Shakespeare's Conspirator - Spotlight & Giveaway -

Shakespeare’s Conspirator

Did a shunned Jewish woman of color write many of Shakespeare’s
plays?

A young woman seals
a secret pact with Shakespeare bringing her plays into the world but
the acclaim to him, yet she embeds subtle clues pointing to her
authorship and imperiling her life.

Shakespeare’s Conspirator

The Woman, The
Writer, The Clues

by Steve Weitzenkorn

Genre: Historical
Fiction

Brimming with intrigue, SHAKESPEARE’S CONSPIRATOR shatters beliefs
about the world’s greatest playwright. Did he really write the
thirty-seven plays credited to him?

It’s 1587.
Shakespeare is struggling to launch his career. Finally he persuades
James Burbage, a theater owner, to stage Henry VI. He’s the same
proprietor who refused to look at Amelia Bassano’s comedic script.
Infuriated after being blocked at every turn, she reluctantly seals a
secret pact with Shakespeare.

So begins a fiery
relationship that triggers suspicions, plots to expose them, and
grave dangers.Craving recognition and ways to break through, Amelia
pursues illicit relationships with Elizabethan luminaries while
becoming a controversial advocate for women.

Scandals and
complications follow as her life takes dreadful turns. When
Shakespeare pressures her to write a soul-tormenting script, she
fears being exposed as a hidden Jew, a felony in Elizabethan England.
Undeterred, she embeds hints to her authorship and true identity in
Shakespeare’s plays. But not everyone is deceived.

In this captivating
story, the web of secrets and trail of clues reveals a perilous and
cloaked Shakespearean world.

REVIEWERS HAVE CALLED SHAKESPEARE’S
CONSPIRATOR:

“A STUNNING
ACHIEVEMENT.”

“A MUST READ ON THE
TRUE AUTHORSHIP OF SOME OF SHAKESPEARE’S GREATEST WORK.”

“AN HISTORICAL
WHO-WROTE-IT,” “ENTHRALLING,” “LOVINGLY RESEARCHED.“

“A TRIBUTE TO A
STRONG AND CREATIVE JEWISH WOMAN.”

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I write historical fiction that challenges assumptions and provides
fresh insights into the events of prior centuries, legendary figures,
and people overlooked in the sweep of time. My first novel,
Shakespeare’s Conspirator, has been optioned by a
celebrity-owned production company in LA. It imagines the life of
Emilia Bassano Lanyer, a real woman who may have written several
plays attributed to Shakespeare. I’ve also written a prequel and
sequel that delves in to the Shakespeare authorship mystery. With any
luck, all may be coming to a screen near you.

My writing journey
began as I was winding down my career as an organizational behavior
consultant and co-authored a book on teamwork and leadership. As an
avid reader, I became intrigued by curious fact patterns inconsistent
with commonly-held beliefs, that I, like many others, assumed were
true. When I realized the logic of those assumptions did not always
hold up to close scrutiny, and experts had dug trenches around their
own theories, I launched into my own research. Fascinating stories
emerged and my imagination took over.

Since most people
don’t read academic material, I reasoned that a compelling way to
convey the evidence and challenge beliefs was to depict real and
fictional characters dropping the bread crumbs, or following them, in
reality-based historical fiction. In my novels, characters uncover
and discuss clues through intriguing plots that track with historical
chronologies—allowing readers to form their own conclusions.

My most recent
published novel delves into the Spanish Inquisition, the trauma it
created, and the life-changing decisions it triggered. Two other
historical novels are in the pipeline. In one, the protagonist
discovers her family’s hidden past while alternate chapters track
her ancestor’s journey over hundreds of years.

I have also
co-authored two non-fiction books: The Catalyst Effect: 12
Skills to Boost Your Impact and Elevate Team Performance and
Find-Fulfill-Flourish about
discovering one’s purpose.

I
have a dry sense of humor along with a Ph.D. in Human Learning and
Organizational Behavior. I’ve been honored with the William C.
Byham Award for Innovation and Excellence in Training Technology and
the Henkel Award for Global HR Excellence. I have served on the
boards of nonprofit organizations and as president of two. I enjoy
mentoring, teaching, presenting, volunteering, and learning in any
way possible.

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