Today I’m sharing the #openinglines to Manuscript Mysteries at The Robin Hood.
BLURB
Welcome to the Robin Hood Club!
There’s great excitement when a previously undiscovered Robin Hood ballad manuscript, Robin Hood and the Carter, turns up in the same town as the Robin Hood Club’s latest fan convention.
But the Robin Hood Club’s special guest – Harriet, “Hari”, Danby, writer and creator of the hit TV series, Return to Sherwood – can’t help thinking the discovery is rather too coincidental.
With her best friend, Dot, at her side, Hari finds herself taken out of her quiet writing life and catapulted into a world of enthusiastic fans, actors egos, and jealous fellow authors.
As the Robin Hood Club event gets underway, speculation about the new ballad grows… and then Hari notices that one of the Robin Hood Club’s most devoted followers has gone missing…
HERE ARE THE FIRST 500 WORDS
Prologue: April 28th
Found: Previously undiscovered Robin Hood Ballad…
Dr Harriet Danby, known to her friends as Hari, hovered her hand over the computer mouse. Telling herself that the notification on the Medieval Scholars Facebook page was bound to be spam, Hari clicked on the post anyway. Mentally crossing her fingers, hoping she hadn’t just unleashed a social media virus upon her laptop, Hari’s jaw dropped as she read the press release that filled her screen.
Two minutes later she picked up the telephone. The call had barely connected before, not bothering with a hello, she blurted out, ‘Neil, have you seen…’
‘Harriet! I was about to call you.’
Detecting an edge of excitement in her former university professor’s voice, Hari said, ‘You’ve seen the report then?’
‘I have.’
‘A new Robin Hood ballad!’
Neil cleared his throat, just managing to keep his enthusiasm in check. ‘It would be nice if it was genuine, but if it does turn out to be a hoax, it’ll still give us something new to talk about at the Robin Hood Club convention. You are coming, aren’t you?’
The emailed invitation sat open on Hari’s laptop.
The Robin Hood Club: 28th – 30th May.
Dear Dr Harriet Danby,
You are invited (along with a guest of your choice), to this three-day event at the beautiful Harmen Hotel, Buxton, within the stunning Peak District, Derbyshire.
As the writer and creator of the hit television series – Return to Sherwood – we’d be delighted if you could join us for this fans’ convention to celebrate your amazing show. We would love it if you would agree to be interviewed by myself, Jeremiah Barnes, about your work and passion for all things Robin Hood.
I can confirm that your leading lady – Scarlett Hann – and your leading man – Lee Stoneman – have already agreed to attend.
You’ll find a rough outline of the convention timetable attached to this message. A more detailed running order of events will be available nearer the time.
Please email your response at your earliest convenience.
Yours,
Jeremiah Barnes
Hari opened the attachment and took a ragged breath as she found herself face to face with an invitation to a medieval banquet on the Saturday evening and (worse) a disco on the Sunday evening and (worse still) an interview before all the guests as the “Headline Event” on the Monday.
Why do they want me as the featured speaker when the stars of the show will be there?
Averting her gaze from the laptop screen, she picked up a framed photograph of herself, Scarlett Hann and Lee Stoneman – known to millions as Mathilda of Sherwood and Will Scathlock. It had been taken during the filming of the first episode of Return to Sherwood.
‘I suppose if you two are attending, it would be odd if I wasn’t there.’ She focused her gaze on her leading man’s grey eyes. ‘And who knows, Lee, you might even acknowledge my existence as a human being this time.’
Returning to the laptop,…
If the opening lines have whetted your appetite, you can buy your copy of the first #therobinhoodclub mysteries, here:
Amazon UK | Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Happy reading everyone,
Jenny x
