This week, we're pleased to welcome author Chris Westcott with the latest novel, IN THE SHADOW OF TYRANNY. The author will offer a free copy of In the Shadow of Tyranny to a lucky blog visitor. Be sure to leave your email address in the comments of today's author interview for a chance to win. Winner(s) are contacted privately by email. Here's the blurb.
When the Emperor Nero causes the death of his parents, Gaius sees his future dreams and aspirations brutally shattered. Unexpectedly thrown a lifeline by Vespasian, his father’s closest friend and a celebrated military leader, an offer of a role in the campaign for Judea, finds him playing a pivotal role in the epic battle for Jerusalem.
Summoned back to Rome by Domitian, the new Emperor and his lifelong friend, Gaius finds his friend a changed man, a man capable of cold-blooded murder, and Gaius is swiftly dispatched to distant Britannia with orders for the island’s legendary governor, Agricola.
**Q&A with Chris Westcott**
What inspired you to write the book?
Quite simply I felt that I had a story to tell
that could add to the genre of historical fiction set in ancient Rome.
What is it about ancient Rome that fascinated you
enough to write a book on it?
When I was about five years old my parents gave
me a book that had belonged to my Dad, it was a children’s book describing the
history of Romans in Britain. The illustrations were incredible and, as
children tend to do, I read the book a hundred times. Agricola, a key character
in my novel, was prominent in this children’s book and I guess this must have
stayed buried at the back of my mind. In 2005, I read Conn Iggulden’s Emperor
series and it was literally a life changing event, from that moment I wanted to
understand as much as I could about every element of life in ancient Rome.
Later as my new found passion lead me to history books I learned about the
incredible events in Judea and I realised I wanted more people to know about
that often overlooked piece of Roman history, when I discovered I could combine
that with telling some of Agricola’s story I couldn’t grab my laptop quick
enough!
How much of the book is based on fact and how
much is fiction?
All the key events in the book and the majority
of the major characters are based on real people albeit I have imposed my own
take on their personality and character. The main character is a fictional
creation that I have placed in that world to tell the story.
Tell us something surprising about ancient Rome.
I have always been fascinated by how much ancient
Roman history impacts on us today - the calendar we use, the names of the
months of the year, the legacy of Roman architecture and engineering, the
influence on our political and legal systems to name but a few examples. Learning
about ancient Rome has allowed me to view the world around me today with a
fresh pair of eyes.
Tell us about the main character.
The main character is fundamentally a good man
who is caught up in the events around him. I deliberately gave the character an
unusual upbringing as I wanted him to view Rome and the Empire with a naivety
that would both endear him to the reader and to allow me to describe the
emotion of someone faced with loss, love and achievement. As much as possible I
wanted to create a character a reader could engage with albeit in the context
of a story set 2000 years ago.
How do you research your novels?
Initially my research consisted of reading as
many fictional and non-fictional books on the time period as possible. As the
story began to solidify in my head, I started to target the research to the
specific time periods and geographical locations. I find it challenging to
tread the fine line between having enough detail to create the world of ancient
Rome for the reader and disrupting the pace of the story with description so my
research tends not to be overly detailed.
What advice can you give to other writers?
Write something that you would want to read
yourself. I know that is a cliché but when I write I can imagine how I would feel
if I had just read that scene in someone else’s novel and that helps me judge
whether I have captured the emotions or details that I hoped to. Another piece
of advice would be to get the story down and worry about the details later. It
is tempting to go and check a fact or detail but doing so can completely
disrupt your flow - all the details can be added in later.
Do you write about any other periods of history?
Not at present but I am fascinated by the idea of
a series of novels based around the exploits and achievements of Sir Francis Drake,
Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Richard Grenville. It was an age of exploration,
conquest, heroic military achievement and political intrigue - in short all the
ingredients that make for great historical fiction.
Who are your favourite historical fiction
authors? Who is your work influenced by?
There are a few but the legend that is Bernard
Cornwell for me stands head and shoulders above all others. His ability to
educate on a specific time period while creating the most captivating
characters and storylines is nothing short of genius. With regards to ancient
Rome, Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow and Steven Saylor are the real standouts. It
was Conn Iggulden's Emperor series that first sparked my interest in Rome and from
there I haven’t looked back. I must also make mention of David Gemmell.
Although primarily known as a fantasy writer his trilogy based around the
stories of Troy were some of the finest historical fiction novels I have ever
read.
What are you working on next?
I am currently finishing another novel set in
ancient Rome. This will be the first in a two-part story of brothers caught in
opposing factions in the ‘year of four Emperors’. The time period is similar to
my first novel but this new series allows me to really explore the incredible
events that took place in what is arguably the most eventful year in the entire
history of the Roman Empire.
Learn more about the novel:
