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Our beautiful cover won an award!

Full article here (scroll to find our cover).

Out of 47 fiction covers, there was one winner and only THREE gold stars! Thank you to the judges at The Book Designer! But most of all, thanks to the incredibly talented designers at Damonza 

Last night our book rose to: #85 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Historical Romance > Medieval Still priced at 99 cents at Amazon.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped us accomplish this!

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The Family of Henry II, King of England + Eleanor of Aquitaine 

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William the Conqueror long did reign; William his son, by an arrow was slain; Henry the First was a scholar bright; Stephen was king without any right. Henry the Second, Plantagenet’s scion; Richard the First was as brave as a lion; John, though a tyrant, the charter was signed; Henry the Third had a weakly mind. Edward the First conquered Cambria dales; Edward the Second was the first English Prince of Wales; Edward the Third humbled France in its pride; Richard the Second in prison died. Henry the Fourth for himself took the crown; Henry the Fifth pulled the French King down; Henry the Sixth lost his father’s gains; Edward the Fourth laid hold of the reins. Edward the Fifth was killed with his brother; Richard the Third soon made way for another. Henry the Seventh was frugal of means; Henry the Eighth had a great many queens. Edward the Sixth reformation began; Cruel Queen Mary prevented the plan; Wise and profound were Elizabeth’s aims; England and Scotland were joined by King James. Charles the First found the people a cruel corrector; Oliver Cromwell was called Lord Protector; Charles the Second hid in an oak; James the Second took the Catholic yoke. William and Mary were offered the throne; Anne succeeded and reigned alone. George the First from Hanover came; George the Second kept up the name; George the Third was loved in the land; George the Fourth was polite and grand; William the Fourth had no heir of his own, So Queen Victoria ascended the throne. When good Queen Victoria’s long reign was o'er, Edward the Seventh the English crown wore. His son George the Fifth, ruled the realm amassed, where the sun never set, it was so vast. Edward the Eighth gave up the throne for his wife; George the Sixth ruled through World War II’s strife. Elizabeth the Second reigns today, And “God save the Queen” all her subjects hearts say!

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I’ve fixed the first three links.  Thanks for your patience!

Giveaways for Robin Hood’s Dawn

Here are several opportunities to win a free copy. Enter at the following blogs - just click on the blog name: Ending Jan 31 The Consulting Writer – ebook giveaway To Read or Not to Read – paperback giveaway Ending Feb 2 Jade Writes Books – paperback giveaway open internationally Ending Feb 9 Book tails – paperback for UK, US and CA only. Ending Feb 4 Book Lady’s Reviews – paperback giveaway Ending date not specified, but still seems to be open The Quirky Book Nerd – ebook giveaway

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Giveaways for Robin Hood’s Dawn

Here are several opportunities to win a free copy. Enter at the following blogs - just click on the blog name: Ending Jan 31 The Consulting Writer – ebook giveaway To Read or Not to Read – paperback giveaway Ending Feb 2 Jade Writes Books – paperback giveaway open internationally Ending Feb 9 Book tails – paperback for UK, US and CA only. Ending Feb 4 Book Lady’s Reviews – paperback giveaway Ending date not specified, but still seems to be open The Quirky Book Nerd – ebook giveaway

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Reviews in English and Italian - another great fan of the BBC Robin Hood who likes Robin Hood’s Dawn.

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Another great blogger offering a giveaway of Robin Hood's Dawn - and this one is INTERNATIONAL! I know there are many wonderful fans of Robin Hood all around the world because I've had the privilege of meeting so many of you online and at AO3!

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A review and a GIVEAWAY!

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Thank you for this review from Jenny reads

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Another nice review.

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A detailed review from Goodbye Halcyon Days.

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More reviews and giveaways! 

Written by a Robin fan and a Guy fan!

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Thanks to The Little Library for posting this intriguing excerpt from Robin Hood’s Dawn! 

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Great reviews, Q&A with me and Olivia Longueville, excerpts, and GIVEAWAYS! Thanks to all the great bloggers participating.

5 Days and 38 bloggers - we are overwhelmed by the great response to our book. Thank you!

A book co-written by a Robin fan and a Guy fan!

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My latest article at AngevinWorld.com

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This was fun!  I copied a scene from Chapter 3 of Robin Hood’s Dawn into the analyzer, and this was the result. 

Olivia and I will be announcing a publication date very soon.  We are finalizing the cover with the designer and reviewing the proof of the print version. 

We really appreciate all the interest in The Robin Hood Trilogy, Book 1:  Robin Hood’s Dawn!  A collaboration between a Robin fan and a Guy fan.

For more information, visit our website:  Angevin World

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The Demon Countess of Anjou

“From the devil they came, to the devil they will go.” – St. Bernard

Her beauty lured the Count of Anjou, Geoffrey Greymantle, into a hasty marriage, although her origins were unknown.  She rarely attended Mass, was inattentive in church, and most alarmingly, always left before Communion.  When the count ordered some of his men to force her to remain during Communion, she screamed and flew out a window – never to be seen again. She left behind her husband and their son, Fulk Nerr, also known as “Fulk the Black.”  Her son’s notoriety and violent temper was seen as proof that his mother had surely been a spawn of the devil.

From this legend, the heirs of Count Geoffrey Greymantle (c. 938-987) were seen as a dangerous and ruthless family with a ferocious temper and an unholy ancestry resulting in paranormal talents on the battlefield.

On August 24, 1113, a son was born to this fearsome dynasty.  His name was also Geoffrey, and his descendants would shape the future of both England and France, ruling England for over 300 years.

The story of the Demon Countess of Anjou was quite popular in the 12th century.  Unfortunately, like most legends, the facts were less compelling.  Fulk the Black’s mother was actually Adele of Meaux, a French noblewoman.  In truth, the many successes of the Counts of Anjou were what led to rumors and whisperings of demonic blood.

By 1113, there were five great families of France, represented by:  the French king (Capet), the Duke of Normandy, the Duke of Aquitaine, the Count of Blois, and the Count of Anjou.  Of these families, only the Angevin counts had started as relatively minor nobles and had managed to greatly extend their holdings through conquest and fortuitous marriages.  During the Middle Ages, such remarkable success was considered a sign of supernatural interference; thus, the legend of the Demon Countess of Anjou was born.

Geoffrey (1113 - 1151) was his father’s oldest son and heir.  Little is known of his early years, although contemporary writers described him as tall, handsome, and a ginger (red-headed).  Much has been said of his temper (in keeping with the legend of demon blood), but he was also educated and well-read.  It is said that he loved to read more than to hunt.  His quick mind and fiery temper would be a legacy passed to his descendants.

He was later given the nickname “the Handsome” or “the Fair” (le Bel in French). However, it is another name associated with Geoffrey that would become immortal:  Plantagenet.  Reputedly this name was given to him due to his habit of wearing a sprig of yellow broom blossoms (in Latin:  planta genista) in his hair.

Because of the prominence of Anjou, Geoffrey would have been an important figure of the 12th century regardless of the events which later made him famous. But it was the sinking of the White Ship, the need for the widowed daughter of Henry I to have a powerful, capable husband, and the strategic significance of the lands under Angevin control that coalesced into a “perfect storm” of opportunity for Geoffrey’s family.

At the age of fifteen, Geoffrey wed the proud, strong-willed, 26 year old Empress Matilda, widowed daughter of Henry I.  Geoffrey was a count married to an empress, joining his family to the most powerful dynasty of the day, as Matilda’s grandfather had been William I, King of England and Duke of Normandy. Through conquest, Geoffrey would eventually become Duke of Normandy himself in 1144.  His marriage to Matilda might have lacked affection, but it produced three healthy sons.  His first son became Henry II, and his descendants ruled England from 1154 to 1485.

On the day of his birth in 1113, Geoffrey was joyously welcomed as the heir to a powerful noble family.  His contemporaries could have never imagined that he would found a dynasty whose lives still fascinate us today, over 900 years later.

Learn more about Geoffrey and his descendants at Angevin World!________________________________________

Barber, Richard W. Henry Plantagenet. Totowa, NJ, Rowman & Littlefield, 1964. Barber, Richard W. The Devil’s Crown: a History of Henry II and his Sons. Conshohocken, PA, Combined Books, 1997. Jones, Dan. The Plantagenets: the Warrior Kings and Queens who made England. New York, Penguin Books, 2014.

All images are in the public domain. Text © 2017 J.C. Plummer (Coleen561)