Anvil Of God: Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles
Blurb:
It is 741. After subduing the pagan religions in the east, halting the march of Islam in the west, and conquering the continent for the Merovingian kings, mayor of the palace Charles the Hammer has one final ambition-the throne. Only one thing stands in his way-he is dying. Charles cobbles together a plan to divide the kingdom among his three sons, betroth his daughter to a Lombard prince to secure his southern border, and keep the Church unified behind them through his friend Bishop Boniface. Despite his best efforts, the only thing to reign after Charles’s death is chaos. His daughter has no intention of marrying anyone, let alone a Lombard prince. His two eldest sons question the rights of their younger pagan stepbrother, and the Church demands a steep price for their support. Son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and Charles’s daughter flees his court for an enemy’s love. Based on a true story, Anvil of God is a whirlwind of love, honor, sacrifice, and betrayal that follows a bereaved family’s relentless quest for power and destiny.
Interview:
Where are you from? Tell us a little about yourself!
I grew up in a sleepy little town in Westchester, NY called Briarcliff Manor (Go Bears!). It was a great place to grow up. Everyone in town knew everyone else and there was a real sense that you were part of something bigger than just your family.
And families were huge in those days! I was one of six kids, and we were considered a mid-sized family. There were so many large families that you could watch the high school football team in any given year and still see the same names playing as they were playing ten years earlier (usually in the same positions).
My parents were both educators so school was a big part of our focus. My dad also believed that everyone should learn a trade (just in case there was another Great Depression), so each of us picked one. My brother Jim was the electrician, and John was a tile guy. I painted (buildings, not paintings).
I also played sports. Football and Track mostly. I wasn’t very good at basketball or baseball – anything that needed finesse.
Tell us about your book? How did it get started?
The book is based on a true story about what happens to the family of Charles Martel (Charlemagne’s grandfather) after his death. I was intrigued by how power corrupts or strengthens their family dynamic. In the end, son battles son, Christianity battles paganism, and his daughter flees his court for an enemy’s love.
When I was a history major in college, I studied the epic poem The Song of Roland. I was intrigued by it and wondered why it wasn’t as well known as The Iliad or The Odyssey. I promised myself that if I ever wrote a book it would be a novel based on The Song of Roland.
As time passed and life got in the way, I began to think I might never get to write my novel. Late in my first career I was offered a sabbatical and took the opportunity to try my hand.
Once I started, I couldn’t stop. But I still haven’t gotten to Roland so I guess there’s still more story to tell.
How do you create your characters?
Most are based on real people so I tried to create their characters to be consistent with their role in history. I didn’t want to cast them as evil or as heroes – just people thrust into challenging circumstances where their actions would have real consequences for the kingdom.
I also tried to make the family aspects of the story meaningful. Rather than pit everyone as rivals from birth, I held onto the fact that they were brothers, and sisters, and parents who cared for one another. I felt like it made their conflicts more realistic and intriguing.
What inspires and what got your started in writing?
For the longest time, I didn’t believe I could write. In fact, I avoided courses in college where writing extensive papers was a requirement. That said, there were moments when I needed to write (a paper or an article) when the words just started flowing. At first, I attributed it to luck or the fact that I was really motivated. Over time, I realized I might have a knack for it.
One day I tried writing a scene for the novel and became so absorbed in it that I wrote for four hours and churned out a dozen pages. It was almost as if I was in a trance.
I knew then that writing would become a vital part of my life.
Where do you write? Is there something you need in order to write (music, drinks?)
When I’m writing, I can tune out almost anything so I can really write almost anywhere. But mostly I like sitting at our kitchen table with a cup of coffee.
How do you get your ideas for writing?
I was a history major and have always been intrigued by the past. I often say, “We know what happened in history; I write historical fiction to discover why.”
What do you like to read?
Oddly enough, I often read science fiction. It somehow frees up my mind. I’m also a big fan of writers who can tell sweeping epic historical tales like James Clavell, Bernard Cornwell, and Ken Follett.
What would your advice be for authors or aspiring authors?
Write every day. Like learning an instrument, writing takes practice. And remember that editing is part of the process. No writer is above editing. If you think you’ve finished a scene or a chapter, set it aside for a day or two and go back to it. I guarantee you’ll change something.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Only I hope my readers walk away from my novels thinking, “That was a good story.” I try to stay true to history as much as possible but my main purpose is to entertain.