Knightfall

Knightfall (2002) Post 329

Knightfall is the first book in The Reluctant Knight trilogy. Simon, faced with three unpalatable choices for his holidays, accepts the job of exercising a pony. How difficult can it be? 
Pretty difficult, as it turns out, because Traveller is no ordinary pony. She has attitude, and one of her favourite things is tossing Simon over the hedge. Once there, he finds himself in the land of Bravaria, where King Kevin needs a champion. The dragon king wants one too, while Peggy the pearly dragon fancies Simon as a midnight snack. Then there's Becca the serving maid, not to mention all the damsels who have plans for Simon that include bopping him over the helmet. The old knight Humphrey Bickerstaff trains Simon, Becca feeds him food with so much pepper he can't taste anything else and he spends far too much time polishing his armour.
All Simon can think is it isn't like this in books.
I had a lot of fun writing this series, especially with the names. Characters include Anne De Vere, Selina Sans Clemency, Princess Elizabeth Rudbeckia Gracenoria Shortshanks, Baroness Ethelburtga Wilberforce, Lady Fiona of Castle Frioth, and Orange Ankles, whose real name happens to be Lord Perridan. In fact, I had so much fun with Simon I brought him back for two more outings.

Meet Simon (and his stepsister, Reba...)

Simon unfolded his ankles and rocked onto his hands and knees. He lifted one leg out behind him. tucking his chin to his chest.

            Sarah gave him a very cross look and went out.

            Reba bounced in, all tossing curls and blazing orange shirt.

            "If that's the Pose of the Dog," bossed Reba, "you lift your leg like this." She grabbed his ankle and hoisted his leg in the air.

            "Let go!" Simon's arms gave way and he bellyflopped onto the carpet.

            Reba seized his arms, pulled his cuffs over his hands and knotted the sleeves together. "Pose of the Strait-jacket," she announced and gave a nasty smile. "I know lots of yoga. What do you say to that?"

            "Goodbye!" was what Simon said to that. He bolted out the door and down the yard to the toolshed. It took four whole minutes to get his sleeves untied and rearranged, and when he had finished he moaned aloud. She'd got to him again.

ABOUT THE BLOG

Sally is Sally Odgers; author, manuscript assessor, editor, anthologist and reader. She runs http://www.affordablemanuscriptassessments.com and Prints Charming Books. (Sally is me, by the way, and I am lots of other things too, but these are the relevant ones for now.)

The goal for 2017 is to write a post a day profiling the background behind one of my books; how it came to be written, what it's about, and any things of note that happened along the way. If you're an author, an aspiring author, a reader or just someone who enjoys windows into worlds, you might find this fun. The books are not in any special order, but will be assigned approximate dates, and pictures, where they exist. If you enjoyed a post, or want to ask about any of my books or my manuscript assessment service, leave a comment.