Groundhog Day: We’re all Phil Conners now
Every day feels the same now.I try to schedule it, and sometimes I get something accomplished, though not as much as I’d hoped. Instead, like clockwork, I find myself in front of a screen, watching or reading or listening to more awfulness, and sharing it....
This Day In History: Nellie Bly Dethrones the King of the Lobby!
On April Fool’s Day, 1888, undercover reporter Nellie Bly revealed her most shocking story since her escape from the madhouse on Blackwell’s Island. This is the original story that was the basis for my latest Nellie Bly novella, CLEVER GIRL (Sordelet Ink, 2020. You can download a free ebook version here). Enjoy! — David Blixt
Grief in a Time of Plague
“His Lyre is now Attuned only to Woe” The eyes, the face, the limbs of heavenly mold, So long the theme of my impassioned lay, Charms which so stole me from myself away, That strange to other men the course I hold; The crisped locks of pure and lucid gold, The...
Recent Posts
First Quote
"Dante's Italy and the internecine, blood-feuding struggle of the dominant families of the northern city states. This story of corruption and the quest for power is as compelling as Mario Puzo's Godfather and as thrilling as any of Rafael Sabatini's historical...
News
The longer you've been away, the harder it is to post. Until you have something really good... Firstly, St. Martin's has bought the second book in the Mercutio series, a direct sequel to THE MASTER OF VERONA. The title of the second book is in flux, though I'm...
A Comedy – Part 1
The Tragedy of Romeo & Juliet is not a Tragedy at all. Each time I’ve seen it done, I’ve thought the various directors (with all due respect) missed the boat. Why? Because the show isn’t a Tragedy. A Tragedy, in the classical sense, revolves around a single...
Chapter 5 – Part 1
Outside Verona On a borrowed – stolen! – horse, Pietro tried to keep up with Mariotto and Antony as they tore after the Capitano. Already he was out of sight. Blessedly they’d taken the time to saddle their horses, something Cangrande hadn’t bothered with. It was not...
Rebirth
Lear is done, and while I'm fighting off the obligatory post-show cold I'm ready to return with some regularity to the blogosphere. Right now I'm working on the edits to the second book, which has not yet been pitched. It's difficult simply because I have too much...
Character Names – T thru Z
Tharwat al-Dhaamin – see Theodoro of Cadiz Theobaldo Capulletto (Thibault) Theodoro of Cadiz (the Moor, the Arūs) Tullio d’Isola, Grand Butler Ugo de Serego Uguccione della Faggiuola Valentino Nogarola Vanni Scorigiani (Asdente, theToothless Master) Venturino, Bishop...
Character Names – R & S
Rienzi Rizardo del Camino Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland Rolando Salinguera Torelli San Bonifaci family San Giovanni Scaliger, the (see Francesco della Scala)Scaligeri, the (family of Francesco della Scala) Scarecrow, the Scrovegni, Signora Shalakh Simone Martini...
Character Names – N, O, & P
Nanna Compagni Nicolo da Lozzo (Nico) Nina Novella d’Andrea Oedipus Ongarello della Scala Paolo Paoloino Pieri Passerino Bonaccolsi Pedro (heir to Frederick III) Persiguieron La Mordedura Peruzzi Petrarca Petruchio Bonaventura Phaeton Pietro Alaghieri Polynices Pompey...
Character Names – M
Manetto Donati Manuel the Jew (Emanuele di Salamone dei Sifoni; Manoello Giudeo) Maria Donati Maria, Donna (Cesco’s mother) Marianna Mariotto Montecchio (baptismal name Romeo) Marsilio da Carrara Massimiliano da Villafranca Mastino I (Leonardino della Scala, the...
Character Names – K & L
Kate Bonaventura Katerina della Scala (in Nogarola) king of Hungary King Philip of France (Philip the Fair, Philippe le Bel) La Compiuta Donzella La Lupa (the She-Wolf) Lancaster, earl of Laura (Petrarca’s beloved) Leonardino della Scala, ditto Mastino (Mastino I)...
