A Murder Across Two Centuries: An interview with historical fiction author Barbara Gaskell Denvil

1) Please tell us about your book.


FAIR WEATHER is a historical thriller which covers several genres. It is also an adventure/romance, and a crime mystery. The plot is based around a time switch, so that action takes place both in 13th century England, and in modern day England. These switches are integral to the plot. The romance also interweaves through time – and in an unusual sense, time is an actual character within the story.

2) Why did you decide to combine historical fiction with modern paranormal suspense?

My inspiration for the whole plot came from dreams. I used these dreams and wove my characters through the ideas and visions which came to me. Fair Weather was therefore crafted very much as a labour of love, and not created in any logical or practical sense.

3) In modern times, in most countries, women have fairly easy freedom of movement. Given that you go so far back, the interaction of women with their society was considerably changed, even compared to other later English historical eras. Did this present any difficulties in plotting?

Surprisingly, no. My heroine is a beggar girl, and few restrictions have ever been put on the abjectly poor as long as they can escape the jurisdiction of the law. It is invariably the noblewomen who are watched and limited by society’s conventions. The poor go where they will. Also, in the 13th century, society was less conventional in many ways and women were not quite so tethered as is sometimes imagined. Female subjugation actually got far worse from the 16th century onwards.

4) Given the ignorance that afflicted the distant path, do you think it's easier or more difficult to maintain tension in murder plots. The lack of forensics, systematic investigation, et cetera, for instance, makes it easier for guilty folk to reasonably evade the authorities in the past, but, in modern times, access to technology by criminals and improved education provide their own opportunities for mischief.

Yes, I do agree. And nowadays the author herself must do some thorough research on national standards of justice, police procedures and the latest forensic science. But my murders come under the label of black magic, so it was different again. I did a great deal of research – but not at all the sort a modern crime-writer might have to do.

5) With all of English history (or history for that matter) to choose from what made you pick the particular period you chose?

Although the Church was very powerful during the 13th century, there were still pockets and aspects of religion that echoed back very strongly to the old pagan beliefs. Many priests got away with being married, country rituals and celebrations could be more pagan than Christian, and there was still considerable acceptance of fairies and spells. Witchcraft was not illegal – (no one was burned for it in spite of many modern film depictions) and the ‘wise women’ were respected and sought out. Since my book is wrapped around pagan magic, this was the ideal time in history to base it. It’s also a period I already knew a good deal about in the more general sense – the costumes, the way of life, the architecture and the details of Old London. I adore this era for its atmosphere and the fascinating colours of the period, so very, very different from our own.

6) Please tell us something interesting you found out about this period during your research?

I became very interested in the character of King John. We usually hear about him only as the wicked brother who tried to usurp good King Richard’s throne. That’s all from the Robin Hood sagas, and of course, we know Robin Hood was not entirely true at all. Apart from the fact that I dislike the sound of “good King Richard”, I was struck by how difficult it is to judge history and historical personalities through the extremely limited documentation that remains to us, and most especially because of the bias shown by those who wrote it. I did not grow to love King John, but I do admit we have very little right to think we know him at all.

7) What other projects are you currently working on?

My big early Tudor mystery adventure/romance (SUMERFORD’S AUTUMN) is due out in hard copy this coming June. The plot is once again somewhat multi-layered, but largely concerns the so called pretender “Perkin Warbeck”. Then I have another book in the works – BELSSOP’S WIFE – and yes – it’s a historical mystery/romance, but set a little earlier this time during the first tumultuous year of Richard III’s reign. I have a passion for this period in history – and after researching the times of King John, I moved on to the late medieval and Richard III. So I have two books waiting for publication, but neither of these has a black magic or time switch element to the plot.

Now, naturally, I am writing yet another. Well, if I didn’t write all the time, what on earth would I do?

8) Where can readers find more out about you?

I have a blog, www.bgdenvil.com which gives information on my books – and of course,

 I sell both FAIR WEATHER and my other historical crime adventure SATIN CINNABAR on Amazon U.K. and U.S.A., where I also have an author’s page. And once my next book is on the market mid year – there’ll be more I hope! 

-----

Thanks, Barbara.

I also previously interviewed Barbara about SUMERFORD'S AUTUMN. Please check it out.

A Dangerous Time--Tudor England: An interview with historical fiction author Barbara Gaskell Denvil

Today I'm talking with Barbara Gaskell Denvil about her novel SUMERFORD'S AUTUMN, a historical adventure set during the Tudor period.

-----

1) Tell us about your book.

SUMERFORD’S AUTUMN is a colourful historical adventure with a wide scope. The storyline follows the Earl and Countess of Sumerford and their sons - four brothers, who each have entirely different characters and entirely different aims. The youngest son is the hero, but he has to face many adversities including arrest, imprisonment and torture before finally finding peace. The book is set in England during the last years of the 1400s, when King Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, sat on England’s throne. I have interwoven different storylines including romance and humour, and conspiracy and treachery to the crown is a large part. The politics of this period were terrifying and many faced execution. But life in general was equally fraught with danger, and my characters deal with many such challenges.

2) What inspired this book?

I read a fascinating book (by Anne Wroe) on the so-called pretender Perkin Warbeck. I found his story absolutely tragic, and by the time I finished the book I was convinced that the whole subject has been far too easily dismissed by historians. Very little research has ever been done on the various claims against the emerging Tudor dynasty, and indeed the reign of the first Tudor King Henry VII has rarely appealed to the public. (His son Henry VIII was far more colourful) But the man later dubbed Perkin Warbeck actually claimed to be the younger of the two princes in the Tower, and had some exceedingly good reasons to say so. He had huge royal backing from abroad, and his story is much too impressive to be easily overlooked. Yet most historians have laughed and looked the other way. Why? Henry VII was a master of propaganda and altered history to suit his own ends. Perhaps he altered this too, just like everything else. I wanted to know more. So I started with this historical research, and then wrapped a much larger story around this kernel.

3) What went into developing your lead, Ludovic?

I tried to start with a balance between believable and likeable characteristics, (heroes who are just too perfect are never so interesting) and combine this with those attitudes which we believe were accepted in the 15th century. But once having established the first basic foundations of personality, my characters somehow seem to invent themselves. I begin with a very vague outline, and gradually they creep into my heart and begin to talk to me. They come alive over the weeks and in the end I feel I am simply obedient to their demands. They live in their own right – I just create the story around them. Ludovic is now so real to me, I would instantly recognise him if I met him, and would know just how he felt in any circumstance. He grows through the book, another natural aspect of character I enjoy – where a character matures and develops due to the actual challenges he faces through the pages.

4) In historical fiction, language is always a difficult thing to manage. Too much period accuracy can alienate modern readers but too little can damage the historical atmosphere. How did you approach language in your book?

This is such an interesting question, and the answer could fill another book. However, in general I start with the simple knowledge that the genuine language used in those days (my book starts in 1497) would be almost entirely incomprehensible to us now. It would be absurd to try and write a modern book using the real language of that period. Therefore – since I cannot copy the real period usage – why try and do half and half? I therefore use normal modern language – and certainly avoid those awful ‘foorsooths’ and ‘fie, my lords’ which were popular in some fiction of the past. However, there are pitfalls. It sounds equally ludicrous to put in modern slang, modern psychology and technological terminology, or other words which are just too inappropriate. So I try to keep a fair balance, but within sensible limits. I do keep strictly to the names of that era, and the name Ludovic, for instance, was not common then but was certainly known.

5) The Tudor period has consistently remained one of the most popular English historical periods, inspiring loads of novels, movies, and television series. Why do you think people find the Tudor period so fascinating?

Henry VIII is more colourful than any believable fictional character could be. His marital difficulties and his presence have been represented to us in such detail and so many times, huge, fat, bright red hair, dangerous, horrifying and yet resplendent. Then of course his poor wretched wives were a mixed bunch with extremely interesting complexities. His children were nearly as colourful as himself, Edward VI, Bloody Mary and Elizabeth I, and his reign introduced some amazing progress and developments including the toppling of Roman Catholic power in England. Much less, however, is generally known about Henry VIII’s father, the man who began everything with his invasion of England in 1485, culminating in the Battle of Bosworth and the death of King Richard III. My book is set during the reign of the first Tudor King Henry VII. A man much feared, and equally as dangerous in a different way to his son.

6) If you could meet any historical personage from the period covered in your book, whom would it be and why?

Definitely King Richard III. My book actually starts a few years after his death, but the truth about what happened to the so-called princes in the Tower, whether they were murdered or not, is integral to my plot. I would absolutely adore to meet up with Richard III, to see just what he was really like and hopefully to discover the truth about some of those endless mysteries surrounding his actions and behaviour. Was he an exaggerated villain? Or was he a decent man making a fair attempt at doing his duty according to the beliefs and standards of the time? I would actually love to meet anyone of that period in history. The late medieval fascinates me and I should just adore to live a few days in those narrow dark streets and really understand the life and times, hear the gossip and explore the truth.

7) What is the most surprising thing you learned when doing research for this book?

I started researching this historical period nearly ten years ago and my first discovery was that King Richard III just could NOT be the villain he had been painted. That inspired me to research more and more, and now I try to immerse myself in historical discovery whenever possible. My next big surprise was when I researched the so-called Perkin Warbeck figure for this new book – and my conclusions are a major part of the plot.

8) Tell us about your current projects.


I have written the first draft of another historical adventure BLESSOP’S WIFE – set a little earlier this time during the actual reign of Richard III. This still needs to be edited and polished, but I hope to publish it later this year. It delves into many mysteries of the period, including the beginnings of political espionage. It is wonderful, as an author, to start falling in love with a whole new cast of characters. I am certainly fascinated by my new hero Andrew. For one thing he is neither grand nor noble, and I find it a pleasant change not to continuously write about the medieval aristocracy. The working classes and the poor are just as interesting.

-----

You can see more from Barbara at her website, http://www.bgdenvil.com/.

SUMERFORD'S AUTUMN is available for purchase at Amazon.