The Hood of Rockwood is a socially relevant, high energy, multicultural, contemporary vigilante novel -- a multi-genre blend of crime fiction, social commentary, and community driven heroism. Bookstores will want to carry it because it hits multiple high demand categories at once: diverse protagonists, urban justice narratives, anti-gentrification themes, and modern myth retellings.This urban contemporary dramedy is inspired by the classic Robert Hood legend, but features a Robin Hood-like character named Robert Hood. It contains many similar ingredients of the original folk tale, including similar Robin Hood comrades, but it takes shape in the colorful and crazy world of Venice Beach. The Hood of Rockwood is a timely, topical, and culturally resonant story that readers are interested in. The characters are inclusive and ethnically diverse (Black, White, Asian, Latino, Native American), relatable, and authentic in speech and bearing to today' s reading audience. The story explores the impact of gentrification, greedy developers, corrupt law enforcement, politics, bullying; while also featuring at times hysterical humor, romance, pathos, tragedy, thrills and danger, and the joy of releasing stress with the ambiance of music and dancing. The Venice Beach setting is visually iconic, culturally eclectic, and instantly marketable and makes this title have a strong regional interest in California.
The Hood of Rockwood is a tale that all readers will know and understand as it is based on the classic Robin Hood folktale, but this tale takes on a fresh, unique and rare quality because it is completely modern, no magic, no time-travel, no historical setting. This is a story that modern, urban, and hip readers will gravitate to because it is one they know, but at the same time is completely new and different. Bookstores will want to carry The Hood of Rockwood because:1. It fills a gap - there are no novels that retell Robin Hood in a purely modern setting with grounded realism.2. It will appeal to multiple audiences: fans of modern vigilante stories, social-justice fiction, YA and NA (New Adult) crossover, Romance, Thriller, and readers of diverse characters. 3. Because of these unique qualities The Hood of Rockwood is easy for a bookseller to hand-sell.
" It' s Robin Hood meets The Hate U Give meets Venice Beach." or " A modern outlaw story about fighting gentrification with heart, humor, and community." 4. This book supports the community values that Indie Bookstores care about: diverse authors, diverse cast, social relevant, resisting injustice, and community resilience.