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AUTHOR BIO

N. Gemini Sasson has a M.S. in Biology from Wright State University where she ran cross country on athletic scholarship.  Gemi has worked as an aquatic toxicologist, an environmental engineer, a teacher and a cross country coach.  Her Australian Shepherd kennel, Imagineer, has been recognized as an ASCA Hall of Fame Excellent (HOFX) Kennel and her articles on bobtail genetics have been translated into seven languages

Gemi's non-fiction writing has appeared in Aussie Times, Australian Shepherd Annual, History Magazine and  Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

She is the author of Isabeau, A Novel of Queen Isabella and Sir Roger Mortimer, The Crown in the Heather (The Bruce Trilogy: Book I), Worth Dying For (The Bruce Trilogy: Book II) and The Honor Due a King (The Bruce Trilogy: Book III).

 

 

INTERVIEW with N. GEMINI SASSON 

*          Every author has a unique path to publication.  Can you tell us a little about yours?

Sure, let’s just say it’s been a long time coming.  The very first book I wrote, in the late 1990's, was more along the lines of historical fantasy, but without the magic, which I suppose didn't make it much of a fantasy.  I had a few responses for partials from agents, but eventually realized I needed to write something better.

The next book was about Owain Glyndwr, who was the last Welsh prince of Wales.  I actually had an agent for that one, but over an eighteen month period she’d only sent it to three publishers, two of whom only did non-fiction.  Finally, I wrote her a break-up letter, only to receive a notice shortly afterward from her estate lawyer telling me she had died.  That would explain why she wasn’t responding.   

In the meantime, I’d written a story about Robert the Bruce that somehow turned into three books.  I had a wonderful agent for The Bruce Trilogy who tried relentlessly to find a publisher.  We had sincere interest from editors along the way, getting as far as acquisitions meetings, but none panned out.  In the meantime, I'd finished writing Isabeau.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  I knew people wanted to read my stories, but I didn't seem to be hitting on what publishers considered a commercially safe bet.  While I do enjoy a good Tudor novel from time to time, I felt that boat was already full.  With kids going off to college, I had to move forward and think about re-entering the work force soon.  Going through the whole submissions process again wasn't something I had time for.  That led me to the decision to independently publish. 
 

*          What was your inspiration for The Bruce Trilogy?

For years I’ve been a fan of Celtic music.  Nothing stirs my soul more than the skirl of bagpipes.  I also have Scottish ancestry on my mother’s side.  The first time I went to Scotland, I felt like I’d come home, even though I’d never been there before.  It was a very surreal feeling.

After seeing the movie Braveheart (yes, I know it’s full of inaccuracies, but it was great storytelling), I was inspired to write something epic.  My curiosity about the rest of the story, beyond William Wallace, had been piqued and so I began to read, and read, and read . . . Four years later I had three books about Robert the Bruce written, although they’ve since undergone many revisions.  In a way, it was a blessing that they didn't find a home with a publisher right away.  They are much better books now.


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Why should people read The Bruce Trilogy?

One of my goals in writing historical fiction is to make history feel real, exciting and accessible, not academic and boring.  Hopefully, readers will get a sense that history is more than just dates and names.  It's also about more than costumes and weaponry.  It is about real people who had many of the same fears and dreams, flaws and ambitions that we do today.  Robert the Bruce was more than a soldier and tactician, more than a king and diplomat.  He endured many hardships to achieve a dream and by conveying some of those trials through storytelling, I sincerely hope that readers will gain an appreciation for his determination and draw inspiration from it. 


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Why did you write Isabeau?

While researching The Bruce Trilogy, I found a lot of the references to Edward II's wife, Isabella of France, were not very favorable. I always try to gather resources from different viewpoints and as I did so, the picture of Isabella that emerged was very different from what the contemporary chroniclers partial to Edward II, or even their son Edward III, portrayed. Hers was a story waiting to be told. I couldn't not write it.
 

*          How important do you think it is to accurately represent the facts in historical fiction?

 Very much so.  But there's so much about the private moments of historical figures that we know nothing about.  Historical fiction, then, can never be 100% accurate, although authors must do their best to represent the true intentions and motivations of the people they are writing about.  Whose side the writer chooses to present though – in other words, who the viewpoint character is – will affect the slant of the story.  Truth is relative, depending on what your perception of events is.
 

*          What sparks your creativity and keeps you working?

My creativity comes in stages.  At first, I really have to force myself to be disciplined and write something.  It's called 'apply butt to chair'.  The Muse of Creativity rarely visits me without having to be hunted down, lassoed and then chained to my desk beside me.  Knowing that it’ll take a year or more to complete a project can be daunting.  But the further along I go in a story, the easier it becomes.  The characters take over.  It’s like being possessed – only in a good way.  Then, the fact that I need closure drives me to the end.  Starting is the hard part.  Once momentum takes over, it’s like being on auto-pilot.
 

*          What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some advice which may help others get past similar problems?

I’d have to say lack of confidence.  For years I wrote, but wouldn’t let anyone see my work.  I wouldn't even let my husband tell friends or family what I was doing.  I was afraid they'd ask too many questions.  That reluctance to share slowed my progress, but it did give me the opportunity to develop my own voice and style.  Finally, I forced myself to join a critique group.  That was a breakthrough.  I learned I was better than I thought, but that I still had work to do. 

Later, I put my work up on a writer’s web site.  That was an eye opener.  I got both praise and criticism, which taught me to develop a thicker hide and never get too full of myself.  So, to anyone else who wants to write, I’d say don’t be afraid to put your work out there.  Learn who you are as a writer.  Be willing to do better. And if someone doesn’t like it, even if they have harsh words, be okay with that.  I'd rather have half the readers love my work and half hate it, than get a tepid reaction across the board.
 

*          Every author works in a different way. How do you approach writing a novel? The way you set out the plot, your workplace, anything that contributes to the process?

It’s a mess and I wouldn’t recommend my method to anyone.  Basically, I start with copious notes from highlighted and dog-eared resource books and a timeline sketched out on a posterboard.  Next, I figure out where the story should start and end – and I change that about five or six times along the way.  I don’t always start writing at the beginning, since I’m not always sure where the beginning is.  I just start . . . somewhere, perhaps with a critical scene, like a battle.  Then I skip around a lot.  I rarely write successive chapters.  If it’s gray and gloomy outside and I’m in the mood to write a dark scene, I do that. Somehow it all comes together eventually.

  • What's next for you?

The third book in The Bruce Trilogy, The Honor Due a King, just came out in October 2011.  Currently, I'm working on a sequel to Isabeau, with future plans for another historical set in 15th century Wales.  We'll see where the Muse leads and what Time allows . . .

 

 

 

 

This site was last updated 10/30/11