Why do people keep sticking their hands into wild animals’ cages at the zoo?  Why do politicians keep cheating on their wives and think they’ll never get caught?  And why do seemingly intelligent writers keep falsifying information and trying to pass it off as fact?

In February, I posted some thoughts on the latter issue.  Now comes another instance:  Henry Holt and Company has declined to publish a disputed book by James Pellegrino  on the atomic bombing of Japan.  Mr. Pellegrino has allegedly been unable to answer the publisher’s concerns about the veracity of certain information and the reliability and even the existence of certain sources.

I don’t get it.  On the one hand, isn’t the bombing of Japan an incident of such historical and emotional significance that the truth needs no assistance?  On the other hand, why not write your story as a novel if you enjoy making things up?

But then, if politicians remained faithful and people kept their fingers out of lions’ cages, we novelists would be deprived of stunning examples of real-life idiocy on which to base believable fictional characters.

I recently came across the following message as a tagline on a discussion forum:

This post is a natural product.  The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and are in no way to be considered flaws or defects.

Since I have just finished proofreading the typeset pages for The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare, that sentiment really hit home.  At this stage, I have made the final corrections to the manuscript, and I won’t see it again before it goes to print.

Thus, if there are any errors I have missed or if the typesetter fails to pick up those errors I have marked, they will appear in the actual book.  Being a perfectionist about my writing, the idea of even a single typo slipping through is a hard lump to swallow, especially because, despite my best efforts, there are errata in both my previous books.

But maybe it’s time to take a more serene view and adopt the philosophy in the tagline above.  Writing–and creating art of any sort–is an organic pursuit, and perhaps the results are never meant to be perfect.  The joy is in the process.

If you are in the area, please join me on Saturday, 27 February, for a presentation to the Florida Writers Association.  I’ll share my experiences in writing The Kingsley House and The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare, followed by a Q&A on any aspect of writing that interests you.

What:  “15 Tips for Researching and Writing A Historical Novel”

When:  Saturday, 27 February, 10:30 a.m.

Where:  Ponte Vedra Beach Library, 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

The program is open to the public, and a book signing will follow.  Whether you are a writer or a reader, this is your chance to learn from my (mis)adventures!

When a book gets published, the author is typically asked by the publisher to fill out a questionnaire covering the author’s personal and professional background, previous publishing credits, etc.  The information is used by the marketing department to promote the book.

Having filled out such a questionnaire for my first two novels, I wasn’t surprised when my current publisher asked me to do the same for The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare, due out in June.  But this time I was also requested to sign a statement certifying that all the information I provided in the questionnaire was “true and verifiable” and that I could produce documentation, if requested.

I’m guessing this in response to recent cases where authors have penned best-selling memoirs and, quite frankly, lied.  The media pounced on the stories, the publishers claimed to be shocked, and the liars made a lot of money and became even more famous.  In this country, we reward people for behaving badly.

So I want to confess right here and now that I lie all the time.  I write fiction, and what is fiction but a tapestry of lies so beautifully and movingly interwoven that the story feels utterly true?

But I don’t lie about who or what I am.  Even a bestseller isn’t worth that.

If you are reading this post on my new Author Page on Amazon, welcome!  All future posts will appear here as well via RSS Feed.  If you are reading this post on my website, welcome also.  You can click below to read any posts you may have missed.

I try to blog once a week about some aspect of writing or publishing, but if nothing appears for a while, that is actually good news.  It means I am so engrossed in writing my new novel that I can’t bear to break away.  And having just finished the copy editing for The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare, I have now jumped from Tudor England to 21st century Florida where my next book is set.

A lovely bit of time traveling–isn’t fiction marvelous?

When you start writing a novel, it can be difficult to see the trees for the forest.  You need to concentrate on the big picture:  the characters, plot and overall theme.  The details will come into focus on the second, third or fourth draft.  At least, this is how it works for me.

After the book has been sold to a publisher, the focus becomes even sharper.  As the novel progresses from general editing to line editing to copy editing to galley proofs, every last sentence, word and punctuation mark is scrutinized for accuracy and consistency.  You see nothing but “trees”–and you kick yourself for not noticing them sooner.  How could I, after a dozen intensive drafts, have missed that typo or misspelled that character’s name?

So I am grateful to have just completed my share of the copy editing for The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare and extend my thanks to all those at New American Library involved in this stage of the process.

I hope readers will find each individual tree is as good as I could make it and the forest an enchanting place in which to spend their time.

When I posted back in October that The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare and How (Not) to Have a Perfect Wedding were being represented for film rights in Hollywood, I wasn’t holding my breath that anything would happen.  I have enough friends who have tried to break into screenwriting to know that Hollywood is something of a black hole into which hopes and dreams get sucked, never to be seen again.

So I don’t mind telling everyone who has asked that so far nothing further has transpired.  The novels are still being represented, and once the holidays are over, the movers and shakers in Hollywood may be ready to start something new.

However, I do know which actress I want to play Anne Shakespeare should that novel make it to the screen:  Cate Blanchett.  In the novel, Anne ages from a young woman to a widow on her deathbed and matures from an intelligent but untutored girl to a powerful and passionate playwright.  I think it is a role any actress would crave.

So, if you happen to be Cate Blanchett dropping by my website, please check out my book and let’s talk.

Jeane Westin, author of The Virgin’s Daughters, has kindly provided the next endorsement for The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare–and what a generous compliment it is.  When you have spent three years researching and writing a book, it is a thrill to hear another writer affirm that you have met their high standards for authenticity and for creating a compelling tale.

Once again, I am very appreciative that a fellow author took the time to read and respond to my novel.  To read Jeane’s endorsement and an excerpt from the novel, click on the Shakespeare book cover to the left.

It’s that time of year when thoughtful people contemplate what holiday salutation to employ.  Among friends and family, it’s easy.  You know whether they’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, Festivus or some other event.

With business colleagues and casual acquaintances, however, the choice isn’t always obvious.  So not wanting to offend anyone, we opt for the fallback position, Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings.   There is nothing wrong with this.  If we gave as much thought to our choice of words throughout the rest of the year, we might have more peace on earth.

Unfortunately, the actual language of these fallback greetings is totally lacking in zest.  We need brighter words, sparkling phrases that leap off the tongue.  So in that spirit, I wish you:

Joyous Holly Days, a Merry Fete, and Glorious Revels to one and all!

My first two novels were published without blurbs, those endorsements on the cover from other authors and experts that give potential readers an extra incentive to buy the book.  I didn’t know personally any authors whom I could ask, and my publishers’ efforts were unsuccessful.  I can understand why:  it takes time to read a 500-page manuscript and then encapsulate it in two or three sentences, time the author has to take away from his or her own writing.

That is why I am especially grateful to Karen Harper, the national bestselling author of Mistress Shakespeare and The Queen’s Governess, for providing the first endorsement for The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare.  Her blurb perfectly captures Anne’s character and the spirit of the novel.

To read Karen’s endorsement and an excerpt from the novel, click on the Shakespeare book cover to your left.