Review: Mistress Shakespeare by Karen Harper

Karen Harper’s MISTRESS SHAKESPEARE is a historical romance not to miss.  I had a hard time getting to bed on time as I was in the midst of the life of William Shakespeare’s “other” Anne.

There has always been the rumor that Anne Hathaway, known wife of Shakespeare, had competition.  The theory is that Anne Whateley was his other wife residing in London where Shakespeare spent his time becoming the famously revered playwright for tragic romance and other dramas.

In MISTRESS SHAKESPEARE Anne Whately tells her story.  She is a strong minded woman and incredibly independent for her time.  By her account, Shakespeare had secretly wed her the day before he was forced into a marriage with the other Anne who had a baby on the way.

Whately’s parents passed and she took on her father’s courier business.  With or without Shakespeare, she would survive.  Yet, when Shakespeare appeared in London to act and write, she understood his predicament and gave him a chance. 

It may appear that she’s the other woman and weak, but considering the seventeenth century she understood his dilemma in protecting the Shakespeare family name.  Shakespeare made every attempt to be with his true love, Anne Whateley.  Except for the necessity of his family and random visits to his known wife-Anne Hathaway-his attentions were directed to Whateley.

Of course, they had unavoidable conflicts, which made me love this story for their deep desires to live their dream and to work around the demands of society.  To get a renewed understanding of the power of love, definitely read this story.

Dawn

Romance Writers of America National Conference in New York City

I spent this past week in New York City at the Romance Writers of America National Conference.  This year over 2,100 romance writers attended and the energy in the Marriot Marquis hotel, located in the middle of Time Square, was as electrifying as the lights outside.

The opening session was inspiring, as well as funny, as Tess Gerritsen, Diana Gabaldon and Steve Berry gave us a view into their writing processes, struggles, triumphs, and fans. Other wonderful speakers included Madeline Hunter who recognized the strength of the romance writer’s heart and demanded we listen to our hearts while Sherrilyn Kenyon, who proved triumph can come from the ashes of failure, encouraged all of us to go after our dreams.

The conference also included PRO and PAN Retreats, workshops, editor and agent appointments, a literacy signing, constant conversation, laughter and hugs, as well a few forays out into the city for shows, restaurants, and the necessary souvenirs. Though for this island girl, the sensory barrage from Times Square was best taken in small quantities :-)

For me, the pleasure of seeing my critique partner from Illinois who I hadn’t seen in over two years, and reuniting with my Phoenix Arizona chapters’ friends, was the best part. Also, making new writing friends was so enjoyable that I can’t wait to start sending emails to keep in touch. 

Writing conferences of all kinds can be very motivating. We, as writers, all sit alone, before our computers listening to the characters in our head, focusing on finding the perfect words to describe the scene unfolding within our minds.  

It is only when we get together that we can truly share the trials and joys of our profession. And I bet many readers will be the beneficiary of this empowering conference as favorite authors who attended get back to work, energized and excited to produce the stories we all love.

Is there an author you are hoping will come out with a new book soon? Let me know, so I can watch too for the next riveting story. 

Alexis, who is energized and ready to hit the keyboard . . . again :-)

P.S. The photo is the view from my room at the conference.

 

To Shave or Not to Shave

Every once in a while, I like to see a hero with facial hair. Oh, I’m not talking about big bushy beards like the men who used to be on the Smith Brother’s Cough Drop box, but rather a nicely groomed mustache or goatee or even a full beard, if it’s well kept. For some reason, I am attracted to this and I’m not sure why. 

I used to love watching men shave, which somehow doesn’t quite fit with the attraction to facial hair (and we’re not even going to discuss chest hair which I like on a man but you never see on a book cover) but I digress.  

I once heard that publishers don’t like heroes with facial hair because they didn’t quite look right on the cover of a book so it makes me wonder why there aren’t more heroes with beards or mustaches or both. Is it reader preference? Writer preference?         

I love Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott, but both must be sporting their mustaches (somehow, they don’t look the same without them, don’t you agree?). Hugh Jackman? Well, that’s unfair because he looks fabulous with or without.

             

What about you? What’s your preference? Do you like your heroes clean-shaven? With a five o’clock shadow? Sporting the scruffy look Don Johnson made famous? Or full on hairy face, like Hagrid in the Harry Potter films? Or somewhere in between?

             

Whatever your preference, I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for within the pages of a book!

           

Happy reading!

Marie

Guest Author Interview: Jennifer Wilck

Alexis: Hi Jennifer. Welcome to Happily Ever After Thoughts. Thank you so much for coming. You have a new contemporary romance that is being released this month. Can you tell us a little about A Heart of Little Faith?

Jennifer: Sure, Alexis, and thanks so much for having me on your blog today. Here’s a short blurb about the book:

Lily Livingston is a widow raising her six-year-old daughter, Claire, in New York City. Devastated by her husband’s death three years ago, she’s in no hurry to fall in love again. Besides, trying to balance her career with motherhood leaves her little time for romance.

With a wheelchair instead of a white horse, and a vow against falling in love again as his armor, Gideon Stone is the last person Lily expects to sweep her off her feet. But when a business agreement forces the two of them together, that is exactly what happens.

As they navigate the minefield that fast represents their relationship, can either of them overcome the obstacles to find true happiness in each other’s arms? The answer is yes, but the bumps along the way demonstrate that neither of them can go it alone.

Alexis: I’m hooked already. I love heroes who aren’t physically perfect. I understand that this is not an inspirational. So why this particular title?

Jennifer: That’s a great question! I think there are misconceptions about that anytime the word “faith” appears in a title. Basically, the title refers to the faith that both Lily and Gideon have to find in themselves to love again, and each other to trust again.

Alexis: That makes perfect sense. So, where did you get the idea for this story?

Jennifer: I wanted to show that the obstacles we construct for ourselves are not always what they appear to be on the surface. Gideon believes that his physical body prevents him from finding true love, but really, he’s no different than any other person who has baggage from their past. And Lily has to learn that it is possible to love again, deeply, even though it might be with a different person. And that sometimes our greatest strength involves letting go and showing weakness.

Alexis: I can tell you put real thought into the themes of your story. I like it when I can find depth inside a romance novel :-). What are your favorite traits of Gideon and Lily?

Jennifer: I love how Gideon is with Claire (the six-year-old) and with all the kids at the Youth Center where he is a mentor. I also love how he is rock-solid dependable. I like Lily’s ability to find humor in a variety of situations and how she is able to empathize with people and put them at ease.

Alexis: These are wonderful traits. What kind of research did you have to do for this novel?

Jennifer: That’s kind of funny, because after I had written the story, I realized (duh!) that I should probably speak to someone about life in a wheelchair, since I have no knowledge of that myself. The difficulty was finding someone I could talk to about it and ask questions, without being too personal or prying. I was lucky enough to find a guy on this Yahoo loop who was happy to talk to me (and thank goodness for email, because I swear I must have turned every shade of red asking things of this man that I really would only ask my husband!). He was very patient and understanding and answered all of my questions. That being said, any mistakes I made are my own!

Alexis: That must have been fascinating! Wow, you probably know more about a man’s life in a wheel chair than at least half the population! When can we expect the next book and do you have any other romance novels in the works that we can look forward to?

Jennifer: My next book is Skin Deep, also from Whiskey Creek Press, and it’s due to come out sometime in November. I’m currently working on another book, which is a contemporary romance with a Jewish theme. The story takes place around the holiday of Purim. That lends itself very well to the idea of hiding one’s identity, so the conflict is already built-in. There’s a single dad, with an adorable 6-year-old girl and a choir director with an amazing voice.

Alexis: So glad to hear you have more on the way. I think our readers will be looking for your work. I have found that all romance writers started out by reading romances. Who were some of the first romance authors you ever read?

Jennifer: Actually, I read a lot of the classics growing up—the Bronte sisters—and a lot of those teen/tween angst books, like the Sweet Valley High series. I think those paved the way for me. Certainly, sneaking a Harlequin or two didn’t hurt! Some of the earliest authors I read that I remember liking were Phyllis Whitney, Jude Devereaux and of course, Danielle Steel. My current favorite author, though, is Lynn Kurland.

Alexis: Why was it we always had to “sneak” those Harlequins? I mean, really, they weren’t so naughty :-) So, I understand you have a couple giveaways for our blog readers. Can you explain how they can win?

Jennifer: Yes, I do have one. Basically, readers can go to my website (www.jenniferwilck.com) or my blog (http://jenniferwilck.com/blog/2011/06/01/author-giveaway/) and tell me their favorite thing to do in the summer. I will draw a random winner on June 30 and he or she will receive a free copy of my book.

Alexis: Excellent! Thank you so much for visiting Happily Ever After Thoughts. We like talking about romance novels here and learning about the wonderful authors who write them :-)

Jennifer: Again, thank you so much for having me! I love hearing from people, so feel free to leave me a comment! Oh, and as you’ll see at the end of the excerpt, a portion of the sales from the book will be donated to the Dana & Christopher Reeve Foundation.

Alexis: Check out this excerpt from A Heart of Little Faith!

Excerpt:

Gideon entered his sister’s crowded SoHo gallery in Manhattan and glanced at his watch. If he was lucky, he could make a quick appearance and leave. Garish paintings and semi-pornographic sculptures, coupled with snooty patrons and pseudo-intellectual artists, bored him. A mélange of overpowering perfumes blasted his olfactory nerves and he grimaced as he quickly tried to breathe through his mouth. He’d only come to support Samantha, and with any luck she’d be too busy with potential buyers to do anymore than register his presence, leaving him free to make a hasty exit. In the meantime, he needed to find something to eat before he starved to death.

Across the room he spied black-clad catering staff and made his way around half walls and columns to check out their offerings. At least he thought they were catering staff. With black continuing to be the customary dress code of New York art patrons, he could never be too sure. Still, silver platters were sure to give them away. Before he’d gotten halfway across the converted warehouse, a waitress materialized in front of him, offering champagne and scallops wrapped in bacon. Pendulum lights from above glinted on the crystal glasses, and the smoky scent made his mouth water. He snagged a glass of champagne and two scallops, and popped one immediately into his mouth. The ice cold glass chilled his fingers and provided a welcome relief from the warmth of the overcrowded room. The scallop melted in his mouth, leaving the taste of crisp bacon for him to savor. A little bit of heaven.

He saw Samantha and made his way over, past old gentlemen sitting on oversized ottomans comparing notes, willow-thin women chatting about the Hamptons and a few art students staring at the scene with longing. He waited until she noticed him. They said their hellos quickly, and she apologized as another group of people swept her away. He nodded his understanding and, with his duty complete, headed back the way he’d come.

He’d gone about twenty-five feet when something caught his attention. Surrounded by movement — the friction caused by the artist’s use of flashy, contrasting colors against stark white canvas, the undulating positions of the sculptures, or the constant swaying of people in the room — her stillness drew his eye. All other sights and sounds disappeared as he approached her. He no longer heard the chatter and laughter around him. His vision tunneled and all surrounding sights disappeared into a fog. His ears picked up only the sound of her fingernails tapping the crystal goblet and magnified it until her tapping became the beat of a song for him alone. The jasmine scent of her perfume floated toward him and made him think of summer vacations in a tropical paradise. Distracted by her, he didn’t notice those around him trying to get out of his way.

She stood motionless in front of a painting. The spotlight above illuminated her brown hair, turning it a fiery red tinged with gold, her skin a luminous peach. Her blouse, made of some gauzy material he couldn’t name, but longed to touch, draped gracefully over her shoulders and down her back. With the lights pouring down on her, he could just see the outline of her body. The barely there whisper of an outline attracted him more than any wet T-shirt ever could. Her black-flared pants hugged her hips the way he once had held a woman, gently but firmly.

He stared at her, bedazzled. He only intended to look for a moment, but she turned around and met his eyes. Caught red-handed he contemplated turning around, but that would be cowardly. He couldn’t continue to stare at her without appearing either moronic or rude, especially since he hated when people stared at him. He inhaled and tried to muster up a smile, when another man approached her. Breaking their gaze, she turned and smiled at him. Gideon inched closer. He heard her engage the other man in casual conversation before she gently excused herself. As the other man walked off, she turned back to Gideon and smiled. Her green cat eyes pierced his soul and made him believe she could see right through him. He continued to watch her, entranced.

“Hasn’t anyone taught you it’s impolite to stare?”

Struck by the irony of her question, he burst into warm laughter and shook her outstretched hand. Her soft cool hand fit completely within his hard, callused one and he closed his other hand over hers. He felt the delicate veins beneath her skin, her pulse beating in her wrist and wished to prolong the skin-on-skin contact for as long as possible. Reluctantly, he let it go.

“I’m Gideon.”

“Lily.”

“Are you a fan?”

Lily stared at him blankly for a moment and blinked quickly. “Oh, of the artist’s?” She turned once more to look at the painting, tilting her head to the right. “Not exactly. He’s a little too…”

“Much? Bright? Vulgar?”

Lily laughed. “I see you’re a huge fan. No, maybe, I don’t know. The colors are cheery, if only maybe there weren’t so many. But looking at it does brighten my mood.”

“Bad day at work?”

“Terrible. But why are you here if you don’t like the artist?”

Gideon turned and pointed to Samantha on the other side of the room. “She’s my sister.”

Lily raised her eyebrows as she looked over at the gallery owner.

“Oh, Samantha’s my best friend. I didn’t realize you were her brother. So I guess she roped you into this too?”

He sat back and gave her what he hoped was a relaxed grin. “Brotherly duty, or some such nonsense. Apparently I pulled one too many pigtails as a child and this is my penance.”

Lily laughed. She has a great laugh, he thought. It lit up her whole face. “Samantha had pigtails?”

The two of them turned to look at Samantha, currently sporting short and spiky jet-black hair, with small rhinestone barrettes scattered throughout. “You’ll have to fill me in more later,” Lily added, as she stifled a yawn.

“What, is it my stimulating conversation, or these garish paintings that bores you?” Gideon asked, one eyebrow raised.

Lily apologized. “I’m sorry. I had a long day at work and I’m exhausted. I wasn’t even going to come, but Samantha begged.”

“She tends to do that. I’ve told her it isn’t a pleasing trait, but why should she listen to me? I’m only her big brother.”


Find out more about Samantha’s big brother in A Heart of Little Faith, available from Whiskey Creek Press this month! Part of the proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

To learn more about Jennifer, click here http://jenniferwilck.com/index.html

To buy A Heart of Little Faith, click below.

http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=907