April 18, 2026 9:30 am
The American Shakespeare Center invites you to a cozy, spring morning spent with Summer England, local actress and author, as we celebrate her debut novel, The Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne.
Join Summer at the Blackfriars Playhouse as she chats about the chaotic, garden-magic filled world she has created, her wild experience in publishing, and the inspiration behind Warty, the beloved (albeit, surly) hedgehog. From writing sapphic romantasy to what local candle she was obsessed with whilst writing, you’ll hear about all of the fantastical details. And don’t worry, you’ll get to ask your questions, too!
Tickets are required and they are also FREE, so bring yourself, bring a friend(s), and bring a copy of the book, of course!
Due to the spicy content of the book/discussion, attendees must be 18+ years of age.
Doors will open at a crisp 9:30 AM. The lively discussion will begin at 10am and will last an hour.
Afterwards, there will be a book signing in the lobby wherein Summer shall yield a Sharpy like a sword. You must have a physical copy of “Impossible Garden of Clara Thorne” to participate in the signing.
Want a picture with Summer? Fantastic, we have just the thing. During the signing, the ASC photographer will take photos of participants for memories, scrapbooking, social media happiness, what you will…
Speaking of “what you will”, you can catch Summer in Twelfth Night or What You Will and Bold Stroke for a Husband that same day (separate tickets required).
Lastly, but not leastly, Summer will be donning certified Hobbity Attire, she does so hope you will join her in dressing up extra fanciful that morning.
Come one, come all, and celebrate some magic and cozy with Summer England.
Love grows in the most unimaginable of places in Summer N. England’s sweet and spicy cozy romantasy debut, for fans of The Spellshop and For Whom the Belle Tolls!
Most stories end with a happily ever after. But mine? Well, it begins with one …
After a lonely childhood, Clara Thorne is living out her happy ending as the magically gifted gardener for the town of Moss. Sure, her closest companion is a surly hedgehog, and she’s forever stuck on the first line of her novel, but she has a home. That is, until The Goddess chooses Clara for an important quest—travel to the cursed town of Dwindle and grow them a garden. In less than a month.
Only Clara’s hiding a terrible secret: her magic doesn’t work outside Moss. Worse, The Goddess has assigned the absurdly sexy, annoyingly cheerful Hesper Altanfall to keep her safe. Clara would rather eat thorns than accept help—especially since Hesper insists that Clara’s magic is bound to her heart, not her home.
Nevertheless, the two can’t help growing closer as they traverse enchanted woods and share tavern beds. But with an ancient evil threatening from the shadows, saving Dwindle will require more than enchanted crops. Clara will need to unearth a magic she’s always believed impossible.
Summer N. England is indeed her real name (and yes, you are allowed to poke fun at her about this). She holds not one, nay, two degrees in Shakespeare and Performance and is currently an actress, music director, and digital content creator.
When not blabbering on stage and writing off stage, Summer can be found doing quite literally 17,000 different ADHD-motivated projects around her house, water-coloring, playing the decidedly evil pirate to her kid’s morally gray pirate, reading whilst walking, and not sitting still while watching When Harry Met Sally for the 6th time in one day.