At the center of Byzantine society, fifteen-year old orphaned Anna Dalassena lives with her grandparents among the most powerful men and women in Constantinople. But the cutthroat politics of the Great Palace sends the family into exile in a distant corner of the mepire. Her bleak situation finally turns promising after meeing a handsome young soldier, John Comnenus, and his brother Isaac, before the are finally permitted to return home.
The vicious power struggles, uprisings, and betrayals at the highest levels of the empire push Anna and John unwillingly into its center as they struggle to deal with their own tragedies. When rebellion puts her life and those of everyone she loves at risk, is the reward a throne for her family – too big a gamble?
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Hi Eileen! Thank you for visiting Let Them Read Books!
How did you first discover Anna Dalassena, and what inspired you to write about her?
When I first started immersing myself in Byzantine history, I was drawn to the story of Emperor Alexios I Comnenus, who was key to the revival of the Byzantine Empire after a period of about 50 years of mostly inept or corrupt rulers. I would randomly look for information about him and his family online, and I came upon a website written by a historian (I think she was from New Zealand) devoted to Anna Dalassena and full of details on her amazing life. Now I had often thought about writing historical fiction since I was teenager, but the topics I knew most about (English and Roman history) already had an abundance of fine novels written about them. I didn't want to write stories that had already been well told. After reading that website about the little-known Anna Dalassena, I almost felt like I had been tapped on the shoulder and been told, "This is who you are to write about."
What was the most challenging aspect of bringing her story to life?
The most challenging aspect of bringing her story to life was learning how to write fiction. I do analytical writing in my day job, which meant I had a good grasp of grammar basics, but writing fiction was a whole different way of writing. I took writing classes and learned a lot from my editor, writers' group, and beta readers. It's been a long process but so worth it.
What was your favorite scene to write in Imperial Passions?
I think it was the blinding of Emperor Michael V in the church. That's not something you read about very often, and I had a contemporary account of what actually happened, although not from Anna's point of view. It's the kind of dramatic event that gets readers' attention with its gruesome nature, and yet it's a completely accurate story.
I've seen pictures of your Byzantine travels! What's your favorite place you've visited for research so far?
I loved all the Byzantine places I've visited, but the one that has to be my favorite is the Grande Dame of them all, the Hagia Sophia. It was the center stage of Byzantine life for almost a thousand years, built by the Emperor Justinian and his wife, Empress Theodora, in the 6th century from the ashes of the old church following the Nike riots. I was excited when we visited to stand in the green marble circle in the women's gallery where all the empresses stood for services starting with Theodora until the end in 1453. The Hagia Sophia probably has only a shadow of the grandeur it once held, but what remains is still incomparable.
Which authors and/or novels have had the most influence on you as a writer?
Sharon Kay Penman, Elizabeth Chadwick, and Philippa Gregory have shown me the path to take in composing stories covering the medieval era. All three of them have chosen distant periods of time, done impressive research, and then brought the people to life. I've been fortunate to meet all three of them at conferences or book signings, although I doubt they would remember me. In fact, it was when I met SKP at a book signing in Virginia, after always thinking of authors as somehow elevated from the rest of humanity, that I realized we weren't that different and maybe I could write too.
What's the best piece of advice you've received in your writing career?
It wasn't exactly a piece of advice I wanted. I was taking a writing class and reviewing Anna's story with the teacher when she looked me in the eye and said, "You need to split this into more than one book." I love long books myself and that's what I had planned. But after hearing what the teacher said, my gut told me she was right.
What are you working on now?
A couple of things. I am working on the second book covering Anna's life, of course. But I know that not everyone is as familiar with 11th century Byzantine history, as I have become, so I thought I would write a brief introduction to 11th century Byzantine history and put it out on Amazon. It's been fun to write, and one of the guys in my writers' group suggested that it would make a great graphic novel. That would be fun!
About the Author:
My first book, Tales of Byzantium, contains short stories taking place in the middle years of the Byzantine Empire. My second book and first novel, Imperial Passions: The Porta Aurea, introduces Anna Dalassena, the extraordinary mother of the Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Comnenus, and an unstoppable force in her time.
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Thank you so much for this great interview, Jenny! We appreciate you hosting the tour!
ReplyDeleteAmy
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