Nebbadoon-Press - Shakespearean Actor Trilogy

Jinny Webber recreates the England of
William Shakespeare through the eyes of
a boy actor who has a secret.

Vol. 1. The Secret Player
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 he poet John Donne fall in love. In life and onstage, Sander Cooke dares to challenge the status quo.

Vol. 2. Dark Venus
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, both of the sonnets and many of his female roles. She too has a poetic gift and the will to develop it.

Vol.3 Bedtrick 3)
In Bedtrick, Sander's brother John Cooke impregnates the seamstress Frances and 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.Dates of publication: Summer 2012, Winter 2013, Spring 2013.

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