MILLENNIAL ROBIN HOOD - Rachael M Acree - One Free Book

Welcome back, Rachael. Why do you write the kind of books you do? I like reading clean romances, which are sadly infrequent finds. I’m a notoriously difficult person to find books for because while I like romance I don’t like a lot of cheese. I write mostly what I’d like to find as a reader.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? This is a bit of a three-way tie. They are as follows:

Seeing the Festival of Fantasy parade at Disney World in 2015.

Being the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college in 2016 (and then again with my MFA in Creative Writing in 2021)

Meeting David Tennant who played the 10th Doctor on Doctor Who. When I found out he’d be at Comic Con in 2017, I screamed so loud our neighbors came to check on us.

How has being published changed your life? Besides being able to say “I’m a published author” during get to know you things, it hasn’t really changed all that much. I haven’t gained much of a following outside of friends and family, but I know God has plans.

What are you reading right now? I just finished The Inheritance Games and The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. They were well written and didn’t lose my interest like a lot of YA books have recently. In fact I started the second one at 5 after I got off work and had it finished by 10 that same day.

What is your current work in progress? I’ve just finished writing out All’s Fair in Love and Comic Con, which centers around Addie Richards, an author who embarrasses herself in front of her celebrity crush at Comic Con. She has a difficult time forgetting the events that happened, but a God moment has her becoming the scriptwriter several years down the road. She attends a read-through for the film which stars the same celebrity, and she has to figure out how to let go of the past so she can find true love. Once I’m done editing, I have plans for a sequel called Wish Upon a Dandelion.

What would be your dream vacation? A quiet cabin in a forest, maybe on a mountain side. There’s trees as far as the eye can see and they nestle up against the massive back porch. It seems calm and peaceful…maybe not vacation, can I live there instead?

How do you choose your settings for each book? I really just depends on what feels right for the characters. This one presented a bit of a challenge because the Legend was based on very real places that I couldn’t just pick up and fly to. Especially in the middle of a global pandemic. I knew there needed to be a lot of trees and New England is famous for the leaves changing colors. When I graduated in 2016, my family took a trip in the Massachusetts area, and it seemed perfect for Robin Hood.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?The fan girl answer is my celebrity crush. The serious answer is probably Lisa Bevere, I’ve heard her speak a few times, and she seems like a really cool person to be around.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? I am a theater kid to the core. I love doing Shakespeare in the Park with my local community theater. I had the privilege to play Mercutio in their production of Romeo and Juliet this May, and I had an absolute blast. During quarantine, I did discover painting. I have a whole wall full of superhero logos now. I also like to make my own costumes for Comic Con, I went as Batgirl to the Dallas Comic Con last year and even made the cowl she wears. I wore it for every costumed event I had last year to make it worth all the burned fingers from working with thermoplastic. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? It’s a combination of commas (anyone who has edited for me knows they’re my nemesis), writer’s block, and following God’s ideas over good ideas. I write in a different way from most people, I ask God what He wants to say as I’m writing and that doesn’t always follow the cut and dried plotting that some authors like. That is what usually leads to the worst writer’s block. While writing All’s Fair, I dealt with that a lot and so many spiritual attacks that at one point I considered never picking up my pen again. But then through prayer and worship, God started highlighting what was going on. And I kinda spiritually stomped my foot and told the enemy he was done with the sabotage.

So, long story short, I pray a lot.

What advice would you give to a beginning author? Unlike most authors, find something that you’re a fan of and write fan fiction while you’re testing your wings. It’s a great place to learn about developing a plot and character without having the pressure of world building added on too. I played in C. S. Lewis’ sandbox for a long time before I realized the story I posted was mine except for the setting and couple of characters. I still write fan fiction to relax and test out narration styles, some work and others don’t. But it is a wonderful place to start.

Also find a group of people to critique. Without the critiques of my group my writing would NOT be where it is today (thanks guys, you’re the reason Robin Hood is palatable)

Tell us about the featured book. Speaking of fan fiction, that’s how this book got its start. I was working at a library, and someone turned in a YA re-imagining of Robin Hood. I read it, fell in love with it, and though this one scene would make a great fan fic. I was evidently the only person who thought that, because I couldn’t find one ANYWHERE! So I sat down and said fine I’ll do it myself. After that I’m not really sure where the idea for the novel itself actually came from, but shortly after I started writing, it took on a life of its own.

I have loved the Legend of Robin Hood for as long as I can remember. I have early memories of watching The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, and Basil Rathbone when it would come on TV. My dad read the legend to me. At one point, I wanted to be Maid Marion when I grew up. This story has obviously held a special place in my heart and I’m glad I got to do a modern retelling of it.

CEO by day and vigilante hero The Hood by night, Robin Locksley attempts to thwart the Nottingham, Massachusetts, mayor’s plans to gentrify the town to make way for an elite country club. When he’s forced to seek medical attention after a mission goes bad, Robin learns his ex-girlfriend, Marian, is back in town. He is forced to realize that his feelings for her never faded while he fights to keep his company, town, and friendships safe from the mayor.

I tried to stay as close to the legend as possible, with a few exceptions. I didn’t want Marian to be a wilting maiden as she is so often reduced to. She has very strong opinions, and she’s not afraid to voice them. Alan A-Dale and Friar Tuck did get a gender swap, because I needed more women to round out the story. Alan became Alaine and is still the bard of the group. Friar Tuck became Freya Tuck and still took care of all the “merry men” but as a cook and housekeeper. One thing I feel I should mention is Much the Miller’s son. He is a central part of the legend, being Robin’s squire and all, and I built the friendship between them as naturally as I could. That’s why he’s Martin “Much” Miller in this story.

Please give us the first page of the book.

CHAPTER ONE 

The Hood held out an envelope to Maria Esposito who clutched her worn work apron in her hands. The single mother of three stared at him slackjawed, as if she expected him to pull a weapon and use it against her. He pressed his lips together, now wasn’t the time to hesitate. He needed to get out of sight before the mayor’s hired guns figured out where he was. He took a step closer and shook the package. Maria backed away.

He tried not to speak during these encounters, the less people had to recognize him the better. “It’s for you, to pay the taxes.”

Maria shook her head and held the dingy white fabric like a shield. “Why, you don’t know me.”

He fought down a groan, he didn’t have time to explain about how unjust the mayor was for increasing taxes and rezoning the city. He didn’t have time to explain that he would be their guardian angel until the evil rearing its head was gone. He didn’t have time … period. He tugged at the black sleeve of his hoodie, revealing the crossed arrows tattooed on the inside of his wrist. How that had become a beacon of hope, he would never understand.

Maria’s posture relaxed, like she recognized him. More likely than not, she’d heard about the man in black with an arrow tattoo, a ring in his lip, and a black mask that had helped countless residents keep their homes. She dipped her head toward him and took the envelope from his hand. “Grazie, Signor Hood.”

“You’re welcome. Keep this quiet though, so I can keep helping.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Go, before they come.” She nodded to the alleyway behind her home.

The Hood didn’t need to be told twice. He turned, ran, and vaulted over the chain-link fence around the yard.

He paused to catch his breath and peered around the corner of a house in Nottingham’s rundown neighborhood. Why did the mayor tell his cronies to patrol this far out? He had to hand it to Cyril Hawkins, the man was quick to catch on. He drew an arrow from the quiver on his back and nocked it to the string. He took aim at an old streetlamp and let go. The arrow connected, raining a shower of sparks over the street. The two black-suited men who had been strutting down the sidewalk stopped in their tracks. That was all he needed.

How can readers find you on the Internet? I love to hear from my readers! The best way to find me is through my website. https://rachaelacreeauthor.com I have links to my Facebook Author Page, my Amazon page, and my Instagram. I will say I don’t post often so if you want to follow me, your inbox won’t be flooded with notifications. But please come say hi!

Thank you, Rachael, for sharing this book with my blog readers. I loved it when you shared it with our critique group.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

 https://www.amazon.com/Millennial-Robin-Hood-Rachael-Acree-ebook/dp/B0B5FYR46T/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LFTWGQ7JP826&keywords=millennial+robin+hood&qid=1657814777&sprefix=Millennial+Robin+Hood%2Caps%2C1647&sr=8-1

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