This past October I visited western Connecticut to research scenes for the third novel of my Bret Manley Trilogy, following ‘To Sleep … Perchance to Die’ and ‘Revenge Best Served Bloody.’ Although I’ve lived most of my life in Connecticut, I had previously visited that part of the State only once and for just two days. This visit allowed me to become…
Read MoreMuch has been written regarding the dedication of Shakespeare’s sonnets, and, although I cannot settle the issue, I can comment upon it. The sonnets were published in 1609 by Thomas Thorpe, and the dedication was signed and presumably created by him. It reads in a slightly updated translation: To The Only Begetter Of These Ensuing…
Read MoreIn Act II, Scene II of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is hiding in the Capulet orchard when he sees Juliet, with whom he is hopelessly in love, appear in a window. The sight of her inspires the famous words of what is referred to as the Balcony Scene. It is filled with wonderful comparative descriptions…
Read MoreQuestion: What do Shakespeare and Ian Fleming have in common? Answer: In his book, You Only Live Twice, Fleming states: “You only live twice, once when you are born and once when you stare death in the face.” Several of Shakespeare’s early sonnets are written to encourage his young friend, a man of exquisite beauty,…
Read MoreA great many questions have been asked about Shakespeare’s sonnets. Did he write them? Were he and the young man of the sonnets lovers? Were the sonnets meant to be private and was Shakespeare embarrassed by their publication? These questions are for scholars to ponder. For me, the answers are unimportant. What is important is that…
Read MoreOn a daily basis we hear news of potential terrorist threats to the United States and other countries. Revenge Best Served Bloody deals with such a threat and the potential harm that may be inflicted upon us. Many of the same dangers our leaders warn of are found in the plot of Revenge. It is a chilling account of what determined enemies may…
Read MoreI was in my Mansfield, Connecticut office reviewing the removal of wisdom teeth with a patient when on the TV in my reception room the announcement came that a plane had hit the North Tower. Everyone seemed in shock, and many of us cried. I dismissed patients, cancelled scheduled ones, and closed the office. One of my…
Read MoreAs a writer of fiction, my personal aim is to entertain and enlighten. If a reader enjoys my plot and in the process learns something he or she hadn’t known, I’ve obtained my goal. I believe To Sleep…Perchance to Die and Revenge Best Served Bloody entertain and enlighten. Both have plots full of factual information…
Read MoreI’m happy to announce that Revenge Best Served Bloody has been released for sale on Amazon. It is the sequel to To Sleep…Perchance to Die and the next of the Bret Manley series. The plot revolves around terrorists attempting to detonate a nuclear device in a location that will paralyze the U.S. economy. Where and…
Read MoreAs research for the Paris scenes of Revenge Best Served Bloody which is scheduled for release on 6/1/14, Paulie and I visited Paris and northern France. The French people were wonderful. For instance, as we tried to figure out a train schedule, it was not unusual for someone to approach us and ask if we required assistance and graciously provide it. Travel, restaurants,…
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