{"product_id":"the-shakespeare-secret-isbn-9798892421522","title":"The Shakespeare Secret","description":"\u003cb\u003eShakespeare is a woman—three women, in fact, who hire a footloose  actor as the face of their writing. When they become suspects in a plot  to kill Queen Elizabeth, their secret identity is suddenly at risk—along  with the queen’s life—in this imaginative historical novel for fans of\u003ci\u003e Hamnet \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Tower\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEveryone knows of William Shakespeare, the rakish former actor and famous  playwright. But few know the three women writing every word of his plays: Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke, a frustrated  poet; Emelia Bassano, a court musician with a passion for complex  stories; and Jane Daggett, a seamstress with an impressive ability to  spin fantastic plots. Frustrated by the patriarchal restrictions of  their sixteenth-century society, they come together to write  anonymously. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSoon the three women come under the scrutiny of one  of the Queen’s spies, who notices their surreptitious meetings and odd  behavior and suspects they are involved in an ongoing plot to kill the  Queen. To help guard their secret as they face inquisition, they hire an  actor named Will Shakespeare to be the face of their endeavor and  divert attention. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs the plague deepens its grip on London and  the Queen’s man traces their every move, the women are forced to choose  between admitting what they’ve done and betraying each other to the  Crown or hiding the truth at risk of endangering the Queen herself. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Shakespeare Secret\u003c\/i\u003e is a  thrilling feminist tale of perseverance, justice, and freedom  where friendship and trust are put to the test, for fans of Tracy  Chevalier and Charlie Lovett.\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Shakespeare Secret\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Compelling, witty, and sprinkled with lines from the Bard of Avon's work and sharp social commentary . . . An enjoyable historical what-if for Anglophiles and Shakespeare lovers.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A well-played take on a long-standing literary mystery.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Rich period detail, unforgettable characters, and a satisfying ending make for memorable and delightful reading.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A clever reimagining of the Bard’s beginnings . . . A recommended read.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eHistorical Novel Society, \u003c\/i\u003eEditor's Choice\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A truly unique, extraordinary, and memorable work of deftly crafted historical fiction.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eMidwest Book Review\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Historical fiction at its BEST! In \u003ci\u003eThe Shakespeare Secret\u003c\/i\u003e, DJ Nix takes one of the world’s great literary mysteries and plays a delicious game of ‘what if?’”\u003cbr\u003e—Cathy Maxwell, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eA Touch of Steele\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“Lady Whistledown, step aside! In \u003ci\u003eThe Shakespeare Secret\u003c\/i\u003e, D.J. Nix delivers a gripping, emotionally rich tale of three courageous women who defy a ruthless patriarchy to create timeless art—and a secret sisterhood that will captivate and inspire. Set against the richly drawn backdrop of Elizabethan England, this novel explores the hidden brilliance of women forced into silence, yet determined to leave their mark. A story of ambition, resilience, and the enduring power of words, \u003ci\u003eThe Shakespeare Secret \u003c\/i\u003einvites readers to reconsider who truly shaped the canon we revere. Thoughtful, thrilling, and beautifully written, it’s a celebration of the creative spirit—and those brave enough to protect it.”\u003cbr\u003e—May McGoldrick, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Dreamer\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eD. J. Nix \u003c\/b\u003ehas called Austin home  since 1998 with his wife and three children, where he fully embraces the  city motto of “keep Austin weird.” He is a member of Regency Fiction  Writers and Romance Writers of Central Texas, female-centered  organizations that have taken him under their wing and shared their  collective wisdom. He broke into traditional publishing in 2020 writing  historical romance for Entangled Publishing under the pseudonym Sawyer  North.","brand":"Alcove Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233742467301,"sku":"NP9798892421522","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9798892421522.jpg?v=1767741486","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-shakespeare-secret-isbn-9798892421522","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}