Book Title: The Hopfield Tales
Author: Mike
Evers
Release Date: June 17th
Genre: Urban Fantasy/Historical
Publisher: GMTA Publishing, LLC
Presented by: As You Wish Tours
BLURB
There's always more to
a town than meets the eye. You just need to scratch the surface. The quiet town of Hopfield is no exception.
There are everyday people doing everyday things - just like where you live. But
history has a way of coming back to find us. And the voices of the past can
change our lives forever.
Three fabulous fables for your delectation and
delight:
The Spirit Archer
Campaign of the Gods
Mark of the Legion
BACKGROUND
INFO
The Hopfield Tales is a
trilogy of three novellas. Each story is
set in a town in present day Yorkshire and involves people who have encounters
with characters from English history and legend. The tales include the final, as yet
unpublished story, Mark of the Legion.
The blurb for the
unreleased novella, Mark of the Legion:
Bentham Cawley enjoys and quiet and humdrum life as a
monk at the Brotherhood of the Resurrection in Hopfield, Yorkshire. But this is all about to change - when he
unwillingly embarks on the monastery's new friendship programme and meets
remarkable octogenarian Ernest Teale.
Just how does Ernest know so much about the past, and
how is he connected to the legendary but doomed Roman Ninth Legion?
Some secrets wait centuries to be unlocked...
Review
samples for The Spirit Archer and Campaign of the Gods:
"This
is a novella that is entertaining, informative and imaginative. It's a
wonderful story that put a smile on my face." (The Spirit Archer; Ann Werner, Amazon)
"This
is a good fun read which I really enjoyed. I particularly liked the way the
scenes cut back to the gods and their fated board game and the effect that had
on our world of 'Midgard'. A great, light-hearted bit of fun." (Campaign of the Gods; Ignite, Amazon)
The
voices of the past can change our lives forever…
EXCERPT
From The Spirit Archer:
According to the map, he was now in the middle of Priory Wood, right
next to where the grave should have been – except there was no sign of it.
About him was the mixed warbling of birdsong and the rustling sound of a breeze
blowing through the tree tops. In the distance he could make out the hum of
traffic on the busy road. Nice place, he thought – apart from the cars. Where
the hell was the grave? Looking around, Jamie noticed a trail heading through a
thick cluster of trees and made his way along it. And then he found it. It was huge.
It was over 12-feet tall and was constructed out of bricks and had tall
pillars on the corners. Between the
pillars, high, wrought iron railings had been set up to protect the grave, and
the effect was altogether grand. On further inspection, Jamie noticed that it
had fallen into disrepair and two of the pillars were missing. It was still very impressive
nonetheless.
The thoughts filled
Jamie’s mind: what on earth was Robin Hood’s grave doing here, and why did so
few people know about it? Talk about a secret!
Feeling elated at finding it, Jamie walked around it and began searching
for inscriptions or words indicating the identity of the deceased. There didn’t seem to be much on the outside,
and peering through the railings, Jamie caught sight of the grave stone. It was
blackened with age and flecked with moss. Jamie squinted - he could just make
out the inscription written on it:
Here underneath dis
laitl stean
Laz robert earl of Huntingtun
Ne'er archir ver a hie sa geud
An pipl kauld im robin heud
Sick utlawz as his as iz men
Vil England nivr si agen
Obiit 24 Kal. Dekembris 1247
Laz robert earl of Huntingtun
Ne'er archir ver a hie sa geud
An pipl kauld im robin heud
Sick utlawz as his as iz men
Vil England nivr si agen
Obiit 24 Kal. Dekembris 1247
Jamie photographed the
words on his mobile phone’s camera, before stepping back to take more pictures
of the whole grave. This will surprise a few people, he thought. Jamie looked around, and spotting one of the
pillars lying on the ground nearby went over and sat on it. After checking through the photos on his
phone, Jamie could feel the warm fingers of spring sunshine coming through the
trees. Ah, what a lovely spot, he thought, and wondered what could have given
Jock and Angus the heebie-jeebies. There certainly wasn’t anything creepy about
the place. Jamie stood up and, for a
laugh, began talking to the grave:
“Rise up, Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, and summon your Merry Men!”
he commanded, regally.
“Tis’ now the time to protect the poor and unwary – CARPE DIEM,
MIGHTY ROBIN HOOD!” he proclaimed, grandly.
The words echoed through the woods, startling some birds in the trees
nearby.
AUTHOR BIO
Mike often
taps out stuff on his keyboard in the fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal
genres: a habit which his wife finds fairly amusing - and sometimes a little
bit strange.
AUTHOR LINKS
BOOK LINKS
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