The long road for The Bow of Destiny continues with its hardcover release today.
Today is an unusual release for me. I never considered hardcover until recently, but the opportunity presented itself. I jumped on it and I’m rather enthused about the outcome. I got the draft of the new print format and loved it. I don’t know how much it will sell but I’m willing to take the chance on it being another option for readers. It’s not intended, but it’s useful, a topic I’ll share in more detail later.
For now, it’s time for the hardcover release. This book has come a long way. It’s history started more than three decades ago. It was once offered a publishing contract from a small publisher. It wasn’t a great situation so the manuscript lay dormant for some years until I decided to cut my self-publishing teeth on it. Much to my surprise, the single e-book sold well and garnered an audio contract. The book has come full-circle with the hardcover edition available today.
Read on for a short excerpt and more about the the book:
Arrows screeched by his head. “Arrows!” He hoped she heard. He kicked his gelding. It was labored though it ran hard.
They surged from the pursuit as more arrows whizzed past. Athson leaned low over his horse’s neck. Limbreth cried out in pain. The white mare slowed, and Athson’s horse overtook her and matched the mare’s pace.
He shouted over the noise of thundering hooves. “Where are you hurt?”
“Arm.” Limbreth gritted her teeth. Like a shadow, the dark arrow and blood trailed on her lighter clothing and soaked her left arm. They slowed and the trolls rushed closer. “Break it!” Limbreth snarled through gritted teeth. Her sword quivered as her arm lost strength.
He reached for the arrow as they slowed to a trot. He braced one hand against her as she leaned into him with a moan. With the other hand, he snapped off the feathered end of the arrow. He caught a glimpse of her face twisted in pain as he tore the arrow from her arm.
Trolls rushed closer and arrows sang death near them.
“Ride.” Limbreth’s weak voice countered the strength of her kicks to the mare’s flanks.
Athson trailed behind her. Harsh voices snarled ahead, and Limbreth’s horse thundered into more trolls. They screeched beneath the mare’s hooves. He sensed more trolls struggling out of the underbrush. Limbreth swayed in her saddle, but the mare galloped away.
Athson’s horse labored but followed. “Hang on!”
Tense moments passed, but the sight of lights hove into view away in the distance.
Athson urged the horse on, but it slowed and snorted. A groan of effort rolled from the gelding. Limbreth’s horse thundered on and she bobbed atop her mare.
Athson’s gelding broke pace altogether and slowed to a trembling stop. Athson dismounted, aware that trolls raced toward him. The horse collapsed, and he glimpsed several arrows sticking out of the gelding’s chest and lower neck. Blood gushed and stained its coat.
Trolls howled along the trail. Athson wheeled from the dying horse. They were too close. A few ill-aimed arrows whistled past him.
Athson hefted his sword against the fastest of the trolls. He slashed at kobolds and several fell amid spurting blood.
Hobgoblins and bugbears leaped at him.
Spark jumped among them and tore out a throat. Athson gasped. The trolls leapt back, on-guard for what attacked them.
Limbreth’s white mare suddenly charged past him into the boiling mass of trolls. Bodies flew aside, and the trolls fell back in momentary confusion.
“Come on, vermin!” Limbreth’s horse stood exposing her good right arm. Her left arm still shook. The rising moon gleamed on her pale clothing, her swords and her white horse. She glimmered silver in the light.
The trolls hesitated.
“Cowards!” Limbreth charged into them.
Athson leapt over his horse with a wordless shout. He hacked and slashed at the nearest trolls. Limbreth pummeled with the hilt of her one usable sword and slashed at the trolls lunging at her.
More about The Bow of Destiny: Book 1 of The Bow of Hart Saga
When his dead father touched his hand, Athson almost dropped the arrow.
– The Bow of Destiny
Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real.
Athson suffered hallucinations ever since he was orphaned, including a dog no one else sees. The will in his possession, bestowed in a dream, can’t be real. But the trolls now hunting him are. A destiny, both inconvenient and unavoidable, drags Athson into an unwanted quest that challenges all his assumptions.
Can he trust anyone?
Sworn to secrecy by his dead father about the bow, Athson wants nothing to do with it. A dragon and a wizard want the bow – and Athson dead. Running from the quest and his destiny are tempting options.
Then he finds something unexpected.
Will his discovery destroy him before he recovers the bow?
If you love classic fantasy with new ideas, read The Bow of Destiny because it’s quietly addictive..
Find The Bow of Destiny at Amazon
About the Author:
Multi retailer Bestselling Author, Fantasia Reviews Book of the Year Author 2017 & 2018
U. S. author, P. H. Solomon grew up with a love of books including fantasy. Always interested in odd details, history and the world around him, P. H. has found an outlet in writing where he mixes a wide range of interests from the regular world, history and anthropology into his fantasy books.
His epic fantasy series, The Bow of Hart Saga, brought a fresh viewpoint to the genre where magic, myth and mysticism mingle. Described by readers as a “mixture of the classic fantasy past with new ideas.”
Trading Knives (0.1)
What is Needed (0.2)
The Bow of Destiny #1
An Arrow Against the Wind #2
The White Arrow #3
The latest series, The Cursed Mage Case Files is a mash-up of classic Sherlock Holmes, The Dresden Files and Harry Potter into a unique fantasy world where magic is both an arcane practice and a technological power to be harnessed. Join Mandlefred Mandeheim and Wishton Ackford as they team up to investigate magical mysteries.
The Order of the Dark Rose #1
The Unseen Hand #2 (upcoming)
The Nine Jewel Heist #3 (upcoming)
More books:
Curses Dark and Foul
The Black Bag
Congratulations.
Thanks, Craig.