Germaine Shames is author of the critically-acclaimed novel Between Two Deserts (Macadam/Cage Publishing), two earlier nonfiction books, eight musical stage plays, three feature screenplays, and five operas.
Her recently released novel, You, Fascinating You, the hidden epic behind a timeless love song, has been named "Editor's Choice" by the Historical Novel Society. Punch
An early version of Shames' first screenplay, The Degenerates, placed in the Nicholl and has been called "powerful and assured” by producer Victoria Lucas (Island on Bird Street, Black Dahlia).
Writing under the pen name Casper Silk (Hotel Noir, Echo Year) she has been called "cagey and poetic" and compared to such luminaries as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Graham Greene and P.D. James "on steroids."
Her articles have appeared in such publications as National Geographic Traveler, More, Success, Hemispheres, Byline and many others. Her essays and short fiction have been widely anthologized.
Shames holds a masters degree in Intercultural Studies. As a global executive, and later as a foreign correspondent, she has lived and worked in such diverse locations as the Australian outback, Swiss Alps, interior of Bulgaria, coast of Colombia, Fiji Islands, and Gaza Strip. She brings a tender acuity to her journalism and has made a mission of covering under-reported stories of grassroots activism and everyday heroism. Her fiction writing reflects the breadth of her worldview and fascination with the interplay of cultures, often drawing on events and settings from her sojourns abroad.
If you are a fellow creative looking for screen and stage-worthy stories to adapt and/or produce, please let me hear from you!
https://newplayexchange.org/users/2551/germaine-shames
Praise for You, Fascinating You:
“A love story reminiscent of that of my grandparents. I could not put it down.” Kinga Nijinsky
“The epic drama expected on the ballet stage is dwarfed by the tragic real life events of her ballerina heroine, Margit Wolf. Penetrating descriptions of political brutality and the prepossession of romantic love, an ever present theme in classical ballet, make for a page-turning, impelling read." Janet Panetta, Ballet Master
“Faultless." Historical Novel Society
"Gripping and of tremendous heart." Dance Europe
“Compelling, heart-wrenching and heroic!” Jim Benciveng
Praise for Between Two Deserts:
“Shames skillfully intertwines the lives of this diverse cast of characters to produce a tightly executed, emotion-filled work.” Publisher’s Weekly
“(The novelist) creates the intense atmosphere of an unstable world with grace and a sort of lyric power.” National Public Radio
"Shames lucidly captures those immutable qualities that speak to our souls.” Rain Taxi
“Shames shows us humanity and insight.” Bloomsbury Review
The Degenerates Drama ⋄ Historical ⋄ Thriller When Adolf Hitler declares war on Europe’s avant-garde, a high-minded Berlin art student and jaded Paris art dealer play a deadly game of bait-and-switch to save the life of a condemned Jewish artist.
Editor's Choice, Historical Novel Society
Residencies: Valparaiso, Spain and Wildacres Retreat, NC
Literary Fellowship in Fiction, State of Arizona
Scholarship to Writers Center, University of Arizona