1. You've written several books now. How was writing this one different?
This was the most well-behaved of my four novels to write. Maybe it was just because I was fresh from the red-headed stepchild that was The Tiger Queens, (which made me want to check myself into a rubber room several times), but the research and the characters for The Conqueror's Wife just seemed to flow.
2. What inspired you to write about Alexander the Great?
I had a conversation with my editor while writing about Genghis Khan's girls and she suggested that I write about an ancient Persian woman for Book #4. I stumbled upon Roxana while I was researching, discovered that Alexander the Great had a whole slew of powerful women behind him, and the idea was born!
3. What was your research process like for this book?
I started with Robin Lane Fox's biography on Alexander, followed by Plutarch's history, and then a book on ancient Macedonian women that featured Alexander's wives and cunning mother, Olympias. Fox's biography became a road map for major plot events and then I researched more on the characters as I went. Of course, my favorite part was filling in all the little details, like the fact that fetal lambskins were prized trade items in ancient Persia. (Further proof that I'm an unrepentant history nerd!)
4. Who is your favorite character in this book and why?
Hephaestion! Gods, but I love, love, love Hephaestion. He's snarky and hunky and loves poetry and has a mouth that just won't stop. He's definitely my favorite character ever (much to the chagrin of Antonina from The Secret History, who is not amused at being displaced), and he made me both laugh and cry all the way from the first draft to the final revision.
5. If you could bring three fictional characters or historical figures with you to a deserted island, who would you bring and why?
I've never had to bring just fictional characters to a desert island so I'm going to stick with them this time around. (For what it’s worth, my historical pics are Hatshepsut, Hephaestion, and Theodora.) I’m on an astronomy kick and devoured The Martian so I’m going to say Mark Watney because he’s hilarious and could also probably figure out how to grow potatoes on our deserted island. Also, Jamie Fraser from Outlander. (For obvious reasons.) And just because I’ve always loved her, Scarlett O’Hara. An astronaut, a Scot, and a southern belle should make for lively conversation!
Giveaway:
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Follow the Rest of the Tour:
Monday, November 23
Review at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Review & Giveaway at Peeking Between the Pages
Spotlight & Giveaway at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, November 24
Review at Layered Pages
Interview & Giveaway at A Bookish Affair
Spotlight & Excerpt at What Is That Book About
Wednesday, November 25
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Thursday, November 26
Review at Historical Readings & Reviews
Friday, November 27
Spotlight & Giveaway at Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More
Monday, November 30
Review at Book Lovers Paradise
Review & Giveaway at 100 Pages a Day
Tuesday, December 1
Review & Giveaway at Broken Teepee
Guest Post at Book Lovers Paradise
Wednesday, December 2
Review at leeanna.me
Review & Giveaway at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, December 3
Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Just One More Chapter
Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unshelfish
Excerpt at A Literary Vacation
Spotlight at The Reading Queen
Friday, December 4
Review & Giveaway at The True Book Addict
Monday, December 7
Review at The Maiden's Court
Tuesday, December 8
Review at Reading the Past
Review at Let Them Read Books
Wednesday, December 9
Review at CelticLady's Reviews
Thursday, December 10
Review at The Lit Bitch
Interview & Giveaway at Reading Lark
Guest Post at Historical Fiction Connection
Friday, December 11
Review at Svetlana's Reads and Views
Saturday, December 12
Review & Giveaway at Genre Queen
Monday, December 14
Review at Book Babe
Reivew, Excerpt, & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Tuesday, December 15
Review at Bookramblings
Wednesday, December 16
Review at Book Nerd
Thursday, December 17
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Friday, December 18
Review at History From a Woman's Perspective
Interview at Flashlight Commentary
Stephanie, I am so excited to read your book. I love anything to do with history.
ReplyDeleteIt's very interesting to learn the author's favorite character is not the protagonist but her rival, Hephaestion. Thanks for this great interview and the opportunity to win this book! Cheers, Kara S
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating historical and interesting interview. This novel sounds captivating and the author is very talented. Thanks for this great feature and giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. I don't know anything about this time period and look forward to reading The Conqueror's Wife to learn more.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview, and this book sounds really good. I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading this interview - thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Stephanie Thorton. Loved The Tiger Queens. I am looking forward to reading The Conqueror's Wife.
ReplyDeleteI love Stephanie Thornton's writing and I can't wait to get my hands on this one too.
ReplyDelete