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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The Kill Order Trailer

 

The Kill Order by James Dashner (@jamesdashner) August 14th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers 

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

Wanderlove Review

Wanderlove

Kirsten Hubbard

@kirstenhubbard

March 13th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

Wow. I truly enjoyed Wanderlove.  I don't know if my review will do it justice, especially with the great synopsis above. I found everything good in YA contemporary fiction in this novel. I found real teens with real questions about life dealing with real situations. Yes, maybe you will not decide one day to just pack up a suitcase and head to Central America, but your journey can be small steps. Just take the first step, right? :)

Finding yourself is never easy, especially as a 17 or 18 year old, ready to head off to college. In Wanderlove, Bria, after a breakup with her boyfriend, a personal loss with something with something essential to her very core and future, decides to strike out on her own, not counting the tour group she signed up with, and have an adventure - to find herself, a couple of cute guys, and just live the good life. Too bad life has a funny way of turning what you expect on its head!

Wanderlove is about dealing with you you were, learning about who are becoming, and somehow accepting the two parts of yourself. If you happen to have an adventure riding in chicken trucks, seeing beautiful lakes, meeting fascinating people you will never forget, doesn't that just shape you into a better person (especially the chicken truck)?

Lagniappe

FAQ for Kirsten Hubbard from her website:

*Name five random things about yourself.

I have a fraternal twin sister. I love to draw, but I fail at crafts — except, inexplicably, steampunk jewelry. I am a food hippie. Some of my favorite books include Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, Watership Down by Richard Adams, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Feed by M.T. Anderson, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I played water polo and worked in a pet store in high school. Yes, there were chinchillas.

*Why Wyoming? I was raised in Southern California, but the Wyoming badlands are in my blood. My mother grew up in a small Wyoming town, and we visited my grandparents there many times. I was fascinated with the small town way of life, and the starkly beautiful badlands.

*Where did you come up with the name Mandarin?
When I was 13-15, I was obsessed with unusual names. (Still am.) I also kept elaborate sketch journals documenting my life. In every volume, I created a different girl, who I drew comics about throughout the book. One of these girls was named Mandarin. Another was named Starling – a character in Wanderlove. I love paying homage to these imaginary girls from my past in the books I’m writing now.

*Did you have a Mandarin Ramey?
Not one in particular, but there were always girls throughout my teen years I longed to be like. There are still girls I long to be like! Such as Natalie Portman. She’s amazing.

*Where’s your favorite place you’ve traveled? That’s really hard. I’ll name a few: Utila, Honduras. Ko Phi Phi, Thailand. Ljubljana, Slovenia. Lake Tonle Sap, Cambodia. Budapest, Hungary. Boquete, Panama. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, and the Belizean Cayes – both a huge part of Wanderlove. And of course, the Wyoming badlands.

*Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
First, embrace the power of setting – both on a large scale, and a scene-by-scene scale. Second, give your readers what they want, not what they expect. In other words, surprise them with a story that takes them unpredictably perfect places. Third, and most importantly, write that next book. Nothing helps beat the rejection blues like a new project you’re excited about. Don’t wait around! Keep writing, and writing, and writing.

*What’s your life philosophy?
Live simply so others can simply live. Also, Googling “baby sloth photos” helps cure every heartsickness.