Ask the Author: Robert Allen Johnson
Answered Questions (5)
Robert Allen Johnson
Hi Tom, and thanks for the question.
Would you believe I immersed myself into Ancient Rome for about 6-7 years before writing my first novel in the MAGNUS series? I fell in love with the era after reading Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" series and devoured everything in the genre I could find for the next few years.
Although I focused mostly on fictional portrayals of real events, I also took time to study non-fictional writings as well. Aside from the classics from Julius Caesar and Cicero, I read the works of Adrian Goldsworthy, Plutarch's "Roman Lives," and many others. For my series on Pompey the Great, the works of Peter Greenhalgh were invaluable.
Since I was so deeply entrenched within the time period and culture for all those years, it was not much of a stretch to sit down and write a book about a man and era I felt I already knew so well. All these years later, it's still a fascinating time and place for me to pick up and study in my own free time.
Would you believe I immersed myself into Ancient Rome for about 6-7 years before writing my first novel in the MAGNUS series? I fell in love with the era after reading Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" series and devoured everything in the genre I could find for the next few years.
Although I focused mostly on fictional portrayals of real events, I also took time to study non-fictional writings as well. Aside from the classics from Julius Caesar and Cicero, I read the works of Adrian Goldsworthy, Plutarch's "Roman Lives," and many others. For my series on Pompey the Great, the works of Peter Greenhalgh were invaluable.
Since I was so deeply entrenched within the time period and culture for all those years, it was not much of a stretch to sit down and write a book about a man and era I felt I already knew so well. All these years later, it's still a fascinating time and place for me to pick up and study in my own free time.
Robert Allen Johnson
Hi Sherrie, and thanks for the great question. This is a goal I've had for a number of years now. I had the privilege of living in the old Thai capital of Ayutthaya for 2 years in the mid-2000s. Within walking distance of my house were countless ruins where ancient wars had been fought and blood spilled as long-departed soldiers protected their homeland from the invading Burmese.
There is one ruin in particular that has always struck a lasting chord with me. Within the ancient temple are hundreds of headless Buddha statues set in a collapsing square. I remember asking a Thai friend, "Where did all the heads go? Why did they leave the bodies and only take the heads?"
I learned how sacred the head is to Thai people and how taking the heads was the greatest insult the Burmese could have ever given the defeated Thai soldiers. Supposedly, the victors carried them halfway back to Burma and discarded them in a river along the way.
The Thai army would soon regroup and teach the Burmese a lesson under one of the most beloved Thai kings in history. It's an amazing story that the West has never had the privilege of hearing. I would absolutely love to be the first to tell it!
There is one ruin in particular that has always struck a lasting chord with me. Within the ancient temple are hundreds of headless Buddha statues set in a collapsing square. I remember asking a Thai friend, "Where did all the heads go? Why did they leave the bodies and only take the heads?"
I learned how sacred the head is to Thai people and how taking the heads was the greatest insult the Burmese could have ever given the defeated Thai soldiers. Supposedly, the victors carried them halfway back to Burma and discarded them in a river along the way.
The Thai army would soon regroup and teach the Burmese a lesson under one of the most beloved Thai kings in history. It's an amazing story that the West has never had the privilege of hearing. I would absolutely love to be the first to tell it!
Robert Allen Johnson
Hi Luke, and thanks for dropping me a line. If you want to get a copy of Triumphator at B&N, you can either order it online here (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magnu...) or you can call your local branch and have them order a copy for you to pick up in-store. Depending on where you live, ordering it from Amazon may also be a faster option for you (http://www.amazon.com/MAGNUS-Triumpha...). Enjoy the books and have a great end to 2014!
Robert Allen Johnson
For me, inspiration comes from many sources. When writing shorter pieces, such as the series of guitar related columns I wrote, inspiration is drawn from subjects I'm well-acquainted with. For a series like MAGNUS, it was an idea that had been lodged in my brain for a number of years. The inspiration to begin was captured in the silence of a dark room. The followup to the MAGNUS series, which I've already begun writing in bits and pieces, was simply inspired by a painting hanging in my study.
Robert Allen Johnson
I spent five years tossing the idea of the MAGNUS series around in my head. During that whole time, I honestly believed someone else would beat me to the punch and write Pompey the Great's fabulous story. As fate would have it, that never happened!
The idea itself came from a desire to see a story set in the late Republican era of Rome that didn't revolve around Julius Caesar. While Pompey is featured in every story from this fascinating time period, he has always been relegated to the role of a side character. His story is much too incredible to pass up, so I ended up writing it myself!
The idea itself came from a desire to see a story set in the late Republican era of Rome that didn't revolve around Julius Caesar. While Pompey is featured in every story from this fascinating time period, he has always been relegated to the role of a side character. His story is much too incredible to pass up, so I ended up writing it myself!
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