My guest today is talented UK-based author, Kay Berrisford. Kay and I first met (online)about a year ago when her first book was about to be released. Fast forward a few scant months and lo and behold Kay’s third novel, Lord of the Forest, will be released in April. Awesome job Kay!

Kay used to be a historian and press officer. Then she realized making stuff up and adding fantasy, sex, and BDSM fun was even more exciting than the “day job.” She loves writing stories set in any time and place where she can indulge her love for research while imagining two hot guys getting it on. She has a particular passion for English folklore.

Kay lives in Southampton, Hampshire, UK, with her beloved “other half,” in a very small flat that blesses them on occasion with outbreaks of moths and mould. When they aren’t both madly working, they enjoy drinking wine, visiting castles and gorgeous countryside, and stalking cats and greenfinches. Kay loves to hear from readers.

Take it away Kay!

Robin Hood – the ultimate hero?

Robin Hood has been about for eight hundred years. He’s passed the ultimate endurance test, so what’s his appeal? I’ve always been a huge fan, both of storybook and movie representations, and for me, the answer is obvious. He’s always the good guy, always on the side of right. He’s loyal and brave—he’ll fight to the death for the good cause he believes in, and of course, for the people he cares for. He’s the ultimate hero, but he’s also incredibly adaptable. Every generation has re-written his story in a different way, sometimes many times over. He’s been a common woodsman, an earl in disguise, a returned crusader, and many other incarnations (hey, Disney made him a fox!) He’s usually a great lover—and by no means only of Maid Marian. She was a late addition to the story, first mentioned in 1508.

Robin’s also a kick ass warrior, though not always the very best. Right from the earliest stories, Robin was usually a brilliant archer, but often bested in other forms of battle (sword and staff) and not beyond needing rescuing by his men—Little John et al—on occasion. Robin’s famous “band of brothers” have been there from nearly the start. One of Robin’s first historians, John Fordun, writing in 1341, tells of “Robin Hood and Little John” who lived with their companions as outlaws among woodlands and thickets, celebrated as heroes by the poor people they helped. The appeal of this image is obvious—especially to us writers and lovers of m/m romance. What a better place to escape the shackles of social and sexual conventions than in the forest realm, with all its mystery and magic?

When I decided to write Robin Hood as the hero of my new Greenwood novel, Lord of the Forest, I took these ideas as my starting points. My Robin is fighter for justice, who values friendship above all things, and always strives to do right. It’s a great way to live, but what if this ultimate hero never found true love? That’s the challenge I set Robin in Lord of the Forest, and I had a hell of a lot of fun throwing obstacles in his way. He falls for a royal spy, not exactly the ideal guy for an outlaw. Oh, and he’s got to save England from an evil baron and the forces of dark magic too, but hey, he takes that all in his stride. After all, he is Robin Hood!

Here are the first two books in the series:

          

Lord of the Forest – blurb:
England, 1217. Dark forces are rising. In the Greenwood, foul spirits grow powerful, and greedy barons plunder the lands. Only one man dares fight back—Robin Hood.

Robin’s band of brothers is broken. Now a lone warrior, he denies his famous name and laments the friends and lovers he’s lost. When the fair folk capture Cal, a beautiful young forester descended from the Greenwood’s ancient protectors, Robin rescues him and forges a new alliance.

Despite a sizzling attraction, Robin senses Cal isn’t like his old comrades, and he’s right. Cal’s been raised as a royal spy. He plans to seduce and betray Robin, but can’t harm the man he’s falling hard for. Mistrust and arguments spill into passionate lovemaking, as Cal learns the meaning of loyalty, fighting beside Robin, the only friend he’s ever known. Even the enchanted forest seeks to bind Robin and the returned protector ever tighter.

Their connection will be tested by nature’s wildest forces, Robin’s past, Cal’s lies, and in a baron’s darkest dungeon. To survive, Robin and Cal must admit their love and embrace their true destinies. Only then can they save England and each other—and win their happiness ever after.

Lord of the Forest (The Greenwood) will be published by Loose Id in early April. The first two Greenwood novels (Bound for the Forest and Bound to the Beast) are out now, and the series can be read in any order.

All titles available from Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.com/authors/g-k/kay-berrisford.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kay-Berrisford/e/B006JLQ4L8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Kay+Berrisford

THE LORD OF THE FOREST BLOG TOUR DRAW!

If you’d like a chance to WIN your choice any of the current Greenwood novels, Bound for the Forest or Bound to the Beast, in your choice of paperback or ebook—PLUS a $20 Loose Id or All Romance voucher—all you need to do is leave a comment here, including your email (please spell this out e.g. [email protected] would be katy at yahoo dot com.) You can enter the draw as many times as you like at the different blogs I visit on my Lord of the Forest blog tour (for schedule visit http://kayberrisford.com). Two runners up prizes will be a choice of any of my back catalogue titles, excluding Lord of the Forest.

Comp closes midnight EST, 12th April.

Thanks to Jianne for allowing me to blog here today!

And my thanks to Kay for the intriguing post! Don’t forget to leave your email address in the comment!

Cheers,

Jianne