Friends, Romans, Countrymen

RHYS BOWEN: In two weeks time I'll be in England, joining my closest friends from college for a weekend of good food, friendship and much laughter. Among that group is Jane Finnis, someone I clicked with soon after we arrived at Westfield College, University of London. We found ourselves as co-writers for the freshman review (a rather juvenile attempt at witty satire, I'm afraid). And we remained writing partners, working so well together that it was impossible to tell which of us had written which words to a song. After college we wrote and performed at cabarets together, witty political and contemporary stuff, or so we hoped. We wrote pop songs together, managed a rock group. And then, when I went to Australia, and then America, we stayed in touch, and visited each other.

Jane became a successful BBC reporter. When she semi-retired she told me she was going to write a Roman mystery as a radio play. "Why waste that good material on one radio play?" I said. "Write it as a book, instead." And that was how Aurelia, Roman innkeeper in Britain was born and the first book now called Shadows in the Night.

So I'm pleased to have Jane as my guest today and hope that more of our US friends will take a look at her terrific Roman Britain books. I should add that this was her university special field and she really knows her stuff!

Take it away, Jane.

JANE FINNIS:  When one of my nieces was young, she asked me why I write about Roman history. Is it, she suggested, because I can remember what life was like then?

I told her what the Romans would have done with cheeky youngsters, but I had to admit it was a fair question really. Indeed it’s top of my Frequently Asked Questions list. “Why the Romans?”

Answer: “Because they interest me.”

 

And that’s also nearly the answer to the second item on my FAQ list: “What advice can you give to someone who wants to be a writer?”

Answer: “Write about what interests you.” That’s my top tip. Creating a novel can be a long hard slog, and selling it even more so, especially if it’s your first one. You need to enjoy the process and keep your interest alive throughout, because if you get bored before the finish, so will your readers.

I’ve been fascinated by Roman history since I was five or six, when we lived in York, with its rich ancient history and many Roman ruins. The visible remains were what first intrigued me, and then I began to realise that despite a gap of two millennia, the Romans were in lots of ways very like ourselves.

People find that hard to believe if their classical history has been gleaned solely from Hollywood movies, which naturally focus on the things that are different just because they are different, and therefore more dramatic. Gladiators fighting to the death for sport, slavery, imperialism, democratic ideals perverted by tyranny…you can’t ignore the violence and cruelty if you want to paint the historical background accurately, but they are certainly not the whole story.

The Romans believed in many of the same things we do…I should put that the other way round, because we’ve inherited many of our beliefs from them. They knew the importance of law, history, and education; they valued books, poetry, and the arts. On a practical level they insisted on good roads, centrally heated houses, and regular bathing. They enjoyed eating and drinking – forget the gross orgies pictured in films; if you dined with friends at home you’d get a good dinner accompanied by fine wine and maybe by music.

They built busy towns, with paved streets and shops and theatres and grand public buildings. A case in point was Londinium, London, the British capital then as now. It’s the setting for the mystery I’m currently writing, and it’s fascinating, with many features you find in London today. It was a major trading centre, bringing the riches of the known world to Londoners’ doorsteps. It was cosmopolitan, a magnet for people from all over the Empire, who flocked there to seek their fortunes. And there was plenty of crime – a must for a good mystery!

As I said, Roman history has been a lifelong interest with me. Rhys can vouch for that: she and I were students together in London, and even then I was hooked on the Romans. Years later, I still am. So thank you, Rhys, for giving me the chance to share my fascination with you all.
There are four Aurelia Marcella mysteries so far, all published in the USA by Poisoned Pen Press and in the UK by Head of Zeus. The fifth, which I'm working on now, will I hope be out in summer 2014; the working title is BLOOD ON THE WATER.

RHYS: Thanks for visiting, Jane, and see you in two weeks. Have the champagne bottle ready!