P.H. Solomon's Blog, page 275
May 3, 2016
Mother’s Day Fantasy Sale
I’m happy to join this upcoming sale!
I’m participating in this sale along with a bunch of other fantasy writers. For my part, my newest e-book The Road to Hel will be on sale May 7th to 14th for $0.99 (and 99 pence in the UK store). Also, my first e-book, Robin Hood: Wolf’s Head has been reduced to 99 cents/pence regular price.
Here are 7 other great stories on sale during this time–I’m planning on checking out some of these myself!
These titles are only $0.99:
The Lost Forest
The Sorcerer’s Oath Book 3
Jenny Ealey
$0.99 May 6-8
A Slave to Magic
Tales from Nol’Deron
Lana Axe
$0.99 May 4-10
Beneath the Canyons
Daughter of the Wildlings Book 1
Kyra Halland
$0.99 May 7-14
Az: Revenge of an Archangel
AA Bavar
$0.99 May 7-14
The next two titles are FREE:
The Core Stone
The Storm Seer’s Prophecy Book 1
Robert D. Stanley
Free May 8-12
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May 1, 2016
Michael J Sullivan – Book of the Month Theft of Swords- Ask the Author Review
Here’s a good Q&A with Michael J. Sullivan via Dragons and jetpacks on Goodreads.
Michael writes classical fantasy and science fiction with unlikely heroes and epic adventures. His books have sold more than three quarters of a million English language copies, been translated into 12 foreign languages, and appeared on more than 150 best-of or most-anticipated lists.
Last year we chose Theft of Swords, part one of the Riyria Revelations as our Fantasy Book of the Month for October and Michael J Sullivan was kind enough to do an ask the author thread for us.
Here I will show some of the questions and answers from the thread including a really interesting comparison of his upcoming series Age of Myths to his other work.
Also keep an eye out for an upcoming interview by our own Sir Lancer with the author, where Sir Lancer asks a more interesting variety of Questions.
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April 28, 2016
Characters From The Bow of Destiny: Athson
This is the first of several posts revealing more about characters from The Bow of Destiny.
Athson is the main character of The Bow of Hart and a rather complex one at that. He suffers from fits over the violent memories surrounding the sack of his home Depenburgh that left him an orphan. These events were precipitated by an attack of trolls who are commanded by Corgren, a wizard in service to Magdronu, a dragon seeking for prime control of the world of Denaria.
After elves discovered Athson wandering in the Auguron Forest they took him in only to realize later that he suffered the aforementioned fits as well as hallucinations about a Mountain Hound he called Spark. But over the years, these affects have been muted with the help of an elven medicine named Soul-ease.
But Athson also holds a few other secrets that he won’t reveal so easily and this leads him into trouble. As a grown man, he’s become a ranger among the elves and is sent with his mentor, Gweld, into the largely unpopulated western Auguron region. It’s here that events conspire to drag Athson unwillingly into a quest.
Along the way, Athson gains several new friends and companions – some he likes and some he doesn’t. Often, Athson also struggles with what’s real and not since he losses – or forgets – his medicine several times. Other events leave Athson confused and grieving while he struggles to find the Bow of Hart. But along the way, Athson finds his secrets are hard to keep hidden. Additionally, he’ll find himself facing hidden information and danger from Corgren, Magdronu and trolls all of which will test his resolve and grasp on reality.
To find out more about The Bow of Destiny, click over to one of these online retailers:
About the Author
P. H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. The Bow of Destiny is his first novel-length title with more soon to come.
Prequel short stories to The Bow of Hart Saga:
Trading Knives – Kobo, iBooks & Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & Amazon
What Is Needed – Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords & Amazon
Filed under: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Kobo, Mailing List, Pinterest, Smashwords, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Amazon, Athson, Barnes & Noble, Epic Fantasy, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, iBooks, Kobo, P. H. Solomon, Smashwords, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed
April 23, 2016
Welcome to Dragons & Jetpacks!
Re-blogging on Archer’s Aim – here’s the first post from Dragons and Jetpacks that explains the blog and reading group on Goodreads.
Welcome to the brand new blog for Dragons & Jetpacks! A book group for science fiction and fantasy based on Goodreads, the moderators of the group thought it would be fun to make it even more accessible to all. So, here we are…
If you’re wondering what we’re planning on sharing on the blog, here’s what we’re thinking:
Book Reviews: an opportunity for members to share their book reviews of our Books of the Month on the blog
Books of the Month: we’ll share the ‘Books of the Month’, as voted by the group on Goodreads, at the beginning of each month
Yearly Reviews: what has the group been up to over the past year? Which books proved most popular?
Challenges: one of the best features of D&J is the regular challenges, particularly those organised by MPauli – now we can share and discuss them on this blog
Sir…
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Sir Lancer Recommends #1
Reblogging on Archer’s Aim – a good set of recommendations for a current read on the Dragons and Jetpacks reading group on Goodreads!
This post was contributed by one of our members, Lancer, fondly known as Sir Lancer!
Welcome one and all to Sir Lancer Recommends! I have been wrangled in and convinced (thank you Hybrid and everyone else) to starting my super awesome recommendations thread.
To get things off and running I am going to have begin by recommending what you all know I was going to. So my first official recommendation is May’s Book of the Month: Retribution Falls by Chris Wooding.
Along with this I am gonna go ahead and just recommend the whole damn series:
Book #2:The Black Lung Captain
Book #3:The Iron Jackal
Book #4:The Ace of Skulls
This is one of my favorite series of all time. It is not going to win any awards for whimsical writing or mind blowing prose. What it is though is one of the funnest…
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April 21, 2016
Friday Fantasy Sample: The Heretic & The Confessor
This is a very rough (un-edited) beginning to a dark fantasy I’m currently calling The Heretic and the Confessor. It’s an idea that came to me recently that I just sat down and wrote “off the cuff” and one that I hope to work on sometime in the next – maybe as a serial to start. Please forgive typos and lack of proper development but comments are certainly welcome.
From free photo section of MorgueFile.com
“You must understand, what Id did, what I have done, it’s because of what I was. I’m not who I was then. Then was a time of darkness, mindlessness, aimless, hungry wandering. It was when I was dead.”
“Don’t ask me how I know I was dead, I just was. Something changed one day. It was like nothing I every knew before that time. I knew the world, experienced it but only in shades of dust and ash. Everything I ever di, ate, loved and drew pleasure was in truth ash on a dead kernel that never lived.”
“I could say that it was a subtle change but there is no way to explained light to the blind or sensation to dead flesh but when I experienced that jolt of light in my gnawing mind it shocked me to my knees and I lost all concept of being as I had thought I was alive.”
“I woke and all that I saw was different though not unfamiliar. Trees swayed in the wind and clouds passed in the sky. But my eyes, I noted what I never understood before that time and I knew all of me had been dead with unquenchable hunger.”
“You speak in riddles.” The shade before me, the priest, my confessor, scratched meaningless symbols of the language I once knew and cherished. “Tell me the truth.”
“”I can only tell only speak of what I was and who I am now.”
“Who are you?” The dessicated hand paused with the featherless nib.
I leaned forward and touched that his cold, pallid hand. “I am alive.”
“Never touch me again, heretic!” He snatched his hand away sloshing the inkwell, it’s stench wafting into my face, offending my living senses.
“If you only understood, if only you could understand what it is to live.”
The shaded cowl tilted back with hollow laughter. “I move, I speak, I gnawed the bones of a screaming animal for my last meal. What else am I but alive.”
At sat back from the stench, my eyes watering and my throat tightened against gagging. “You understand death an nothing else. Once I was the same.”
He waved his hand and his voice lowered to a growl. “So you paint your skin and wear something over your eyes, perhaps use a magic or superstition but you nothing different from me.”
“I’m not and I am.”
“Just get on with your telling. I grow weary of this drivel.”
“You’ve come to hear everything, yes? Well, I have nothing to hide and much to share.”
“They want your secrets most before they crack your bones.” He dipped the nib and held the pen ready.
“I have none, you’ll hear it all and may you’ll understand.” I flinched at his other hand slamming into his book, dust rising from the writings of others before me.
He pointed. “I’ll have none of your way, heretic. Now speak!”
From free photo section of MorgueFile.com
I squinted. “You can barely see me. My words sound distant. You hear me from your tomb existence. I know. It was like that for me once also.”
“Enough!” He slammed the book closed, stirring more dusk. “When next I visit in mercy you will tell me all and cease this mindless rambling.” He turned and hobbled to the door, his shoes scraping on the grit of the cell floor. “I’ll come night-morrow.”
I swallowed, though not in fear. Night was day to these and day was night. I skulked in the light. “I look forward to our little talks, Moru. You are welcome any time. There are so few to share with at times.”
The grated door creaked and boomed shut in his leaving, the sound echoing through the passages beyond.
And I sat in light, glorious light that they thought tortured me with uncertainties. But I saw all that they never did.
End of this story sample.
About the Author
H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. The Bow of Destiny is his first novel-length title with more soon to come.
Have a look at some of my books
Book 1 of The Bow of Hart Saga: The Bow of Destiny can be found at these online retailers: Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Amazon – Kindle & Smashwords. See the book trailer.
Prequel short stories to The Bow of Hart Saga:
Trading Knives – Kobo, iBooks & Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & Amazon
What Is Needed – Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords & Amazon
Filed under: An Arrow Against the Wind, Barnes & Noble, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, iBooks, Kobo, Mailing List, Pinterest, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, Twitter, Wattpad, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, creativity, Facebook, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Kobo, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Short Stories, Smashwords, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The Heretic & the Confessor, Trading Knives, Twitter, What is Needed, writing
April 19, 2016
Read It? Loved It? Review It! Share It! Find Author Support at RRBC
I love a good book, especially in my chosen genre of Fantasy/Sci-Fi. If I read a book and love I often share my reaction to it with a review. I’ve discovered several good books from little-known authors over the last few years and I love to support them. Why? Well that review is very important to the author.
But there’s something else I like to do: share it further. Authors need reviews from their readers AND they extended support on social media. Sometimes I will post my review from Goodreads on my blog for added exposure. But I’ll also share it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other places. Recently, I’ve started adding these books to appropriate lists on Goodreads so these authors gain even more exposure.
However, there’s also another way to gain even more support: join an author/review organization. My choice is Rave Reviews Book Club where I’m in my second year as a member. As part of my membership, I read a minimum of 4 books during the year from the club catalog and provide a review. We also have our own growing internet radio network, “Rave Waves” on Blog Talk Radio where club members are interviewed on several shows throughout the course of each month.
But there’s more to Rave Reviews Book Club. We also support one another over social media, especially with our #PUSHTUESDAY feature on Twitter. We also find lots of other ways to support one another. Take a look at what this club offers. Why not give it a try? I’ve found more than one good fantasy or science fiction in our club catalog and there are many other genres represented. What’s best is that we all support one another no matter what genre we like. Not an author? No problem, we have reader-members too! If you join today, just tell them P. H. Solomon sent you!
One of my recent club reads was James Derry’s Idyll. I liked it so much that I’ve added it to lists on Goodreads. Here’s my review of Idyll on Goodreads:
Idyll by James Derry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Idyll is the story of two brothers who set out from their remote home in search of the father while caring for their mother, stricken by a mysterious illness named “The Lullaby”. Set on the terra-formed planet, Idyll, author James Derry unfolds a story fraught with tension for characters, Walt and Samuel Starboard as they travel across their rugged planet after having been self-quarantined for several years. Along the way, these brother will discover the secrets of the dangerous disease suffered by their incapacitated mother as well as all that has befallen their fellow colonists on Idyll.
Derry weaves an entertaining tale that encompasses elements of science fiction, western, dystopian and several other genres into a complex alchemy of story-telling. Mystery and terror abound for the characters as they travel and discover all that has happened to their home during their isolation. Abounding with twists and turns that grips readers, this book is a must read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more from the author in the future!
Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. Sign up for my Archer’s Aim Digest mailing list to receive notification of these posts and those for other upcoming fiction projects to appear on Archer’s Aim as well as news about the upcoming release of An Arrow Against the Wind, the second novel of The Bow of Hart Saga due out later this year.
About the Author
H. Solomon lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. The Bow of Destiny is his first novel-length title with more soon to come.
Have a look at some of my books
Book 1 of The Bow of Hart Saga: The Bow of Destiny can be found at these online retailers: Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Amazon – Kindle & Smashwords. See the book trailer.
Prequel short stories to The Bow of Hart Saga:
Trading Knives – Kobo, iBooks & Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & Amazon
What Is Needed – Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords & Amazon
Filed under: Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Author Platform, Barnes & Noble, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Indie Publishing, Kobo, Mailing List, Marketing, Pinterest, Rave Review Book Club, Reviews, Science Fiction, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, Twitter, What is Needed, Writing, Writing Groups Tagged: #PUSHTUESDAY, Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Barnes and Noble, Coverart, Epic Fantasy, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Idyll, Indie Publishing, James Derry, Kobo, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Rave Reviews Book Club, Reviews, Smashwords, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, Twitter
April 15, 2016
The Bow of Destiny, on Lisa Burton Radio
Reblogging on Archer’s Aim – Have a look at a character from The Bow of Destiny being interviewed on Lisa Burton Radio!
Welcome to another edition of Lisa Burton Radio. Now broadcasting at one point twenty-one jigawatts across all the known galaxy, alternate realms, and into the future and past. I’m your host, Lisa the robot girl.
Our guest today is Limbreth, a young woman, on a quest to recover a stolen book and find the Bow of Hart.
“Welcome to the show, Limbreth.”
“Greetings from the Forest of Auguron, Lisa Burton.”
“My bio says you’ve joined this quest with a Withling named Hastra. Who’s leading this quest, you or her?”
“Hastra’s in charge but gets a lot of advice from Gweld, an elven ranger and these two dauntless dwarves, Tordug and Makwi. Hastra knows the most about our foe and the Bow of Hart. But these feckless Rokans stole her book, back in the City of Auguron using this magical creature she calls a Bane.”
“Dwarves! I love dwarves. We had…
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April 13, 2016
Eye-Opening Writing Tips
Some great quotes in this! Reblogging on Archer’s Aim!
Book Cover Design and Illustration
A lot of people think they can write or paint or draw or sing or make movies or what-have-you, but having an artistic temperament doth not make one an artist.
Even the great writers of our time have tried and failed and failed some more. Vladimir Nabokov received a harsh rejection letter from Knopf upon submitting Lolita, which would later go on to sell fifty million copies. Sylvia Plath’s first rejection letter for The Bell Jar read, “There certainly isn’t enough genuine talent for us to take notice.” Gertrude Stein received a cruel rejection letter that mocked her style. Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way earned him a sprawling rejection letter regarding the reasons he should simply give up writing all together. Tim Burton’s first illustrated book, The Giant Zlig, got the thumbs down from Walt Disney Productions, and even Jack Kerouac’s perennial On the Road received a particularly blunt rejection letter…
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April 9, 2016
Cover Reveal & Weekend Convention Schedule
Here’s my schedule for the weekend:
1. First, I had an interview earlier this week on A. F. Stewart’s Are You Afraid of the Dark?
2. Tomorrow at 1PM, I’m appearing on the Readers’ Fantasyland Takeover. Feel free to drop by and leave comments.
2. I’ll be giving away copies of books via Amazon all three days of the convention. The first one has just started so click over and enter for a chance to win one of three free copies of The Bow of Destiny today. Check in at my booth for announced winners each day and see what the daily giveaway is.
3. Today I’m revealing the cover of An Arrow Against the Wind – see below for the cover and details.
4. Tomorrow, I’ll reveal the cover of my upcoming fantasy anthology, Doors at my cyber booth so be sure to visit there again tomorrow.
5. Sunday, I’ll be spotlighted on Timothy Bateson’s Book Spotlight .
6. And as a follow-up there’ll be a special character interview on C. S. Boyack’s . This will be a lot of fun so plan to see that interview on 4/14.
Now onto the cover reveal. An Arrow Against the Wind is the second book of The Bow of Hart Saga . It’s the continuing struggle of Athson and his companions against Magdronu the dragon, Corgren the wizard and their servants.
As some of you may remember, I commissioned the cover of The Bow of Destiny from Christopher Rawlins based on his artwork entitled, Robin of Loxley. As you can tell, the cover has similar scenery to the original picture and Christopher did a wonderful job.
Recently, I contacted Christopher again with ideas about the cover for An Arrow Against the Wind. Since this cover would be different in setting to the first one there would be more work. I had to provide details for a few more characters as well as the setting. Since the latter was in mountains and included traveling on dwarven roads, I needed some examples. I turned to photos of Incan roads that still exist today to give Christopher some perspective. From there he did the rest. These amazing photos reveal who Incans used a very long systems of roads for travel and transmitting information via runners (kind of like the Pony Express but no horses). It was said that the Incan emperor could receive message from long distance along the Andes in a matter of days! These roads were so well constructed that they still exist today.
The first version captured the setting well but there were a few changes necessary to the characters. But, as you can see in the versions below, the cover progressed to the finished product.
An Arrow Against the Wind Cover Version 1
An Arrow Against the Wind Cover Version 2
An Arrow Against the Wind Cover Version 3
An Arrow Against the Wind Final Version
I’m excited to share the cover today. The book will release later this year – likely around September – so if you haven’t read The Bow of Destiny yet, you have time to grab a copy and be ready for the next edition in the series.
Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. Sign up for my Archer’s Aim Digest mailing list to receive notification of these posts and those for other upcoming fiction projects to appear on Archer’s Aim as well as news about the upcoming release of An Arrow Against the Wind, the second novel of The Bow of Hart Saga due out later this year.
Book 1 of The Bow of Hart Saga: The Bow of Destiny can be found at these online retailers: Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Amazon – Kindle & Smashwords. See the book trailer.
Prequel short stories to The Bow of Hart Saga:
Trading Knives – Kobo, iBooks & Barnes & Noble, Smashwords & Amazon
What Is Needed – Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iBooks, Smashwords & Amazon
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Filed under: 2016 Brain to Books Cyber Convention, Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Barnes & Noble, C. S. Boyack, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Indie Publishing, Kobo, Mailing List, Marketing, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, Twitter, What is Needed, Writing, Writing Conference Tagged: A. F. Stewart, Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Barnes and Noble, Brain to Books Cyber Convention 2016, C. S. Boyack, Christopher Rawlins, Coverart, creativity, Deviantart, Epic Fantasy, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Kobo, LIsa Burton Radio, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Robin of Loxley, Self-publishing, Smashwords, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Timothy Bateson, Trading Knives, What is Needed, writing
