1)   Welcome to Queen Anne Boleyn Website! Could you share with us a little about yourself and your background?

I am an English writer of English historical fiction. My work spans the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian eras – but I like to explore the whole area of dreams and the unconscious as well as the facts and events of history. What people thought and imagined is every bit as important, I feel, as what they actually did – and so I try to convey this aspect of the past as much as possible in my stories.

2)   I have finished “The Arrow Chest” and I was impressed with your style of writing and ability of blending histories. How did you get an idea of writing about Anne Boleyn’s story set in Victorian background?

There are already so many novels and films about Anne Boleyn that I wanted to come up with something fresh.  And because I wanted to explore the psychological and emotional dynamics between the characters that surrounded her during her tragically short life I decided to loosen up and move the whole story forward into a different era. Victorian Gothic (19^th century) is a perfect place to put Henry VIII and Anne because the Victorian age has lots of parallels to that of the Tudor periods. There were powerful men – ‘kings’ in their own right. There were beautiful elegant women, and there were the fabulous poets and painters of the Pre-Raphaelite movement. So it was not difficult to find placements for Anne, Henry and for Thomas Wyatt in that kind of environment. But it was also a suitable match because it was a time which underwent its own very powerful crisis of faith and identity – similar to that experienced at the time of the Reformation of the 16^th century. The Victorians had the advent of Darwin’s theory of evolution, and the threat this held for the established Church. The horrors of Anne’s execution and the sinister plots that festered in the background at the time of her fall also fit perfectly into a Gothic setting. The author and reader are then both liberated in a sense to explore and speculate about what might really have taken place, not in a sense of dry facts and events, but on a deeper, more fundamental level of raw emotion.

3)  Amos and Daphne are linked to Thomas Wyatt and Anne Boleyn; are they also a combination of other historical figures?

One could draw parallels with a much older generation – of Lancelot and Gwenevere, for example, at the court of King Arthur. There was a strong code of chivalric conduct in those times, or at least in the legend. There was a strict hierarchy in society and a precise way in which one was supposed to behave. In The Arrow Chest, the main protagonist, Amos, strives to find a solution to the situation he finds himself in through embracing the cult of the ‘English Gentleman’ which, in itself, embraced some of the principles of knightly conduct from those much older times. In fact the Victorians were very fond of exploring the realm of medieval culture. The poems of Tennyson, the paintings of the Pre-Raphaelites – all these looked to the past for inspiration as to how to live an honourable and dignified life amid all the distractions and temptations of the contemporary world, which for the Victorians were ones of unprecedented industrialisation and commercialisation accompanied what they perceived as a moral and spiritual decline.

4)   The illustration on the cover of “The Arrow Chest” is very beautiful – it is called “Daphne” by Amos Roselli. But Amos is a fictional character, so who created the cover?

Thank you, Sylwia! Because you have said how much you liked it, I shall claim full responsibility for it myself  

Robert Parry

5)   It is three years since your debut novel “The Virgin and the Crab” was launched. How do you feel about your writing career now after 3 years and two released books?

Still very excited by it all. I love the whole process of seeing a project through from start to finish (like that cover, for example). It is a wonderful time in the publishing world at present. Quite a revolution going on with e-readers and self-publishing and so on. The author has never had more freedom to express his/herself, and the reader has never had such a wide choice of titles and genres to choose from, from classics to modern experimental – it’s all there at our fingertips to interact with, to enjoy and to explore. I get a huge buzz from running my Facebook page and my blog, as well, and speaking with my readers online. It’s just a miracle, really, and such good fun.

6)   When did you first become interested in writing? 

During my early twenties. I have been writing continuously since then. I enjoy it immensely.

7)   When and where do you write?

I always admire those writers who say they rise at dawn, leap out of bed and type out a thousand words before breakfast. But I just cannot do that. I like to write a little later in the day, and especially at night. The darkness is wasted unless it is used for some kind of creative activity. Best of all, though, come the Summer months, is to work from my ‘outdoor office’ – that is, my bench out in the garden. I love to take the laptop out there, and I have a table too, and write in the fresh air. I suppose most of us dislike being stuck inside at a desk when the sun is shining. I am a very keen gardener, and so in-between paragraphs I often get up and walk around and do a spot of weeding or watch our newts cavorting in the pond.

8)   What kind of research process to you usually undertake before/during writing a novel?

For my first novel, Virgin and the Crab, I had to do things the hard way, visiting libraries and historic sites, because there was no internet then – or at least not an internet as we know it today. For The Arrow Chest, however, it was a little easier to work online for research purposes. I am also fortunate in having lived and worked most of my life in and around London and the South-East of England where so many of the historical sites are still to be found. And I feel I have a strong link to the past through my Grandparents, who were Victorians/Edwardians, in fact. The London I grew up in was still a place that was closely connected in atmosphere and social structure to the London of their times – and even to earlier periods. I hope this gives a certain authenticity to the stories.

9)   How do you organize your facts and plots? Do you have a note-taking system, chart or other means of controlling the information, or is it all in your head?

Always the first serious attempt at writing a story is, for me, preceded by taking up a very large piece of graph paper. I write a timeline along one side of it – all the significant dates of events, battles, kings and queens and so on. And then along the other side, I plot the story itself, as experienced from the perspective of the characters. I like to see the big picture that this provides, and I refer to it constantly during the early stages. That way, too, no one gets stranded in places where they are not meant to be.

10)   What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Everyone has a story inside, and it should be expressed – but not everyone who reads it will find it interesting. Keep going until you can make it interesting. Be modest in your ambitions, therefore, at least at first, and no matter how unlikely it seems, try to recognize that what you write at the outset will most likely not be what you will finish up with many years later. Then, once you have something that you are happy with, keep going and don’t give up.

11)   Are you currently working on any new novels?

Yes, my third novel, which is set in the 18^th century England at the time of the Jacobite rebellion. That is the historical backdrop, anyway – but the story is really all about a set of fictitious characters who happen to become caught up in it all. It is very different to the previous two stories, just as they were different to each other. I hope to be announcing the title and cover design soon.

12)   And last but not least, is there anything else you would like your readers to know about you or your upcoming projects?

Just that I hope to keep finding fresh ways of exploring the way people lived and thought about themselves in the past. I believe that is important – because it helps us to understand who we are today.

Q : Welcome to Queen Anne Boleyn Website! Could you share with us a little about yourself and your background?

A : I am the proud wife of a very handsome retired US Navy Chief, and together we have a blended family of four, making our home in central WI.  I also am a trained pianist and vocalist—though I admit, much of that training was set aside when I discovered Janis Joplin, classic rock, and show tunes.  I still love to play and sing a very eclectic variety of music, however, and it is a great twin outlet to my writing.  I come from a strongly Chicagoan background and am the first of my family to be born in Wisconsin.  If you are not familiar with the area, there is a great rivalry between WI and its neighboring state of IL, so I have had to swear allegiance to both football teams—the Bears and the Packers!  It may just start a war yet . . .

 Q : I loved the characters and the storyline in “The Sumerton Women”. Are those characters based on real people/events?  

A : Most of the characters in THE SUMERTON WOMEN are of my own creation.  There are some, as I call them, “guest appearances” by historical figures, most prominently the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.  The events that drive the conflict in the novel, such as the British Reformation and the ups and downs in Henry VIII’s and Edward VI’s England, are real.

 Q : When and how characters from your book became real in your imagination? When did you decide you will write this novel? 

A  : It was almost four years ago when I had the idea for this novel.  I wrote about a quarter of it, then put it aside when SECRETS…and RIVALS…got picked up, then returned to it when my editor asked if there were other Tudor era novels I was working on. Conveniently, THE SUMERTON WOMEN was there and waiting to be finished.  The characters ruminate within me for quite a while as I entertain scenes in my mind and develop them further.  I tend to get very wrapped up in my characters, whether they are my own or are historical figures, and the process can be quite intense.  They take up residence in my mind for the whole duration of the novel—and of course they never leave my heart.

 Q : You wrote two other historical novels set in the Tudor England. How did you become interested in this period of history? 

A : I am a lover of history, from the times before Christ right through the Vietnam era.  There are so many stories waiting to be told, about the people, the places, and the events that shaped them—everything a historical novelist needs.  The Tudor period is just one of my many fascinations.  I have always found the era to be filled with compelling historical figures faced with intense conflict and personal struggles that, despite the grand scale of the events they dealt with, are actually rather relatable.  I endeavored to cover areas within the now-familiar Tudor story that are a little less documented and breathe life into characters and situations that have been a bit overlooked.

 Q : What is your favorite Tudor character? 

A : I have a couple.  I must say the Third Duke of Norfolk is one of them.  He was a villain, true, but after researching him I could understand a bit more of what may have played into the development of his mind-set.  Though it didn’t justify his actions, it made him no less fascinating as a person.  I also have developed a fondness for Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury.  I found him to be a truly kind person with sincere motives to reform the Church at that time.

 Q : Can you tell us what sort of research process did you undergo for this novel? 

A : As most of the characters were my own, along with Sumerton as a setting, most of my research dealt with the Reformation and policy made during the reigns of Henry VIII and his son Edward VI.  It was interesting learning more about medieval nunneries, monastic discipline, and how closely politics walked with the religion of the day.

 Q : Do you outline your story first or are you more of a go-with-the-flow type?

A: I do have a very rough version of my novels outlined, not chapter by chapter, but very informal to work off of.  It goes through many transformations along the way, and often the pitching synopsis I write after the novel’s completion evolves into something much different than its original concept.

 Q : What is a typical working day like for you? Do you set a daily writing goal?  

A : Often I work at night.  In my house, with kids and animals and the responsibilities those entail, I find it most peaceful, though when my son is in school I have been writing in the early afternoons as well lately.  When I am under deadline I do have a writing goal of 5 pages a day, which is about 2,000 words or so.  When I’m not on deadline, however, I just write with my inspiration—which sometimes takes a bit of coaxing, but admittedly is the most enjoyable way to write.

 Q : How do you organize your facts and plots? Do you have a note-taking system, chart or other means of controlling the information, or is it all in your head? 

A : My facts I have noted or highlighted and are usually sitting in piles of books and notebooks beside me when I’m working.  I did once chart out a complete battle scene that I ended up deleting, so I don’t often use charts unless it is family trees.  My plot, unless I am working under the stricture of a real historical figure and the framework their life provides, is often in my head and on my first working synopsis.  It changes so much as it goes, when new research is uncovered or when I feel something else suits the characters more or will drive the story in a better, more compelling direction, that I never want to be locked into too rigid of an outline.

 Q : When and where do you write? 

A : This year my husband remodeled one of the bedrooms of our house into my first office.  I used to write in my rocking chair, with all of my books and notes surrounding me, which didn’t make for a very tidy spot!  So now it is all in one lovely, inspiring room that I can escape to, a world all the more meaningful since my husband built it with such love and the desire for me to have a quiet, peaceful working environment.

 Q : When did you first become interested in writing? 

A : As soon as I learned how to read.  I was always making up stories and daydreaming, carried away to other worlds.  The more I read, the more I wanted to write.  I began my first serious pursuit when I was 16 but didn’t begin pitching my work to agents till I was in my twenties.  It is a passion and a compulsion, something I’ll do regardless of whether I continue to be published or not, but I figured it was time to see if anyone else would believe in my work as much as I did.  I was very blessed to find and agent and editor who did so.

 Q : What advice would you give aspiring writers? 

A: To never give up or become discouraged.  Keep submitting your work to agents no matter how many rejections you get.  The more rejections you get, the better the story will be for later!  Writing can be an isolating profession, so networking with other authors is important, especially those who are established and can guide you through the bittersweet journey.  Never write hoping for wealth; write for passion and the love of your story and characters.  Be assertive but respectful, make your voice heard, and keep at it!

 Q : If “The Sumerton Women” gained a movie deal, who would you choose to play the main characters? 

A : Whenever I’m picturing my characters, I often pick actors/actresses from different time periods, so some of my dream cast would have to be resurrected.  But it would be fun to see Dianna Agron in the role of Cecily and Jennifer Lawrence as Mirabella.  Thorsten Kaye would make an excellent Father Alec but Hal . . . sadly I can’t see him as anyone but a young Richard Harris!

 Q : Are you currently working on any new novels? 

A: I am!  There are always ideas circling, it’s just finding which one is speaking to me the loudest at the time.

 Q: And last but not least, is there anything else you would like your readers to know about you or your upcoming projects? 

A: I have another work coming out in 2013 that I will be excited to disclose as soon as I am able to.  After that I would like to branch out to other eras and truly hope I can engage readers to follow me on my journey as I hope to keep growing and evolving as a writer.  If you would like to ride along, please check out my website at www.dlbogdan.com and blog at www.dlbogdan.blogspot.com  I’m also on facebook and twitter @DL_Bogdan.

 Q : Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule. 

A: Thank you, Sylwia!  It was a delight!

]]> http://www.anne-boleyn.com/eng/interview-with-d-l-bogdan-author-of-the-sumerton-women/feed/ 2 http://www.anne-boleyn.com/eng/interview-with-author-raven-a-nuckols/ http://www.anne-boleyn.com/eng/interview-with-author-raven-a-nuckols/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:53:31 +0000 Sylwia http://www.anne-boleyn.com/eng/?p=44

Book cover

Today I am really delighted to post an exclusive interview with Raven A. Nuckols, author of a historical fiction novel ‘Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn’. This book has already been released and you can buy on Amazon. I am so excited about this book and I am looking forward to immerse myself into the world of ‘what if…’.

‘Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn’ is not a novel like any other – author uses her imagination to answer the question what if Anne Boleyn lived? What if she did not die a traitor’s death?  I often wondered – had Anne Boleyn became Henry’s true love? Had she been the most celebrated of his wives? Had the history changed if she lived?

I think many of Anne Boleyn’s fans had asked themselves such questions. Now we all have a chance to read an alternative history of Anne Boleyn by Raven A. Nuckols.  I am so thrilled about this book!

S : Welcome to Queen Anne Boleyn Website! I am so glad to have this opportunity and  ask you few questions about your  historical novel ‘Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn’. Many readers out there in cyber space may not be familiar with your work. Can you tell them a little about yourself and your background?

R:  I’m Raven A. Nuckols and this is my first book out of a trilogy revolving around how different English history would be had Anne lived and give birth to a son. Two more works will be coming in this series and I’m already enjoying coming up with the storylines for those. I live with my boyfriend and our two cats in the DC area in the US. I majored in Economics in college and had no idea that professional writing would end up becoming my true passion, but it is.

S : What makes Anne Boleyn such a fascinating subject?

R : She was never meant to be a Queen and yet she ended up catching the love of a King that broke his entire country in two changing the course of English history forever, all just to be with her. The way their very intense and passionate love ended was beyond tragic, yet the legacy she left and its effects still last to this day.

S : Why do you think Anne Boleyn is so popular nowadays? Do you think that the interest in Anne Boleyn is a reflection of our obsession with celebrity culture?

R :  I think because of her strength, independence, intellect and ambition most women can identify with one of those characteristics and just find her story fascinating. I don’t believe that Anne reflects our obsession with celebrity culture, but I believe it was her actions being so bold for her time, makes her one of the most incredible women of history.

S : Why do you think Anne Boleyn fell out of grace?

R :  I personally believe that you cannot have that much hatred for anyone without having a profoundly deep feeling of love. Those two feelings are polar opposites along the same spectrum. I think Henry was a victim of his own feelings and as a King he was in a unique position not to appear weak and as a result, he fell vulnerable to the majority opinion to think the worst of his wife, especially in light of her multiple miscarriages. I still believe he loved her up until his last breath and regretted his actions, though proof of this has never been found.

S :  How much research did you have to do for ‘Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn’? Is there anything you found when doing research for your novel that surprised you, or which you found particularly intriguing? What was your favorite resource for ‘Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn’?

R :  I researched Anne and the rest of the Tudors for several years before finally deciding to put my thoughts to paper. To be honest, since I already knew Anne’s story fairly well I did not find anything in my research that stood out. However, when researching Thomas Cromwell I was intrigued to know about his background, his training, his days as a mercenary and how all of that made much more sense of how he was able to plot out Anne’s final time on the throne; the puzzle of that minister just came together.

S : What makes this book special to you?

R : This book is special particularly because I have always wondered what Anne might have been able to accomplish had she not been killed before her time. It was such an absolute joy to bring her to life and the rest of the Tudor players contemplating how these people might have ended their days in vastly different ways than how history actually went.

S : If you could visit any historical time and place associated  with Anne Boleyn, when and where would it be, and why?

R : I would want to visit 1531 when Henry kicked Katherine of Aragon out of the castle and moved in Anne to the Queen’s chambers. Their courtship of seven long years slowly eased towards marriage with that first step of getting rid of his present wife and I wish I could have been around to talk with Anne about her excitement, trepidation, and overall joy about how her affair was progressing going from the »other woman« to the only woman.

S : What first got you interested in writing historical fiction?

R : I have always been interested in alternative histories and the possibilities that other authors have had when imagining their versions of differences and in a way I guess you could say that it was their fearlessness to put their vision out there is what inspired me to take the plunge and do the same with a woman I felt a real kinship to.

S : Who are your greatest writing inspirations and how do they aid you in your writing today?  What recent historical novels have you been particularly impressed with?

R :  Eric Ives and Allison Weir are two of my favorite Tudor historians that I enjoy reading and truly value their work. The last one I could say I read that I was enjoyed was Allison Weir’s, »The Lady in the Tower« about Anne’s final days.

S:  If ‘Had the Queen Lived: An Alternative History of Anne Boleyn’ gained a movie deal, who would you choose to play the main characters?

R :  What a great question! After seeing Natalie Dormer’s portrayal of Anne in the Showtime series »The Tudors« she instantly springs to mind to play her in a movie. Natalie brought Anne to life in such an intense, dramatic and yet wonderfully human way and I’d love to see her reserect that role and play it with an alternate ending. The rest of the casting I’d leave to the professionals.

S : You mention on your website that  ‘It was a wonderful experience, so much in so I’m writing a sequel and even a third to complete this series of “Had the Queen Lived”‘. Tell us a little bit more about that.

R : The sequel is about her son and his reign. Since this is all fiction, its all new characters with new storylines.

S : And last but not least, is there anything else you would like your readers to know about you or the books you write?

R :  Just that I hope they enjoy them and to have fun with it.

Thank you so much Raven for taking the time out of your day to talk to me

To find out more about Raven A. Nuckols and her upcoming novels visit her website and Facebook Page.