Accidental fugitive John Lytel is on the run from the king’s justice, when he falls into the hands of the notorious hooded outlaw band led by a sympathetic Robin and the enigmatic Marian. John eagerly takes up with the band, glad for safety in numbers, but his crime in the city is not forgotten, and his presence among the outlaws may jeopardize their very existence. Not to mention John’s budding amorous relationship with both the leaders.
The Robin Hood story is my white whale. I’ve been trying to find the right form for it since 2009, when a bruised and battered Little John found his way into a futuristic dystopia short story ruled by a tough, cynical Robin and his right-hand warrior Marian. Since then I’ve returned to the original setting and rejected it, cast and re-cast my main players, and stayed up at night worrying about their motivations. I want them to be happy. I want them to be challenged. I want them to fall in love and fuck and fight and make a home among their chosen family.
Here, we have once again made our way back to Sherwood Forest. John is an exile by his own actions, and he brings his problems straight into the arms of the outlaw band. They know a fugitive when they see one, but they welcome him all the same and begin to teach him how to protect himself and the group. Despite the warm feelings Robin has about him almost at once, he knows they can’t trust John completely until he’s proven himself.
With the funds sourced, I will write, edit, and publish this