Caroline Lawrence writes the very popular Roman Mysteries series featuring Flavia Gemina, daughter of a Roman Sea captain and her three friends, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus – and of course her dog Scuto (my favourite character, of course!). Look out for the latest book in the series, The Fugitive from Corinth, which was published in October.
So what are the secrets of Caroline’s success? I thought I’d try to get some hot tips from her when we had a chat the other day.
When did you decide you wanted to write books?
I first decided to be a writer about 15 years ago. I used to be a teacher (Latin, French and art) and although I loved teaching it was exhausting work. It occurred to me that being a writer must be much more relaxed and fun. After all, everybody knows all writers do all day is sit around in their pyjamas drinking hot chocolate and making up stories. And people pay them to do that. So I started reading lots of books about writing and every morning I put in an hour before I went to school.
Which people or books have influenced you most as a writer?
The person who has had the most effect on my writing is a Hollywood script doctor called John Truby. (http://www.truby.com) I learned how to write plot from his tapes on story structure. I also adore screenwriter Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He is one of the best writers around and I steal from him constantly.
Do you have any favourite authors or favourite books?
As a child, I devoured the Nancy Drew detective novels by Carolyn Keene. Then (aged 19 on my gap year) I read two books that changed my life. Mary Renault's The Last of the Wine (set in Classical Greece) and Homer's Iliad in the E.V. Rieu translation. As a result of reading those books I started studying ancient Greek and then Latin. Classics became my passion and has been ever since! My favourite books include My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell, Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis and the Aubrey/Maturin historical novels of Patrick O'Brian.
Do you always read history and historical novels?
I read a lot of historical novels but I also read lots of children's books. I find most modern grown-up fiction too wordy and depressing.
Why did you decide to base your stories in the Romans world?
For a long time, I couldn't think what to write about. Then, one summer day in 1999, my sister Jennifer said, 'Why don't you write a book for kids set in Pompeii?' It was as if a giant cartoon lightbulb had gone on over my head: BRILLIANT IDEA!
How long does it take you to write a book?
I write very quickly: two books per year. This is because I use John Truby's seven-step plot-structure method.
Do you try to write a set number of words or scrolls each day?
I never count words. I get up between 5.30 and 7.00 and try to put in four to five hours writing (in my pyjamas while drinking hot chocolate, of course). Then my day is done and I can go to a movie and call it 'research'!
When will the new Roman Mysteries book be published and do you know what it will be called yet?
The next Roman Mystery is called The Sirens of Surrentum. It will be out in April 2006. It will be very romantic and a little bit shocking.
Which Roman Mysteries book is your favourite?
The Pirates of Pompeii is my favourite, mainly because I fell in love with the Villa Limona and its inhabitants. The only time I've ever had to be dragged away from my computer was while writing 'Pirates'; I was having so much fun!
Have you decided how old Flavia, Nubia, Jonathan and Lupus will be when the series ends? Will they be grown up or will the series end while they are still children?
The 18 books take place over the reign of the Emperor Titus from June AD 79 to October AD 81 when he mysteriously died. In the first book, Flavia is 10, Jonathan 10, Nubia 11 and Lupus 8. In the last book Flavia will be 12, Jonathan 13, Nubia 13 and Lupus 10. But the final book will begin with Flavia grown up, married and with two children (!). A letter arrives and she says to her husband, 'You know, we never did solve that last mystery...' The rest of the book will be a 'flashback' to when they are kids again. Then at the very end of the book we come back to the future to solve the mystery and find out what happened to Flavia's other three friends now that they are grown up.
Have you planned how many books there will be in this series, and what will you do when you have written them all?
I have ideas and provisional titles for all 18 books I hope to write! When I have finished The Roman Mysteries I plan to write a trilogy set in 6th century Byzantium about stylites (monks on pillars). It will be called the Qartmin Trilogy.
How did Romans make their love potions - which ingredients did they use?
One delightfully disgusting love potion was called 'gloios'. It was the oil scraped off by a gladiator after he'd had a good sweaty workout in the palaestra. Gloios was a mixture of the oil blended with his sweat, dust, dead skin-cells and hair. It could also be used as hair gel and a beauty face masque.
What is your favourite fascinating fact about life in Roman times?
That they had chewing gum. It was a resin called 'mastica' found on the island of Chios. It is still used in some modern chewing gums today! I have tried it and it tastes delicious, like a cross between carrot and cumin, only sweet.
You can find other fun questions and answers on my FAQS page here: http://www.romanmysteries.com/author/faqs.htm
Caroline
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