Arriving at Waterstones Tunbridge Wells on a chilly, damp November night with boxes of bubbly, large photos, banner stand, a bag of nibbles from Waitrose and a fair bit of nervous energy, we soon set up.
One or two guests arrived early and were roped in to setting up the drinks table and putting postcards on seats. Photos on easel, glasses on table and notes found – we were ready to go. Shortly before seven, guests flowed in, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells and one of PERFIDITAS’s endorsers, the historic novelist Jean Fullerton.
After half an hour’s greeting, kissing cheeks and mingling, we settled down and I let the audience into the world of Roma Nova and talked about how I’d build that world and its history and landscape and importantly, how I’d developed the main characters.
They were a wonderful audience and grilled me about Roma Nova with some sharp questions. I love the audience being so engaged with my alternate world!
We mingled a little more then I signed books and was able to chat to everybody for a few minutes. When I wrote my name for the last time, it seemed as if only half an hour had passed, but it was two and half hours since we’d entered the shop!
A second launch isn’t like the first – then you are a novelty, especially to your friends who are astounded you actually wrote a book! The second is a meeting of enthusiasts, some of whom came to the first launch and some who discovered the first book in a different way, and of others who are discovering Roma Nova for the first time. A magical evening.
If you missed the launch evening, but would like an author signed paperback copy of PERFIDITAS, you can order your copy here.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is now out.
Going on local radio is something all writers hope to do. Not only does it reinforce local roots, or reconnect to them, but it’s a chance for them to chat about their latest book.
Radio stations, especially the BBC, have a remit to ‘inform, educate and entertain’ and need a continuing supply of interesting content, especially about people who live and work in their areas. Different shows have different slants, so it’s essential to know the programmes the station broadcasts. You also learn some interesting stuff!
But for me, a Tunbridge Wells girl, it’s the approachability and warm welcome I’ve found from BBC Radio Kent and in particular Pat Marsh who plays the greatest music from the 1960s/70s (Ronettes – yeah!). So when Pat invited me back after our first on air chat about INCEPTIO, I was delighted to accept.
But it wasn’t just to talk about PERFIDITAS, my new book, although I did mention it! In his gentle voice and genial manner, he asked me about the writing process itself, how I’d started writing the Roma Nova series and started my fourth career – writing! He referred to the reviews INCEPTIO had garnered and was intrigued by how much readers loved this alternate world. And just before I went into the studio, Pat’s friendly, efficient colleague Laura Earl told me he had read PERFIDITAS from cover to cover.
Well, I can’t hope to be as eloquent as Sally Zigmond in her lovely post ‘Being a historical pioneer‘ She described the sense of delicious enjoyment from the high calibre talks, the friendliness of everybody attending, the temptation of book-buying and the happy chats around bar tables. Yes, of course wine was drunk…
The clocks going back gifted us an extra hour on Sunday morning – perfect for enjoying a full English breakfast (minus black pudding in my case) in The Old Swan dining room whose walls were decorated with intricate plasterwork topped by a small-paned glass ceiling.
Plenty of coffee later, delegates reconvened in the ballroom to hear a panel discussion on ‘Before Sherlock – The Novel Art of Detection’ with Andrew Taylor gently grilling Lloyd Shepherd, Joan Lock, Nick Rennison and Robert Ryan. They led us through law and order procedures based on guesswork and prejudice, the emergence of organised police forces and a more scientific, stuctured approach to solving crime as well as touching on fiction v. fact and the early historical mystery writers.
Kate Mosse, wearing her signature platdorm shoes, concluded the featival on an appropriate high. Famous as the creative force behind the Women’s Prize for Fiction, originally named the Orange Prize, she was Interviewed by festival chair, Manda Scott, and didn’t disappoint.
Smiling, obviously enthused about the Languedoc and Sussex countrysides, she talked about the motivation behind the Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel trilogy and introduced her collection odf short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other WinterTales.
Manda Scott finished the festival by thanking speakers, organisers and delegates for making the weekend such a success. Nobody ever sees the hard work behind such events when it goes so smoothly. Hats off to Manda and her team for giving us a magical few days.
Do you dare to read something a little different, possibly alternative, and discover a whole new world? A touch of fear, lust or danger? Fantasy or thrillers? As Halloween is a tricksy time, it’s perfect timing to chance it.
Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, has Celtic origins rather than Roman ones, but the Manes (sometimes called Di Manes) were Roman underworld deities sometimes thought to represent souls of deceased loved ones and were honoured during the Parentalia and Feralia festivals in February.
D.M. “Di Manes” – the underworld gods of souls
The Manes were offered blood sacrifices, and gladiatorial games originally held at funerals, may have been instituted in their honour. According to Cicero, the Manes could be called forth from the caves near Lake Avernus. So quite high on the spook factor level.
But the Romans wouldn’t have conquered a large part of the known world without taking enormous risks despite their superstitious beliefs.
My 21st century Roman heroine in her alternative timeline takes risks all the time especially running from a killer and trying to work out her relationship with the enigmatic Conrad…
So, I’m giving away a .PDF version of INCEPTIO, the first book in my Roma Nova thriller series, FREE to celebrate the riskinesss surrounding us today.
What to do:
If you’d like a treat, write a comment below with your view on taking a chance and I’ll put your name in the Halloween hat for the draw.
Thanks to Francine Howarth for organising this tricksy, spooky blog hop.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is out early summer 2014.
If you enjoyed this post, do share it with your friends!
At the Harrogate History Festival, I was thrilled to be photographed with Simon Scarrow, author of the famous Eagle (Macro and Cato) series of Roman historical fiction.
Simon Scarrow, PERFIDITAS and me!
But that’s not the end of the story Along with Sue Cook and Jean Fullerton, Simon endorsed PERFIDITAS, the second Roma Nova thriller.
Apart from the strapline on the front cover, he said the following kind words:
“Alison Morton has built a fascinating, exotic world! Carina’s a bright, sassy detective with a winning dry sense of humour. I warmed to her quickly and wanted to find out how she dealt with the problems thrown in her path. The plot is pretty snappy too and gets off to a quick start which made it easy to keep turning the pages.
There are a fair number of alternative historical fictions where Rome never disappeared, but for my money this is one of the better ones.”
Established and well-respected authors giving new authors their support is gracious, generous and collegiate. Thank you, Simon.
Alison Morton is the author of Roma Nova thrillers, INCEPTIO, and PERFIDITAS. Third in series, SUCCESSIO, is out early summer 2014.
If you enjoyed this post, do share it with your friends!
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Friends, bubbly, books – what could be better?
After half an hour’s greeting, kissing cheeks and mingling, we settled down and I let the audience into the world of Roma Nova and talked about how I’d build that world and its history and landscape and importantly, how I’d developed the main characters.
A second launch isn’t like the first – then you are a novelty, especially to your friends who are astounded you actually wrote a book! The second is a meeting of enthusiasts, some of whom came to the first launch and some who discovered the first book in a different way, and of others who are discovering Roma Nova for the first time. A magical evening.
