Given that the ideal of romantic love is central to this novel, was it hard to avoid using a modern perspective on love and relationships while writing?
That is the bane of every serious historical novelist, and I have been on several literary festival panels discussing exactly how much modern-day sensibilities we ought to inject into our stories. The answer is that yes, my characters do have many modern-day thoughts, but I am hoping that my readers are relating to those characters, and if the characters’ thought processes are too distant from ours, they will make for unlively, if not tedious, people.
You’ve now written five novels centered on the Wars of the Roses. What originally drew you to this time period? Is there another period you’re itching to write about?
Richard III was my draw to the Wars of the Roses initially. As for the second part, I have always enjoyed the Restoration and the Regency periods. I’m not sure if I’ll go there, though. I am so enmeshed in the medieval period that I feel I should continue to use my knowledge—and my library—before spending the next dozen years becoming as immersed in another period.
Are there genres aside from historical fiction that you enjoy reading?
I enjoy well-written contemporary novels, but they must be plot-driven, I have come to realize. I have a hard time with sci-fi and fantasy, I’m afraid. I’m very much a factual person.
Which writers and books do you take inspiration from?
For this book, I called upon my favorite of all writers for inspiration: Charles Dickens, the master of omniscient narration. I love Daphne du Maurier’s books, too. I aspire to tell a story as well as Ken Follett and Edward Rutherfurd, and to nail characterization like Jane Austen.
A native of England, ANNE EASTER SMITH has lived in the United States for more than forty years. She was the features editor at a newspaper in New York and now lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts, with her husband, Scott.
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ALSO BY ANNE EASTER SMITH
A Rose for the Crown
Daughter of York
The King’s Grace
Queen by Right
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Anne Easter Smith
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First Touchstone trade paperback edition May 2013
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Designed by Akasha Archer
Cover design by Marlyn Dantes
Cover photograph by Jeff Cottenden
Author photograph by Nancy Hayes
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available.
ISBN 978-1-4516-4862-1
ISBN 978-1-4516-4863-8 (ebook)
Anne Easter Smith, Royal Mistress
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