Written Author Interview
What inspired you to write this book?
I have a deep and abiding love for Napoleonic History and romantic movies.
I began writing fiction, interweaving historical events and people from the period.
Then I wrote the scene where the empress (FMC) meets the protagonist Ewen Blaine, and everything changed when she kisses him impetuously. Then I started rewriting the story as a romance without knowing the readers’ expectations of the genre. The results are easy to determine.
How did you choose the title? Does it hold special meaning to you?
The title began as the EMPRESS and then I learned there was a lavish TV production with the same name. I chose the EMPRESS’S ESCAPE suggested by a friend and brilliant writer who beta read the story. It gives the FMC agency in the story.
Can you share your process of writing and how long it took to complete the book?
With a Television Engineering background, I wrote each scene as if I was watching a movie. I am a plotter, going as far as making notes of the period appropriate names for each person in the story and what happened to them. I even created a matrix of all the main characters and their relationships to one another. I remember spending hours researching which Austrian heavy cavalry regiments were in which battle to ensure historical accuracy. I began writing it about two and a half years ago.
Were there any challenges you faced while writing or publishing it?
That’s an understatement. Learning to write requires a steep learning curve to understand the basic tenets of the craft. I drove my critique group crazy. I recently tried working with a book coach, which was an absolute disaster. The coach wanted me to write my story in a manner that did not reflect my style. I am still learning and probably will continue to learn until the wireless keyboard finally falls from my withered, arthritic fingers.
I have made a promise to myself to bootstrap the costs of writing, editing, publishing, and marketing within a tight budget. Any earnings would be plowed back into marketing. Learning the ins and outs of publishing using an on-line platform is exasperating. I made many mistakes and learned valuable lessons. I don’t find it user-friendly, and it is littered with pitfalls.
How do you feel about sharing your work with the world?
I want to write stories that readers can enjoy. I don’t want to write stories that give you a headache trying to fathom what is going on inside a character’s psyche that’s so deep that the reader loses track of the plot. I would prefer them to be sitting on a beach with a piña colada dripping condensation on the pages as they turn them.
Are there any parts or characters in the book that are especially personal or meaningful to you?
I write from experience. There is a lot of me in the protagonist, so I understand his emotions well.
What do you hope readers will take away from this book?
I want them to enjoy the read. That there can be an HEA, despite the odds. I know. I’ve lived it for 45 years.
Did you experience any memorable moments during the research or creation of the book?
I think what surprised me was that I learned to love the characters I had created. A friend of mine suggested I interview the protagonist which is difficult given my character lived two hundred years ago. I created a fantasy scenario where the protagonist was reading a book while I was writing it. I asked him questions and he answered them verbally, which I duly transcribed on the page he was reading. Kind of weird, but fun. I’m sure it was just as strange for the protagonist. Lol!
What surprised you the most about the publishing journey?
That I have a lot to learn. I tried the query route and received 47 out of 47 rejections, but remain undaunted.
Do you already have ideas or plans for your next project?
Yes, indeed. I have written FLETCHER’S PURSUIT, which is a contemporary hi-tech romantic thriller. I wrote it while my wonderful editor, Tristi Pinkston, was doing the dev and line edit on the EMPRESS’S ESCAPE. It was a lot of fun to write. I am doing my final revisions before I try the query route again. Perhaps I’ll get it right this time.
Follow and Connect with Richard Caldwell
Author Bio
I am a Scots-born American, married for over 45 years to a wonderful lady from Baltimore. My career brought me into contact with many cultures in my job and worldwide travels. I am passionate about Napoleonic history and romance novels. The Empress brings together these loves. I wrote the chapter on Electronic Editing for McGraw Hill’s Television Engineering Handbook. The Empress’s Escape is my debut work.
Social Media
Instagram: caldwrj
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