This week, we're welcoming author Georgie Lee, once again with her latest
title, Mask of the Gladiator from Carina Press.
The author will offer a free copy of the book to a lucky blog visitor.
Here's the blurb:
Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.
When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costs—even from the lecherous eyes of the emperor...
Website: www.georgie-lee.com
Livia Duronius is
driven to seek out a gladiator after watching him triumph in the Colosseum. His
touch arouses a sense of hope she hasn't felt since Rome fell under the
tyrannical rule of Caligula—and her late husband betrayed her. Though in danger
of losing more than her heart, she vows to see him again, even after she learns
her uncle has arranged her marriage to a senator.
Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.
When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costs—even from the lecherous eyes of the emperor...
**Q&A with Georgie
Lee**
What gave you the idea to write a romance set in ancient
Rome?
The idea for Mask
of the Gladiator first came
to me while I was reading a book on the lives of the Roman emperors. Something
about Caligula’s demise, the real PG version, not the XXX version that has also
survived the ages, caught my attention. The story wouldn’t let go until I’d
crafted it into a tale in which regular people get caught up in the life and
death events of their era with a great romance and sex thrown in because hey,
after all, this is Rome.
Was the story an easy one to write and how long did it take?
It didn’t take me long to write Mask
of the Gladiator but it took
me a while to rewrite it. I had to do a lot of research on ancient Rome to get
the setting and historical facts surrounding Caligula’s assassination, which is
central to the plot, correct. Then, when I first submitted the manuscript, I
received a revise and resend letter. I agreed with my editor’s suggestions but
it took a while to process it all and rework the story. The suggestions made
the story more powerful and I love the finished version.
Was it difficult doing research for Mask of the Gladiator?
The Romans, thanks to the length of their empire, left a lot of
material, both written and physical about their lives. This wealth of
information on the ancient Romans made research both interesting and easier.
Thanks to surviving statues of Caligula, I was able to base my descriptions of
the emperor on his busts instead of having to extract details from ancient
sources, most of which were not flattering. For details on Caligula’s
assassination, I turned to Justinian and Suetonius. Their accounts, though not
exactly first hand, are well fleshed out, if not blatantly exaggerated in a few
spots. I incorporated details from their stories into my story while adding a
few of my own in order to better weave the main characters, Livia and Titus,
into the historical events. In regards to the daily life of the nobility, there
were endless resources available from the excavation at Pompeii to modern
research books detailing the archeological evidence.
Is there any music you listened to while writing Mask of the Gladiator?
I listened to soundtracks from different historical movies when I
was brainstorming certain scenes. The theme song from 300 is a great one to listen to while
reading Mask of the Gladiator,
as well as Gladiator, and King Arthur.
Tell us a little about you. Are you a plotter or a
pantser?
I used to be a pantser, but now that I’ve sold to Harlequin
Historicals, I sit down and write a summary and work on my characters before I
get too far into a story. I usually start with a specific scene in mind and
then build the story out from there. Having a summary really helps me make the
best use of my writing time.
What is something unusual about you that readers would be
surprised to know?
I once took classes in how to read and speak ancient Egyptian. For
a time, I could read some hieroglyphics, but I’ve since forgotten most of what
I learned.
Thank you for joining me today and thanks to Unusual Historicals
for inviting me.
BUY LINKS
Mask of the Gladiator - http://ebooks.carinapress.com/1C1CE451-9420-4E12-8657-AE8CE6C6F330/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=561AB37C-9999-418D-A4DB-219BD27E7D11
A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves
combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic
fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego
before moving to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of
the entertainment industry.
Her first novel, Lady’s Wager, and her
contemporary novella, Rock ‘n’ Roll Reunion are both available
from Ellora’s Cave Blush. Labor Relations, a contemporary romance
of Hollywood, and Studio Relations, a love story set in 1935
Hollywood, are currently available from Montlake Romance. Look for her Regency
novella, Hero’s Redemption from Carina Press in July 2013, and
her Regency novel, Engagement of Convenience, from Harlequin
Historical on October 2013.
When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and
watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit www.georgie-lee.com for more
information about Georgie and her novels.
Social Media Links
Twitter: @GeorgieLeeBooks
Website: www.georgie-lee.com
