R.D. Smithson's Blog
September 28, 2025
Want to Read Shadows Among The Peaks Early? ARC Signups Now Open!
Hello friends,
I’m excited to share something special—Shadows Among The Peaks is opening up for early readers!
If you enjoy clean, character-driven action and suspense, woven with themes of courage, hope, and quiet resistance, I’d love to invite you to join the ARC Team. ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy—you’ll receive the book early, before the official release on February 6, 2026.
Here’s what being on the ARC Team means:
You’ll get a free digital copy of Shadows Among The Peaks in advance.
You’ll be among the very first to journey with Eli Shephard into Valle Oscuro, where silence hides injustice and quiet acts of courage spark defiance.
In return, I ask that you consider leaving an honest review once the book is live on Amazon and Goodreads.
You can also download the first three chapters right now to see if the story draws you in.
👉 Click here to read the sample chapters and apply to the ARC Team.
Thank you for walking with me on this journey. Your support means the world, and I can’t wait to share Eli’s story with you.
—R.D. Smithson
I’m excited to share something special—Shadows Among The Peaks is opening up for early readers!
If you enjoy clean, character-driven action and suspense, woven with themes of courage, hope, and quiet resistance, I’d love to invite you to join the ARC Team. ARC stands for Advance Reader Copy—you’ll receive the book early, before the official release on February 6, 2026.
Here’s what being on the ARC Team means:
You’ll get a free digital copy of Shadows Among The Peaks in advance.
You’ll be among the very first to journey with Eli Shephard into Valle Oscuro, where silence hides injustice and quiet acts of courage spark defiance.
In return, I ask that you consider leaving an honest review once the book is live on Amazon and Goodreads.
You can also download the first three chapters right now to see if the story draws you in.
👉 Click here to read the sample chapters and apply to the ARC Team.
Thank you for walking with me on this journey. Your support means the world, and I can’t wait to share Eli’s story with you.
—R.D. Smithson
September 27, 2025
Welcome to the Journey
Hello and welcome!
I’m glad you’ve found your way here. Since this is my very first Goodreads blog post, I thought I’d share a little about myself and the story that became Shadows Among The Peaks.
Like many of you, I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. Thrillers, history, theology, fantasy—I’ve always loved stories that pull you into another world. Eventually, I decided to try writing my own. One idea in particular refused to let go: a tale about a lone traveler who quietly steps into people’s lives, sometimes to help, sometimes to protect—always guided by a strong moral compass.
That character became Eli Shephard. He’s not a vigilante or a man bent on revenge. Instead, he’s a quiet force for good—someone who prefers peace but will stand firm when justice demands it. His strength comes from experience, discipline, and values shaped by faith.
My goal in this series is simple: to tell engaging, clean, and emotionally resonant stories. There’s action and danger, but always with purpose. These books are meant to be shared without hesitation—stories that inspire courage, hope, and light, even in dark places.
If you’d like a taste of Eli’s story, you can read the first three chapters for free on my website: www.rdsmithsonbooks.com
Thank you for being here at the beginning of this journey. I’m excited to share more about Eli, the world he inhabits, and the themes that inspire The Shephard Chronicles. I’d love to hear from you as the adventure unfolds.
—R.D. Smithson
I’m glad you’ve found your way here. Since this is my very first Goodreads blog post, I thought I’d share a little about myself and the story that became Shadows Among The Peaks.
Like many of you, I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. Thrillers, history, theology, fantasy—I’ve always loved stories that pull you into another world. Eventually, I decided to try writing my own. One idea in particular refused to let go: a tale about a lone traveler who quietly steps into people’s lives, sometimes to help, sometimes to protect—always guided by a strong moral compass.
That character became Eli Shephard. He’s not a vigilante or a man bent on revenge. Instead, he’s a quiet force for good—someone who prefers peace but will stand firm when justice demands it. His strength comes from experience, discipline, and values shaped by faith.
My goal in this series is simple: to tell engaging, clean, and emotionally resonant stories. There’s action and danger, but always with purpose. These books are meant to be shared without hesitation—stories that inspire courage, hope, and light, even in dark places.
If you’d like a taste of Eli’s story, you can read the first three chapters for free on my website: www.rdsmithsonbooks.com
Thank you for being here at the beginning of this journey. I’m excited to share more about Eli, the world he inhabits, and the themes that inspire The Shephard Chronicles. I’d love to hear from you as the adventure unfolds.
—R.D. Smithson
Welcome to the Journey
Hello and welcome!
I’m glad you’ve found your way here. Since this is my very first Goodreads blog post, I thought I’d share a little about myself and the story that became Shadows Among The Peaks.
Like many of you, I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. Thrillers, history, theology, fantasy—I’ve always loved stories that pull you into another world. Eventually, I decided to try writing my own. One idea in particular refused to let go: a tale about a lone traveler who quietly steps into people’s lives, sometimes to help, sometimes to protect—always guided by a strong moral compass.
That character became Eli Shephard. He’s not a vigilante or a man bent on revenge. Instead, he’s a quiet force for good—someone who prefers peace but will stand firm when justice demands it. His strength comes from experience, discipline, and values shaped by faith.
My goal in this series is simple: to tell engaging, clean, and emotionally resonant stories. There’s action and danger, but always with purpose. These books are meant to be shared without hesitation—stories that inspire courage, hope, and light, even in dark places.
If you’d like a taste of Eli’s story, you can read the first three chapters for free on my website: www.rdsmithsonbooks.com
Thank you for being here at the beginning of this journey. I’m excited to share more about Eli, the world he inhabits, and the themes that inspire The Shephard Chronicles. I’d love to hear from you as the adventure unfolds.
—R.D. Smithson
I’m glad you’ve found your way here. Since this is my very first Goodreads blog post, I thought I’d share a little about myself and the story that became Shadows Among The Peaks.
Like many of you, I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. Thrillers, history, theology, fantasy—I’ve always loved stories that pull you into another world. Eventually, I decided to try writing my own. One idea in particular refused to let go: a tale about a lone traveler who quietly steps into people’s lives, sometimes to help, sometimes to protect—always guided by a strong moral compass.
That character became Eli Shephard. He’s not a vigilante or a man bent on revenge. Instead, he’s a quiet force for good—someone who prefers peace but will stand firm when justice demands it. His strength comes from experience, discipline, and values shaped by faith.
My goal in this series is simple: to tell engaging, clean, and emotionally resonant stories. There’s action and danger, but always with purpose. These books are meant to be shared without hesitation—stories that inspire courage, hope, and light, even in dark places.
If you’d like a taste of Eli’s story, you can read the first three chapters for free on my website: www.rdsmithsonbooks.com
Thank you for being here at the beginning of this journey. I’m excited to share more about Eli, the world he inhabits, and the themes that inspire The Shephard Chronicles. I’d love to hear from you as the adventure unfolds.
—R.D. Smithson
