Karen
asked
C.W. Gortner:
I absolutely love all of your books. In fact you are my top favorite historical novelist! I looked on your web page and saw you have a new book coming out next year. I read everything Romanov and was so thrilled to see that you picked this era, especially that the book will be about a lesser known empress, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna. What made you decide to write about her?
C.W. Gortner
Thanks for your question and please excuse my delayed response. I've always been fascinated by the Romanovs, so when I decided to write a novel about them, I wanted to capture not only the tragedy of the final years of the dynasty, but also the events that led to it, as well as the era before Nicholas II took the throne. Minnie isn't as well remembered as her son and his doomed family, but she was a much-beloved tsarina who witnessed both the reigns of her father in law and her husband, Sasha, before her son became tsar. Her life was enthralling to me, a foreign princess who wed into the most powerful and wealthy ruling house of the era, and had to forge her path. She was also a rare voice of reason during the troubling years leading up to the 1917 revolution. In short, I found her a perfect subject to fictionalize! I hope you enjoy the book when it's published next year.
More Answered Questions
Mara
asked
C.W. Gortner:
LOVE your books. I read The Last Queen when it first came out and have read everything since. You have mentioned that you might expand your book subjects more, except publishers prefer "marquee names" Yet, Michelle Moran wrote about India's Rebel Queen and Margaret George wrote about Nero. Do you think publishers are realizing that there is a greater market than the Tudor era? You have the following...
Krista
asked
C.W. Gortner:
I had the privilege of being allowed to read The Romanov Empress which introduced me to you. I can't thank your publisher enough for both gifts! HF is my go to genre, but somehow I had missed you as I haunted the shelves. I just finished reading The Queen's Vow, and will be looking at your titles to see what my next one will be. It is obvious you research your subjects, and I love your style. Thank you! ?
Martin Turnbull
asked
C.W. Gortner:
Hi CW, I have a question that relates more to the craft of writing. Do you approach these sorts of biographical novels the way most novels are constructed? i.e. with a definitive character arc taking the protagonist from start to finish and have them overcome a problem and/or flaw while battling an antagonist? Or is your goal to simply follow the life of your heroine and let that be the story?
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more