#The Legend of Allyn-a-Dale

[outlawsofavalon]

His wife’s silhouette sat upright, her head turning first one way, then another. After a moment, she said, “Robin, this is Sherwood.”

“I know.” Of course he knew.

“True Sherwood.”

“I know.” He knew his forest like he knew his own body.

Her shadowed face turned to him in puzzlement. “How are we here?”

“That,” he said, “I don’t know.”

#LEGENDquotes

[outlawsofavalon]

Out today: The last of the Outlaws of Avalon novels, “The Legend of Allyn-a-Dale”!

Proud author is proud <3

[outlawsofavalon]

“Join the pileup?” Robin offered. “If we act cute enough, maybe we can con John’s paternal instincts and he’ll mumble bedtime stories.”

Perfectly distinct, Little John said, “Once upon a time, Robin Hood got tossed over a hedge.”

“Too scary for bedtime,” said Robin.

#LEGENDquotes

[outlawsofavalon]

Graven plaque on Merlin’s door: Out of the Office.

Allyn-a-Dale: Deaf and dumb. Where’s he gone off to when I need him?

Plaque: Gone to the Stable.

Allyn: Oh. Um, thank you.

Plaque: Quite welcome, Allyn.

#LEGENDquotes

[outlawsofavalon]

The Author did a spot of coloring, via “Enchanted Kingdom: A Fairy-Tale Coloring Book”.

Something about the theme of this page put her in a “Legend of Allyn-a-Dale” sort of mood. Let’s blame it on the arrow.

[outlawsofavalon]

♫ Pastorale ♫

Happy birthday to The Author! In honor of the day, here's a performance of her favorite song from "The Legend of Allyn-a-Dale". (Which, if you haven't bought/read/reviewed it yet, would make an excellent birthday gift. ^o^)

~ Click here to watch

[outlawsofavalon]

In a Faire Fight

Did you ever hear about the most epic fight I ever saw at the Ren Faire?

(Bristol, that is. Black gold. Texas tea.)

‘Twas my first season on cast as a Towne Crier – also, incidentally, the last season where the Fight Cast played the roles of Merry Men. I forget all the details of the staged encounter, but it involved Robin Hood getting caught on the bridge over Lake Elizabeth, forcing him into an outrageous getaway. It was pretty wild. There were Sirens involved.

And of course, me being an author who would go on to pen a whole series of books centered around my own Merry Men in a Renaissance Faire, you had to know I’d use it as inspiration sooner or later – like, say, in the upcoming conclusion of the trilogy.

Since I daresay most of you missed the instigating show at Bristol, and we’ve still got 2 weeks to kill before Outlaws 3’s release, how about we sneak a peek at that scene now? ^^ You can read it on my blog! And/or watch me read it aloud in this video posted to the “Ballad of Allyn-a-Dale” Facebook page.

Neither option includes Sirens, alas, but you will be treated to merry banter and wonky math! Plus, the vid features my Disney Robin Hood shirt and, well, the kind of faces I make when performing characters. X) Enjoy!

[outlawsofavalon]

Why I wrote “The Ballad of Allyn-a-Dale” (Outlaws 1)

- Because it was my first NaNoWriMo, so I had to write something

- Because I saw Robin Hood at the Renaissance Faire, and I wanted to believe he was real

- Because meeting Gant-o’-the-Lute made me mad for minstrels

- Because the world of Wilderhark wasn’t big enough for its own legacy

- Because I love an adventure with friends (even if the Merry Men and I didn’t know each other as friends just yet)

- Because unbeknownst to Allyn, he had a story that needed telling

- Because unbeknownst to me, I needed my Will Scarlet in my life

- Because I am a runaway to Sherwood

Why I wrote “The Marriage of Allyn-a-Dale” (Outlaws 2)

- Because outside his book world, Allyn continued to grow

- Because our mutual friend Tirzah refused to accept the sorry father/son relationship between Gant-o’the-Lute and Allyn lying down

- Because once I’d seen what their love could be, I had to find a way to get it on paper

- Because the classic story of Robin Hood’s minstrel is a favorite of mine

- Because, as Merlin said, “Legend does have a funny way of becoming prophecy”

- Because intending “Ballad” as a standalone didn’t mean I wouldn’t leap at the chance to spend another novel in Avalon Faire

- Because you knew Will Scarlet wouldn’t be content with just one Outside adventure

Why I wrote “The Legend of Allyn-a-Dale” (Outlaws 3)

- Because outside his book world, Will was growing, too

- Because unlike Allyn, when Will Scarlet grows, there are hella growing pains

- Because sometimes the struggle is so real, the character needs to get it worked out in book form to deal with it

- Because I, like Allyn, would do just about anything for our Will

- Because I’d been sitting on this really exciting detail from my Merry Men’s medieval lives, and this was my chance to milk it the best I know how

- Because unbeknownst to me, there was a line in Book 1 that pointed right to how Book 3 would end

- Because stories – like destiny – are a weird mix of our choices and the inevitable

[outlawsofavalon]

Men in Tights, Wizards, and Other Legendry

3 weeks and a day ‘til the release of Outlaws 2.5, “Truly Great Words Never Die”! The Kindle e-book is currently available for pre-order. And the advance reader copies went out to winners / volunteers / favored friends this past week

…along with,  the author belatedly realized, a certain novel cover that hadn’t yet been officially unveiled.

Welp, there’s only one thing to be done about that: Let the official cover unveiling commence a bit earlier than planned. XD

So, for those of you who haven’t already made it toward the end pages of an Outlaws 2.5 ARC … y’all ready for your first look at Outlaws of Avalon 3?!

The blurb:

Long ago: Hailed as heroes, killed as criminals, an extraordinary band of outlaws met their end in Sherwood Forest – all except the four who were supernaturally saved, and the one who did not exist. …Not yet.

Now: With Avalon Faire’s living legends finally free to move between the realms of magic and modernity, there’s no dream too fantastic to reach – including that kept alive by a secret society, awaiting only the right time, and the right minstrel, to rewrite history.

Just when the future seems brightest, the Merry Men find themselves thrust into the past, facing a second chance at the lives they might have lived … or the death they might not have the luck to cheat twice. For the otherworldly Allyn-a-Dale, it’s all in a day’s destiny. For an already struggling Will Scarlet, it’s a nightmare that may prove black enough to break him. And for the whole of the band, it’s anyone’s guess whether courage, cunning, and camaraderie can win out against their most infamous enemies: The Sheriff of Nottingham, Sir Guy of Gisborne, and – for once in eternity – Time.

The cover:

There it is, you guys. Courtesy of Lars and Milan van de Goor: The face of the third and final novel in the Outlaws of Avalon trilogy – aka, the books of the author’s heart.

The book’s not coming out ‘til October, so let’s nobody start getting all up in their feelings about it just yet. For now, let’s just celebrate how marvelous the cover looks on this fine day that we’ll pretend was intended as Cover Reveal Day all along!

[outlawsofavalon]

Y’seen that name rating meme going around?

Well, The Author played along, and now the Merry Men want in!

*

Allyn-a-Dale: 10/10 chosen minstrel name, legendary

Allyn Gant: 7/10 fine for legal purposes, cute when their sweetheart used it as a nickname

Allyn: 10/10 chosen by Father, means ‘harmony’

Little Allyn: 1/10 they’ve grown well past that, thank you

Dale: 4/10 only certain colleagues have the privilege

The Merry Minstrel: 5/10 okay as a title, but ironically cheerful

*

Will Scarlet: 12/10 BEST NAME EVER

Will: 9/10 common as grass, but fun, solid, sexy

Scarlet: 9/10 bold, mischievous, red

William Scarlet: 8/10 whoops, sounds like your boy’s in trouble

Mr. Scarlet: 2/10 yeah, definitely in trouble, only Merlin ever uses this one

William Gamwell: 3/10 leave it in the Middle Ages

The Merry Madman: 8/10 distinctive, alliterative, accurate

*

Robin Hood: 10/10 iconic

Robin: 10/10 carefree, approachable

Robert Locksley: 7/10 edging a bit aristocratic, for his tastes

Robert: 2/10 soooo, Marion’s pissed

Rob: 7/10 pretty much died out with the old band; hasn’t come up in centuries

Cousin/Coz/Cuz: 8/10 exclusive to Will; s’all good

*

Marion Hood: 9/10 perfectly acceptable

Lady Marion: 9/10 so long as we’re leaning more ‘mistress of Sherwood’, less ‘noblewoman in a castle’

Maid Marion: 7/10 she’s married, but whatever, legend persists

Marion Fitzwater: 3/10 maiden name; obsolete; probs wouldn’t even remember to answer to this

Marion: 10/10 goes with everything

*

Little John: 9/10 celebrity name

John Little: 9/10 actual name

John: 10/10 best when spoken by loved ones

[outlawsofavalon]

Truly Great Words (In Musical Summary)

The Author: Outlaws 2.5 released on Wednesday. I need something special to hype the book. But what?

Will Scarlet: I’ve got just the thing! Allyn, you know how our new flash fiction collection highlights 45 different archaic words?

Allyn-a-Dale: Yes…?

Will: Throw together a summary-song that includes every one of them.

Allyn: Wha— Now? Right off the top of my head?

Will: Just that! Can do?

Allyn: Well, I guess this is what Father trained me for. [takes up his lute] All right. Here goes… everything.

♫ With Weltschmerz, a tale of our Robin Hood’s woes,

While Simony minstrel philosophy shows.

Tautoosious tells us of two of a kind,

And Senocular means that you’ll six times less likely be blind.

*

♫ In Ostent, a Scarlet autumnal display.

And Gant-o’-the-Lute sighs for days Cumber-free,

Then makes light of normalcy, Natural-ly.

And rather than Reverence, see Hood treat with kings his own way.

*

♫ Though not what he’s used to, you’ll find Natheless

That Sir Gawain likes his queen’s version of chess.

Autological’s tale… well, it is what it is,

While Accismus fakes a concern with the lingerie biz.

*

♫ Deja lu… Deja lu… Yes, that’s twice the word’s seen.

And next, Sagittipotent shows Robin’s quirk.

Barbigerous and Adoral are comparably themed,

But one’s semi-bromance; the other, not suited for work.

*

♫ In Lumming, two lady friends dance down the sky,

Then one Coxcomb stays true to his legend’s brand.

And Rivelled’s the upside of wrinkles in plans.

As for freeing Scarlet from Durance, we do it – but why?

*

♫ Sherwood Ecophobia? Nay, here dwells my heart,

Among Alderliefest friends ever I’ve had.

And not Tralatiously are these words said:

My Men are all music, and glad am I to play a part.

*

♫ In Gapeseed and Fallow, we follow the Fey.

And where there’s a Countervail, there is a weigh

(Ludicropathatic as that pun may be).

And in Caeseious, see why a census makes no sense for me.

*

Will: THIS IS BRILLIANT! I wanna try!

Allyn: B-but you can’t—

Will: Can, and WILL!

♫ Onto Erinaceous, which may miss the point.

And who needs the Ramage, with bards to throw shade?

To have Truck with us is to have your day made;

No Pandiculation, here! This is one happening joint!

*

♫ Ne-moph-ilous or Nemo-phil-ous? Who knows?

Suffice to say forests are loved by the Hoods.

No place to Convive like the outlaw-filled woods!

…Now watch Allyn Bowdlerize my verses; that’s how it goes.

Allyn: ♫ Did I think that proper, I’d do it Amain.

Alas, though, I fear it would not be Condign.

In games of songmaking, the clear Boot is mine.

No need for your face to Incarnadine. Try it again.

*

Will: ♫ Well, as you’ll not Beshrew my tuneful Moiety

(A fact which, in truth, Obfuscate-s me like whoa),

I’ll Pore on how to best to end this melody.

…Mm, nope, you just take it. We want it to Fadge well, you know.

Allyn: ♫ Ultracrepdiarian, I see you’re not;

And thanks to your letting the expert be heard,

This well-nigh Montivigant song that we’ve got,

With its ups and its downs, has at last used the last of the words.

The End

The Author [with wild applause]: Huzzah for my Merry Minstrel! …and for his plus-one. X) How could anyone say no to buying the e-book now?

Will: Priced at just 99 cents? They’d be mad not to. Order today, people! If we move enough copies, maybe I can talk Allyn into writing a ‘Thanks for Making Our Author a Bestseller’ song.

Allyn [laughing]: Consider it promised. ^_^