Author Interview! Book Tour – Heir of Locksley (Outlaw’s Legacy 1) by N.B. Dixon

Posted on April 27, 2017October 19, 2019 by Addison Albright 1 Comment

Title: Heir of Locksley

Series: Outlaw’s Legacy, Book 1

Author: N.B. Dixon

Publisher: Beaten Track Publishing

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Release Date: December 1st, 2016

Genre(s): Historical, M/M

Words: 108,000

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About the Book

Blurb

HeirOfLocksley

Robin of Locksley is a rebel, more comfortable roaming Sherwood Forest with his longbow and courting the village girls than learning how to run a manor.

An innocent flirtation with a peasant girl soon lands Robin in trouble, and worse, he finds himself inexplicably attracted to Will Scathelock, his best friend since childhood. Robin must decide whether to follow the rules of society or his own conscience.

Meanwhile, his neighbour, Guy of Gisborne, is anxious to get his hands on the Locksley estate and he will do anything to make it happen – even murder.

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Interview with N.B. Dixon

A big welcome to N.B. Dixon, who was kind enough to answer a few questions for us!

Tell us a little about yourself and your writing goals.

I’m an author of historical fiction. I’ve always loved history, the Middle Ages in particular. The idea of writing love stories between men also appeals to me. It has that forbidden aura about it. I guess it was inevitable that I would combine the two.

Congratulations on your new release. Please tell us a little bit about it. What’s your favorite aspect or part of the story? Do you have a favorite character? Who/Why?

My novel, Heir of Locksley, is the first in a series of books chronicling the life of the outlaw Robin Hood. I really liked the idea of covering every aspect of Robin’s life, not just his outlaw days. This first novel covers his childhood and teenage years. I have many favourite characters, but Robin is of course the star. I’ve really loved developing him as a character. I particularly liked exploring his feelings as he tries to grapple with his sexuality. I love Robin Hood because his story is an inspiration to people everywhere. I’ve really enjoyed putting my spin on the legend.

Are you a planner or a pantser? How much do you know about your story before you start writing? How often does your plan change? Why does this work best for you?

I usually try and plan as much as I can in advance. However, often once I get started, the story takes on a life of its own. Where possible I try and stick to my original plan, but if it feels right to let the story flow down a different path, I run with it and adapt my plan accordingly. Sometimes you just have to let your creative juices flow and wing it. The skill comes when you edit the book, as you have to make it look as though you had it all planned right from the start. It probably never does to let readers know exactly how much of it was pure improvisation.

Do deadlines motivate you or block you? How do you deal with them?

They can cause both effects. Deadlines keep you writing. If you know you have to work, it’s a lot easier to be disciplined. On the downside, they can create pressure, and if you do find you’re suffering from writer’s block, the added panic that you won’t finish the book in time doesn’t help. The best way of dealing with it is to try and plan as much as you can beforehand, and if you really get stuck, don’t think about it for a while. Go off and do something else. I often find inspiration comes to me when thinking about something else entirely. Also, if you’re lucky as I am, you will have an understanding publisher who will allow you to extend deadlines. Above all, don’t force it. Writing needs to flow naturally. It’s no good sitting down and making yourself right if you’ve no idea what’s going to happen. You still won’t end up meeting your deadline.

Do you schedule a certain amount of time for writing each day/week, or do you just work it in when you can? Would you like to change this, or does your current method work well for you?

I usually find I’m at my best in the morning, but I tend to write as and when I’m in the mood. This isn’t perhaps the most organised way of doing things, but it works well for me and I wouldn’t change it.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book? Why?

I actually found this particular book easy to write. It was difficult knowing exactly how much to bring in about Robin’s sexuality. I wanted it to be a developing theme in the series, since Robin would be struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is attracted to men, while also finding women attractive. I couldn’t make too much happen in this book otherwise there would be no point in writing the rest of the series. Finding a balance was perhaps the most difficult.

How do you develop a story idea? Do you always use the same method? Specifically, which do you develop first in your story building, the characters or the plot?

Quite often it’s the characters who come to me first, along with a very basic what if idea. For instance, what would happen if Robin fancied his best friend? I usually know how the story ends before I start. I think the ending is the most important thing to work out, as that is what you’re building to. The rest will usually fall into place after that. I like to have as much of a basic plot as possible, particularly as I have to do a lot of research in advance before writing any novel, but as I said earlier, sometimes stories just have a will of their own.

What are your favorite genres when it comes to your own pleasure reading? Do you prefer to read ebooks or print?

I love to read historical fiction—romance, crime, adventure, it doesn’t matter as long as it’s set in the past. I also love fantasy fiction. I’m a fan of the classics and I love children’s fiction. Audiobooks are my preferred way of reading.

About N.B. Dixon

Author Bio

N.B. Dixon is an author of historical fiction. Her love for the Robin Hood legend began in a neglected corner of the school library and has continued ever since. She is a self-confessed bookworm and also a musician.

She began work on the *Outlaw’s Legacy* Series in 2013, and was accepted by Beaten Track Publishing in 2016. *Outlaw’s Legacy* is a historical series based around the Robin Hood legend. The author describes it as Exciting Historical Adventure with GLBT romance.

Connect with N.B.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

Three lucky winners will receive an e-copy of Heir of Locksley,, the first in the Outlaw’s Legacy series by N.B. Dixon, a highly original retelling of the Robin Hood legend. To be in with a chance, simply enter via the Rafflecopter below. The contest closes at midnight EST on May 6 and is open to entrants worldwide.

Good luck!

Enter here