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About the Book

The Players Act 1: All the World's A Stage

How far would you go to save what you truly love?

England, 1715.

When society doesn’t understand you, and your family is out of the picture, a strolling theatre company could be your perfect home…

Ambitious lead actor Thomas is determined to reach Drury Lane and prove to his father that he is not a failure.

Fierce Caroline has a traumatic past and is determined to protect the company which saved her.

Kind-hearted Annie just wants to look after her found family.

So, when their heartbroken manager Robert is injured and decides to fold the struggling company, the players are resolved to change his mind, whatever the cost. Unfortunately for them, the odds are stacked against them. They’ve lost their stage, they still haven’t got a skull for Hamlet, and flamboyant ex-member Piero is hunting them down, with a spot of revenge on his mind...

Is it time for the final bow?

The Players Act 1: All The World’s A Stage gives voice to the forgotten strolling players of the 18th century in this fun, uplifting, and page-turning read.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

• Energetic, accessible historical fiction

• Working-class characters

• Found family

• Comedy and tragedy

• Shakespeare

• LGBTQ+

• Neurodiversity

• Mental health issues

• Multiple POV

• Heart and hope

Purchase Links

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-players-act-1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Players-Act-All-Worlds-Stage-ebook/dp/B0DY8CM3LX

https://www.amazon.com/Players-Act-All-Worlds-Stage-ebook/dp/B0DY8CM3LX

Author Bio –

Amy was born in Eastbourne, England, where the sea and South Downs encouraged her love of the outdoors and nurtured her wildness. Her childhood was filled with folk music, caravans and imagination, and she was always dreaming up stories and characters – usually when she was meant to be doing something else.

She enjoys stories that explore both comedy and tragedy. She is a New York Times bestselling author and her work includes THE HOUSE AT THE EDGE OF MAGIC series, and the picture books for BBC’s THE REPAIR SHOP. THE PLAYERS is her debut novel for adults.

Amy now lives in Devon with her husband and six children. When she isn’t writing, Amy enjoys drinking tea, climbing trees and playing the piano, although disappointingly she is yet to master doing all three at once.

Social Media Links –

www.facebook.com/AmySparkesAuthor

www.instagram.com/sparkes_amy

https://bsky.app/profile/amysparkes.bsky.social

CHAPTER 1: Thomas

Thomas yanked open the front door of the Red Lion, scooped up his skirts and ran outside. He just about dodged the soggy cabbage which hurtled past him into the street. For Heaven’s sake! It was hard enough running dressed as Titania.

The laughter of the drunken audience behind him rattled in his ears as an egg came flying through the door. It landed with a discouraging noise, and an even worse smell, at his feet. Dropping his skirts and catching his breath, he looked back at the inn with its uneven, timber-framed walls.

Where the Hell were the others?

There was a rumble of wheels. Thomas snapped his head around and gave a sigh of relief. Thank Heaven! The tattered old wagon, covered in canvas and decorated with colourful strips of rag, exited the stable-yard behind the building and headed right for him. It was pulled by Old Bess, a huge, sturdy horse, and driven by the man he so desperately wanted to impress. The red cloak of Oberon hung around his shoulders, and a hastily crumpled green curtain sat in his lap.

Robert pulled on the reins and the wagon rattled to a halt beside Thomas. “In!” Dark waves of hair framed a face marred by disappointment. He jabbed his thumb at the wagon. “Thomas, in!”

“You cannot be suggesting we leave the stage behind! All that wood!”

“I’m the manager: do as you’re bloody told! Where are the girls?”

Before Thomas could answer, a couple of older men from the erstwhile audience staggered into the doorway, pissed as pigs in a cider orchard while smelling twice as bad, and more eggs flew in his direction. He jumped back as the shells smashed at his feet, releasing their vile odour. The men burst into drunken laughter and took aim again—

—but they lurched forwards, landing face-first on the ground as Caroline pushed past them, dressed in a scrappy green tunic with her wild, black hair still tamed for the performance. One of her hands gripped a bottle of – was that rum? – and the other pulled Annie, who was clutching her fiddle and apparently hadn’t considered that removing the donkey head she wore might have hastened the exit.

“Catch!” called Caroline, throwing Thomas the bottle.

Thomas’ sweating fingers just about caught it – definitely rum – as Caroline pulled the donkey head from Annie, hastily untangling it from long, red hair. Caroline threw the head in the back of the wagon, then bundled Annie in.

“We must go back for the stage!” Thomas looked desperately at the inn.

There was a roar of noise as the rest of the drunken men and women swarmed out of the door.

“Shit,” muttered Thomas. Why was it an audience only seemed large when it was pissed off?

The red-cheeked innkeeper pushed to the fore, pointing at Caroline. “Bloody Puck stole me rum!” A fresh barrage of rotten food flew towards them.

“On reflection, let’s leave the stage.” Thomas turned to the wagon behind him.

There was a flick of reins; a rolling of wheels.

“Shit-shit-shit-shit-shit-shit!”

He swept up his skirts with his free hand, sprinted after the wagon and leapt, landing a little painfully upon the donkey head.

“Mind Horatio!” protested Annie.

He jumped straight back up. The wagon rolled away from the crowd, whose disappointed faces reflected his own heart. Why did this have to happen? He always tried so hard. So bloody hard. But he threw on the winning smile of a showman and raised the bottle of rum to the crowd.

“You’ve been a marvellous audience!” he called, and gratefully took a swig.