Best known to Star Trek fans as the devious (but lovable) Ferengi bartender Quark in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Armin Shimerman is not only an actor, but a devoted teacher, and now, a solo author. Speaking with Trek Report last week, Shimerman shared some details about his new book and his long-standing passion for teaching, something he’s been doing for more than three decades.

His new novel Ilyrria: Betrayal of Angels focuses on life in 16th-century England and follows the story of John Dee, a man who, in real life, was an astronomer, teacher, astrologer and alchemist, serving as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. Seen as an occultist by some, Dee is focused on the beauty of mathematics, and he seeks to discover God’s purpose for mankind. Along the way, he runs into a number of very real historical figures including a young William Shakespeare.

“I’m trying to tell what I hope is a page-turner story,” says Shimerman. “At the same time, educate people into the history, politics, religion, and the real-life that dominated their world.”

Shimerman is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California. In the Trek Report piece, he acknowledged that he is well-known for his characters on shows like Deep Space Nine and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, something for which Shimerman says he is “very grateful”. But he stressed that his career and life have always been heavily influenced by Shakespeare, whose work has continued to inspire his acting and teaching since his days in college. “I do a lot of teaching of Shakespeare to actors,” Shimerman said, “and I primarily see myself as a teacher.”

As is the case with many Star Trek actors, when Trek Report asked Shimerman if he would ever consider putting on the ears again in a return to the franchise, he said, “Absolutely, I would jump at the chance.”

Illyria: Betrayal of Angels is the first novel in a planned three-part series, and is set to be released on November 5th. If you pre-order by November 4th, you can choose to get a 20% discount on the novel, or have your copy signed by Shimerman. To find out more, head to  JumpMasterPress.com.