Reading Willing: A Shakespearean Romp follows William Shakespeare after surviving the Globe Theatre fire, who time-travels and awakens in a small Canadian town centuries later. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

All my adult life, I have been looking for opportunities to immerse myself in Shakespeare’s plays: participating as an actor in many, as a director in a few, and, twice, I even wrote period plays in which Shakespeare was a major character.

It is a virus for some of us—this need to digest and recreate the words and wisdom of this great and mysterious man. When it occurred to me that I might have even a more intimate experience by bringing William to my hometown in my home time, well, that scenario was impossible to resist. I knew from the start that the tone of the work would be “playful”, and I was very eager to get to work.

I set the story in 1999, quite intentionally, as a relatively peaceful time in our modern era before the dragon of social media began to upset human norms.

What was the biggest challenge in making Shakespeare feel human rather than iconic?

While I do regard Shakespeare as the greatest writer who ever lived, I have never regarded him as anything other than human. I think Shakespeare would laugh at the notion of him being “iconic”. It is his humanity that really defines him. Even his protagonists are plagued by inconsistencies and weaknesses as, indeed, are we all.

Shakespeare’s understanding of human nature and its frailties (and occasionally glories—”What a piece of work is man!”) is profound, and his curiosity boundless. A sweet, but quiet compassion underlies all his work, and, not infrequently, his words evoke sidesplitting laughter.

I hope the Shakespeare I have created in Willing comes off as someone who is profoundly curious and a man ready both to hug and be hugged.

What does the book say about legacy?

I think my book speaks to the power of connection we find in Shakespeare’s words and worldview. His words resonate today. They will resonate tomorrow. In small town Nelson, in London, in Los Angeles, everywhere. Both his words and his personality. As his friend and rival Ben Jonson said of him, William Shakespeare is “not of an age, but for all time.” He forever reminds us that we are all human, and all of us brothers and sisters.

If Shakespeare could read this book, what would you hope he’d say?

William would probably have very little to say about my novel, as such. After all, my book makes only the tiniest dent in the pantheon of English literature. However, I would not be surprised to see a twinkle in William’s eye, and even a pat on the back. “Join me for a beer,” he might say, and, in the midst of a noisy tavern ambience, he might ask, “The librarian in your book, Bonnie Telleman—could you arrange an introduction?”

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