Welcome to my stop on the blog tour!
I’ve got a couple really fun things here so check it out:
- A guest post from the author
- And page 11 of Double Double Toil!
- You can also check out my review for the first book here.
Six months after the events of Cauldron’s Bubble…
Alda is stranded in her remote cottage, unable to recreate the magical object that allows her to travel between time and place. Meanwhile, Dreng’s home with Miranda on a distant island begins to crumble. They both escape to Fairy Land, where they become embroiled in a battle of immortals as the clans of Queen Titania and King Oberon fight for supremacy. In order to restore order and return to their worlds, Dreng must rely on his adversary, Caliban, while Alda discovers an ally in the mysterious Ophelia. In a realm where only humans can die, will Alda and Dreng save themselves and, more importantly, each other? Or will they succumb to the fantastical powers in play?
Double Double Toil continues to build on the world introduced in Cauldron’s Bubble by intertwining Shakespeare’s plays in a unique and exciting way, introducing their stories to new readers and established Bard fans alike. Elements and characters from Hamlet, Macbeth, The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet combine in this fast-paced tale of magic and adventure. Read on…
Amber Elby was born in Grand Ledge, Michigan but spent much of her childhood in the United Kingdom. She began writing when she was three years old and created miniature books by asking her family how to spell every, single, word. Several years later, she saw her first Shakespearean comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, in London. Many years later, she studied Creative Writing at Michigan State University’s Honors College before earning her Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting at the University of Texas at Austin. She currently resides in Texas with her husband and two daughters and spends her time teaching, traveling, and getting lost in imaginary worlds.
A Day in the Life – Weekday Version by Amber Elby
No two days are ever the same, of course, but that is more true in my life than for those who have concrete, predictable schedules. Despite my life’s variation, my weekdays’ schedules are somewhat certain even if nearly every weekday’s obligations are different.
On most weekdays during the academic year, I start the day by driving my daughters to school. They attend a district that uses limited busses, so the parents park along the street and congregate on the playground to chat as our children swing and climb before school begins.
After the bell rings, I usually rush home to shower and eat and caffeinate before heading off to teach a morning class. My teaching schedule at the local community college varies drastically from one semester to the next and from one day to the next, but I usually lead one or two classes during daytime hours and several in the evenings. This allows me to avoid teaching for long stretches of time with no breaks between classes.
Once my morning class ends, I again head home to eat a late lunch and write. On days when I have to grade papers, I find my mood noticeably darker than on days when I can work on my novel and other creative endeavors. I can usually commit two hours to writing between work and caring for my children, and I am grateful for this time.
Around 2:30, I return to the school to collect my daughters. When the weather is accommodating – which it is most days in Austin – I stay after school to talk to my favorite mom-friends while our children play. These two other moms are my support system and are also talented artists, so I am perpetually grateful for their friendship and encouragement.
After an hour or two on the playground, my daughters are usually dirty and exhausted, so I give them a snack in the car on the way to ballet. They have both taken ballet since they were preschoolers and now have lessons three or four days each week. Once they are in their uniforms and in class, it is my turn to teach once again; my husband picks them up from ballet while I am on my way to the college.
My night classes this semester are at distant campuses, so I have to drive for up to two hours to reach them. On the way, I listen to podcasts like Cinematic Respect and No Holds Bard or audiobooks – most recently, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Traffic is terrible and stressful, so I am always relieved when I reach my destination.
After I teach for three hours in the evening, it is time to return home. The drive back is always much shorter, thanks to the conclusion of rush hour, so I arrive home around 9:30. Sometimes I stay up to watch an hour of television with my husband, and sometimes I fall asleep almost immediately.
But I can always look forward to the summer, when I have fewer obligations and more time with my family. In the meantime, there are the weekends
Page 11 of Double Double Toil
If you all want to read the previous 10 pages or the rest that comes after mine, check out the rest of the blog tour!
Until next time,
Bree
Bree Howland 