February 27th, 2015 → 6:15 am
The Other Shakespeare has just been announced as a finalist in the 2014 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards. What an honor! Thank you so much to all those independent judges and panelists who took the time to read it, and obviously, appreciate it.
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
February 25th, 2015 → 5:04 am
“I do perceive here a divided duty.” – Othello
I’m headed to New York this weekend for a work conference. But I will also be visiting with friends and family while there. Which one should I spend more time doing – business or pleasure? That will be the question…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
January 26th, 2015 → 5:53 am
“That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase, [‘ok’] is a vile phrase.” – Hamlet
I am happy to report that the reviews coming in of The Other Shakespeare are mostly positive! It’s really been heart-warming, in fact, to see all the nice things readers have written about the book, and it’s even given me incentive to think about a next novel… The few criticisms I’ve gotten have generally been about the dialogue in the book. That it messes up and sometimes sounds too modern. First, let me say that I agree I should have never used the word “ok” in the book. My bad. But let me add that criticism of dialogue in historical novels is rife, and often quite unsubstantiated. My favorite response on this came from Philippa Gregory, who said that, let’s be honest, no one knows how people actually spoke hundreds of years ago. There were no recordings! And obviously people don’t talk in casual conversation like they write in formal documents, so formal writing from that time period tells us nothing. So anyone who claims definitively that a historical novel’s dialogue is wrong, is basing that opinion on, frankly, personal opinion. Like most historical novels I had to wing the dialogue, and I may have messed up in a few places, but I’ve learned. Watch out – my next novel is going to be even better!!
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
January 15th, 2015 → 5:32 am
“By my troth Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.” – Merchant of Venice
That is just how I feel today…
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
January 3rd, 2015 → 6:47 am
“Whip me, ye devils, …
Blow me about in winds, roast me in sulfur,
Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire!” – Othello
Wait, that’s exactly what I feel like after our latest trip with American Airlines. We went to Mexico over the holidays, but our luggage did not! Apparently over the six days of our trip our luggage went to Dallas, China, Singapore, and then finally on to Mexico where it arrived on the day of our departure. As we were checking in for our flight home an agent told us to wait and, voila, our long-lost, at that point feared never-seen-again luggage, suddenly appeared! I laughed with incredulity and the tears ran down my face, until the AA agent then asked for my credit card for the fee to check our bag in for the flight home. I realize travel is all about the adventure, but after this last one, bandied about, insulted, hung up upon with customer service, I really do feel as though I’ve been whipped, roasted in sulfur, and then washed in gulfs of liquid fire.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life & Stupid/Evil People
December 21st, 2014 → 5:25 am
“The plot is laid.” – Henry VI
Since The Other Shakespeare came out, a surprising number of people have asked me what my next novel is going to be about. I hadn’t really thought much about my next novel. I mean, I have a folder full of scraps of ideas I’ve written down over the years, but for all I know they’re terrible, like the detritus of a bad dream, best left behind and forgotten. And then in bed yesterday morning, while cuddling my son as he slowly woke up, I had an idea. I’m going to spend the next couple of months researching it and getting a feel for its plausibility, but I think the plot may be laid! Happy Holidays and see everyone in 2015!
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
December 10th, 2014 → 5:22 am
“[Her] words are a very fantastical banquet.” – Much Ado About Nothing
I’ve been invited to write a number of guest blog posts, in promotion of The Other Shakespeare. Check out the first batch!
“(Some of) The Women of Queen Elizabeth’s Court”
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
November 28th, 2014 → 6:42 am
“[Husband] and child
Those precious motives, those strong knots of love.” – Macbeth
A wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday break – spent in the warmth of home, amidst the love of family.
Filed under: Blog & Self/My Life
November 10th, 2014 → 5:14 am
The Other Shakespeare goes on sale this week. Ahhhhhhhh!!
http://www.amazon.com/Other-Shakespeare-Lea-Rachel/dp/0990861600/
https://www.facebook.com/authorlearachel
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life
November 3rd, 2014 → 6:42 am
“I will a round unvarnished tale deliver…” – Othello
My novel, The Other Shakespeare, is in the publication process and almost available for sale. How exciting!!
Filed under: Blog & Literature/Theatre/Art & Self/My Life