Helen Pugh
Initially I was going to write a historical novel about Quispe Sisa, Atahualpa's sister, because although I had heard of Atahualpa and Francisco Pizarro countless times, I had only recently heard about her. The idea that the Inca emperor's sister was forced to marry a conquistador fascinated me. I couldn't believe that she wasn't super famous, considering what a life she must have led.
Then a new idea came to me when I was reading 'The Incredible Incas' by Terry Deary. I just thought that while it's a very good book, where are the women? It was a very male-centric book and I decided that Inca women and goddesses deserved to have their stories told as well. But it's not a children's book. It's aimed at adults and teenagers due to complex themes and mentions of violence and rape.
I also wanted to make the experience fun and interactive. So I added questions that people can respond to on my Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages and I added little hashtags as commentary on the stories e.g. #HenryVIIIEatYourHeartOut! I want the readers to feel involved in the process and to give their opinions.
Then a new idea came to me when I was reading 'The Incredible Incas' by Terry Deary. I just thought that while it's a very good book, where are the women? It was a very male-centric book and I decided that Inca women and goddesses deserved to have their stories told as well. But it's not a children's book. It's aimed at adults and teenagers due to complex themes and mentions of violence and rape.
I also wanted to make the experience fun and interactive. So I added questions that people can respond to on my Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram pages and I added little hashtags as commentary on the stories e.g. #HenryVIIIEatYourHeartOut! I want the readers to feel involved in the process and to give their opinions.
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