Who likes the stories of King Arthur and his knights? I do! I have been fascinated with the entire legend of Camelot since I was a child. The Sword In the Stone, the Disney cartoon movie, was a favorite when I was young.
As I got older, I couldn’t get enough of the movie musical, Camelot, with Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, and Richard Harris in the starring roles. I valiantly tried to struggle through T. H. White’s “The Once and Future King” but finally had to admit, it was too heavy for a twelve-year-old. As an adult, I enjoyed it, along with Mary Stewart’s series of the Arthurian legend as told from Merlin’s POV—a “must read” set if you’re a Camelot fan.
So, the story I wrote for the “Six Guns and Slay Bells: A Creepy Cowboy Christmas” anthology is one that is dear to my heart in many ways. Even the title, “The Keepers of Camelot”, was not something I had to think about for long.
Legend says that Arthur will rise once more when the world needs him the most. But in my story, something goes awry, and Arthur has returned in many times, many places, throughout the centuries since his final battle.
The story opens with Arthur on a stagecoach in the American west—Indian Territory—of the 1880’s. But in this life, he comes across two people he’d never thought to see again—Lancelot and Guinevere. Why are they here—and how will it all end…this time?
The stage is attacked by Apaches minutes before the driver gets the passengers to the safety of the next stage station. Though they’re safe for the time being, a nerve-wracking Christmas Eve is in store as the Apaches wait for them outside.
Arthur has a plan. He’s seen the fearless leader of the Apache—the man they call “Sky Eyes”, a man he knew as Lancelot du Lac a hundred lifetimes ago.
Will Lance’s prowess as a warrior combine with his legendary arrogance to seal the fate of the people inside the station—including Guinevere, the woman he gave up everything for in the past?
One young boy in the group unknowingly holds the key to Lance’s decision. But will the glorious legend of Camelot be remembered?
There are some excellent stories in this book by many great western writers, including Troy Smith, Courtney Joyner, Robert Randisi, L.J. Washburn, James Reasoner, and many more. They’re all paranormal in some way, and they all take place in a western setting.
This makes a great gift for others—or for yourself! http://www.amazon.com/Six-guns-Slay-Bells-Creepy-Christmas/dp/1478189169/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351380533&sr=1-1&keywords=six+guns+and+slay+bells
All my other short stories, anthologies, novels and novellas can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
Cheryl, we all go back in time in our mines,to get the flavor of the old west. Going back to a knighted era and bringing it to the old west was very entertaining. I enjoyed the rest of the book as well. There are some darn good stories in this anthology!
ReplyDeleteJerry Guin
Jerry, I agree--lots of wonderful tales, and they're too good to just sit on a shelf waiting for Christmas! LOL I have not heard one negative thing about this book. It just got another 5 star review on Amazon a few days ago, too.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
This book is going to be filling stockings for years to come... year 'round.
ReplyDeleteI think so too, Troy. These stories are all so different and imaginative--good for a year-round read.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
I loved your perspective in this story--that the legendary characters would meet up from time to time. I especially liked that you put them in an old west scenerio and added the boy to it. It was a wonderful story. I liked the whole collection of stories, each so very different.
ReplyDeleteEveryone loves a good old ghost story, don't they? It was Burns Night a couple of days ago - excuse me for bringing that up, but Logan Munro would approve - the anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet. His great poem Tam O'Shanter is a ghostly tale suitable for a winter night. Contemporary with him was Washington Irving, one of the greatest short story writers we have ever seen. Rip van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow are timeless. And so too will be many of the stories in this book. I have read the book cover to cover and am proud to have oneof my own tales between its splendid covers. As for the front cover - if that doesn't give you a shiver....
ReplyDeleteSarah, thanks so much. You are always so supportive. I'm glad you enjoyed this story--it was one that just flowed. I truly enjoyed writing it. And you're right--this whole collection is wonderful. The variety is just amazing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteCheryl
They DO, Keith! There's something about us that wants to be scared. LOL But you know, what I love about paranormal stories is they have such a wide span of "scariness"--from just making you think (kind of like some of the Twilight Zone stories) to just making you want to cover up your head and sleep with the lights on. LOL Oh, I'm so glad you brought up Burns Night! That's awesome--and he was one of my dad's favorite poets, and mine. And Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow was so unforgettable--I remember reading that in 8th grade. Yes, your "SNAKE OIL" was sooo good. The cover? Oh, yes. I tried to post it but blogger wasn't having it. SIGH.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
I was very pleased with this collection. Great stories from beginning to end. Some will give you a chuckle, some give you shivers, and some just make you ponder life. If you haven't read Cheryl's "The Keepers of Camelot", you should. Who would want to miss out on Apaches, Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere?
ReplyDeleteCheryl, I added the cover. Sometimes blogger gives one person trouble but not another. It's very frustrating.
ReplyDeleteSomeone else who enjoyed the Stewart books. Read those in my teens. The one librarian in my hometown was uncomfortable with my reading 'adult' books when I was 12. Oh well. Have the book, but haven't had the chance to dig into it. Still a great post. I love that this venue allows for one to hear and see all the books you might never see in the local bookstores.
ReplyDeleteLivia, thank you so much for all your hard work on this anthology. You're right--so many great stories all in one place. This is an amazing collection, and there is such a wide variety of stories! Thank you so much for the very kind words about The Keepers of Camelot. "Apaches, Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere.." how can you miss? LOLLOL Thanks for putting up the cover! I tried several times and it wouldn't work. Your story, A Creature Was Stirring, was one of my favorites in this book.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Oh, yes, RW, I loved those Stewart books. I have them all and some day, I'm going to go back and re-read them. I hope you enjoy our anthology when you do get the time to read it. Tomorrow, Kathleen Rice Adams will be with us to review a couple of stories, so there's another great opportunity to learn about some good reading material! She's here every 2nd and 4th Monday. Thanks for coming by!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Hi Cheryl, I just purchased the anthology. Looking forward to reading it! Since I write westerns with a touch of the paranormal, these stories are right up my alley. Enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteGreat, Lyn! I know you'll enjoy it. There's something for everyone in this anthology. Thanks so much for coming by and commenting!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
I love the Arthurian legends, the Old West, and all that goes with both. Obviously, I thoroughly enjoyed your story in Six-guns and Slay Bells.
ReplyDeleteJacquie, I love them too--always have and always will. I'm so glad you enjoyed The Keepers of Camelot. I had a ball writing it.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Oooooh! Loved Mary Stewart's series, White and all the movies of Arthur and Round Table. What a great premise for your story! I've got Slay Bells on my TBR pile. And I agree with Troy - new readers are always looking for Christmas books every season.
ReplyDeleteI love all your stories, Cheryl. And I'm a sucker for anything to do with Arthur and Camelot. It's always tugged at my heart. I hope this anthology is selling like gangbusters for you guys!
ReplyDeleteHi Meg,
ReplyDeleteI loved Mary Stewart's stories, too--and of course, The Once and Future King! Yep, new readers will be looking for holiday books each Christmas and these are so good you want to read them all year long.
Cheryl
Aw, Maggie, thanks so much. You are always so supportive and I appreciate you coming by today. I'm a sucker for Arthur and Camelot too--and I ordered our own Fictioneer Keith Souter's book The Classic Guide to King Arthur--fascinating stuff! Thanks for coming by, Maggie!
ReplyDeleteCheryl
Bernard Cornwell, who is famous for his Sharpe series, wrote The Warlord Chronicles about Arthurian England as he thinks it really was. There's one scene all of us should read and consider.
ReplyDelete“When we’ve beaten the Saxons,” I said, “we shall demand a song of victory from this Taliesin. And from you, Pyrlig,” I added hastily.
“I once heard Amairgin sing,” Guinevere said.
“You did, Lady?” Pyrlig asked, again impressed.
“I was only a child,” she said, but I remember he could make a hollow roaring sound. It was very frightening. His eyes would go very wide, he swallowed air, then he bellowed like a bull.”
“Ah, the old style,” Pyrlig said dismissively. “These days, Lady, we seek harmony of words rather than mere volume of sound.”
“You should seek both,” Guinevere said sharply. “I’ve no doubt Taliesin is a master of the old style as well as being skilled at metre, but how can you hold an audience enthralled if all you offer them is clever rhythm? You must make their blood run cold, you must make them cry, you must make them laugh.”
“Any man can make a noise, Lady,” Pyrlig defended his craft, “but it takes a skilled craftsman to imbue words with harmony.”
“And soon the only people who can understand the intricacies of the harmony,” Guinevere argued, “are the other skilled craftsmen, and so you become ever more clever in an effort to impress your fellow poets, but you forget that no one outside the craft has the first notion of what you’re doing. Bard chants to bard while the rest of us wonder what all the noise is about. Your task, Pyrlig, is to keep the people’s stories alive, and to do that you cannot be rarified.”
Pardon the long comment!!
Charlie, I love long comments! LOL This is a great passage. Thanks so much for sharing this! It definitely is something worth remembering.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
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