“To go for it, or not to go for it?” That is the appealing question that drives For the Love of the Bard, the debut novel from author Jessica Martin, which is being published just in time to go to the top of your summer reading list, especially if you’re a Shakespeare nerd. The story involves our heroine Miranda Barnes returning to her hometown of Bard’s Rest, New Hampshire, and helping to run the theater festival run by her parents. But once there, Miranda struggles with her feelings for Adam, the hunky veterinarian who spurned her in high school but also looks great with his shirt off. Martin discusses an early pumpkin-related success led to her passion for writing; how writing gets easier only by doing it; how the book’s fantasy works on so many levels; the surprisingly tricky aspects of writing urban fantasy; how she started writing, how she came to Shakespeare, and how she came to write about Shakespeare; shout-outs to both Robertson Davies's Tempest-Tost and the Hogarth series of Shakespearean novels; and how people who don't like Shakespeare puns are sad and to be pitied. (Length 17:32)
Phillip R. Smith, the Producing Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company, talks about the core values that drive the work of this highly respected institution. Featuring the wisdom of grand adventures, multiple artistic directors, shared Edinburgh origins, stubborn trajectories, the power of never reaching the horizon, the wonders of shared representation, the challenges of decision-making, and the glories of never settling. (Length 22:29)
2 Comments
austin · May 12, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Did you see it? You should have said hello after! So glad you found it and enjoyed it!
Patricia · May 12, 2014 at 6:45 am
I was in Chicago on a business trip this past week, and was fortunate enough to get tickets for this wonderful play. Thanks so much for talking about it. We would not have found it otherwise!!