John Royce – Page 25 – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

The Golden Spark wins 1st Place in 2012 Written Arts Awards!

The Golden Spark has won in a 2012 Written Arts Award, placing 1st in Science Fiction/Fantasy!

The Golden Spark bookcover;The Golden Spark" bookcover (2011) The Golden Spark by John Royce won a 2012 Written Arts Award, placing 1st in Science Fiction/Fantasy!

The Written Arts Awards are an annual literary awards program hosted by Rebecca’s Reads. The awards were founded to pay tribute to authors who are independently published.

Rebecca’s Reads reviewers conducted the initial evaluation of title entries, followed by a final round held by jury of judges.

The Golden Spark Award Review:

So begins “The Golden Spark,” John Royce’s 2nd book in “The Legend of the Great Horse” trilogy. Don’t worry if you haven’t read the 1st book in the series, “Eclipsed by Shadow” as the author provides a special note to those who haven’t in the beginning of the book. He gives a brief summary and then reprints the last chapter of the first book so that those who are unfamiliar with the tale can get caught up. I found this to be a nice touch.

Another helpful addition is the seven page glossary at the end of the novel. Being that the story is set in time periods long ago there are many unfamiliar terms used throughout the book. The glossary is extremely helpful in deciphering the meaning of these words that are not used often today.

“The Golden Spark” is a tale that will appeal to young readers of fantasy and particularly readers interested in horsemanship. The story is magical and enchanting and the writing moves along at a nice pace as we follow Meagan on her journey through history. I think that it could easily be turned into a movie. I look forward to the continuation of Meagan’s story in Book 3. — Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads

Book II: The Golden Spark is the 2nd book of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, an intriguing and fun time-travel adventure through history — on horseback.

Book I: Eclipsed by Shadow won national awards including the Eric Hoffer Award for best Young Adult Fiction, and the 2010 Mom’s Choice Award for best family-friendly Young Adult Fantasy.

LibraryThing eBook Giveaway

Eclipsed by Shadow by John Allen Royce … eBook Giveaway on LibraryThing (Giveaway ends Wednesday, February 29, 2012)

Eclipsed by Shadow eBook Giveaway

Book I: Eclipsed by Shadow

The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy

by John Allen Royce

Giveaway ends Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Sign up for eBook Giveaway on LibraryThing…

Description: Format: Open, non-DRM file. Winners may receive their copy in one of multiple formats, including Kindle, PDF, and ePub (via Smashwords).

Book II: Horse Ahoy!

This excerpt is from The Golden Spark, Book #2 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy, an adventure through history―on horseback.

The year is 1519 and the Conquistadors are bringing horses to shore … from where they have been absent for many thousands of years.

“Once more upon the water,
yet once more!
And the waves bound beneath me as a steed that knows his rider!”

—Lord Byron (1788-1824)

WITH A GIANT splash, the water closed over the horse’s head and sprayed against the side of the ship. Meagan gritted her teeth: it was not getting any easier to watch. Each time she had finally convinced herself the horse had drowned in the ocean, the animal’s head popped up, mane and forelock plastered back like a mythological beast rising from the sea. Giving a spraying blast to clear its nostrils, the horse would whinny and turn to shore. A cheer went up from the men and the horse was away.

For two days the Spaniards had held the town. Native emissaries visited, alternating with scouting parties in full war paint. Dark, slinking figures moved everywhere. And now came the call for the horses.

A splash signaled another horse departing for New Spain. Meagan walked down the line of stalls to El Morzillo. She patted the black horse, pushing him away as he nudged for treats. His ears had been stopped with cotton and his tail braided to reduce the drag of the water.

Meagan moved slowly to avoid startling the skittish stallion. It seemed strange to take a finely bred horse out of a lavish stall and unceremoniously toss him into the ocean, but the Spaniards did exactly that, and each horse had survived the trip and was now bucking and running across the beach.

The Golden Spark (Book #2 of the Legend of the Great Horse trilogy) won the 2011 Written Arts Awards for best Science Fiction/Fantasy.

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Links:

» See All Excerpts from The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy.

» Read the 1st Chapter online.

» See the Media Kit for more information about the trilogy.

» Order Books

Check out the trilogy’s page on Facebook!

Eclipsed by Shadow - Book #1 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy - Bookcover (straight-on, drop shadow) 142px by 203 px

The Golden Spark - Book #2 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy - Bookcover

Into the Dark - Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy - Bookcover (straight-on, drop shadow) 142px by 203 px

The History of Civilization, tweeted

“History is a Tale of Horses” … Tomorrow begins a new series of short posts tracing the chronological history of horsemanship. The series will be published daily on both Facebook and Twitter as short ‘tweet’-sized posts.

“History is a Tale of Horses”

Announcing a new series of short posts tracing the chronological history of horsemanship. The series will be published daily on both Facebook and Twitter as short ‘tweet’-sized posts.

The series will trace earliest horsemanship up to the modern era, completing just before the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games in London … as part of the countdown to publication of Book #3 of The Legend of the Great Horse trilogy next Summer (June 21, 2012).

Come join us for a ride through history!