Hi everyone! The news is out about the new book I’m working on:
I’ve wanted to write about Mercutio forever — and specifically, about John McEnery’s portrayal of Mercutio in the 1968 film of Romeo & Juliet, which got under my skin decades ago and has been part of my creative brain ever since. I’m so pleased to be working again with Jane Johnson (my editor at HarperVoyager UK for The Chatelaine, The Valkyrie and The Tapestry of Time.) I’m mid-way through the draft now, and I plan to send it to Jane before the end of this calendar year. This is a standalone; the second book in the deal will be for something unrelated.
The last two books before this one were really difficult for me process-wise, so I’m glad to say this one is coming more easily, at least so far. It’s also tremendous fun to write. I’ve been very deliberate about finding the joy in it, and taking my time.
One thing that has been helping me find balance lately is that I’ve been studying medieval longsword steadily for the last five months. (I actually started several years ago but then took a long hiatus.) I’m not very good at it (yet) but that’s OK. In fact, I find it relaxing and, simultaneously, stimulating to do something I’m not good at. There’s a lot of freedom and joy in it. It’s a quick trip to what Buddhists call “the beginner’s mind”, which is something I try to cultivate while writing.
There’s another way in which swordplay helps me to get out of my head and refocus. As a 47-year-old short woman who could be fitter, I don’t ever feel in the least that swordplay is not for me, which is great. Of course, fitness and body type matter in a fight, all other things being equal, but learning to handle a sword effectively comes down to understanding the principles that have been serving fencers in this tradition for centuries. When I execute a technique correctly, it works, because of course it works. It’s geometry. This is also a useful reminder for writing and all creative work; we can replace ego-oriented questions like Am I a good enough writer to pull off this scene? with more useful questions like What techniques might help me accomplish my goals in this scene?
As it happens, the 1968 Romeo & Juliet contains my all-time favourite film swordfight, in which John McEnery’s Mercutio fights Michael York’s Tybalt. Yes, I love the Princess Bride one too, but Mercutio/Tybalt has always had my heart. The way they approach the fight is so true to their characters; every moment is eloquent. It’s funny, grounded, physical, suspenseful—even when you know what’s going to happen. I’ve watched that scene over and over since I was a young teenager, and it’s a joy and a privilege to be able to make my small offering to the tradition of interpreting this character.