Song of the Elves

Posted By David Shepherd on January 9, 2010

Well, here we are, properly into 2010 and the Big Chill of Britain goes on.  Temperatures hit minus 14 outside Song of the Elves HQ this week – almost stopped me getting to the pub! (Nearly froze my nose off getting home though.)

Here’s a few ways to stay warm this winter:

Curl up by the fireside with your own copy of A Shadow Falls – follow the link at the top to purchase the paperback.

Get your slippers on, grab a warm brew and snuggle up by the computer to check out the Tales of Rhoderica.

Check out the new page featuring the history of The Wolves of Winter.

Whatever you decide to do, keep safe and remember – the Wolves are watching!

Up the elves!

Coming next week… news on the first down-loadable chapters of The King’s Blades

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Posted By David Shepherd on January 4, 2010

Happy New Year!

If you’ve just found us, then welcome on board, it’s going to be a bumper year here at Song of the Elves.  If you’re an old hand coming back for more, then thanks for all your support so far and here’s what to expect in 2010…

In just a few short weeks, the first few chapters of The King’s Blades will be made available as a free ‘taster’ download.  As we speak I am editing the second book of Song of the Elves and I’m trying to radically trim the time to release date.  More to follow on new schedules as the spring progresses.

The Wolves of Winter Part 2 will appear a little later in the year as work on The King’s Blades takes priority.

As always I am grateful for your feedback on any of my projects.

If you are new to the site, may I recommend to you the paperback edition of A Shadow Falls.  Its the start of the Song of the Elves saga – not to be missed.

Up the Elves in 2010!

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Posted By David Shepherd on December 21, 2009

Merry Christmas to all my readers, and a big thank you for your continued support throughout 2009.

As you are tucking in to your turkey, spare a thought for Rulnik and the boys, for as I leave them for a Christmas break they are currently hunkered around a fire on the northern moors, piecing together clues to a series of horrific attacks.  You’ll be able to discover whether they crack the case in Wolves of Winter II, coming in Spring 2010.

Watch out also for a taster of The King’s Blades.  Book two of The Song of the Elves will ship in the fall, with book three, Sins of the Father hot on its heels.

2010 is going to be a bumper year for Dogman Publications.

Until next year, peace and love to you all.

Up the Elves!

Shep x

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Posted By David Shepherd on December 13, 2009

Dear Readers,

I have to hold up my hands and admit that my plans for the Wolves of Winter have been defeated by the run in to Christmas.  A hectic daytime schedule at work and the frantic preparations to Christmas at home add up to a delay in getting part two of this trilogy to you.  But fear not, The Wolves of Winter II will be with you early in the New Year.  If you are in need of a fix from Rhoderica, you could always follow the link at the top of the page and purchase your very own copy of A Shadow Falls – the perfect stocking filler!

In the meantime, I think my next project should be entitled Song of the Shelves, a terrifying tale of evil shopkeepers, luring unsuspecting shoppers off the streets with their 3 for 2 offers, trapping them for eternity betwixt the aisles of baubles and tinsel.  Or maybe it should be the Wives of Winter, a haunting story of frenzied present buyers, bashing shins and shoving forward in queues to beat the Christmas rush.

I will bring you details of my intended release schedule for the New Year next week, but in the meantime, if you are destined to take to the aisles good luck, fair thee well and may the Lady or the Light watch over you.

Until next time, up the elves!

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Posted By David Shepherd on December 3, 2009

At last, A Shadow Falls is in print, bringing to a close a momentous journey.  First of all I wanted to thank those of you who have been along since the website began 18 months ago, especially those of you who have taken time to register and share in every step of the winding and sometimes seemingly endless road to publication.

Fifteen years ago I began playing around with ideas and characters.  I knew I wanted to write fantasy fiction, it being the genre I had read from childhood through to adulthood – Tolkien at ten kind of grabs you and doesn’t let go!

In 2005 I finally had my story and began the painstaking job of writing The Summerlands.  I completed this cycle in 2007, but felt it was rather too unwieldy to put forward as a debut novel.  With marketting in mind, The Summerlands was divided into three parts, those now being the first three book of The Song of the Elves saga.  A Shadow Falls is the first to make it into print – The King’s Blades and Sins of the Father are waiting patiently in the wings for their own release dates.

Next year will be a busy one on the SOTE website, as i will be serialising The King’s Blades on a monthly basis as it goes through its final drafting stages.  I intend to release the finished paperbak version this time next year.

In the meantime, The Wolves of Winter Part II is two thirds written – I’m still hoping for a holiday release, but this may creep back into january, as it is a tale that is definitely growing in the telling (to paraphrase the great J.R.R.).

Thanks again to one and all for your wonderful support and encouragement.

Up the Elves!

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Posted By David Shepherd on November 21, 2009

At long last, A Shadow Falls is available to buy.

Experience the thrills of the tournament for the King’s Blades, the trials and tribulations of our young hero Kirik, and the hidden terror of the Summerlands – all in print for the first time.

Book One, A Shadow Falls, is available for immediate purchase by clicking here.

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Posted By David Shepherd on November 7, 2009

News coming soon on how to buy A Shadow Falls.  In the meantime…

Mallakai released his grip on his grandson and strode towards the water.  His shadow fell across the Witchpool.  ‘The Old North Road was closed for good reason.’

‘Can you tell me about it,’ quizzed Tom. He gestured at the fallen oak, which had been hollowed long ago to receive the back sides of optimistic anglers and daring-do youngsters.  Two generations lowered themselves to the worn seat.  A hint of sunlight broke through the thick canopy, orange and gold reflecting briefly on the opaque surface of the still water; the Witchpool in momentary harmony with autumnal decay.

‘Do you remember I once told you a tale of Winterland, of the invasion of the Nordakin and the bravery of Rulnik and his Wolves of Winter?’

Tom did remember.  In his mind he pictured the ancient trinket on his grandfather’s stone mantel and the wolf’s head ring that nestled within.  He had forgotten nothing.  ‘Yes,’ he acknowledged breathlessly.

Mallakai nodded.  ‘Good.  Well, in the days and years that followed, ill-fortune dogged the people of Winter.  It was as if the raiders from the Icy Wastes had poisoned the land with their presence.  One particular winter, death came to the land.  It was after that, that the North Road was closed.’

Tom whistled through his teeth.  ‘Will you tell me what happened?’

Mallakai stared into the lake, dredging up the sunken parts of the tale from the depths of his memory.  ‘Very well; perhaps if you knew the story it would help you understand my anger.  And I need you to understand in order for you to help me fight your father.’

Tom blanched, but Mallakai would not release him from his gaze.  He looked deep within the blue pools and liked what he saw behind his grandson’s frightened eyes.  If he educated him properly, he would not fail as he had done with his son.

‘Now, where to begin…’

(Extract from The Wolves of Winter II)

This Christmas, the Wolves of Winter will ride again.  Make sure you join Rulnik, Torbad and Yanuk in a deadly hunt for a hidden killer…

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Posted By David Shepherd on October 25, 2009

Holiday time is here – ‘Yippee,’ I hear you cry, ‘but where is the paperback of A Shadow Falls you promised to release by October?’

Well, the answer is, its just around the corner.  Having finally finished sprinkling the ‘magic dust’ across the script, I’ve now completed a torturous sweep of the  grammar, punctuation and word level stuff.  Suffice to say that it is now ready for release.

As with all these things, I will be reviewing a final draft from the publishers, just to make sure all is ‘spick and span’, and then the SOTE squad will be readying the website for the book launch.

Watch this space for a release date and further instructions on how to get your copy.  Be amongst the first to own the inaugural installment on The Song of the Elves in paperback format – and don’t forget to tell all your friends (and enemies – I’m not fussy) about it!

There will be an ISBN number, so that you will also be able to pester your local bookshop and library to stock the novel.

So my loyal readers, here’s my promise – the next time I write a news section, it will be to inform you of the exact release date and how to get your paperback copy of A Shadow Falls…

Until then, up the elves!

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Posted By David Shepherd on October 10, 2009

‘Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ and endless ammendments to my manuscript – I’m sure Keats never had to wrestle with this temptation – the desire to keep tinkering until perfection is reached (in my eyes); or maybe he did and that’s why he was so good.

Anyway, as we enter autumn, the manuscript for A Shadow Falls is a season ahead, in the winter of it’s preparation.  I’m ammending a few final bits and pieces that grated when reading the proof through.  Nearly there – though I’ve said that before.  I’m still hoping for an October release to general sale, but my priority is in quality rather than speed.

Apologies for all the hold ups, but I think you will see the rewards of this careful pruning and adjustment-making when you finally get the book in your hands.  Aesthetically, its looking great – won’t be long know!

Also I’m pleased to report that I’ve begin to write Wolves of Winter Part Two, an altogether darker and more intense affair than the blood and thunder ‘stuff’ that was part one.

Until next time…

Up the Elves!

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Posted By David Shepherd on October 3, 2009

As promised, the team here at Song of the Elves HQ is working hard to increase your enjoyment of the website.  From today you can access the new Chronology page!

Here you will find a potted history of the land of Rhoderica in the Age of the Light – the period of history measured by humans from the moment of ascencion to the heavens of the prophet Gayala.

In amongst the dates are handy references to where you can read about these events in greater detail.  As more of the history of Rhoderica is written, the number of references will grow.  As you can see, I’m going to be fairly busy for a few years to come.

Let me know what you think of the new feature page, and which parts of the history you would like to read about next.

Until next time…

Up the Elves! 

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