Posted By David Shepherd on April 30, 2009
A few weeks back I described the impact that the loss of the Sandbach Town cat, the Colonel, had on the workers that populate the town square. After 5 years residence in the various establishments fringing the cobbles, the Colonel’s sad demise was marked by his burial under the newly laid cobbles.
I can now empathise with the shop owners, as we lost our beloved black and white moggy Fluffy last week after 16 years together – she was a real character and we are already missing her greatly.
Back to writing news, and we’re on track to release book two of the Song of the Elves, The King’s Blades, in time for Christmas. I’ll put a sample chapter of this intriguing second installment on the website in the course of the next month.
Long Live the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on April 18, 2009
As I mentioned last week, there will be two further installments of The Wolves of Winter mini-series, with part two appearing later this year.
In the meantime I am now returning to the job of completing The Mirror of His Soul, a stand alone novel unconnected to the world of Rhoderica. I will be placing a sample of this tale on the website in the not too distant future.
However, there will continue to be new Rhoderica-related additions to the website in the coming weeks. I’ve got a section on Creatures of Rhoderica planned, and I aim to add a timeline to help readers navigate the History of Rhoderica.
I would also like to add a comments page to share some of the feedback you have been giving me. In order to help with this I would ask that you start your feedback comment with the line ‘O.K. to print‘, so that I display only the comments that people are happy to share. (Of course, only your name will be attached to the comment and not any details concerning your e-mail address.)
If you don’t want your comment printed, I’d still like to hear from you. Many thanks to all of my readers who have sent words of encouragement over the course of this year.
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on April 10, 2009
I am pleased to announce that my new short story, The Wolves of Winter, is now available as a free download from this website. Just go to the chapters section and click on the download link.
The Wolves of Winter is the earliest tale to appear here yet from the land of Rhoderica, set two generations before the wars of unification waged by Arthur Blackrose (see Tales of Rhoderica 1).
The tale is told by Mallakai, grandfather of Tom, and is one of three adventures that the enigmatic old man will relate to his grandson. The second and third tale will appear on this website in the future. Tom is an interesting character, one who has been around in my planning for a while, and he and his descendants will eventually provide a link with the events of the Song of the Elves.
However, you do not need to know anything about the world of Rhoderica to enjoy the story, and can enjoy The Wolves of Winter as a stand alone short.
Sit back, relax and spend thirty minutes in the frozen wastes of the icy north…
Remember to let me know what you think via the feedback page.
Up the Wolves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on April 4, 2009
This week I had the pleasure of attending a workshop with Cheshire Poet Laureate Terry Fox. The event at MMU was held to promote young writing talent in Cheshire. Terry performed some of his own work, and it’s not until you see him live that you get a real sense of the full power of his words.
I was bowled over by the quality of writing and the creativity amongst the young people who entered the competition. It was a real privilege to be a part of Create ’09 and I look forward to future events.
Back to news of Rhoderica, and this time next week you will be able to enter Winterland, the continent’s most northerly kingdom, and join the Wolves of Winter…
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on March 28, 2009
The Wolves of Winter will be available as a free download during the Easter Holidays, so re-visit and while away thirty minutes in the frozen wastes of Rhoderica’s most northerly kingdom.
In the meantime, I’d like to give a plug to local indie band The Lockdown. They’ll be headlining at The Box in Crewe on Friday 3rd of April – a great way to kick-start the school holidays. I’ve got the pleasure of working with the boys on Wednesday night and wish them all the best for this prestigious gig.
Finally, we are edging ever closer to bringing you the paperback version of A Shadow Falls. More news soon…
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on March 21, 2009
I got my first glimpse of the cover art for A Shadow Falls this week and I’m delighted with the result.
Design Office in Crewe, England, have come up with a concept that really fits the feel for book one of the Song of the Elves, along with a font style that I’m sure will become synonymous with the whole series.
There is just the right amount of menace lurking in the shadows about Farsee Forest, and I can’t wait to bring the completed project to you. Details of where you will be able to purchase the paperback version of A Shadow Falls will be brought to you soon on this website.
Meanwhile, I have completed The Wolves of Winter and will now go through two weeks of editing before making this latest short story from Rhoderica available to you.
Exciting times… Long live the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on March 14, 2009
I’m currently taking a short break from writing The Mirror of His Soul to bring a new short story to the website. The Wolves of Winter is a tale that has been around in my head since the first inception of the land of Rhoderica, though the need to get their story down on paper was not as urgent as getting the first cycle of Song of the Elves up and running.
However, as I am starting to plot books 4, 5 and 6, the events of this tale have a bearing on the actions of Kirik and the Eidurson’s as they fight the dark wave of terror engulfing the continent. It is therefore time to introduce this strand of Rhoderica’s history, so that you can gain full enjoyment of these later volumes.
I want the Wolves of Winter to be out there for a long time before they appear within the pages of Song of the Elves, to allow time for the legend to grow and become embedded in the history of the world.
So, look out for this tale of courage and fortitude against overwhelming odds, which also introduces a handful of new creatures.
More details next week…
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Posted By David Shepherd on March 7, 2009
Men of Winterland stand tall
While all around kingdoms fall
Embrace your steel, prepare your steed
Ride to place of direst need
Fear not the path you tread
Fill thine enemies with dread
The Wolves of Winter we call
Ride forth to save us all
The Wolves of Winter…. Coming soon to this website.
In the meantime, it’s great to hear what you think of A Shadow Falls – keep sending me your feedback!
Up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on February 27, 2009
Celebrate World Book Day this year by downloading Chapters 1 to 6 of A Shadow Falls, without even having to register. If you like what you read, sign in on your next visit and download the whole book for free.
For those of you returning to the site, welcome back. I’ve done some further research on the demise of the Colonel, Sandbach’s recently deceased town cat – well my wife did some digging actually at the hairdressers on the square. Salon staff confirm that the Colonel is buried beneath the new cobbles, a fitting resting place where he can forever watch over those who took him in.
In the meantime, I have just commissioned some art work from the excellent folk at Design Office in Crewe as we work towards making hard copies of A Shadow Falls available for purchase. More details to follow soon.
Long Live the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on February 19, 2009
Great news!
You can now get more for free at www.songoftheelves.com without registering.
Chapters 4 to 6 of A Shadow Falls are now available as a free download without having to register at the site.
Hopefully, if you like what you read, you can return, register and dowload the rest of A Shadow Falls for free!
Happy reading!
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