Brilliant and sassy Elizabeth Trumpet fantasizes starring on the London stage, but to become an actress in 1803 is tantamount to losing her virginity in the most debasing way.
After watching her mother die and her father lose his mind, the courageous sixteen-year-old must find a way to save her family. She scores her first acting job as a fencer—the deadly skill she learned from her brother training for the military. Blessed with talent and a rare singing voice, Lizzie pursues her career, learning from theatrical characters high and low.
When reckless actor Jonathan Faversham sets eyes on Miss Trumpet, he knows he’s found the partner of his life. But Faversham carries ruinous baggage from a dark past. Entangled in lust and ambition, Lizzie gives him her heart and they reach the heights together. Until Lizzie gets more applause than he…
From the magnificence of Regency palaces and the Theatre Royal Covent Garden to the sun-baked pyramids of Egypt and the arms of a real-life Samson, Lizzie is never far from trouble. As her brother rides to glory with Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars, great events threaten her survival. Danger lurks behind stage curtains, when a madman sets fire to take her life and she lifts a sword in revenge.
Will this once innocent girl, with her rise to stardom, be remembered for her art? Or for her shame?
Author Bios:
SUSAN SEAFORTH HAYES began acting at age four with the New York Metropolitan Opera in Madam Butterfly and has been performing ever since. Born in California to an actress mother, she attended Los Angeles City College focusing on history. Cast as “Julie” in NBC’s long running Days of our Lives, Susan received four Emmy nominations for best actress in daytime and married the man of her dreams, co-star Bill Hayes. Their romance produced the best-selling autobiography Like Sands Through the Hourglass and forty years of theatrical adventures together.
Hayes has addressed the House Judiciary Committee, served on the board of the Screen Actors Guild, been a docent of Western History, and traveled the globe as a cruise ship lecturer. She lives in Studio City, continues to play “Julie,” attends the opera, and always keeps a good book handy.
BILL HAYES has been a singer/actor his entire adult life, performing in all forms of entertainment—hundreds of recordings, topped by Best-Record-of-1955 ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett;’ over a hundred plays and musicals, including Broadway (Me and Juliet, Brigadoon), and a national tour (ByeBye Birdie); films (Stop! You’re Killing Me, The Cardinal); literally thousands of hours of television (Your Show of Shows, Days of our Lives), and a surprising list of variety, dramatic, game, and talk shows); concerts and cafes (solo, also with Florence Henderson, Ann Blyth, Gogi Grant and wife Susan).
For four years, Hayes was spokesman for Oldsmobile. He has earned Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music, and Doctor of Education degrees, written songs, and--with Susan--published a successful memoir called Like Sands Through the Hourglass. His five children produced twelve grands and eighteen great-grands.
He still goes to tap-class.
After watching her mother die and her father lose his mind, the courageous sixteen-year-old must find a way to save her family. She scores her first acting job as a fencer—the deadly skill she learned from her brother training for the military. Blessed with talent and a rare singing voice, Lizzie pursues her career, learning from theatrical characters high and low.
When reckless actor Jonathan Faversham sets eyes on Miss Trumpet, he knows he’s found the partner of his life. But Faversham carries ruinous baggage from a dark past. Entangled in lust and ambition, Lizzie gives him her heart and they reach the heights together. Until Lizzie gets more applause than he…
From the magnificence of Regency palaces and the Theatre Royal Covent Garden to the sun-baked pyramids of Egypt and the arms of a real-life Samson, Lizzie is never far from trouble. As her brother rides to glory with Wellington in the Napoleonic Wars, great events threaten her survival. Danger lurks behind stage curtains, when a madman sets fire to take her life and she lifts a sword in revenge.
Will this once innocent girl, with her rise to stardom, be remembered for her art? Or for her shame?
Author Bios:
SUSAN SEAFORTH HAYES began acting at age four with the New York Metropolitan Opera in Madam Butterfly and has been performing ever since. Born in California to an actress mother, she attended Los Angeles City College focusing on history. Cast as “Julie” in NBC’s long running Days of our Lives, Susan received four Emmy nominations for best actress in daytime and married the man of her dreams, co-star Bill Hayes. Their romance produced the best-selling autobiography Like Sands Through the Hourglass and forty years of theatrical adventures together.
Hayes has addressed the House Judiciary Committee, served on the board of the Screen Actors Guild, been a docent of Western History, and traveled the globe as a cruise ship lecturer. She lives in Studio City, continues to play “Julie,” attends the opera, and always keeps a good book handy.
BILL HAYES has been a singer/actor his entire adult life, performing in all forms of entertainment—hundreds of recordings, topped by Best-Record-of-1955 ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett;’ over a hundred plays and musicals, including Broadway (Me and Juliet, Brigadoon), and a national tour (ByeBye Birdie); films (Stop! You’re Killing Me, The Cardinal); literally thousands of hours of television (Your Show of Shows, Days of our Lives), and a surprising list of variety, dramatic, game, and talk shows); concerts and cafes (solo, also with Florence Henderson, Ann Blyth, Gogi Grant and wife Susan).
For four years, Hayes was spokesman for Oldsmobile. He has earned Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music, and Doctor of Education degrees, written songs, and--with Susan--published a successful memoir called Like Sands Through the Hourglass. His five children produced twelve grands and eighteen great-grands.
He still goes to tap-class.
