Aaron Speca - Me and My Others: Finding Fiction Friday

Finding Fiction Friday returns, starting off a special series of interviews with authors from HarperImpulse, a division of Harper Collins! To kick things off this week, we have a great time speaking with Caroline Storer, author of "The Roman" which is now out on Kindle and will be released in paperback on June 12. Caroline, welcome to the blog!

Hi. Thanks for the invite onto your fabulous blog. My name is Caroline Storer, and I live on the beautiful (if slightly windy) island of Anglesey in North Wales (UK). (Anglesey, you may recall was recently the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – William and Kate. I did invite them over for tea, but unfortunately they were too busy!) I’m happily married to my own Alpha Hero, Colin (a retired Police Detective), and have one step-son and grandson. By day, I’m an Environmental Health Officer for the local Council. My work can be quite challenging to say the least, and no one day is the same. I find escaping into a good book (either reading or writing one) a great way of relaxing once I’ve finished work. I am a voracious reader of anything “romantic” and have been since I “borrowed” one of my grans Mills and Boons when I was around 13!

Caroline, tell us about your journey with this book. When did you first think about writing for publication and how did it all come about?

I’ve always loved writing. I remember my primary school teacher reading out a story I had written in class. The story was called “The Gate”, and she said she loved it. But I didn’t start writing fiction until I’d finished University (degree and Masters). My first attempt at writing a “romance” was when I was around 27. It didn’t get far. Life then got in the way, and I didn’t start writing “properly” until I was around 45. It took me 5 years to get my present book deal – and I celebrated my success a few months after my 50^th birthday.

Tell us one thing about yourself that you think might surprise us.

I may be 51 now – but I still love rock music (including Heavy Metal). The louder the better!

Now let’s get to the book itself. Tell us about your book “The Roman”.

THE ROMAN - ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him. And now, the Roman will have his revenge… Marsallas and Justina were young, beautiful and desperately in love once, until a tragic betrayal tore them apart. Six years have passed since that day and Marsallas has since thrown himself into the deadly world of chariot racing, gaining fortune, fame, and a salacious reputation throughout Rome. His bed could be kept warm by a different woman each night if he chooses, but his heart remains iced over as the memory of Justina’s betrayal continues to haunts him. The last thing he expects is to see her again, but when she steps back into his life he sees a chance to avenge his broken heart. But beneath the hurt, an attraction so intense still burns between the two, and as their fates begin to intertwine once more, their determination to resist one another starts to falter…

Roman Empire (Power and People)
British Museum National Tour... Opening Night.
Spot Caroline Storer's Novel 'The Roman'
from Harper Impulse.

Historical fiction can be a particular challenge. How did you go about researching this book?

My love of Roman history, which has been with me since childhood and the film’s The Gladiator, Spartacus and Ben Hur were the inspirations behind my book. My hero is based on General Maximus Decimus Meridius – a.k.a Russell Crowe in The Gladiator. I’ve watched this film about 10 times now and I’m still bowled over by his gorgeousness! He is the typical alpha male Roman hero IMHO.

There is an immense amount of research needed when writing a historical book. It is very hard to get the balance right when writing a historical romance. Too much historical detail can make the book heavy and clunky, more like a historical textbook rather than a romance, and this will detract from the main characters too. You need to sprinkle in historical detail, not overload the book with it. Also you have to ensure that the chronological details are correct otherwise readers will complain. For example, I once read a Roman romance where the author referred to a touch as being like an “electrical current”. This pulled me out of the story right away!

Can you speak a little about the role of Christianity in this book, and whether any personal experiences of yours influenced your writing?

Although my book is not an “Inspirational Romance” per se, there are references to Christianity in it. Several of the minor characters are Christians, and by their deeds and actions they very much influence the Hero and Heroine. As a Christian myself I’ve always been fascinated in the Roman era, and was blown away by the film Quo Vardis which I watched as a teenager. The story of the burgeoning Christian movement and Nero’s cruelty and madness in punishing Christian’s after the Great Fire of Rome has stayed with me ever since.

If there is one character you’ve written or are writing that you would really like people to meet, who would it be and why?

I may be biased, but I would love to meet my Heroine – Justina- in my book The Roman. She is a sculptress who creates wonderful bronze statues.

What about being published with HarperImpulse and the book industry in general has most surprised you?

How much time you have to spend promoting your book, and getting it “out there” on as many author platforms as you can!

Is there someone you can point to as being your biggest encouragement in moving forward with this book and writing in general?

A few years ago I won an on-line Pitch competition with Michelle Styles (who writes historical romance for Harlequin Mills and Boon). She said a lot of encouraging things about my writing, and gave me some invaluable advice. Her kind words made me determined to become a (paid) writer, and get published.

What is next on your plate? What kind of stories do you have bouncing around up there?

I’ve just turned in my second contracted book to my editor Charlotte Ledger at HarperImpulse. It’s another “Roman romance”. I’m also editing my third book – this time a Viking romance. I’m also tinkering with another Viking, as well as a Regency.

To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus one. Here they go!

What is your favorite word? Discombobulated.
What is your least favorite word? Diet.
What turns you on? Reading
What turns you off? Cruelty to animals.
What sound or noise do you love? The sound of my dog gently snoring.
What sound or noise do you hate? Garage music.
What is your favorite curse word? I do use the “F” word quite a lot *blushes*.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? I would have liked to have been a Chiropodist.
What profession would you not like to do? Social Worker (Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.)
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? “Hello and welcome to Eternal Life.”
What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? “What’s it like being a New York Times Bestselling Author?”