Posted By David Shepherd on February 14, 2011
It is done. The second installment of Song of the Elves is complete and ready for your enjoyment. Today begins the final process of transforming the manuscript into a book. The King’s Blades will be available to buy from lulu.com by Easter.
A handy, beautifully formed trade paperback can be yours in just a few short weeks. Find out the fate of the Eidurson’s, as Kirik pursues his dream of joining the King’s elite force and Councillor Eidur wrestles with dark forces within the kingdom of the elves.
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on February 6, 2011
So I’m down to the last one hundred pages in my editing of The King’s Blades. In my race against time to get the book out in time for Easter, I feel I’ve finally reached the home straight. I’ve also nearly finished preparing chapters 9 to 12 for the next installment of the free download release, so watch this space…
In the meantime, planning for book three is well underway, though I will be taking a short break from Kirik and Eidur to bring you the Wolves of Winter Part Three.
As Winter staggers on, keep the faith and thanks for your continued support.
Up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on January 22, 2011
While winter lays siege to the Cheshire plain outside our backdoor, I’m inching my way towards completion of The King’s Blades. As with all things made by oneself, I could spend eternity trying to find perfection in every word. Although that’s not achievable, I think I’ve got he manuscript where I want it, and barring a few last minute tweaks, I’ll be having a trial publication of the book before releasing it for public consumption in time for Easter.
The scope of Book Two of S.O.T.E. is wider than the intimate intense opener: A Shadow Falls, with many new plot lines and characters emerging. Yet there is action aplenty, from magic and mystery to tooth and claw. Eidur and Kirik need to draw upon all their resolve as the forces of darkness grow ever bolder.
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on January 3, 2011
Happy New year to one and all. I hope 2011 treats you well.
Here at S.O.T.E. HQ resolutions are being made for your continued enjoyment of the world of Rhoderica:
1. More serialised chapters of The King’s Blades – 9 to 13 will be released in February
2. The King’s Blades paperback available in time for your Easter Bunny to collect from lulu.com
3. More Wolves of Winter – part III of the sword and sorcery saga to be with you in the fall for free download, to be followed shortly thereafter by a paperback collecting all three sections of the epic tale.
There, how’s that for a set of promises. 2011 could prove to be the biggest yet for the world of Rhoderica.
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on December 23, 2010
Best wishes to all who have supported me through the first two years of my project, and a very warm welcome if this is your first visit to SOTE HQ.
2011 will be another year of significant milestones, with the release of both the second book of the Song of the Elves saga, and the third installment of the Wolves of Winter mini-series.
The King’s Blades will be released at Easter, with Wolves of Winter III following in the autumn. Once W.O.W. III is completed I will offer it for free download from the website, to be followed by a papreback version of the first three tales in one handy trade paperback for your 2011 xmas stocking.
So, sorry once more for the delay in The King’s Blades, but I am sure you’ll agree the wait was worth it when the final copy comes up for sale.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Up the Elves in 2011!
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Posted By David Shepherd on December 9, 2010
I am afraid to admit it, but the Christmas deadline has beaten me. The King’s Blades will not be in your Christmas stocking, but rest assured it will definitely be bothering the Easter Bunny.
Having nearly driven myself into the ground in an effort to finish the book, I’ve had to concede that there are not enough hours in the day to finish the script to the standard to which I am committed. As a result, I’ve decided to lengthen my schedule and take the time to make the book perfect.
I’m very proud of the novel, and I think it will be a fitting sequel to A Shadow Falls. The tension is mounting as the enemies of Eidur and Kirik become bolder in their tactics.
Being my own editor, I want to take every effort to ensute the novel is the same quality as the first. Thanks for bearing with me- I assure you the wait will be worth it. Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on November 27, 2010
As I write the first fall of snow dusts the Cheshire plain, and that’s not half the cause of my excitement…
I got my first look at the jacket for The King’s Blades yesterday. Wow – Stewart at Design Office has worked his magic to create an image bristling with atmosphere and half-hidden menace. Not only is it a great companion peice of art for book one, but a wonderful imagining of Rhoderica in its own right. I can’t wait to make it available to you when the book goes on sale at Christmas.
I have finally finished the re-write of The King’s Blades and am currently going through the final edit. Still on track to get it into your Christmas stockings… just about!
Until next time, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on November 14, 2010
The final tense scenes of The King’s Blades are being played out. Death stalks the palace, and several of our key characters could be in danger. The ancient labyrinthine corridors of Sky Palace serve only to aid the forces of evil, as a monster is summoned from the bowels of the earth. Where will it strike? Who will survive?
In a few short weeks you will be able to find out, as Book Two of the Song of the Elves saga, The King’s Blades is still on schedule for a Christmas release. Reserve that place in your stocking next to the chocolate orange…
Until next time, up the Elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on October 31, 2010
With just two chapters to go on the re-draft of The King’s Blades I can see the finish line in sight. Once the cliffhanger finale is set, I’ll be going back to the beginning for a final proof and tweak, ratchetting up the tension and making the book the best it could possibly be before the Christmas launch.
For a taste of what to expect, you can now read the book blurb by clicking on The King’s Blades page of the website. I can promise action and intrigue aplenty, and more than a little romance.
Roll on Christmas, I hear you say… Until then, up the elves!
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Posted By David Shepherd on October 19, 2010
I’ve reached the home straight in my editing of The King’s Blades. Currently, Kirik and Eidur are in Jorniak, capital city of the elves, and the plot is building nicely towards the cliff-hanger ending – a murder in the royal palace…
As the middle portion of the original manuscript of Song of the Elves, The King’s Blades has provided a stiff challenge to turn it into a stand alone novel in its own right. The plotlines expand rapidly from the tight beginning of A Shadow Falls, yet it is also a leap off point for the sweeping events of the third installment, Sins of the Father.
Next week I begin work on the book cover, working in conjunction once more with the wonderful people of Design Office in Crewe, who did the atmospheric jacket for A Shadow Falls. Can’t wait to see what they come up with for this installment.
Until next time, up the elves!
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