Michael Eging's Blog: The Silver Horn Echoes and Assorted Other Tales, page 2

Alex James: Writer, Editor and Reviewer

It is with great pleasure that we bring author, editor, and reviewer Alex James to The Silver Horn Echoes. Alex has released four novels, The Antpod Faction, Roc Isle—The Descent and Tempest, and Marcellus, The Mantle. Living in Leeds, the United Kingdom, Alex is a part of the science fiction and fantasy community, as you may just run into him at various events, or find him signing books.

Alex is also a professional who brings with him a unique perspective as someone who lives with Asperger Syndrome. From his website—

“The condition challenges me to seek understanding of people and situations, and to express myself in writing because I struggle with social understanding and unpredictable environments. I’m a quiet, solitary person, so I see writing as my main outlet for emotional expression. As an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy books, both indie and traditionally published, I’m not often short of inspiration, especially where writing style and familiar settings are concerned.”

Currently, Alex is working on his next fantastic story, Marcllus: Great Barbarism. Alex, welcome to The Silver Horn Echoes!

Thanks again for making time to visit us. Not only are you a blogger, an author and a reviewer, but you are also a professional editor. What lead you to become so deeply immersed in the written word?

It didn’t happen overnight. My fondness for the written word probably began with reading in my early twenties, about nine/ten years ago. I would pop in to my local library and pick up the books with the descriptions and covers that were to my fancy, which were most often science fiction and fantasy. I visited once, borrowed a book, and then kept returning for more. It became a normal part of my life. It didn’t start as an escape—it was an outlet.

Since then I wrote my own novels and I wanted to jump into the author-reader environment by bypassing the literary gatekeepers. As I continued to develop skills to improve my writing, it led to me seeing the immense value copy editing and proofreading can bring to writers. For me, the writing has to come first ahead of any intent to publish.

I mainly review books on my blog, but I don’t handle requests any more. It can be overwhelming being engaged in too many parts of the written word, and so I prioritized my editing. Reviewing started as an extension of my enjoyment of reading.

What cemented your journey into Science Fiction and Fantasy?

You know what? I’m not even sure. It could have been adolescent immaturity – seeing book covers with heroes or spaceships opened my mind to the sense of adventure that I lacked in real life.

A few years later I appreciated the genres’ value in opening the mind to new ideas, and of its flexibility in scope. It became a channel in which I could express myself through writing.

Tell us more about your work.

I published my first book The Antpod Faction in 2012, and it was a science fiction spy story based on a female ‘antpod’ character with traits of Asperger Syndrome. I released a new edition on 2015. At stalls, it’s my most popular title, and the one I feel is unique.

I explored fantasy next and published Roc Isle: The Descent in 2013, which is about Ankah, a young warrior on the road to becoming a knight prentice, who yearns for freedom from expectation and finds it difficult to conciliate himself with the circumstances and rules on Roc Isle. I continued the story with the sequel Roc Isle: Tempest in 2014.

I published a strange piece of space opera science fiction next called Marcellus: The Mantle in 2015. The story is about the enigma of Marcellus, who is a galactic warrior with a cloak called the Mantle. The core ideas from that work continue to inform my current work-in-progress Great Barbarism.

Most of my currently published titles were written 2010—2013, and though I am proud of my achievements I feel the titles no longer represent the writer I am today. I’m currently working on a fantasy story with characters having traits associated with Asperger Syndrome, called Great Barbarism.

Great Barbarism, is to be centered on the theme of ‘fear of difference’, and yet to be set in a fantasy setting where an alien race is locked in a vicious cycle of barbarism. I hope to introduce a new and unusual character into the world called Marcellus, who is born as an adult, which doesn’t ordinarily happen. Marcellus fears soldiery and barbarism, being unprepared and unsuited to adapt. To understand his differences he trains to become a sorcerer. However, his polar opposite Warlord Aerol has a great fear of sorcery, having dealt with it before, and seeks to capture and use Marcellus’s gifts for his own ends.

Why did you decide to become an indie author?

I wanted to take action, and put my books and my name out there, into the sea of readers, and indie publishing had tools that enabled me to do that quickly. Freedom and choice were within my hands.

I didn’t want to sit down for years, sending submissions to literary agents. I knew they were swamped with submissions and I thought the fact many of them didn’t reply made them unaccountable. I suppose at the time I didn’t like the language of the traditional publishing industry either: ‘aspiring authors’, ‘don’t do’s’ and the like came across as patronizing to my young mind. Even if the advice itself was good, I didn’t trust the intention.

In contrast the language of indie authors was often positive, liberating, and empowering. The do-it-yourself idea was very appealing, and I wouldn’t have known what being an author entails or which parts of it I enjoyed if I hadn’t taken the ‘risk’ in the first place and published. It has given me advance knowledge.

Small publishers didn’t really publish the kind of books I wanted to put out there.

Do you have any additional projects in the pipeline?

Great Barbarism is the main project in the pipeline. That being said, it’s not likely to be published any time soon. It has to go through rewriting and self-editing.

I do have a few other drafts of sequels to Great Barbarism, and another fantasy called Kroll, but they’re on hold while I work on Great Barbarism. Experience has taught me I work better when I focus on one writing project.

What final thoughts would you like to leave with us about the most rewarding aspect of being a writer?

The most rewarding aspect of being a writer is the creation phase. The first draft can be euphoric, but there is so much more to writing. There is the reading and self-editing stage. There are the building, understanding, and restructuring stages. There is best practice for writing, but everybody has their own best practice and this shows the diversity and freedom; it’s an art as much as it is a craft.

You can keep up with Alex at http://www.alexjamesnovels.com/

 

Latest Review – Manhattan Book Review of The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland

The Silver Horn Echoes is Not Just a Retelling of La Chanson de Roland.

We have had the reviews of the book coming in this spring, and we wanted to share them with you. The following is from the Manhattan Book Review and is cross posted on the San Franciso Book review site as well.

We rated this book:

Years ago, in college, I read La Chanson de Roland for a class on Medieval Europe. I can’t remember much else about the class, but I do recall being enchanted by the epic poem detailing the final battle of a French knight serving under Charlemagne. Even years later, the poem stuck with me, and when I saw The Silver Horn Echoes, I knew I had to be the one to review it.

I was not disappointed. Though The Silver Horn Echoes began its life as a screenplay (and now that I’ve read it, I wish it could have continued so that I could see such an epic on the silver screen), it has made the transition to being a novel wonderfully. From the brave Roland to the treacherous Ganelon, from the beautiful Aude to Charlemagne himself, we get a glimpse into the minds of the characters who have become legends. Michael Eging and Steve Arnold have done for Roland what Jack Whyte did for the Arthurian mythos. They have brought the story into the real world and turned it into flesh and blood.

The Silver Horn Echoes is not just a retelling of La Chanson de Roland. It isn’t even just a gritty, realistic version, though it certainly does have more grit than the original. These characters aren’t legends anymore. They are real people, with all the dirt, mess, and glory that implies. What really struck me about the book was its framing device. The book opens with a prologue of William the Soon-to-be-Conqueror invading England, and one of his men relates the story of Roland to stir the troops for battle. Even legends have their legends.

Those legends, however, may not always be as legendary as they seem in our minds. William’s less complimentary moniker, “The Bastard,” may not always refer to his birth, and the first time we encounter Roland in the book, he will not strike anyone as a hero. He drinks and carouses, and while this is rather what we might expect from noblemen of the time, it isn’t quite the image any of us would have of a hero. I doubt it will spoil anything to say that Roland does indeed become the man we all expect him to be, or that it is a journey well worth taking. Whether you have read La Chanson de Roland or will be first introduced to it by this book, I highly recommend reading it.

For more information, please follow the enclosed link:

https://manhattanbookreview.com/product/the-silver-horn-echoes-a-song-of-roland/

Comic Logic 3rd Anniversary Celebration

Well, another author event is in the books!

We had a wonderful time at the Comic Logic 3rd anniversary celebration. While we’ve done other events in the area, this was a last minute schedule to attend, and I had to fly this one solo. But, what was so much fun about this event is that it gave me time to meet readers who found the book on the Comic Logic bookshelf and they came back to talk about the book. What a great few hours of conversation unfolded!

Of course, we’ve sold out of books, so for Free Comic Book Day on May 5, also at Comic Logic, we will need to order more! However, don’t let that hold you back if you are in the area. We will have books, posters, t-shirts, and Gwen’s (my daughter) custom made Silver Horn Echoes designed key chains and book marks. So come visit us!

You’ll find more information here. https://www.comiclogicva.com/

Of course, the Comic Logic event is a precursor of All-Star Con, coming in June! Don’t worry, we ordered more books! Little known fact, we sold out of hard cover books at Awesome Con on the very first day (actually within a few hours)! Because The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland was relatively unknown at the beginning of Awesome Con, it really surprised us! So, we will have much more on hand for All-Star Con!

REMINDER: When you sign up for All-Star Con, be sure to use the code “eging” for discounts and special prizes at the Silver Horn Echoes booth! (good only through 6/1/18) That’s right, working in partnership with All-Star Con, you can enter that special code and there will be special discounts and prizes just for you at our booth! Our way of saying “thank you” for coming to see us!

https://www.theallstarcomiccon.com/

Also, as a reminder, The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland will be on sale for the month of May! Yes, we prevailed on the publishing gods to allow us a month long sale for the book! So drop in and see us on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Googleplay, Kobo, Books-a-Million, and the iUniverse e-book stores! You’ll be able to get the electronic version of the book for just $0.99! That’s right. We pushed super hard to get this sale launched, so please drop in and grab a copy. If you’ve read it, gift a copy to a friend!

We appreciate our readers. Thank you for taking the time to buy our books, and to keep up with us on social media and through our blog.

More to come soon!

 

Awesome Con was… well… don’t make me say it.

It was awesome.

There, I said it.

But first, let me apologize for being a bit AWOL. Steve and I have been very focused on both live author events, as well as working on Book Two of the Paladin of Shadows Chronicles. Yes, the long awaited sequel to Annwyn’s Blood is currently underway. And we are very excited to reveal the title to you in the near future.

However, we have some very important things to share with you!

First, now that Awesome Con is in the books, and was a The Silver Horn Echoes success, we will want to share some pictures with you! Of course, let’s start with a young man named Roland. Yes, he was a rock star at our booth, and he dragged his good natured father along with him to learn more about The Silver Horn Echoes. We almost had him convinced that we needed him in the booth, with the two very hard working authors, signing books and posters. He was a very good sport, and was very happy to be a guest on our site.

Now, for those of you wondering what might be next, well let me share with you!

The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland will be on sale during the month of May! Yes, you heard it here. We, your ever loving authors, have implored the publishing gods to help us out and put the book on sale for the month of May. That means, the regularly priced e-book ($3.99) will be on sale for only $0.99. Yep, you heard that right. Less than a buck. It is only for a limited time, mind you. And when June 1 rolls around, so does the regular price. So get it while you can during May, which is the lead up for… (drum roll)

ALL-STAR CON!

Steve and I are not often together in the same room, let alone at the same booth. We will be at All-Star Con in Tyson’s Corner, VA for the entire weekend!

June 15-17th, 2018 for The Northern Virginia All- Star Comic Con. Where? Sheraton Tysons Hotel, Tysons Corner, Virginia!

And as a bonus to our readers, we have a special CODE for when you sign up! That’s right, use our CODE ‘eging‘ for your registration, and we will provide you with a 25% off discount at our booth, for all things Silver Horn Echoes, and Annwyn’s Blood! The code expires on 6/1 so get registered today!

And visit this page for more announcements and really cool stuff!

 

Great Entertainment! Book Review

This just in! Another review of The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland:

The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold is a book for those who are into well-crafted and tightly plotted historical novels. Set against a turbulent period in the Dark Ages, readers follow compelling and memorable characters in a world where intrigue and stabbings-in-the-back are frequent. Roland is heir to the Breton March, but while the Frankish kingdom is preparing for an impending war, he is given the most unlikely of tasks — to serve as a guard. When he learns about a new threat to the kingdom, he must do everything in his power to save his people. But this isn’t an easy task, as he is faced with ruthless enemies within the kingdom itself, and he must unveil the plots of a murderer who could be setting himself up for the most powerful position in the entire kingdom. Does Roland have what it takes to protect the kingdom, founded by Charlemagne, from being torn apart?

I have always been fascinated by the Dark Ages, by its rule of power, and by the intrigue that is witnessed in high places. This book explores this age in vivid detail and with forensic clarity, and the reader falls in love with the compelling characters without knowing why. The writing is beautiful and it features linguistic elements that reflect the setting. The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland is a work of great imagination, nourished by history, a story with a powerful conflict, laced with intense action and twists that are as surprising as they are delightful. Michael Eging and Steve Arnold bring readers great entertainment, taking them on a whirlwind journey back to the Dark Ages, and putting them alongside some of the most memorable historical characters.

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers’ Favorite, November 25, 2017

https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-silver-horn-echoes

Great Entertainment!

Enclosed is a review of the Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland that was released today. We wanted to share it with you!

The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold is a book for those who are into well-crafted and tightly plotted historical novels. Set against a turbulent period in the Dark Ages, readers follow compelling and memorable characters in a world where intrigue and stabbings-in-the-back are frequent. Roland is heir to the Breton March, but while the Frankish kingdom is preparing for an impending war, he is given the most unlikely of tasks — to serve as a guard. When he learns about a new threat to the kingdom, he must do everything in his power to save his people. But this isn’t an easy task, as he is faced with ruthless enemies within the kingdom itself, and he must unveil the plots of a murderer who could be setting himself up for the most powerful position in the entire kingdom. Does Roland have what it takes to protect the kingdom, founded by Charlemagne, from being torn apart?

I have always been fascinated by the Dark Ages, by its rule of power, and by the intrigue that is witnessed in high places. This book explores this age in vivid detail and with forensic clarity, and the reader falls in love with the compelling characters without knowing why. The writing is beautiful and it features linguistic elements that reflect the setting. The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland is a work of great imagination, nourished by history, a story with a powerful conflict, laced with intense action and twists that are as surprising as they are delightful. Michael Eging and Steve Arnold bring readers great entertainment, taking them on a whirlwind journey back to the Dark Ages, and putting them alongside some of the most memorable historical characters.

Five Star Review
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

AUTHORSdb 2017 Cover Contest Winner!

 

We wish we could thank everyone personally for the support during the AUTHORSdb 2017 Cover Contest. There were so many beautiful and engaging book covers.  However, the cover created by our own Jordan Raskin is a wonder to behold on both the hard and soft covers.

Thank you for your vote. And thank you to AUTHORSdb for sponsoring this event.

Announcing The Silver Horn Echoes Blog Tour!

We held our first two author events here in Northern Virginia. I think that both Steve and I learned a lot about preparing, setting up the event, working with store owners, etc. But I think the best part was meeting people. Some would look toward you, hoping to not make eye contact. Others would hover near the table, but never look at it directly. And still others would look our way, smile and keep walking. However, an invitation to talk with us was usually always a positive experience. Once asked to enter the drawing for a signed cover poster, and all walls usually came down.

Most people we spoke with had never heard of Roland, Charlemagne or any of the events in the epic French poem or covered in the book. So both days were satisfying as an introduction to the world of Dark Ages Francia and the tale of a champion named Roland.

Thank you to all those who stopped in at Books and Other Found Things, Leesburg, VA and at Comic Logic, Ashburn, VA. And thank you to our kind hosts.

Well, it’s time to make more introductions! This time virtually. Steve and I excited to announce a major blog tour for the book! I’ve never done anything of this scope before, so the opportunities to introduce more people to the novel will hopefully find more curious readers. I am giving you the entire schedule here, so please drop in when you can!

Silver Horn Echoes Blog Tour, November 20th thru December 1, 2017

Monday, November 20
The Writer’s Life
http://thewriterslife.blogspot.com/
I’m Shelf-ish
http://www.imshelfish.com/


Tuesday, November 21
Mythical Books
http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
Inkslinger’s Opus
http://inkslingersopus.blogspot.com/


Wednesday, November 22
T’s Stuff
https://teresanoel.blogspot.com/
Bent Over Bookwords
http://www.bentoverbookwords.com/


Thursday, November 23
As the Pages Turn
http://asthepagesturn.blogspot.com/
The Revolving Bookshelf
http://therevolvingbookshelf.com/


Friday, November 24
Indie Wish List
http://indiewishlist.wixsite.com/blog/
Voodoo Princess
http://voodooprincess40.blogspot.com/


Monday, November 27
Literal Exposure
http://literalexposure.blogspot.com/
The Literary Nook
http://theliterarynook.blogspot.com/


Tuesday, November 28
A Title Wave
http://www.atitlewave.com/
Write and Take Flight
http://writeandtakeflight.blogspot.com/


Wednesday, November 29
The Dark Phantom
http://thedarkphantom.wordpress.com/
The Zen Reader
http://thezenreader.blogspot.com/


Thursday, November 30
All Inclusive Retort
http://allinclusiveretort.blogspot.com/
Lover of Literature
http://loverofliterature.tumblr.com/

 
Friday, December 1
Review From Here
http://reviewfromhere.blogspot.com/
A Taste of My Mind
http://atasteofmymind1.blogspot.com/

A new review . . . but a spoiler alert!

This is from one of our readers in Ohio (but watch for the spoilers in the second paragraph) —

 

Be Warned: This is an unabashedly rave review of The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold. With their historical fiction true to the 11th century epic poem The Song of Roland, the authors take the reader effortlessly into Roland’s 9th century world of nobles (men and women), fiefdoms, kingdoms, moral imperatives, and treachery. Embellishments of plot and character flow with symmetry and grace to envelop the reader passionately in the medieval experience.

Roland’s adventures stand alone. They chronicle a bold, sometimes reckless, young nobleman who fights for the singular honor of becoming his King’s champion. With his faithful companion Oliver as well as the contingent of Franks who have sworn loyalty to him and to King Charles, Roland battles through the Saracen armed forces clearing the way for his King. Painful scenes such as Roland searching for and honoring Oliver’s corpse intensify the individual significance of battle losses. The action moves flawlessly to Aude’s frantic ride alone through the battle-scarred countryside to warn her husband Roland of betrayal and moves flawlessly again to her suicide over his dead body.

One of the authors’ greatest strengths is their sensitivity to the medieval environment. A duplicitous court; a conniving, murderous clergy; religious wars; and a tragic love story are integral medieval elements. Charles’ bedchambers offer a unique perspective of the King, sitting in his robes, signing royal decrees and staining his fingers black to read word by word in the sputtering light, spied upon by a villainous poisoner in the shadows. His lecherous nobles engage in raucous “Tom Jonesian” banquet revelry, replete with gluttony, ravenous dogs, and flirtatious serving wenches. Yet another noteworthy example of sensory detail is the extraordinary description of the hand-to-hand combat. Eging and Arnold display their expertise in weaponry and fighting with just enough specifics to raise the reader’s heart rate and his/her emotional investment without overwhelming the plot or character development. The authors emphasize above all else the medieval values of courage, honor, commitment, and sworn loyalty. An apparent contradiction? Yes. Such was life in the Middle Ages.

I cried with these characters. I laughed and caroused with these characters. And I lived a medieval life through these characters. I wholeheartedly recommend The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold. This novel is a treasure that belongs in every book lover’s collection.

Kathleen Mills

Middlefield, OH

Guest Author, Blogger and Reviewer: Angela Kay

Angela, welcome to Silver Horn Echoes! You are our first guest, and we are excited to have you venture into our new digs. For our readers, Angela is an author, a blogger and a reviewer. For full disclosure, we met her via email through a request for a review. She has graciously also agreed to be a guest on our blog.

So, Angela, tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you begin your author journey?

Ever since I was little, all I’ve ever wanted to do was write. And I’ve always been told I was a natural at it by my teachers, which only lit the fire of desire even more. During my last semester of college, I took a novel writing course. During that class, we were to write the first thirty pages of a novel. By the end of the semester, the class would critique each others’ work. This was the beginning of my debut novel “The Murder of Manny Grimes.” When I wrote those thirty pages, it was completely and totally different than the published copy, although the idea remained the same. My class and my professor loved it. “Manny Grimes” ended up in being part of my exit portfolio. It took years to finally finish. There were times I wanted to give up the trade. But there were a lot…and I mean A LOT…of signs that I took to be from God that refused to let me give up. Now, seven years later, I published “The Murder of Manny Grimes” in September 2016. Before publishing, I credit a friend of a friend in helping me get my first project completed. He has no idea how thankful I am for his help. He taught me a lot, but although I already published the sequel, and will continue to publish more in the series, as well as different books, I still have a lot to learn.

And now you’ve also branched into blogging. What is your inspiration for blogging? What would you like your readers to remember about your blog?

I’m still learning more and more about blogging. I’m just not good at it. At the least, all I can do is read books for review and post my honest thoughts. I’m presently considering building a blog tour business in addition to my editing business. My inspiration for blogging is that I want to help others get the word out for there books. I want aspiring authors to know they can come for me with any questions, advice, or whatever they need. If I don’t know the answer right off, I will find it. I’ve always been the type to want to go above and beyond to assist others. While authoring should not be a competitive business, it can be. I’ve noticed in my circle of contacts, not all authors are willing to help or give advice.

You’re an author as well. Tell us more about your interests as a writer and how do you weave that into your work?

I’m the typical author: introverted. I don’t like to get out much. I prefer to either write or curl up with a good book. When I see a real-life situation, I write it down for later observation. If I start a book and decide not to continue it, I keep it because some scenes my fit future books.

We met you through a book review inquiry. If you could share one thing with readers and authors, what would that be?

Getting reviews are the devil’s invention. I find it sooooo hard to get readers to accept my books for reviews. And if they do, they don’t review it. For readers, I’d like them to remember that authors worked very hard on their writings. If you agree to review, do not NOT do it. If the book isn’t interesting, let them know you can’t review it. If you plan on “forgetting” to read/review, don’t accept the book. It can be frustrating for those that desire more reviews. For authors, I’d like to say don’t give up! It’s a hard road we have to take.

To keep up with Angela, learn more about her own work and her reviews, please find her at https://angelakaysbooks.com/.