Bloom graduate Maisie Sparks authors Holy Shakespeare!

The works of William Shakespeare have been studied and analyzed from so many perspectives that it might seem there’s nothing new to learn from the Great Bard...except perhaps, to discover a source for his inspiration. Holy Shakespeare! 101 Scriptures That Appear in Shakespeare’s Plays, Poems, and Sonnets by Christian bestselling author Maisie Sparks brings to light how influential Holy Writ was to one of history’s greatest playwrights.

Sparks grew up in Ford Heights, Ill. and attended Bloom Township High School. She graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign with a degree in journalism and worked for several corporations before starting her own communications company, The Sparks Group, more than 20 years ago.

Released at the end of 2016, Holy Shakespeare! helps readers see that hidden in plain sight within Shakespeare’s works are biblical narratives that can help readers see where in Scripture Shakespeare drew his understanding of the nature and character of humanity. “This is a clever, respectful pairing of the Bible with Shakespeare’s works in a way that honors both,” said Sparks.

While not an exhaustive listing of every mention of Scripture in Shakespeare’s work, Holy Shakespeare! is a delightful invitation to taste and see how masterfully creative Shakespeare was at seamlessly weaving the Word into his works. Once the connection is made, Shakespeare’s writings, like Scripture, can take readers deeper into their own souls with the promise of finding a reality greater than they ever imagined.

Holy Shakespeare! is one of three books written by Sparks and published by FaithWords, a division of Hachette Publishing, in the past two years. In 2015, Sparks released 151 Things God Can’t Do. An update and expansion of her bestseller, it’s a clever and inspiring twist on the awesome power of God. During the 2016 Christmas season, her devotional and coloring book, Christmas Quiet, helped readers enjoy the true essence and Presence of the holiday. She was a contributor to the anthology, Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color, a ground-breaking work that identifies and affirms the practice of spiritual direction within diverse cultures and faith communities. And, in October, 2017, her theological reflection, Spending Time with Others, will be published as part of Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around, a collection of stories that reveal how contemplation can inform social justice and action.

Trained in the art of spiritual direction, Sparks combines her communication skills and love for quieter rhythms of life by offering contemplative workshops and retreats to women, teaching the difference between being still and doing nothing. Learn more about her at maisiesparks.com.