After years of acting in Shakespeare's plays, Christy English is excited to bring the Bard to Regency England. When she isn't acting, roller skating, or chasing the Muse, Christy writes historical novels (The Queen's Pawn and To Be Queen) from her home in North Carolina.
Kim: North Carolina - what is your favorite sight, sound, and smell?
Christy: My favorite sound is the flow of a waterfall over rocks, and the scent of the clean earth and green growing things at the foot of it. There is so much clean beauty in and around a waterfall.
Christy: My favorite sound is the flow of a waterfall over rocks, and the scent of the clean earth and green growing things at the foot of it. There is so much clean beauty in and around a waterfall.
Kim: Acting - what draws you to it? How has your acting experience helped your writing career?
Christy: The muse that helps me bring a character to life on stage helps me delve into the characters in my novels. Acting on stage is an adventure, in that no matter how much you rehearse, you never really know what is going to happen during a live performance. The same is true when I’m writing. No matter how carefully I outline a novel, I never really know what my characters are going to do until they do it. It’s exciting.
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| Shakespeare's birthplace by John from Wikipedia |
Kim: "Bring the Bard to Regency England" - if Shakespeare lived in the Regency Era, what do you think would have been the titles (or subjects) of his comedies and tragedies?
Christy: Some wise person said that there is nothing new under the sun, so I think many of the themes of Shakespeare’s plays would not have changed. He still would have written about true love, and Fairy Queens, and dueling lovers like Katherine and Petrucchio, and Benedict and Beatrice. But instead of writing about the Tudors and the War of the Roses, I think he would have mocked Napoleon, and flattered the Prince Regent. Shakespeare’s genius is alive and well in any age. It would have been fun to watch what he might have created for Drury Lane.
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| Robert Blemmell Schnebbelie's DRURY LANE THEATER 1821 |
Kim: Tell us about HOW TO TAME A WILLFUL WIFE!
Christy: HOW TO TAME A WILLFUL WIFE is a re-telling of the Taming of the Shrew. Unlike Shakespeare’s play, it isn’t the wife who is tamed, but the husband. Tall, dark and gorgeous Anthony Carrington meets Caroline Montague after the marriage contract is signed. This arranged marriage is set to save Caroline’s father from his debts, but Anthony has no idea what he is really signing up for. On paper, Caroline looks like the perfect, biddable bride, but not five minutes after he meets her, she is throwing daggers at him.
Though in the beginning they are more compatible in bed than out of it, over time they begin to get to know each other, and actually begin to like each other. HOW TO TAME A WILLFUL WIFE is really a story about two strong-willed people learning to live together. Equality is not a concept Anthony is familiar with, but Caroline insists on it from the moment they meet. By the end of the novel, Anthony has begun to meet her on her own ground and to treat her, not as a child in need of correction, but a woman who he respects.
Though in the beginning they are more compatible in bed than out of it, over time they begin to get to know each other, and actually begin to like each other. HOW TO TAME A WILLFUL WIFE is really a story about two strong-willed people learning to live together. Equality is not a concept Anthony is familiar with, but Caroline insists on it from the moment they meet. By the end of the novel, Anthony has begun to meet her on her own ground and to treat her, not as a child in need of correction, but a woman who he respects.
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| Edward Robert Hughes' THE SHREW KATHERINE |
Kim: What's next for Christy English?
Christy: We’re continuing the Shakespeare in the Regency series with LOVE ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT in which Raymond Olivier, Earl of Pembroke, Anthony’s best friend in WILLFUL WIFE is reunited with the one true love of his life. We might have called that one THE TAMING OF THE RAKE, but Shakespeare never wrote that play. Thank you so much for hosting me and my book on your blog. I have had a blast chatting with you.
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| Edwin Henry Lanseer's SCENE FROM A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM |
Mahalo, Christy, for being my guest today! I posted my four star review of HOW TO TAME A WILLFUL WIFE on Amazon at this link and Goodreads at this link. To celebrate its release, I am giving away a "Taming of the Tea" prize - an assortment of Hawaiian fruit tea plus a Hawaiian 2013 calendar. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about Shakespeare - do you have a favorite writing? Or even an adaption of his work?
I enjoyed SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE!
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, November 10, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, November 11.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Christy and her books, check out her website at christyenglish.com.
I know it's crazy but I've never been into Shakespeare.
ReplyDeleteI have read some but enjoy the darker ones like Macbeth
ReplyDeleteShakespeare in Love. I love that movie so much!!! <3 I like how Gwyneth Paltrow as a young man and how William Shakespeare discovered it. Though I'll always hate the ending. :(
ReplyDeleteKim thank you so much for hosting me :) Mary, it's not crazy at all...some Shakespeare on stage can be painful to watch. I'm hoping that people have a little more fun with my version LOL
ReplyDeleteDebby, Macbeth is my all time favorite! So much evil and darkness, and witches ...And then there's Lady M...I love a strong willed woman.
Lory Lee, I love Shakespeare in Love too...such a sweet movie, and so clever. Tom Stoppard is my favorite living playwright. What a genius.
Thanks you guys for tossing your name in the hat. I hope you enjoy the book...:)
My favorite is Romeo and Juliet! But I'm not all that crazy about him either. :(
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Romeo and Juliet, but still love if the end of the story is happy ending :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was at school, I actually participated in "As You Like It". So, I have to say that this is my favorite play of his. I've also been to Shakespeare's birth place a few times.
ReplyDeleteHis most memorable work for me is MacBeth. I like learning how his plays were enacted and how originally only male actors participated.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of Shakespeare in high school (and was a member of the Shakespeare Club) and college. I've been to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Twelfth Night was always one of my favorites. Thanks for visiting today, Christy.
ReplyDeleteLSU Reader, I love that you were in a Shakespeare Club...I am friends with a woman who runs a local theatre company who stages his comedies during the summer outdoors...I feel like I'm in that club too. I still need to go to the Folger :)
DeleteI love the Leo and Claire Danes Romeo and Juliet movie.
ReplyDeleteI really don't know a lot about Shakespeare! I know I'm bad! I know Eloisa James Essex Sister series was loosely based on his plays which I loved.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with a lot about Shakespeare but I do love Romeo and Juliet. I remember when I first read it in high school I wasn't the biggest fan but the older I get the more I appreciate it. Plus, I love quoting it.
ReplyDeleteJohanna, I need to read more Eloisa James! Everybody tells me she's fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Romeo and Juliet but the end kind of kills it for me. Some lovely poetry in there though. I did love the Clare Danes movie...
As You Like It is a lot of fun... maybe I should base a book on that...
Thank you all for chiming in and tossing your name in the hat for the give away. I hope you enjoy the book :)
"Twelfth Night" and "Macbeth" are my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI never enjoyed reading Shakespeare because I didn't understand the words. It's easier in movie or play form. I have always enjoyed Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteOhh Jane I love 12th Night...that would make a fabulous romance too :)
ReplyDeleteCatslady, it can be tough to take...better when an actor makes it understandable. That's how Shakespeare himself did it right? :)
As a teen I loved Romeo & Juliet. Now I favor Twelfth Night.
ReplyDeleteI studied Julius Caesar in High School & enjoyed it. I do like THE MERCHANT OF VENICE too.
ReplyDeleteJfot39's Daughter, I am a 12th Night fan too. So funny when done well. Mary P, Julius Caesar has some fabulous quotes in it...
ReplyDelete"Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once." I love that!
After seeing it on Moonlighting, The Taming of the Shrew became my favorite! lol
ReplyDeleteI have only watch the movies: Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare in Love and I loved them both. And about a quote well right now I only remember this one. "Be or not to be". :)
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