My new Robin Hood novel
Some of you know this, some don’t – but I’ll tell you anyway. I’m writing a new addition to The Outlaw Chronicles called Robin Hood and the Caliph’s Gold. It is set in the Mediterranean in the years 1191-92 when our heroes are travelling back from the slaughter of Third Crusade (see Holy Warrior).
I’m about 60,000 words into the story – and really enjoying writing it, tbh. And I’m aiming to write about 90,000 in total – a short-ish but still respectable novel length. (For the sake of comparison, Holy Warrior, above, was 100,000 words long.) So, Inshallah, I should be able to finish the first draft this month and, after tweaks, editing and proofreading, be able to self-publish it in October sometime. You will be able to buy the ebook from Amazon, and get a print-on-demand paperback there too. No hardbacks, sorry. I tried to raise the money to do that with my recent Kickstarter wheeze and it didn’t work.
I’m looking for a designer to do me an Amazon-suitable cover: it should be someone who understands this kind of action-driven historical fiction, and the kind of cover these books require, and who is familiar with my other Robin Hood novels (not hard to take a peek at them on Amazon). Also, I haven’t got a lot of money, so it also needs to be someone not too expensive. If anyone can recommend someone, let me know. Better yet ask them to get in touch with me, by leaving a comment below or on FaceBook or Twitter.
The action in this story takes place in Byzantine Crete and Almohad Tunisia and in the seas off Norman Sicily and in Muslim Spain, too, and much of the time our Sherwood boys (and a couple of girls, too) are aboard a ship very much like this one, below, a large traditional Arab dhow.
Anyway, I hope you will buy the book when it comes out (you can’t pre-order it yet, sorry) and if this project goes well, and I actually make some money for the months of effort I’ve put in, I have another three or four Robin Hood books that I would like to self-publish in due course.
Anyway, that’s where I’m at and what I’m up to. So, make a mental note to get this when it comes out and, in the meantime, have a great weekend! Now I’m going to get on with finishing Robin Hood and the Caliph’s Gold.
Well, of bloody course we are going to buy it, you fool! Get on with that writing!
Yes, sir!
Just finished all of your Robin Hood stories absolutely loved them, I am recently converted female reading male written books, started with C J Sansome, Conn Igguldon and then I discovered you sir, just purchased the first of your Blood saga, sure to be enjoyed.
Thanks Anne! Hope you enjoy the Blood trilogy. Regards, Angus
Just started!!
You made a dreadful mistake….
Ending this series. I could have gone to book 20 before Robin met his end.
I listening to them all on audible again. Usually in bed.
Thank you for taking me back to another time in such rich colour.
Well, we all make mistakes, David. But thank you for the kind comments anyway. I am somewhat rectifying what you call my error by writing two Robin Hood tales that fit in between Holy Warrior and King’s Man (RH and the Caliph’s Gold and RH and the Castle of Bones) and I can, if necessary, write three more novels about the guys fighting in Albigensian Crusade in the ten-year gap I deliberately left between The Iron Castle and The King’s Assassin. The big problem for me is whether it is worthwhile in terms of money. My publishers dumped me – and told me they were dumping me – after The King’s Assassin. Not enough people were buying the books, so I had to wrap up the series with The Death of RH. Now I’m self-publishing some more RH novels and, for five or six months’ work, I make a couple of thousand pounds for each book maximum. I need to win the Lottery or something to continue. Actually, I feel like throwing in the towel most days before I lose my house to the bank. But, as I say, thank for your kind words. I’m glad you have enjoyed my work so far. I hope you will spread the word about the new RH novels. Regards, Angus