It’s always been rather a pleasure to welcome Jenny Kane as my guest here on Being Anne – I expect there will be many of you who’ve read and enjoyed her romcoms and romances, and that most certainly includes me. But today, she asked if I’d also be interested in playing host to her alter ego, Jennifer Ash – she has news to share about the first book in her new cosy crime series, Manuscript Mysteries at the Robin Hood Club, being published for kindle on 28th April in the UK and US…
Getting Cosy with The Robin Hood Club
Many thanks for inviting me to your wonderful blog today Anne.
After over a decade of writing romcoms and romances as Jenny Kane, I have recently stuck my toe into the world of cosy crime. Not that I’m a stranger to writing crime – as Jennifer Ash – I’ve written four detective style medieval mysteries (The Folville Chronicles). Those novels, however, were of a darker persuasion, whereas my new project, The Robin Hood Club series, is pure fun.
Why Robin Hood? That is a HUGE question – but in a nutshell, I’ve been obsessed with the legend since I was 14 years old. In particular, I fell in love with the 1980’s television show, Robin of Sherwood, as a teenager, and never looked back. My A level history project was all about Robin Hood – then came an archaeology degree in which I concentrated on medieval archaeology – followed by a PhD on medieval crime and literature. (I really am quite keen on Mr H!)
When, in 2017, I was asked to create audio stories and novels for the actual Robin of Sherwood cast – who are still going strong – it was like all my Christmas’s had come at once! The writing of these aforesaid stories has led to me to having many adventures. Amongst these, came the attending of a number of fabulous events, including the Robin of Sherwood fan conventions. (The Hooded Man events). I loved each and every one of them – the people, the places, the things I saw, heard, experienced… I always said these events would inspire me to write a novel one day. Well, they have – in fact, they’ve inspired an entire series.
I’m, therefore, delighted to be able to introduce you to The Robin Hood Club! A cosy crime series; the tales of Dr Harriet Danby, writer-cum-reluctant sleuth, open with a visit to Buxton in the beautiful Peak District: Manuscript Mysteries at The Robin Hood Club. Published on the 28th April 2024, this will be the first of three novels – maybe more.
A brand new cosy crime series! 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…
Not only was The Robin Hood Club influenced by my Robin of Sherwood experiences, but it was coloured by another novel of mine – Romancing Robin Hood. This novel – which was responsible for bringing me to the attention of Barnaby Eaton-Jones (the man behind the new Robin of Sherwood audios and books) concerns an academic called Grace Harper, who is obsessed with Robin Hood.
I had always intended to expand this story and give it sequels. However, each time I tried, I accidentally killed a character – not something that happens often in a romcom. To get around this, I decided to reinvent my original idea and, so, The Robin Hood Club was born.
Thank you Jen – wishing you every success with the new series…
About the author
From the corner of a café in Mid Devon, former archaeologist and historian, Jennifer Ash, has written the cosy crime novel, Manuscript Mysteries at The Robin Hood Club (KDP, 2024), and the medieval murder mystery series, The Folville Chronicles: The Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter Outlaw, Edward’s Outlaw and Outlaw Justice (Littwitz Press, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020).
She has also penned twenty-plus of audio stories and novels for ITV, Spiteful Puppet and AUK, inspired by the popular 1980’s television show, Robin of Sherwood, including, The Waterford Boy, Mathilda’s Legacy, The Baron’s Daughter, The Meeting Place, The Power of Three and The Servant, Tales Untold (2017-2024) – with more on their way.
Better known as Jenny Kane, Jennifer also writes romances and romcoms for Bloomsbury, Headline and Head of Zeus.
All of Jennifer Ash’s and Jenny Kane’s news can be found via their website.
Jennifer Ash Twitter | Facebook
A massive thank you to you Anne. Supportive and kind as ever. Jen xx