams, and magic. Grace McGuiver is a young American woman living on São Jorge, an island in the Azores approximately eight-hundred miles west of Portugal. Struggling to complete her ethnographic field work, Grace incorporates São Jorge’s chaotic geology of earthquakes and volcanoes into body, mind, and spirit as she copes with local culture, confronts the bedevilments of ancient superstitions, and grapples with her complicated love life.”

Reader Reviews:

“BUTTERFLY DREAMS transcends mere storytelling; it offers an odyssey that educates and engrosses, leaving you yearning for another chapter. It’s a book that caters to an array of tastes—be it an appreciation for exotic locales, mysteries, or the literary alchemy of magical realism. It is not just a must-read; IT IS A MUST-EXPERIENCE.”

“I was completely transported to a very specific place inhabited by lively and fully realized characters, and held in great suspense by a braided plot! The author has a cinematic way of calling attention to details of interior appointments, with impressionistic word paintings of landscapes and cloudscapes. I think this is an accomplished work and deserves a wide audience.”

“Butterfly Dreams will take you to a new world and engross you in Grace’s challenging life on the Azores, all while immersing you in the Azorean culture, the language, their beliefs and their enduring spirit. Your desire to solve the mystery and the tug of the many compelling characters will keep you up until you finish this unique and truly wonderful novel. Don’t just add this to your list, read it!”

Butterfly Dreams is available for purchase online and at select brick and mortar stores.

For more information, review copies, or media inquiries, please contact Aristata Press.

To book Anne McClard for a book group, interview, or other event, visit: https://butterflydreams.mcclard.com/booking-inquiries/