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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.
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.
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.
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 . . .
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