I’m very excited that I’ve coerced convinced author Janette Rallison over to my blog to tell us a story. But first, I want to say that Janette is launching yet another fabulous book. This one is called Just One Wish and I think it is my favourite book of Janette’s. Oh, sure, all her books are hilarious, but this one is special. Janette is a consistently funny and touching writer, but I think Just One Wish is a step up from her other books (not that you shouldn’t read ALL of her other books too). I was lucky enough to get an ARC of it and so I read it a few months ago, but it definitely has that thing where you start thinking about a bit of it and it makes you feel good and you think, “Now where did I read that?” and you suddenly remember, “Oh! That book! I love that book!” It’s one of those books you remember, even if you are old like me. Now it’s available everywhere, so go on, go out and support your local bookstore and Janette and buy a copy of Just One Wish.
(Note to Janette – how’s that? Do I get a thank you in your next book for being so supportive? Something simple is all I’m asking. Something like: “I couldn’t have written this book without Joelle’s enthusiasm for my work” would be great.)
Okay, without further ado, here is Janette to tell you a story.
I’ve always loved Robin Hood. Apparently I’m not alone. He’s been around for centuries showing up in new novels, movies, and TV series. I imagine he’ll still be hanging out in Sherwood Forest when my great, great grandchildren start to read, watch TV—or whatever medium they’re using then to tell stories.
Why do we love this outlaw so much?
I have my theories. I’ll illustrate with an example. A few nights ago I was at a dinner and one of my friends told the group about the trouble he’s had getting permits and to work on his barn. When he had someone from the government out to his property to check out the barn, the official pointed to his above ground pool and asked, “Do you have a permit for that?”
“It’s an above ground pool,” my friend said. “Why would I need a permit for it?”
“You need permits for all pools,” the official said. “Pools are dangerous.”
“But I have a fence around it,” my friend said.
“Right,” the official said. “And you need a permit for that too. You can’t put up a fence without a permit.”
At this point my friend was getting a headache and he really didn’t want to deal with permits anymore so he said, “Fine. I’ll just take down the fence and the pool.”
“You can’t,” the official said. “You’ll need a demolition permit before you do that.”
I bet at that point my friend wished he had a bow, arrows, and a hideout in the forest.
Because let’s face it, even good governments like ours are frequently a big pain. And taxes are a double pain. (Right now my husband is doing our taxes, don’t get me started on that subject.)
If you have a bad government and one that is taxing you literally to death—who wouldn’t want to take matters into their own hands and deliver justice where it was needed?
And that’s what we love about Robin Hood. We’d all love to cut through the bureaucracy of life and just do what needs to be done.
I guess with my love of Robin Hood it was only a matter of time before he showed up in one of my novels. In Just One Wish Annika Truman goes to Hollywood to find the actor who plays Teen Robin Hood to visit her ill little brother before he goes into surgery.
It’s hard enough to get an opportunity to meet the ultra famous and quite hunky, Steve Raleigh. Convincing him to visit her brother will be almost impossible. Fortunately Annika is a girl who can take on the impossible.
Read the book and let me know what you think—who’s the real Robin Hood in this story?
Janette Rallison
Find a little magic. Read My Fair Godmother
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