Kissing Shakespeare: Deleted Scene + Giveaway

Kissing Shakespeare
Pamela Mingle
August 14th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Goodreads

A romantic time travel story that's ideal for fans of novels by Meg Cabot and Donna Jo Napoli--and, of course, Shakespeare.

Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school's staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide.

Fellow cast member, Stephen Langford, has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she'd like to meet Shakespeare, Miranda thinks he's a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England—the world Stephen's really from. He wants Miranda to use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lost its greatest playwright.

Miranda isn't convinced she's the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it's her only chance of getting back to the present and her "real" life. What Miranda doesn't bargain for is finding true love . . . with no acting required.

Today I'm so lucky to have Pamela Mingle here on Book Lagniappe with a deleted scene from her upcoming YA novel, Kissing Shakespeare. This is a novel five years in the making which included two years of research! Gotta love the dedication! I will confess right now: I love pretty much anything to do with Shakespeare. I was an English major in college, and I am a librarian now. For me, there is just something about Shakespeare, and I would love to be in Miranda's shoes for a day and be able to go back in time to 16th century England. Just to be able to walk around and soak it all in would be amazing!

Pamela was nice enough to send me a deleted scene from the novel, which hits shelves August 14th. She also was kind enough to offer a copy of Kissing Shakespeare to one lucky winner!  And, you do know you are lucky, right!?! 

So, take a read at the deleted scene (which reads as if it shouldn't be deleted, at least to me) and sign up for a chance to win Kissing Shakespeare by Pamela Mingle!

Writers despair over the brilliant—at least in their minds—scenes they’ve written that never make it into their books! There are many reasons for excising a scene, paragraph, or line: it doesn’t move the story along, doesn’t help define character, it’s repetitious, and so on. I thought readers of Kissing Shakespeare might enjoy glancing at a scene that took place in an earlier version, but wasn’t included in the final published book.

A brief set-up: If you’ve already read Kissing Shakespeare, some of this may sound familiar. Most of it will be new to you, however. Right before the action begins, Miranda’s been eavesdropping on a conversation taking place in the billiard room involving Will Shakespeare, Stephen Langford, Alexander Hoghton, and Thomas Cook. The subject of the discussion is the religious discord going on in England. Prior to that, she’d attempted, unsuccessfully, to sneak into Thomas Cook’s room.

So…read on, and enjoy! ~ Pamela

I didn't wait around to see if they all agreed, but took off down the passage. The billiard room door clicked shut, and with their longer strides, the men wouldn’t be that far behind me. I flew to the staircase, cursing myself for a fool. I plunged down the steps and almost immediately slipped and fell, tumbling all the way down to the bottom. I couldn’t prevent an unladylike “Oof!” from bursting out when I landed. At least the steps were wood, not marble.

My fall made an ungodly racket, mainly because the candleholder bounced along with me. I lay stunned in a graceless heap, waiting. I was afraid to move.

"What was that?"  Will asked.

"I've no idea.” Stephen’s voice. “God's breath! Someone's fallen down the steps."

The four of them raced to my side. Perfect.

Cries of "Olivia!" and "Niece!" echoed through the empty hall. I moaned and tried to sit up.

"Do not move! Lie still and let me see if you've broken anything," Stephen said. He began to check my feet and ankles, then my calves, knees, and thighs. "Any discomfort?"

"Nay." Not the kind you're talking about, anyway.

Thomas melted into the shadows and I had the distinct impression he was praying for me. I thought I saw him make the sign of the cross. Alexander paced back and forth.

When Stephen carefully pressed my ribs with his fingers, I protested. "Stop it! That tickles."

He ignored me. "Shakespeare, try tilting her head. We must make sure her neck and spine are not injured." Will cautiously moved my head from side to side.

"It does not hurt. Indeed, 'tis only my vanity that has been wounded."

 "I think you've been exceedingly lucky, sister. Now, let's get you up."  Before I could protest, he swept me up into his arms.

"This is not necessary!" I said, placing my arms around his neck nevertheless.

"It is if we want to avoid awkward questions," Stephen hissed. "Would one of you open the doors, pray?"

When we reached the staircase leading to our chambers, Alexander said, "God keep you, niece."

"I shall pray for your prompt recovery," Thomas promised.

A surge of guilt washed over me. "I am fine, and I thank you both for your care. Fare thee well." Will followed us upstairs, leaving us when we arrived at my chamber.

Stephen strode over to the bed. "Jesu, mistress, you're heavier than you look." He laid me down on the bed and said, "Would you care to explain what you were doing?"

I sat up, and with a groan, fell back. "I was seeking information. And lower your voice—Jennet's in her room."

"Explain 'seeking information' if you please."

"My original plan was to search Thomas's chamber, but the door was locked. I re-thought my plan and listened to the conversation in the Billiard Room instead. It was most informative."

"What did you think to gain from searching Thomas's chamber?" He glared ferociously at me, and I dropped my gaze.

"I'm not sure. I thought maybe I'd find some correspondence about Shakespeare, or possibly be able to take a look at whatever it is he's been working on."

"Can you envision what would have happened if you'd been caught? You—we—would have been sent home in disgrace, my father informed, our whole scheme would have been discovered!"

"I didn't actually do it, Stephen, so why don't you calm down? I was only trying to be helpful."

"Promise me you will not try anything so foolish again.”

I rolled my eyes. “All right!”

He lowered himself to the edge of my bed, and in a gentle voice said, “Are you in pain?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll live.” Slowly, I slid my hand across the coverlet so that it curled into his. “I’ll be sore in the morning, but it will remind me not to do something so stupid again.”

Quickly, he raised my hand to his lips before rising. “I shall call for Bess.”

Before I could utter a word, he’d rushed through the servants’ door. Damn. What was the hurry? My hand wrapped in his felt so natural. And undeniably romantic. I absolutely needed to ban all romantic notions concerning Stephen from my mind.

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