Posted By David Shepherd on September 4, 2011
You thing of beauty; slim, alluring, filled with mysticism – my fingers run along your spine – I am of course talking about the arrival of my proof copy of the trade paperback version of The King’s Blades. I’m sooo happy about this product. There are a few minor tweaks (as always) before we can bring it to you, but rest assured all is being done to make this a quality product.
Talking of beautiful things – what about the new website. Major thanks are due to web-wizard Nick for all his hard work. We hope that you will find the site even more useful in the enjoyment of the SOTE saga. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on August 21, 2011
I’m halfway through the final major edit of Sins of the Father. It feels like I’m galloping towards the finish line of this, the first cycle of the Song of the Elves saga. You will be left with a heartbreaking, gut-wrenching cliff hanger at the end of this book.
Book Four of SOTE, The Lost, The Lonely and the Damned will pick up the action. It is set five years after the end of the third installment, and begins the second three book cycle of SOTE, which will complete the current plot-lines.
Publication schedule – Sins of the Father: Christmas 2011; The Lost the Lonely and the Damned: Christmas 2013.
News next week of the trade paperback versions of the first two books…
Until then, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on August 9, 2011
Having soaked up the unique ambiance of the Lakes, I departed with my family for North West Wales – Black Rock Sands in particular, where the spectacular Snowdonian range sweeps down to meet the sea – a truly enchanted region, where mist wreathed mountain tops can be glimpsed from the dunes along the coast.
As well as absorbing the sights, smells and sounds for forthcoming scenes of the Song of the Elves saga, I found the time to pen a few lines for an interesting side project – also of the fantasy genre, entitled To the Ends of the Earth. Unrelated to the world of SOTE, it has been inspired by the wonderful moods and landscapes created by the two Johns – Ford and Wayne. It is my homage to The Searchers – in my opinion the finest film (never mind western) ever made, and it will be a small offering to keep you occupied between the first and second trilogies of SOTE.
More on this and other projects soon. Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on July 31, 2011
Predictably, I’ve returned from the Lakes fully fuelled with fresh lanscapes and scenarios for forthcoming SOTE scenes. The Fairfield Horseshoe was a gentle treck, but Helvelyn, with its the notorious Striding Edge was epic – it was roof of the world stuff when we finally crested the summit (thanks for your company men of the NCWC) – breathtaking still after many ascents. Expect to find some of the drama and beauty of the Lakes infused into future volumes.
As for current writing – Sins of the Father is a quarter way through its main edit. I am still aiming for Christmas release. I’ll post a sample of the action soon.
Until next time – up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on July 16, 2011
I’ve just been adding a new section to the Sins of the Father, book three of Song Of The Elves. The scene re-introduces the tension between Kirik and his rival in all things, Daktu. The action takes place on a mist-soaked mountain top, drawn extensively from my many climbs in the English Lakes with my friends from the NCWC.
Next week, we embark on our 13th walking expedition. I anticipate amidst the walking, drinking and eating BBQ meat, there’ll be other inspirational vistas to draw on for further scenes in the series.
As summer beckons, may I wish you all ‘Happy Hols’, and until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on July 3, 2011
I’m having great fun getting re-acquainted with the heroes and villains of the third book in the Song of the Elves saga. Its been a long process bringing book two, The King’s Blades to publishing readiness – so long in fact, that I’d forgotten some of the exciting characters waiting to meet you in SOTE book three.
Sins of the Father introduces a host of new characters to compliment the names you will be familiar with from books one and two. We get to meet the valiant Hurax, son of Captain Okey and the stern and impenetrable Zeref, Master of Arms at the University of Ancients.
And for those of you who like a good villain (it’s behind you…), then how about Lorne and Diosis, Daktarok’s bad lieutenants. I can’t wait to bring you a taste of all their stories in the coming months.
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on June 18, 2011
Weclome to Song of the Elves – if you are a new reader who has joined us via kindle, you may not be aware of the intended journey for Kirik and Eidur. Song of the Elves is a saga told in three cyles. The first cycle is nearing completion, with Sins of the Father due out at Christmas. The first two parts, A Shadow Falls and The King’s Blades are already available to buy now.
At the end of Sins of the Father, the action leaps forward five years to a very different Rhoderica – though I can’t give too much away now as it will spoil the ending of book three. There will be nine books in total – I will start writing book four, The Lost, the Lonely and the Damned in January next year.
Next week, I’ll give you an update on some of the new exciting characters you will find in book three – Sins of the Father.
Until then, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on June 11, 2011
All the team at SOTE HQ are delighted by the start that A Shadow Falls and now The King’s Blades have made on kindle. If you’re reading the e-book versions please drop us a line via this website and let us know what you like so far and how we can up our game for you in the future.
Currently, we are entering a phase of preparation to release both books as trade paperbacks. This would mean that you would be able to order them through any good book retailer in the world – more on this in the next few weeks.
Finally, I’m moving on apace with the editing and re-writing of book three of SOTE, Sins of the Father – I’ll give you an update on my progress next week.
Until then, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on June 1, 2011
All the hard work on the second installment of Song of the Elves: The King’s Blades, is done. We are now in the process of releasing the e-book on kindle, where A Shadow Falls continues to do brisk business.
Following this, we will be preparing both A Shadow Falls and The King’s Blades for release as trade paperbacks. Hopefully, within the calendar year, you will be able to order both books from any good book retailer.
As for the future, I’ve sidelined the third installment of the Wolves of Winter for now to concentrate on bringing Book Three of SOTE: Sins of the Father, to you by Christmas.
Gulp – there, I said it: another deadline I’ve set myself up for. Oh well, time waits for neither man nor elf… nor Boarback or Darkling for that matter… Better watch out Kirik and Eidur, there’s a dark storm brewing…
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on May 21, 2011
The King’s Blades is going through the final technical preparations before it is ready for release. There will be a dual release in two formats:
Paperback through lulu.com – price tbc
e-book on kindle through amazon.co.uk – price tbc
I planned a short sabbatical from writing to gather my thoughts for the final edit of book three. However this does not seem to be quite working out – the plot and characters are driving me forwards, so anticipate more Song of the Elves sooner than you thought. That’s all I’m going to say for now.
News next week on the firm release date of Book Two, The King’s Blades. Until then, up the elves!
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