Posted By David Shepherd on September 26, 2009
I wait with baited breath for the final proof of the paperback version of A Shadow Falls. Its being printed right now, and after a few days proofing the copy we’ll be able to make the first installment of The Song of the Elves available for purchase.
As I’ve mentioned before, once the book is available we will be making a few changes to the content on the website, so its your last few days to download the entire prototype version of the novel from the website.
Even if you’ve read and enjoyed A Shadow Falls as a download I’m hoping you will get hold of a paperback copy of the new enhanced version – the book has gone through two substantial edits and re-writes to make it the sparkling read I always hoped to bring you.
Thank you all for keeping the faith. Not long now…
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on September 18, 2009
This week I’ve been enjoying the process of getting back to basics, rediscovering the joy of writing and bringing new and old ideas to fruition. After many months of editing it feels great to be plotting the next arc of the Song of the Elves saga, and more to the point, writing the next installment of The Wolves of Winter.
I’m excited about both of these projects, but both will go briefly on hold as I work on adding new features to the website. The next addition will be a timeline of Rhoderica, incorporating an overview of life on the continent before the elves arrived. I may even include a branch tracing the main events of elven history back to the Ancient Lands, before the story of the fair folk became inexorably intertwined with the humans of Rhoderica.
As if that isn’t enough, we are still working on bringing the excellent art of Tom Rhoden-Farmer to the website. His renditions of some of the continent’s most fearsome creatures and favourite characters are too good not to share.
It looks like its going to be a golden autumn.
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on September 8, 2009
Ever closer, we are edging towards the release of the paperback version of A Shadow Falls. Hopefully, by the end of this weekend, we should be ready for a final proof read, after which we will be able to make the book available for purchase.
This week I get to see the final version of the map of East Rhoderica – can’t wait. All the pieces of the jigsaw will then be assembled this weekend, with a view to releasing the book for sale in the last week of September/first week of October – the perfect autumn read!
As I mentioned before, changes will then take place regarding the availability of downloadable material from the website, so make the most of the free version of the book now, but make sure you come back for the link to the new edit of A Shadow Falls, available in paperback only.
Next stop, its the Wolves of Winter Part Two – Thomas is older and a little wiser, but he still hangs on every word of his grandfather, as Mallakai unfurls another tale of the heroic warriors of the cold north.
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on August 31, 2009
I am pleased to report that at long last I’ve finished work on the revisions of A Shadow Falls. It feels like a major milestone has been reached and I can’t wait to bring you the finished product.
Work will now begin on putting the paperback together. We are still on schedule for a release to public sale by the end of September, all being well. Watch this space for further details.
The books has undergone extensive revision in my attempt to make the adventures of Kirik and Eidur as exciting as possible. When the book is ready for release we will be removing the current version of the novel from the website, but will be replacing this with six free chapters from the final version.
We hope that this taster of the finished product will tempt you to purchase your own copy of A Shadow Falls, and encourage you to be one of the first to enjoy the Song of the Elves saga in print.
We will of course keep you informed of the proposed website changes, but if you wish to access free copies of the book via the download, then this will be the last complete calendar month to do so.
Of the future, I am now turning my attention to the second installment of The Wolves of Winter, which will be available for free from this website in time for the Christmas holidays.
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on August 24, 2009
It occurred to me during the course of this week, just how important it is for the reader to find the pages of a novel turning by themselves, with a minimum of effort required to maintain engagement with the plot.
As I make my way through the final amendments of the last chapter, agonising over words and sentence structure, looking to gain the right balance between information and immediacy, I am struck by the power of changing just one word.
Yesterday the porcess made me reach for my favourite novel, my inspiration: Dandelion Wine. Just look at the poetry in Ray Bradbury’s prose and you realise what a mountainous task it is to get the feel of a book just right.
Hopefully, by the time the paperback of A Shadow Falls becomes available, the words will flow swan like across the page, with no indication of the hours of labour that have gone in to ‘getting it right.’ I’m no Ray Bradbury, but I’d like to say that at long last I am happy with the tone and feel of the novel.
This is my way again of saying, please be patient – we’re nearly there and its going to be worth the wait!
I’m also excited to report that Tom Roden-Farmer’s early drafts of the map look bang on the money. It’s great to see Rhoderica coming to life through the eyes and interpretation of another.
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on August 18, 2009
Hi, I’m back, well rested but the only man in the 90 degree heat of Kalkan who managed to pick up a stinking cold – back to the lemsips for me!
Thanks to Nick for manning the helm of the good ship S.O.T.E. while I was relaxing…err I mean researching the next part of the saga.
The book release schedule from here on in is pretty much set – a week or so brushing up the final manuscript for A Shadow Falls, a fortnight making sure the paperback is in tip top condition for your purchase and then the launch.
We’re very nearly there…
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on August 9, 2009
With Dave mid holidays, he’s left the site in my capable hands. I’m sure, under the pretence of holidaying, he’s furiously gathering inspiration to weave into future works. Either that, or he’s asleep on a beach!
With the ever nearing release of the first book, Dave’s been putting in a lot of work on it recently, so I’m sure the holiday is well deserved.
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Posted By David Shepherd on July 31, 2009
I’m now three quarters of the way through making final tweaks to A Shadow Falls, in preparation for the impending paperback release. I’m aiming to ‘sprinkle the magic dust’ and hope these final adjustments give the finished product the exact feel I’ve been looking for.
If you’re a current reader of SOTE, you won’t find any major plot differences in the paperback release from the version available at the moment on the website, but the overall enjoyment and satisfaction will be enhanced by the extra hours of love poured in to the project.
I’m at the stage now where I can honestly say that A Shadow Falls is shaping in to the novel I always envisioned it could be. Thanks again for your patience. A release in early September is now on the cards for the finished product.
Up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on July 27, 2009
I’ve just returned from my annual walking tour of the English Lakes, with aching muscles and tired feet, but plenty of fresh inspiration for the world of Rhoderica.
I’ve mentioned before that the lanscape of the lakelands provided inspiration for a large section of Book Two of the Song of the Elves, The King’s Blades. A trip up Great Gable and along the hills around Ulswater has provided plenty of fresh imagery to enhance forthcoming volumes of the SOTE saga.
By the way, we didn’t bump in to Prince William – he was making his way up Helvelyn as we were chugging across the lake to Howetown, though I believe he was ‘gutted’ to have missed us.
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on July 18, 2009
I’ve finished proof reading A Shadow Falls and I am now embarking on the final stage of preparation for general release. Aside from a handful of typos, there are several sections that require minor tweaking to enable the narrative to flow as I envisioned it. All things being equal, I am now aiming to release the book for public consumption in the latter half of the school holidays.
One exciting addition to the book from the proof I have just read will be a fabulous map of East Rhoderica. Talented young Cheshire artist Tom Rhoden-Farmer will bring his vision of the Summerlands to life in the next couple of weeks and we will include this rendition in the paperback.
Tom has already begun work on his take of a number of creatures featured in the Song of the Elves and related stories, and you will be able to view his work on the website later this year. From what I have seen so far this should be an exciting addition to the world of Kirik and Eidur.
Up the Elves!
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