Settings, settings, settings – Dresden

Dresden by night along the River Elbe Photo by Kolossos, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Character and plot are the elements that drive a story for me, but neither can work properly without interaction with the setting in each scene. It can be weather, time of day, city, village, mountains, muddy road, […]

What is it about writing Romans?

The Ermine Street Guard (Photo: Caroline Morton)

Over the years I’ve been asked in interviews why Rome fascinates me and how it led to me imagining Roma Nova. I reveal all…

What period of history particularly inspires or interests you? Why? Rome! It’s almost visceral. It’s gripped me since I walked on that […]

Debunking the 'Roman salute'

Oath of the Horatii (Jean-Louis David, 1784)

Recently, a prominent social media personality thrust his arm in the air in a straight arm salute that caused an earthquake of reaction, mostly shuddering. For many, it recalled fascists, Nazis and ultra nationalism of every kind. According to legend, this fascist gesture was based on […]