Gossip: Updates on Jacquelyn Benson, Dive In Productions and Bruce Kimball – Foster’s Daily Democrat

Benson publishes second novel

Author and playwright Jacquelyn Benson is putting the finishing touches to “The Fire in the Glass,” her second novel, set for a May release. Benson’s inaugural was “The Smoke Hunter,” published in 2016 with Grand Central Publishing.

Unlike the first, Benson has opted to self-publish this time.

“For me, the experience of working with traditional publisher for the past few years with ‘Smoke Hunter,’ well, there’s just so much downtime and uncertainty of when a book will see the light,” Benson says. “I’m probably a workaholic. I need to feel productive.”

“Self-publishing gives me something I can productively focus energy on during the traditional downtimes of traditional publishing,” she said.

The book is also a departure in genre. A friend described “Smoke Hunter” during an NPR interview (on another subject) as “Swash-buckling, feminist historical fiction.”

The current work “is more historical fantasy, a little more supernatural and very heavy on suspense,” she says.

“Fire in the Glass” takes place in Edwardian London. Someone is killing the city’s mediums. Lily, the book’s heroine, is a clairvoyant who sees the future, and the next victim, but can’t do anything to change it.

Somewhere lies a murderer hell-bent on an unspeakable harvest. To stop him, Lily must face a past rife with betrayal — and embrace the power she has spent her entire life trying to escape.

“I’ve had some form of this story in my head for six years now,” she says. “When I finished ‘Smoke Hunter,’ these characters demanded my head for a while. They wanted their story told, so I obliged them. it really is how it is: ‘It’s our turn. We need your brain.'”

The book is finished. Now is the time for production and marketing, she says.

Benson has people working with her (including Sara Argue, designing the cover), but also has the chops. Her past experience includes five years editing “Citizens Count” website, and before that “Key Biscayne” and “Brickell” magazines.

“It’s a team thing to do this right,” she says. “I’m approaching it as I would any profession.”

A trade paperback will be available through Ingram or Amazon and an e-book with Amazon on May 30. Pre-order is available early March. For information, sign up for Benson’s email list at jacquelynbenson.com.

Benson is juggling the final stages with a 32-hour week job, and two children.

“When do I write?” Benson says, laughing before responding. “Whenever I can, which is why it’s three years since the last book.”

As for the “Smoke Hunter” fans waiting for a second installment, it could be a while, though Benson believes Elly and Adam are destined for more adventures.

Grand Central maintains rights to the book, and the company isn’t ready for a second novel, she says.

“It’s very hard to market. I don’t control the first book, terms of pricing, product description, cover design – any of that. It’s hard to pitch selling the series if I can’t control the gateway,” Benson says. “There’s a couple of ways that that can happen. We’ll see which way it goes.”

Dive In Productions adds second space

Dive In Productions – ever working to grow the company – is taking its theater to an alternative space, its second actually.

This spring it will present “Hand to God” by Robert Askin at Portsmouth Public Media TV for a two-week, live theater run May 15 to 24.

The decision to present at the community station came up while it conducted callbacks for “Moments,” Dive In’s upcoming production at the Mill Space in Newmarket, March 6 to 8, its other alternative setting.

“We’d been rehearsing there for Players’ Ring productions for years, and we’d been kicking the idea around for a while,” Founding Executive Director Marina Altschiller says. “We made the decision in December.”

“Hand to God” is about an after-school church group’s puppet club. In it, Jason creates a puppet named Tyron, that becomes possessed by the devil.

The company wanted an “interesting” straight play for its 2020 season, and this fit the bill, Altschiller says. It was selected for its offbeat tale, which the company hopes will both attract new performers, “and challenge people in different ways.”

“‘Hand to God’ is actually one of the most performed plays across the country,” Altschiller says. “I’ll need to check if this is its New Hampshire premiere, but it’s definitely not been on the Seacoast.”

It was also chosen with Amy Desrosiers in mind as its director, Altschiller says.

Desrosiers performed in Dive In’s “Dogfight” and recently in New Hampshire Theatre Project’s “Sherwood.”

“She is really a truly brilliant actress, one of the smartest performers we’ve worked with … who makes very intentional decisions,” she says. “So because of the work she’d done as a performer and what we know she could bring to the project, she was the choice.”

As for location, the unique nature of PPMTV suits the script, “and performing it in an alternative space was really interesting to us.”

Auditions for “Hand to God” are this Saturday, Feb. 22, at Corinne’s School of Dance (25 Old Dover Road, Suite D) from 1 to 5 p.m. Show runs May 15 to 24. If interested, write [email protected].

Bruce Kimball developing comedy ops

Comedian Bruce Kimball is the founding producer of “Don’t Tell Comedy, Portsmouth,” now a year old.

Kimball recently relocated from the Seacoast to Massachusetts, for the same reasons he initiated the Portsmouth chapter of “Don’t Tell,” comedy opportunity and community.

“The only comedy happening that I knew of near me was in Manchester,” Kimball says. “I wanted to start a scene in Portsmouth, to build a comedy community, and I think we’ve done that.”

Kimball doesn’t perform in “Don’t Tell.” He’s giving himself more time to hone his skills. Hence the move to Boston for opportunity and connections.

In addition, he produces shows under “Bruce Kimball’s Comedy presents BRUCE CRUISE 2020,” which he does perform for. A few locations to date include 401 Tavern in Hampton, and Portside Waterfront Kitchen and Bar in Salisbury, Mass.

Kimball is currently gearing up for Bruce Cruise’s next move. He’s currently working on building a comedy tour that will cover Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The plan is to secure six or so venues, and visit each bi-monthly with a group of comedians.

“I’m looking for different venues that are interested in hosting. It could be a bar, restaurant, or an art gallery,” he says. “I plan to do it in May.”

If interested in shows at your venue, contact [email protected],

As for “Don’t Tell,” it just had another sold-out show, evidence of that “building community.”

“We have 80 to 100 per show. … There’s nothing like it in Portsmouth.”

Part of its charm is location, he says. Shows pop up at an established space, a boutique, art gallery, office space and nonprofit venue, as well as private homes, yards, barns, anything but the traditional pub or club. (If interested in hosting a show, write [email protected].) The location is announced only hours before showtime. Next event is Feb. 29, info at www.donttellcomedy.com.

“There’s nothing like it,” Kimball says. “And they’re always high-quality shows.”

Jeanné McCartin keeps her eyes and ears open for gossip at [email protected].

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