Blog Tour Q&A with Eileen Stephenson, Author of Imperial Passions: The Porta Aurea

Please join me in welcoming Eileen Stephenson to Let Them Read Books! Eileen is touring the blogosphere with her first full-length novel, Imperial Passions: The Porta Aurea, and I recently had the chance to ask her some questions about her trailblazing Byzantine heroine and writing historical fiction. I also had the privilege of providing Eileen with some editorial assistance as she prepared this book for publication, and I designed the cover. Read on and enter to win a Byzantine-style sterling silver bracelet!




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.

Blog Tour Q&A with Eileen Stephenson, Author of Tales of Byzantium

I am so thrilled to have Eileen Stephenson here today with her debut short story collection, Takes of Byzantium! I was honored to work on this book with Eileen in an editorial capacity, and I designed the cover too. Eileen is touring the blogosphere with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, and I had the chance to ask her a few questions about her favorite Byzantines. Read on and enter for your chance to win a paperback copy of Tales of Byzantium!

A young empress defies her powerful father for love and her rightful place on the throne.

A charismatic commander takes the gamble of a lifetime to save the lives of thousands of innocents.

An exiled princess finds a new sense of purpose and creates a legacy that will stand through the ages.

These stories provide a glimpse of the dynamic and proud Byzantines who lived during the height of the empire’s splendor.

“Through elegantly described details, sharply observed characters, and especially crisp, modern-sounding dialogue, Stephenson takes these vignettes from the thousand years of Byzantine history, mixes them liberally with such excellent modern narrative histories as John Julius Norwich’s A Short History of Byzantium, and manages to create three very intriguing windows into a part of history largely unknown to many readers.” -Anne McNulty, Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews

Hi Eileen! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit Let Them Read Books! What sparked your interest in the Byzantines?

It was one book – A Short History of Byzantium by John Julius Norwich. I was at the library looking for something to read and borrowed it when I couldn’t find anything more interesting. Little did I realize that this small book, which Norwich considers the “lite” version of his comprehensive three-volume history, would lead me down a path I never expected to be on.

How did you determine who to write about for this collection?

There are so many fascinating stories of the Byzantines, but it is the middle period that inspires me. The first story, about the Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus and his wife, Helena Lecapena, is an improbable love story of two people who had no reason to like each other, until they did. I recognized the great story potential they had when I first read about them in Norwich’s book.

I first read about Manuel Comnenus and his defense of Nicaea in one of my research books, a translation of John Skylitzes’ history. His descendants would establish a great dynasty and bring the empire back from the brink of collapse. I found his ingenious way out of his predicament in Nicaea both daring and amusing and thought he deserved a story.

The story of Anna Comnena, although the last in the book, was the first I wrote. She was also the great granddaughter of Manuel Comnenus in the second story and the earliest female historian. She was thwarted in her attempts to reach the throne, but found purpose and redemption in writing a history of her father’s reign instead. A story about the strange course our lives can take on our way to our destiny.