Title: A Summer’s Day: Shakespearean Anthology with a Twist
Authors: Nephy Heart, Louise Lyons, Rebecca Cohen, JL Merrow, Charlie Cochrane, Asta Idonea, Dianne Hartsock, Rory Ni Coileain, Kathy Griffith, M LeAnne Phoenix, Phetra H Novak, Rian Durant
Genre: Gay Romance/Fiction
Length: Anthology, 115 K
Cover Art: Jay Aheer Simply Defined Art
A collection of 12 stories celebrating the Bard’s legacy with modern retelling of some of his works and delightful referencing of anything Shakespeare.
There is gentle YA romance next to hot sexy stories and all kinds of relationships – first love, May/December, interracial, second chances, happy endings and even a tragic one.
We’re travelling from Ancient Rome through Renaissance England to modern day UK, Venice Beach and other places in USA, Vancouver and Havana.
There’s fun, drama, tears, joy and, above all, lots of true love.
All proceeds of this collection go to the It Gets Better Project™.
Buy Links:
Blurbs
DEEPER THAN DID EVER PLUMMET SOUND
Clarence Limont is a slowly fading star of the London stage;
convinced his great performances are all behind him, he nevertheless agrees to
play Prospero in an off-off-Broadway production of The Tempest helmed by an old
friend.
Jaymes Stafford is the production’s starry-eyed Ariel, waking feelings Clarence had thought long dead and buried.
But the poisonous jealousy of other members of the cast may steal the stars from Jaymes’ eyes, and even put paid to Clarence’s illustrious career.
Jaymes Stafford is the production’s starry-eyed Ariel, waking feelings Clarence had thought long dead and buried.
But the poisonous jealousy of other members of the cast may steal the stars from Jaymes’ eyes, and even put paid to Clarence’s illustrious career.
("The
Tempest")
When Romeo runs into Julian on the beach, he's the last person
he wants to see as he’s grown up hating him due to his parents' aversion to
Julian's dad.
Forced to rescue Julian from the sea, Romeo is surprised by his grudging attraction to the other young man.
When simple lust becomes something more, the pair ignore their parents' anger, but family fights drive the lovers away from home - into a horrifying incident. Will it make the Montgomerys and the Caplins rethink their feud?
("Romeo and Juliet")
Forced to rescue Julian from the sea, Romeo is surprised by his grudging attraction to the other young man.
When simple lust becomes something more, the pair ignore their parents' anger, but family fights drive the lovers away from home - into a horrifying incident. Will it make the Montgomerys and the Caplins rethink their feud?
("Romeo and Juliet")
Caius Martius and Tullus Aufidius have long been enemies.
Then Martius arrives on Aufidius' doorstep, seeking a military alliance. Aufidius accepts; however, he wishes their partnership to extend from the battlefield to the bedchamber.
His lust for Martius is one of the reasons he spares his life, but his jealousy will soon have terrible consequences.
("Coriolanus")
Then Martius arrives on Aufidius' doorstep, seeking a military alliance. Aufidius accepts; however, he wishes their partnership to extend from the battlefield to the bedchamber.
His lust for Martius is one of the reasons he spares his life, but his jealousy will soon have terrible consequences.
("Coriolanus")
Kade is in trouble, negotiating a dangerous path between an
authoritarian father and wayward sister.
Then Pete storms into his life and tries to take over.
It can only end in disaster.
("Taming of The Shrew")
Then Pete storms into his life and tries to take over.
It can only end in disaster.
("Taming of The Shrew")
Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking
it’ll help him get over the death of his partner.
He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have reveled in.
Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?
("Twelfth Night")
He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have reveled in.
Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?
("Twelfth Night")
Valentine has been watching Preston date man after man with
never more than a brotherly hug for him.
Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.
Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.
("The Two Gentlemen of Verona")
Finally, despairing that Preston will ever love him in return, Val moves away to college, where he meets the glorious Silver, a man with problems of his own, who just might be his answer.
Torn between his attraction to Preston and his growing desire for Silver, Val wonders if he’ll ever find love or will his life become as tragic as any of the Shakespearean plays he loves so well.
("The Two Gentlemen of Verona")
Desmond, the heir of a business owner is outed in the media
after a hot night with his lover, Olvin, who also happens to be the company’s
best negotiation expert.
This is only the first step in Ian’s plan to get back at Olvin for choosing Michel Caswell as a main assistant for the latest merger instead of him, a plan in which he’s moving everybody around like pawns on a chessboard, bending the rules.
Will Ian drive a wedge between Desmond and Olvin and get the position he wants or will he realize that there’s something more important that stops the world from turning into chaos?
("Othello")
This is only the first step in Ian’s plan to get back at Olvin for choosing Michel Caswell as a main assistant for the latest merger instead of him, a plan in which he’s moving everybody around like pawns on a chessboard, bending the rules.
Will Ian drive a wedge between Desmond and Olvin and get the position he wants or will he realize that there’s something more important that stops the world from turning into chaos?
("Othello")
Tony and Bartholomew have been friends for years, but his latest
request is a little much.
Bart needs a loan to impress Porsche Keller, a personable billionaire, but the only cash available is from banker and raging homophobe Sherlock Palmer, who has a devious plan for them.
Will our heroes find love and get their happy ending?
("The Merchant of Venice")
Bart needs a loan to impress Porsche Keller, a personable billionaire, but the only cash available is from banker and raging homophobe Sherlock Palmer, who has a devious plan for them.
Will our heroes find love and get their happy ending?
("The Merchant of Venice")
Claudio is happy to be home after serving his country as a
soldier for over fifteen years being stationed mostly abroad ready to settle
down.
Hero is still living at home, together with his father, trying to do what is expected a young man his age is supposed to do, work and live every day like it is your last.
The two men meet at a family wedding, realizing they share a mutual dream of finding love and starting a family but evil lurks amongst them. Will these two lovers find a way to be together?
("Much Ado About Nothing")
Hero is still living at home, together with his father, trying to do what is expected a young man his age is supposed to do, work and live every day like it is your last.
The two men meet at a family wedding, realizing they share a mutual dream of finding love and starting a family but evil lurks amongst them. Will these two lovers find a way to be together?
("Much Ado About Nothing")
Hollywood darling Jerome Winter always defined himself by his
looks—until a fire destroyed them.
His oldest friend and still-loyal manager, Sam, has long carried a torch for him, but with his looks—and earning power—gone, what does Jerome have left to offer?
(Sonnet 130)
His oldest friend and still-loyal manager, Sam, has long carried a torch for him, but with his looks—and earning power—gone, what does Jerome have left to offer?
(Sonnet 130)
When actor Koray Shepherd rescues writer Winter Sirois from the
brutal hands of his supervisor, Winter never would have believed the beautiful
Turk would share his love of The Bard.
When Koray asks Winter out on a date, Winter takes center stage in his very own tragedy, determined to end his play for today with a happily ever after.
Screwing his courage to the sticking place, Winter sets his sights on the future and Koray... but when the horrors of yesterday resurface, will he crest the waves of fear and despair, or will he be heard no more?
("Macbeth")
When Koray asks Winter out on a date, Winter takes center stage in his very own tragedy, determined to end his play for today with a happily ever after.
Screwing his courage to the sticking place, Winter sets his sights on the future and Koray... but when the horrors of yesterday resurface, will he crest the waves of fear and despair, or will he be heard no more?
("Macbeth")
Competition for roles is always high when the King's Men put on
a play, but David seems to come up against Jacob time and time again, no matter
what part he is auditioning for.
But now they both want to be Lady Macbeth and it’s more than simple rivalry that causes the sparks to fly.
(Shakespeare's Theatre)
But now they both want to be Lady Macbeth and it’s more than simple rivalry that causes the sparks to fly.
(Shakespeare's Theatre)
Excerpts
Deeper Than Did Ever Plummet
Sound
Rory Ni Coileain
Jaymes’ mouth twisted. Frustration? Anger? “It’s his
favorite way of getting into my personal space, where he has no business being.
And reminding me that I have nappy hair. And reminding me that somebody like me
has no business doing Shakespeare.”
All Clarence could do was stare. “Has he actually had
the gall to say that to your face?” he finally managed.
Jaymes’ tight shrug made Clarence feel hollow inside.
“He’s not the first, he won’t be the last.”
“Wonderful. We have positive proof the man’s a
certifiable lunatic as well as a clinging arsecrumb.” Thank God, there was a
drink next to his elbow at last. He snatched it up and drained nearly half in
one go. “Has he paid even one iota of attention to the London stage for the
last, oh, five seasons?”
“What did you just call him?”
Ah, the smile was back. Not quite at full wattage, but
enough for Clarence to warm himself at. “One of my favorite non-Shakespearean
epithets.”
“Worthy of inclusion in the canon.”
Clarence laughed, trying to make it sound like less of
a bark than his laughter usually did. “Perhaps I’ll slip it into a rehearsal
sometime.”
“I double dog dare you.”
And if I
take your dare, what will you forfeit?
Christ, he’d almost asked aloud. Back to staring into his glass—a damned sight
safer than looking into eyes that threatened to melt him.
Much Ado About Lady Macbeth
Rebecca Cohen
SURELY DAVID WAS not the only one who could see
Jacob’s complete lack of talent. Jacob might be pretty enough to pass as
Juliet, in the right light and squinting, but the minute the petulant popinjay
opened his mouth his ineptitude had to be clear to all. How Jacob had ever
become a player in the King’s Men was beyond David’s comprehension. He seethed
quietly to himself as he watched Jacob prance from one side of the stage to the
other, supposedly a sprightly fairy but looking more like he was suffering from
ague. David clicked his tongue in annoyance as Jacob fumbled his words.
A soft sigh to his right made him turn to see his
friend Gwilliam shake his head. “What?” David demanded.
“You grind your teeth so loudly I thought it was a
carpenter at work. Yet, the reason for it is so absurd you cannot see the
ridiculousness from where you are, deep in your cave of wilful denial.”
“Denial? What gibberish knots your tongue?”
Gwilliam tutted and returned to reading the pamphlet
he was holding. “Your animosity for Jacob is no more real than the fairy he is
currently playing.”
David spluttered, almost swallowing his tongue at the
implication of Gwilliam’s words. A “shush” from the stage prevented him from
answering and he sank lower in his seat, his gaze fixed on the annoying Jacob
and his annoyingly perfect bottom. David couldn’t grumble about the importance
of his role, but thought he should be playing Titania, not the dull-witted
Helena. A pining maiden was no match for the queen of the fairies.
Review
This Anthology features stories from authors Rory Ni
Coileain, Louise Lyons, Dianne Hartsock, Nephy Hart, Rian Durant, Kathy
Griffin, Asta Idonea, Rebecca Cohen, Charlie Cochran, JL Merrow, Phetra H.
Novack, & M Leanne Phoenix.
Shakespeare is near and dear to my heart! And when this was
offered to me to read and review I took it! It’s filled with short stories that
are inspired by William Shakespeare and altered for LGBT readers. So yeah, I
was SO sold on this.
There are a lot of emotions per story and how it was
organized was brilliant. It is emotional in parts and joyful in others. Each
writer has their own style so it was a fantastic treat to see how each did it.
There is something for everyone in this anthology; YA, Very
NOT YA, tragedy, Happily ever afters, May-December romance, diverse coupling,
just so much to fall in to. It a roller-coaster mix of awesome.
I totally recommend this and the fact that ALL the proceeds go
to the It Gets Better Project makes it even more special!
This is not just for the Shakespeare fan it’s for the lover
of literature too. So grab it!
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thanks for the terrific review!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the wonderful anthology it is a wonderful idea to raise money for The "It Gets Better Project"
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the anthology! It looks great and a great way to raise for charity =)
ReplyDelete