Five years ago when I was a student in the MFA program at Portland State University, my Shakespeare professor had us write contemporary short stories inspired by the Bard’s plays. I loved those assignments! A year later when I started writing Amish novels, it dawned on me that Plain settings and characters would be perfect for Shakespearean plots. I was thrilled that Bethany House Publishers thought so too.
The first two novels in my Courtships of Lancaster County series are Courting Cate, inspired by The Taming of the Shrew, and Adoring Addie, inspired by Romeo and Juliet. From the beginning of the project, I especially looked forward to retelling A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It had always been one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, but what I didn’t consider at first was how I would “retell” the magic in the story.
That was my dilemma when I started writing Minding Molly, the third novel in the series. How would I translate the fairies, especially Puck? And what about the “love juice”?
Before I dealt with all of that, I focused on the theme of the story: Love. The quote from the play that summed up the theme was, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”
Once I’d dialed in on the theme, I came up with three elements to work the “magic”:
1. a Labrador retriever named Love
2. a little boy named Robbie (Puck’s is also referred to as Robin Goodfellows in A Midsummer Night’s Dream),
I digress, but couldn’t help but include this photo of Mickey Rooney as Puck in the 1935 film of A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
3. and fireflies.
Much of the “magic” in Minding Molly takes place in the forest on a camping trip, but “magic” can happen in all sorts of places. What are some of the magical elements in your life? Magical places? Or how about some of the “magical elements” in Plain living that appeal to you?
Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and Christy Award winning author of 18 novels. Her next release is Becoming Bea (inspired by Much Ado About Nothing) in the fall of 2014, the fourth in the Courtships of Lancaster County series. Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, Peter, and their four children. Visit her at www.lesliegould.com.
Submit a comment and be entered for a book giveaway, one copy of Minding Molly. Canada and US only. Winner has one week to respond.
My Magical place is my garden. Peaceful, beautiful & alive!
Love Leslie’s books!
Would love a copy to share!
Thank you, Nat, for your comment. Love the garden idea. 🙂
Interesting post. I look forward to reading this book.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy it!
My magical place is in the rolling hills of Ohio in a log cabin nestled in a far away place with trees all around. This is where deer can be seen in abundance and the birds chirp loud with song. I love it in my magical place with my hubby, my best friend. After a beautiful sunset dusk sets in and the fireplace is lit for us to be lifted far off into a world full of life and characters that come alive in a wonderful fictional book that has taken us away to live in another world for the next few hours. Ahhh…I can picture me there now!
I love Leslie’s books. I loved Courting Cate and Adoring Addie. I am looking forward to reading Minding Molly.
Blessings to you Kate and Leslie too!
Judy B judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hi, Judy,
Your magical place sounds amazing! I’m so glad you liked Courting Cate and Adoring Addie. Thank you so much for reading–and posting.
Blessings,
Leslie
I’ve read that many of our great novels retell Shakespeare’s themes. Interesting. I have many settings that I love, a high mountain prairie in Idaho, Santa Fe, Grand Canyon Village.
Hi, Judy,
Yes, Shakespeare has provided lots of writers with material. He also “borrowed” his plots from writers before him though too. 🙂
Where in Idaho is the high mountain prairie? I’ve spent some time in Idaho mountains over the years…
Blessings,
Leslie
My magical place is either visiting my family’s farms back in Indiana, or my best friend Michelle’s house right now – she has a porch with wind chimes and is right next to retention pond with frogs, so when the chimes & frogs are going at it together, it is truly magical (plus the fact that her neighbors burn wood, so the smoke really takes it to another level)!
I really hope I can win, as I love Shakespeare and the Amish! Plus, with me going to college in Portland & living in Seattle, I have a lot in common with both you, Kate, and Leslie! Thank you both for this giveaway, and God bless!
Hi, Mallory,
Thank you for the great comment! Both your magical places sound wonderful.
Where in Portland do you go to school?!
Blessings,
Leslie
Love the ideas behind the stories just as much as the stories! My msgical place is home with my children
Cynthia,
Love your comment. 🙂
Thank you,
Leslie
I would love to read these. My grandson is a SR and is playing the king in Midsummers Night Dream. I would love to go see him, but he is in WI and I am in WV. My magic place is when I am talking to God.
Hi, Lucy,
I hope they’ll video your grandson’s production. 🙂 I love that your magical place is talking to God–that makes it any place.
Blessings,
Leslie
Minding Molly sound so enchanting and since I have read both Courting Kate and Adoring Addie I would sure love to win Minding Molly. I loved reading your story on how you incorporated Shakespeare into these these books. You are an amazing writer and I happen to find Courting Kate & Adoring Addie by chance, and bought them. I had never seen other books by Leslie Gould so this was a fantastic discovery for me. Thank you for the opportunity at a big chance to win. Blessings……Linda
Linda,
I’m so grateful that you’ve enjoyed my books. Thank you so much for reading and posting.
Blessings,
Leslie
I have 2 magical places. The first would be on my front porch swing. The second would be anywhere in Lancaster County.
Thank you for a chance to win your book in the giveaway.
Christine,
I agree about Lancaster County–probably about your porch swing too. 🙂
Blessings,
Leslie
My magical place is Pensacola Beach- everything wrong can be righted with God and his beautiful creation of the water washing in to clear the mind. Thanks for a chance to win.
Hi, Sparkle,
I love your magical place. (It’s cold and rainy in Oregon right now.) 🙂
Leslie
I loved to go to my Grandfathers farm as a child. It was very magical for me. And Since I have gotten older my second magical place was Berlin, Ohio and seeing all the Amish people and the buggies. Thank you for a chance to win.
Hi, Juanita, 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by. I love the images of both of your magical places.
Blessings,
Leslie
I really loved the first in this series. I think it is fun to read Shakespeare in a modernish setting.
Thank you, Sarah! This series has been a lot of fun to write.
My Magical place is my garden, front and back porch. I get to watch all kinds of birds and deers and wild turkeys and Butterflies and others small animals. Thanks for a chance to win.Minding Molly sounds wonderful.Have a wonderful week.I enjoy reading your books.
Hi, Emma,
So glad you enjoy my books. Thank you for letting me know! Love your comment about the wildlife around your home. Delightful!
Leslie
Life growing up was in the city in an apartment; therefore, I thoroughly enjoy my post & beam house set in the middle of 9 acres of rural Connecticut. We have a brook running through our property and we enjoy sitting on our farmer’s porch with our three cats while watching the beautiful birds and deer and wild turkeys in the woods. Our son will begin building his new home on our property in early spring. Our favorite magical place is definitely our home with family all around us every Sunday for dinner. Our magical place to visit is Amish Country, PA, where we visit Immergert Soft Pretzels and see the Amish homes with hard working children in the yard. I admire the Amish for their strong family values and their hard work and diligence. Perhaps, reading Amish stories all these years has had an influence on my own life.
Hi, Karen,
Your home and property sound amazing. Love both parts of your answer. 🙂
Blessings,
Leslie
You have the nicest blog and the greatest pictures!
I don’t really have any “magical places” but do love being at home. I don’t really need magic when I have the comfort of home.
I really enjoyed Courting Cate and hope to be able to read the other books in this series as well. Thanks for the chance to win Minding Molly.
Thank you for the comment, Pam. I agree. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed Courting Cate. Thank you for letting me know.
First, let me say that I was really surprised to find out you are from Portland, Oregon! I’ve read books for years and never read any from local authors. I loved your books and look forward to more. Please be sure to post if you have a signing in the local area. As for your question about favorite teachers….can’t think of any in high school; but in grade school, 2nd grade, was Mrs. Tarbell. The sweetest, kindest teacher I ever had. When I was little I wished she could be my aunt so I could see her all the time. I don’t remember any of my teachers being mean or unkind; but there were a couple that scared me to the point I would never ask for help on my work. Now that I think back, I was scared because they were men over 6 ft tall and had big deep voices that made you feel the walls would tumble if they got loud!
Hi, Linda,
Thank you! I’m not sure when my next signing will be but I’ll post it on my website http://www.lesliegould.com–if you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, you can on my site. I include upcoming events in it.
Blessings,
Leslie
Wow can’t wait to read your books. Glad I stumbled upon this blog.
Thank you, Chris!
This looks like a book that I would love. Enjoy your blog, Kate! I think you do a wonderful job!
I agree that Kate does a wonderful job! (Thank you, Kate!)
Hi, Shirley,
The Shakespeare “retellings” have been a lot of fun!
Thank you for stopping by and posting. 🙂
Leslie