Wow! Two months later, and the shows are all up and my brain can be removed from the "Actor" mode and dropped back into "Writer" mode. And not a moment too soon!
There's a lot to catch up with, including the fabulous time I had at the Historical Novel Society Conference at the end of June, as well as doing the English translation for a documentary about Cangrande della Scala, and a new print edition of THE MASTER OF VERONA coming out this fall, along with my first foray into horror fiction with a short story in a horror anthology from Grey Matter Press.
BUT the big time-sensitive news is in the world of reviews. Firstly, for my readers, FORTUNE'S FOOL was named an Editor's Choice for the most recent Historical Novel Reviews! Not only that, but COLOSSUS: STONE & STEEL was reviewed as well. I am over the moon, especially as the FF review was written by the fabulous Helen Hollick, whose King Arthur series I've quite enjoyed. Here's some of what she had to say:
"This was my first introduction to David Blixt’s novels – and I can see what all the fuss is about – I loved it! …This is one of the most exciting, and satisfying, reads that I have immersed myself in for a long time. David Blixt is a gem of a writer." (read the whole review here, and the Colossus review here)
It seems to be a summer of good reviews, as the current spate of Michigan Shakespeare Festival shows are getting rave reviews across the board. Twelfth Night is a sensation, with one reviewer saying, "MSF artistic director Janice L. Blixt, the show's director, has worked a wonder; in mining the text, she unearthed comic gems otherwise buried in the romantic scenes. The result is an effervescent, laugh-filled delight." Another reviewer began with, "The audience at last Saturday night's official opening of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night all but carried away the cast in triumph on their shoulders, so enthusiastic was their standing ovation for this keystone of this year's Michigan Shakespeare Festival. Under the clever direction of Janice L. Blixt, who is also the festival's artistic director, this is a production of Twelfth Night that clearly reflects its place as her favorite among Shakespeare's comedies."
King John (directed by John Neville Andrews) and She Stoops To Conquer (directed by Robert Kauzlaric) have had similarly effusive reviews, multiple curtain calls, and several standing ovations. As proud as I am to be a part of these shows, I am clearly even prouder of my lovely and talented wife Jan for crafting this festival so well.
I have so much on my plate as soon as these last weeks of performing are done – Prince's Doom, Colossus 3 and 4, two other novels that are demanding more and more of my brain, Eve Of Ides, and an adaptation of one of my novels for the stage.
I'll leave you with an image from each of the three shows. Enjoy, and if you're in the Michigan/Ohio area, come out for the last two weeks of shows!
