Vol. 1 - The Secret Player (Available now)
In The Secret Player, the protagonist Alexander Cooke, known as Sander, becomes a favorite performer of women's roles on the London stage, where only males are allowed to act. A dangerous secret: Sander was born female. She is at risk of flogging or even death if her identity is discovered. A few suspect the truth, including William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth. Adding to her risks, she and the poet John Donne fall in love. In life and onstage, Sander Cooke dares to challenge the status quo.

Vol. 2 - Dark Venus (To be released 2014) Pre-Order now
In Dark Venus, Sander befriends Emilia Bassano Lanier, the presumed Dark Lady of Shakespeare's sonnets. Emilia, considered scandalous by many, is a muse for William Shakespeare, for both the sonnets and many of his female roles. She too has a poetic gift and the will to develop it.

Vol.3 - Bedtrick (To be released 2015) Pre-Order now
In Bedtrick, Sander's brother John Cooke impregnates the seamstress Frances but refuses to marry her. A seemingly simple solution is for Alexander to marry Frances. Can a woman get away with being a husband? Shakespeare is in on the secret, which influences the plots of two of his plays, and Queen Elizabeth, nearing death, has a major role in the story.

The series is called the Shakespearean Actor Trilogy and will be available at select bookstores, Shakespeare festivals nationwide, and direct order from here.

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