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The Fool’s Task
— From Side Character to Center Stage
Some stories never quite leave you alone.
Years ago, I came across a BBC audio production of Tom Stoppard’s brilliant play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The premise blew me away—two minor characters from Hamlet, suddenly given center stage. Their story, once a footnote, became the heart of a new tale. I was fascinated by the concept: What happens when you shine a light on someone who was always standing just off to the side?
That idea stuck with me.
A few years later, while reading King Lear and poring over commentaries, I came across a simple but powerful observation: the Fool—Lear’s jester and confidant—vanishes partway through the play with no explanation. One moment he’s there, offering biting wit and strange wisdom… and the next, he’s gone. No farewell. No conclusion.
That observation lit the same creative fire.
What if the Fool was the true guide through Lear’s unraveling? What if he wasn’t just a jester, but something more—something sent to help? What if he was the one carrying the story’s soul?
But for years, I did nothing with the idea. I didn’t trust my writing ability. The vision lingered quietly, tucked away like a half-remembered line from a play I was too nervous to audition for.
Fast forward to today.
AI has become an incredible creative tool, and with the help of ChatGPT, I finally told the story I had imagined so long ago. The result is The Fool’s Task, my first published work—a lyrical, emotionally-driven novella that reimagines King Lear through the eyes of the Fool.
And now, after years of waiting, wondering, and doubting… it’s real.
The Fool’s Task will be available on Amazon Kindle in just a few days. I can’t wait to share it with you.
Sometimes the side character has the most important story of all.
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🕊️ Stay tuned for the official release announcement.
#TheFoolsTask #DebutAuthor #KingLear #ShakespeareInspired #LiteraryFantasy #IndiePublishing
