P.H. Solomon's Blog, page 276

It’s Almost Here! Brain to Books Cyber Convention 2016

It’s only a week away and hard to believe a whole year has passed already. The Brain to Books Cyber Convention 2016 will be held April 8-10 and I’ll be participating with over 400 other authors representing a wide range of genres.

The convention is held on Goodreads where the public is welcome to join the club and pay authors visits. There will be multiple giveaways available. You’ll need a Goodreads account to attend so sign-up there if you don’t yet have one.

There are a lot of great events that will be available including live panel discussions and many other ways to interact with authors. What are you waiting for? Click the link to join and attend.

Don’t forget to pay me a visit (I’ll add the direct link on 4/8) – I’ll have several threads about my current works, upcoming releases and projects in the planning. I’ll also offer some giveaways each day that will certainly interest fantasy readers as well as one or two announcements to share.

This is a great way to interact with the authors of numerous great books and win some prizes along the way. Plan to attend at least one of the days and discover the next book you’ll be reading – and maybe many more!

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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Bookmarks for The Bow of Destiny!

I just received these today and thought I’d share them here! Bookmarks for The Bow of Destiny and hot off the press too! I’m sending some out to be displayed at a booth at the L.A. Time Book Convention in a few weeks. Feel free to share!

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

Filed under: Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Author Platform, Blogging, Cover Reveal, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Mailing List, Marketing, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The White Arrow, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: An Arrow Against the Wind, blogging, Bookmarks, Coverart, creativity, Epic Fantasy, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Indie Publishing, Marketing, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, Twitter, What is Needed, writing

The Latest News from Archer’s Aim

Here’s the latest news on writing that I have.

First, I’ve just gotten the first look at the cover for An Arrow Against the Wind which means there will be a cover reveal soon but I’ll share more about that next week. I’m really excited to see something more visual for the book. Since I’ve been so delayed with editing the book I hope to release it later this summer but more on that in the coming weeks. If you are interested in upcoming news about my forthcoming releases try signing up for my newsletter – I’m also sharing some specials from a few other authors that may interest fantasy readers.

Next, one of the characters from The Bow of Destiny will be interviewed on C. S. Boyack’s interview feature, Lisa Burton Radio, several weeks from now (date still pending). This will be an interesting interview format since the questions are quite interesting and the point of view for both the interviewer and interviewee are both fictional. As soon as I have a date I’ll post here on the site.

I’ll have another blog interview appearance on A. F. Stewart’s site, Are You Afraid of the Dark? on 4/4 discussing The Bow of Destiny as well as my other forthcoming projects.

While I’m on The Bow of Destiny, the book has been at the reduced price of $2.99 for a while now and will be through the end of April. If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, why not grab one now before the price goes back up to $4.99?

The weekend of 4/8-10 will be a big one as I’ll be appear at two conventions at once. Well, not really. I’m taking part in the 2nd annual Brain to Books Cyber Convention held on Goodreads. I’ll be giving away a few books and such via Amazon. I’ll share my cyber-booth link closer to the date but there will be lots of activities – including some live events – at the convention that weekend so be sure to check back with more news about this event next week.

But wait, what about the other convention? Well, I’ve gotten an opportunity through some authors attending the L. A. Book Convention to have some of my promotional material at their real booth at the same time at the Cyber Convention. I have bookmarks being shipped now so if you are in the LA area try to attend. I’ll share more details on both the location of the booth and the author names within the week.

Wow, that’s a lot of events going on close together. I also hope to release my short story anthology during April or May (most likely the latter just to give myself time to get it ready) so I’ll start sharing news about during the convention.

I’m posting visual content on Pinterest often so if you are on that social media channel, please click through some of my boards there and feel free to share. If you’ve read The Bow of Destiny, let me know if you have some fan-art and I’ll create a public board for you to post what you have.

I’ve got a few book beginnings that I’m writing that I plan to share as fiction posts in the coming weeks also – all feedback is welcome. These will likely be rather rough and they are not my main projects at this time – in fact, they aren’t even on my WIP page yet. But I want to share some of what I’m planning down the road after I’ve released An Arrow Against the Wind and The White Arrow.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. The next part of the story will be posted on 3/9/2016. 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

 

Filed under: 2016 Brain to Books Cyber Convention, Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Archer's Aim Digest, Author Platform, Barnes & Noble, Blogging, C. S. Boyack, Craig Boyack, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, iBooks, Indie Publishing, Kobo, Mailing List, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The White Arrow, Trading Knives, Twitter, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Amazon, An Arrow Against the Wind, Announcement, Barnes and Noble, Brain to Books Cyber Convention 2016, Coverart, Epic Fantasy, Facebook, Fantasy Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Kobo, P. H. Solomon, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Stories, Smashwords, Social Media, The Black Bag, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, Twitter, What is Needed, writing

Bookwraiths Reviews Pearseus: Rise of the Prince

Here’s a good review…

Nicholas C. Rossis

Read on Amazon

I don’t normally post reviews of my work, but I couldn’t help it this time. I’ve been following Bookwraiths for a while now, enjoying Wendel’s excellent reviews of fantasy and science fiction works. He has introduced me to a number of great authors, and the other day he surprised me by reviewing my own work – Pearseus: Rise of the Prince, the first book in the Pearseus series. He got me and the series so well, that I just had to share.

Here’s what he had to say:

“With Rise of the Prince, Nicholas C. Rossis does an amazing job of combining a science fiction setting with ancient Greek history to create a Dune-like story, filled with political scheming, mystical creatures, psychopathic murderers, and personal tragedies. The novel proving yet again that self-published works are just as good and just as professional as the traditionally published…

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Short Fiction Post: For No Reason – Part 5

The following is the next section of a short story entitled, For No Reason . I hope to include this story in an anthology in several months. The main character, Dax, is stuck in a magical rut that’s not headed toward a good ending…

Previous posts for this story: part 1  – part 2  – part 3  – part 4

“Tell us where good stuff is or we start with her fingers, then her toes.” The leader’s bellow carried over the cacophony of weeping women and roaring flames among the houses. Men shouted complaints cut short when the outlaws kicked or clubbed them.

Dax gritted his teeth and blinked. None of my business. He dismounted. His smirk spread as he crept closer. The mule trailed him on the lead. Dax frowned at the animal. “I guess you’re in this.”

The mule tossed its head.

The girl squealed. Firelight her face with fear.

Maybe they’d toss those fingers his way. Dax almost vomited. The cursed beast clawed for release. No, he couldn’t let it out. He steadied himself against a wall and hunched among shadows. He should go. It wasn’t his business. He’d take his chances these men would end the curse for him. He took one step backward. If only the cursed beast would leave him.

“You’ll be telling us now.” The lead ruffian slapped the girl, his dirt-smudged face twisted with a delighted grin at his power.

One outlaw held the girl down while another set a knife to her thumb.

“No, no, no!” The girl’s desperate screams mingled with her terrified sobs. Men shouted. Ruffians menaced their captives with cudgels.

Dax squeezed his eyelids shut and clenched his jaws. They’re like me. No, I’ll be worse if the village won’t let me…”

His eyelids snapped wide. He lurched into view and the mule followed. His lips curled. He didn’t need those hateful people.

“Leave the girl alone.” He removed his gloves.

The villagers shrank away and gasped.

Dax stood with his hands curled like claws and panted.

The leader and his men froze a moment and then squinted at shadows between the buildings.

The bearded ruffian laughed and swaggered toward Dax. “What you gonna do by yerself? Why, look at you all sickly and poxy.” The outlaw shoved the cursed man.

“You can’t hurt me but I can kill all of you.”

The leader laughed and his men joined him. “You ain’t gonna do nothing.” He stepped closer and Dax smelled his sour breath as the ruffian yanked him close by his shirt. “We gonna take that mule and drag you behind it, see how long you last, Poxy.”

Dax pried the outlaw’s hands from his shirt.

The bearded leader pulled away and drew back his fist. His eyes bulged as he gaped at his blackened hands as disease spread along his hairy forearms. The brigand screamed, stumbled back and crumbled to his knees. He clawed his chest and throat. The outlaw fell onto his side and writhed for fleeting moments. A death gasp rattled out of a mouth that never closed again. His eyes glazed and stared into the smoky night.

Dax lifted his gaze from the lifeless man, shook his head and sighed. He shoulda listened. Couldn’t worry about him. His shoulders relaxed and he stepped over the body as the corpse’s lips pulled back in a desiccated grin.

The girl lay under her attackers, her sob frozen as a hush gathered among bandit and villagers alike. Then the outlaws murmured and tensed to attack.

The mule brayed.

Dax whirled at a grunt.

An outlaw fell and writhed from the animal’s well-aimed kick. Animal needs a name after that. Another sallow-faced brigand snatched at the reins and received a vicious bite followed by another whirling kick. The outlaw ducked and scrambled away with a cry. Another ruffian snorted at his fellow.

The other outlaws stared at Dax. They’re afraid but willing to fight. Their sweaty faces sneered.

“I’ll gut you for that.” The lean man with the knife at the girl’s hand stood and displayed a gap-toothed grimace.

“You can’t hurt him, sick as he is.” Felton’s warning hushed the outlaws. “It’s the old crone’s curse. He can’t die, just suffer. Whatever touches him dies.”

“Then we’ll hurt the whole lot of ya while he watches.” The other outlaws nodded and flexed their arms to make good the threat.

“The whole place is cursed.” Dax advanced and grasped the knife-man’s sleeve.

The outlaw shouted. He yanked his arm away and scrambled from Dax’s reach. He waved the knife as he circled and split his glower between the villagers and Dax. “Stay back.” His gaze flitted to the corpse lying stiff in the firelight.

Dax stepped toward the outlaw. The fight’s left them. His voice sounded steady with his even breathing. “Put out the fires and leave with nothing.”

“But–” The sallow-face man glanced from Dax to the corpse again.

“Do it!” Dax’s snarl snapped like a whip. He lifted his bare fist.

The men jumped at his sweeping glare.

The outlaws beat at the fires with their tattered cloaks. Dax surveyed their work but never put his gloves on his hands. Felton and some of the men joined the outlaws while women aided with pails of water from the nearby creek.

The raiders wasted no time retreating from the village at Dax’s approval. When they were gone, he tied the corpse to his mule and pulled the remains out to the cemetery.

“What’re we gonna do with him there.” Elon flinched from Dax.

“Just dig the grave and kick him in.”

“We gotta do more work for you?”

Dax raised his hands and yanked his gloves on at Elon’s eye level. The other man dipped his head and trotted away, his face pale in the remaining light.

Dax walked his mule along the road home with a yawn. He stretched his arms and hummed an old lullaby. The beast was hiding. He’d better go before it came back.

“Thank-you.” Elon’s wife lifted her hand with an uncertain wave when he glanced over his shoulder.

Dax tugged his hat-brim lower but neither spoke nor paused.

“Wait, Dax!” Felton scampered alongside as Dax reached the village edge. The shopkeeper gave the mule wary space. “Why did you do it?”

Ash drifted between Dax and the shopkeeper.

Dax cocked his head sideways and arched an eyebrow at the other man. He shrugged after three strides. Suffering for life ‘cause no one had no money wasn’t right. He yawned again and never looked Felton’s way. “For no reason.”

“That’s all?”

“Yep.” Dax mounted the mule, jerked his hat at Felton and urged the animal to a trot.

Dax swayed with the mule’s motion. He slouched by the time he reached the cabin. His eyelids drooped against approaching sunrise. He slid off his mount stumbled to bed.

Dax woke near mid-day and washed his face in the stale basin water beneath mirror. He stood straight before his reflection in unmarred glass. He blinked and gasped. Dax touched his face. No weeping sores lingered. He touched the mirror where cracks once marred his diseased expression. The good deed done. The curse was broken!

He whirled and staggered. Dax inspected his hands and viewed unscarred skin. So tired he never noticed. He rushed out the door where he flopped on his porch steps as both laughter and weeping shook him.

Much later, the mule stared into his face while it crunched fodder, sprigs jutting from its mouth. The animal shied when he touched it bare-handed and grasped the bridle.

“Every good deed needs a reward. I’ll name you Hope.” He mule tossed its head in his grasp and he laughed. “Let’s take a trip, Hope.”

Dax departed a few days later. He left the stack of unbroken mirrors–save the last–on the porch for Felton. The shopkeeper could sell them back to the village. He kicked Hope’s sides and the animal strolled away.

The pines creaked in the fresh breeze off the hills. “Until unmerited kindness he performs.” Shadow faded in the hollow.

Dax patted the mirror in his bag and searched the surrounding treetops with his eyes. “Can’t say I’ll miss you.”

The end of part 5 and the story!

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. The next part of the story will be posted on 3/9/2016. 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: An Arrow Against the Wind, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Mailing List, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The White Arrow, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, For No Reason, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed, writing

Short Fiction Post: For No Reason – Part 4

The following is the next section of a short story entitled, For No Reason . I hope to include this story in an anthology in several months. The main character, Dax, is stuck in a magical rut that’s not headed toward a good ending…

Click here to read part 1 and here for part 2 and here for part 3.

Starting within the cabin, Dax chose no particular task first but worked with steady movements interrupted by fits of weakness. He swept dust into a choking cloud so he opened his windows and doors to the forest breeze. Dax cleaned his dishes, bedding, and clothes. He gathered the shattered mirrors into a stack that he laid in a corner like a shrine to his suffering.

Afterwards, he leaned back in his chair. He exhaled without the ragged grunts that plagued him. The room shone brighter even in spite of the dim hollow. Better though his sores ran and the beast’s devouring urges loomed. Dax rested his hands in his lap.

Later, Dax found the mule staring in the door. “I don’t know if it does any good but here it is all clean.” His cantankerous companion chewed on weeds growing around the porch. The animal snorted. Dax left oats by the steps in a pail and soon after the metal banged on the rail as his only companion ate.

A coughing fit woke him that night. A new symptom? His eyes watered as he realized smoke drifted through his open windows. Dax stumbled out the door and expected the sight of fire from the cabin. He grabbed a pail and headed for the water trough. There’s no fire here. He blinked sleep away.

Dax halted at the glow lighting the night sky from several wooded ridges away. The village was on fire. His brow pinched. The mule stomped, sides twitching away flies. “That’s big. I wonder if it’s the forest.”

The pack animal snorted and wagged its head.

Dax paced between the cabin and the shimmering light that waxed and faded beneath the stars. He’d go see them burning in the night. His lips curled into a grin as he hunched with fists clenched at his side. No, not a concern of his. They hated him so he didn’t care. Dax wended away from the sight. His feet shuffled with several turns until he gaped at the glow.

Dax’s hands clenched and opened. He whirled to the cabin and seized his gloves, hat and coat. Spittle gathered at the corners of his lips and his stomach rumbled. The mule let him climb onto its back without a balk. He kicked the mount into a trot and slapped the animal with the reins. “Let’s go see if they need–if anything’s left for us.” His lips curled into a grin followed by a frown.

He held a lantern as the mule stumped along the hard-packed road. “Might be I do all the burying or gnawing.” His stomach growled and then flipped. His jaw clenched at his beast-like urge. More likely he and the mule would make a pyre and then be moving on. The glow climbed higher. This fire won’t end this curse.

Smoke hung thicker each time he topped a rise. Dax coughed when he paused atop the final ridgeline and pulled a handkerchief over his nose. Distant shouts echoed amid the trees as he glimpsed buildings ablaze. A growl rumbled in his chest and he groaned. He reined the mule off the road among the trees where grey billows rolled among the trunks. No one’s working at the fires?  Dax chewed his lower lip. That’s strange.

A woman’s scream carried over the noise. “No! Not her! She don’t know nothing.”

Smoke cleared for spare seconds but in those moments he spied strangers with weapons who threatened the villagers. Bandits! His eyes narrowed. None of his business. Best not be caught by the rascals. He tugged the reins hard and guided his animal toward the road and his cabin. Maybe if they killed them all he wouldn’t–eventually. Maybe he’d be free of them and this place.”

A higher, child’s squeal sounded amid the commotion.

“Tell us what you got or she’s really going to screech!” A raider yanked Elon’s girl by the hair. Scoundrels laughed as the villagers cringed or swore while cinders floated among them.

Dax halted the mule. His lips twitched into a curl. Best he looked into this–no. He sighed and reined the mule for a closer look. His hands trembled while the mule shuffled in the woods behind houses.

Twenty or more outlaws, by his count, guzzled ale from the tavern. Some ransacked the store but most held the captives tied and cowering before the leader who brandished a rusted sword.

“C’mon, chop her fingers.” One of the men guarding the people spat and swore. “We’ll be here all night.

Elon’s girl wailed with the knife poised at her hand.

The mule edged toward the scene, hidden in smoke.

Dax grinned. He’d grind those fingers. He swayed on his mount and held his belly while his lower lip quivered. “No. I won’t.” Dax rubbed his face where the tomato struck days earlier. If only he could help. Her face bore fear as henchman grasped her by neck and arm.

He grinned and bared his teeth as drool trickled on his chin.

Dax dropped the reins and held his head. “No.”

The end of part 4.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. The next part of the story will be posted on 3/9/2016. 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

Follow Blog via Email

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Filed under: An Arrow Against the Wind, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Mailing List, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The White Arrow, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, For No Reason, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed, writing

How to Use Amazon Categories to Increase your Rankings

For those authors looking for ways to better categorize their work on Amazon!

Nicholas C. Rossis

I have mentioned the importance of Amazon Categories as far as rankings are concerned in my post, I Just Published my Book. Now What?

Here is a rough guide to how many copies a book needs to sell to reach a certain rank in Amazon US, courtesy of Jackie Weger.

This daunting figure, however, is only true when one thinks of the major categories – eg. “Books > Literature & Fiction.” The further one goes down the various subcategories, the easier it is to reach #1 in that sublisting.

I recently came across a great post on the subject by Jen Bresnick, so I thought I’d revisit this topic with a detailed how-to.

What is my Category?

When you look up a listing for a book on Amazon, scroll down past the reviews to the section titled “Look for similar items by category”.  If you visit the page…

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Short Fiction Post: For No Reason – Part 3

The following is the opening section of a short story entitled, For No Reason . I hope to include this story in an anthology in several months. The main character, Dax, is stuck in a magical rut that’s not headed toward a good ending…

Click here to read part 1 and here for part 2.

After Elon’s house he stared ahead until he approached the tavern where the men still sat. They stared, sullen and quiet.

Dax spat. “There’s your change.” Laugh at that. They uttered neither jibe nor snicker so he left Alton’s Ford without further trouble.

He rode out of earshot and ground his teeth. “That stupid hag! Worthless daughter of a hog!” Dax swore worse things in rapid succession. “That diseased herd of sheep! I’ll tear them to pieces. I’ll foul their bones when I’ve chewed them to nothing.”

The mule plodded along with its ears drooping.

At his cabin, Dax still ranted at his enemies. He stomped around, unloaded his goods and slammed parcels onto rough shelves. The mule watched with rolling eyes each time Dax returned until he tore the panniers away, untied the animal and slapped its nose.

The mule nipped at his hands.

Dax kicked the animal’s rear leg.

The mule kicked back.

Dax dodged the hoof. “You filthy, nameless beast! I’ll show you! I’ll show them all!”

The mule brayed defiance.

Dax stormed the porch. He snatched his axe and hacked the porch posts.

The mule wheezed alarm and trotted away.

Dax roared with each swing. He burst through his door. They’d see when he changed. He tossed his bed over and hacked the log walls. “The blasted curse, take them all!” Dax kicked his stack of broken mirrors.

“Why won’t they let me do something? Why won’t they let me break this curse? Why do they hate me?” Each axe blow demanded an answer. Dax collapsed into a weeping heap. “Why, why, why…?”

A breeze stirred the curtains. “By his teeth their hatred will consume them.”

“No, never, I won’t come to that.” He shivered. He’d be a mindless beast, all teeth and rage and dead to himself. And they’d die. He was becoming that too soon. He blinked through sudden tears at the ruined room. If only he’d tried in the village. He’d do something.

His sores bled for days. The mule bared its teeth and trotted away from Dax whenever he approached the animal. Otherwise, he slept or stared at the trees.

One morning, he awoke wearied of the wrecked cabin that festered like his sores. He’d wounded his home. If only he could heal it. On the porch, he suppressed a groan and sunk onto the loose step-boards as he stared into the trees. The mule wandered close. “It never ends and I can’t end it even if I wanted.”

The pack animal rasped a snort, dropped dung and trotted away.

“The mule needs a name. And this place needs a cleaning.”

The end of part 3.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. The next part of the story will be posted on 3/9/2016. 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

Follow Blog via Email

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Filed under: An Arrow Against the Wind, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Mailing List, Pinterest, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, Social Media, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The White Arrow, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, For No Reason, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed, writing

Short Fiction Post: For No Reason – Part 2

The following is the opening section of a short story entitled, For No Reason . I hope to include this story in an anthology in several months. The main character, Dax, is stuck in a magical rut that’s not headed toward a good ending…

Missed part 1? Click here to read it first.

Dax’s knees soon wobbled so he climbed onto the mule. This cursed sickness. He tugged his hat brim lower and his shoulders curled in as he held his stomach with trembling hands. If only his ride was longer. But the thatched roofs soon peeked between tree limbs as he descended the last slope from the forest hills.

The mule thumped into Alton’s Ford. The first rotten tomato smacked the animal’s face and the second whistled past Dax’s. The animal lurched under Dax while he pulled the reins.

Laughter faded between houses.

“Easy, easy.” Dax patted the mule and gritted his teeth.

“Witch’s curse.” Boys laughed from hiding.

Dax muttered oaths as he kicked the mule into motion. He should’ve pulled his collar up. He snorted. They knew him on sight. His lip curled in a silent snarl.

Idling men sneered from the tavern porch. He stared ahead as the mule carried him past jeers thrown like refuse. Elon snorted and spat. “There’s your tithe, cursed man. Who says you can steal our livestock?”

Dax clenched his jaws. “Ain’t stole nothing.” So much for childhood friends. Felton should move his store to the other end of the village. Maybe he’d pull his collar high but the store wasn’t far. His hand strayed toward the collar anyway. There’ll be no hiding when…

Splat.

Stinking tomato juice exploded on his face and stung his eye as well as his sores. His head wobbled at the solid hit.

A girl laughed and squealed.

The men back at the tavern snickered. “More tithe.”

The girl danced. “More tithe, more tithe.”

Her unblemished face beamed and Dax’s cheek quivered. He wouldn’t get down. He’d ride on. He gritted his teeth, swung off the mule and stepped toward the capering child.

She screamed and ran for her door.

The girl’s mother rushed out the door at her cry and stood between them with a kitchen knife. “Don’t touch her!”

Dax clenched his teeth. “That’s right. You know what my touch does but for these gloves.” He shook his fist. His chest heaved rough breath like a blacksmith’s bellows.

“You leave my girl alone!” Elon leapt into the road.

The other men from the tavern stamped through the puddles in the road.

“Or you’ll what? Touch me? You can’t even hurt me!” Spittle flew from Dax’s mouth and his lips curled into a snarl. “But I can hurt you, any of you, whenever I want.” His bitter laugh rang like a bell and halted the threatening toughs.

“Dax, come down to the store. I’ve got your supplies ready.” Felton, the storekeeper, approached.

Dax cocked his head at the speaker. He wiped his face with on his sleeve and grimaced from the sores. He trudged toward the store with the mule in tow. He paused and pointed his gloved finger at the trembling mother hiding the girl. “I just come for what’s mine. You just remember I suffer this and do nothing when I could.  Next time I might not wear my gloves.”

At the store, he tied the mule at the post and stomped through the door. He hunched and shook his head. He never threatened people. What was wrong with him? He swayed and grasped the counter.

“H-here’s your goods as usual.” Felton waved his hand over packages of food stacked on a counter.

“I need a mirror.” Dax counted his packages.

Felton sighed. “Another one already? You know how hard those are to get. Why do you want one?”

“For no reason.”

“But people have to p-”

“They pay for their wrongs to the old crone, not me. I just bear them–for now.” Dax continued his inspection without pause but his growl bothered him. Was it getting worse like she foretold?

“Well, I’ll try but it may be a while.”

“Just get it.” Dax hefted his first load and wobbled out the door.

Felton pushed wares to him when he returned. “Why do you let them do this to you? I can deliver your supplies. Or you could come early or late, I don’t mind the time.”

“Because.” Dax minded his steps on sore feet.

“Why?”

Dax whirled and fastened Felton with a hard stare and snarled his answer. “They need to see their work. They need to see I can’t be harmed but suffer for them. They wronged the old woman and given the choice they let her put the curse on me. So they pay and they must see.” They’ll all pay with their bones for gnawing. His stomach heaved. No, he’d never be a raging beast. He loaded the supplies, grabbed his belly and leaned against a post. There’s no escape from this curse for any of us.

“When will all this end? I at least pity you, Dax.”

Dax pushed past Felton. “It won’t end.” They won’t let me do them a kindness so it can’t end until I devour this place. “Don’t pity me. Leave if you can.”

“None of us can. Find a way to end this, Dax.” Felton stood with his face lowered and arms hanging loose. The shopkeeper sniffed and his shoulders bobbed a bit.

“I can’t, they won’t let me.” He left the store and passed Elon’s house. Dax glared at the dark windows as he rode past. They feared him worse than ever. He’d never have his chance. Dax slapped the mule’s sides with the reins.

The end of part 2.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. The next part of the story will be posted on 3/2/2016. 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: An Arrow Against the Wind, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Goodreads, Indie Publishing, Mailing List, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, The White Arrow, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Fantasy, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, For No Reason, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed, writing

Short Fiction Post: For No Reason – Part 1

The following is the opening section of a short story entitled, For No Reason. I hope to include this story in an anthology in several months. The main character, Dax, is stuck in a magical rut that’s not headed toward a good ending…

Photo courtesy free photo section of Morguefile.com by blondieb38

Constant shade draped the cabin built into the narrow hollow, even under the morning sun and clear skies. Birds never sang near his home but his mule cropped weeds along the shadow’s edge. The bearded resident hobbled from the porch into the dim recesses.

“Accursed sickness. Why’s it always dark in here?” His foot caught a stack of broken mirrors. They tipped onto the floor and jangled loose glass. “Blasted useless things.”

Dax brought his lamp to his rough-hewn dresser and twisted the flame higher. The gloom receded as he stood with fists clenched before his mirror. His comb snagged in his hair despite his delicate hand. “Should wash it all or cut it.” He picked through the matted bristles that dangled from his face onto his chest. This would do nothing. He couldn’t hide the sores and scars–the curse. Their curse. His curse. The taste of bile rose in his mouth as rotten stench billowed around him.

He cringed.

A desiccated hand in black lace reached past him. A finger touched the mirror. The glass rang with the hag’s voice. “Their sins lay upon one.”

His lips curled as he clenched his teeth at the shrill noise.

Cracks squealed across the mirror and ended with a snap. “Not even he shall look upon himself.”

Dax whirled to the emptiness of his one-room cabin. She lay dead ten years but her words haunted him.

The floorboards creaked. Her shoes clomped on the wood. “A disease of undying suffering changes to devouring beast.”

“Stop it.” His chest heaved. He growled and gnashed his teeth. “Not the beast. I must hold it back.”

The ruined mirror on the wall distorted Dax’s reflection. Now he needed a new one. The cracks hid nothing of the truth. This was pointless. He tossed the comb away. His nostrils flared. Dax shoved his arms into his coat sleeves, yanked them straight and then jerked hide gloves over his hands.

He winced and grunted as sores burst on his fingers.

“His hand is the touch of their corruption.”

Dax gritted his teeth and heat rose on his cheeks. “Leave me alone for once.” A growl rolled from his chest. Not the foretold beast! He fingered his throat.

He stumbled through heaped clothing and kicked a pan and cup from underfoot. Dax’s shoulders sagged. His eyes watered at the morning sun beyond the shadows. Songbirds twittered in distant trees. He inhaled pine scent and rubbed a weeping sore on his cheek. He’d clean when he got back.

“Here now, mule. Let’s get moving.” His nameless mule chewed weeds where it stood beyond the porch.

The wind sighed like her dying gasp. “They serve their wrongs foisted on him.” Tree limbs scrapped together overhead with her harsh tone. “With a tithe of their labor.”

He growled and clenched his fists. He would crouch in the night and gnaw sweet bones. Dax shivered with his head lowered as his stomach roiled. “Stop it, I’m going.” He gathered his panniers and readied his mule for the trip into the village. Their payment waits. Dax tugged the lead.

The mule whined and refused his coaxing so Dax wrenched his stubborn companion into action. Willing or not, it still needed doing. “Maybe you’ll work for a name.” The mule brayed but followed with dragging steps.

The end of this first post.

Please share your thoughts and ideas in the comments section. The next part of the story will be posted on 2/24/2016. 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

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Filed under: An Arrow Against the Wind, Blogging, Creativity, Fantasy, Fiction, Indie Publishing, Mailing List, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, Trading Knives, What is Needed, Writing Tagged: Fantasy, Fiction, For No Reason, P. H. Solomon, Self-publishing, Short Fiction, Short Stories, The Bow of Destiny, The Bow of Hart Saga, What is Needed, writing