Ask the Author: Jess Steven Hughes
Answered Questions (8)
Jess Steven Hughes
The Roman Emperor Aurelian by John F. White; The Threat by Andrew G. McCabe; On Desperate Ground by James Benn; Pandora's Boy by Lindsey Davis; In the Garden of the Beasts by Erik Larson; The Forest by Edward Rutherford; The Oracle: A Sam and Remi Fargo Adventure by Clive Cussler and Robin Purcell; Tigers by the River by Wylie Graham McLallen; The Confessions of a Young Nero and Splendor Before the Dark by Margaret George; Origin by Dan Brown.
Jess Steven Hughes
The Roman Emperor Aurelian by John F White
Jess Steven Hughes
THE BROKEN LANCE is a continuation from THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA, PART I & II but looking at Britain and Rome from a Roman perspective, through the eyes of a Spaniard. Actually, the Spaniards of Roman times were probably more Roman than the Romans as they were the oldest and most Romanized of the provinces.
Jess Steven Hughes
It is a matter of self-discipline. I start with an idea, I sit down and write through it until I have hand-written a rough draft which I call my "shot-gun" draft. That is because it is a scattering of ideas. I will usually rewrite by hand a couple more drafts before I commit them to a word processor. Others can't write this way, but it works for me.
Jess Steven Hughes
I recently had two historical novels, THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA PART I & II published by Sunbury Press (www.sunburypress.com), a traditional small press, not an indies. Part I is the story about the legendary Celtic King, still a young princess, who is trying to unite the southern British kingdoms before the Roman invasion of 43 A.D. Part II is about a mature battle-scarred King Caratacus who fights the Romans after they invaded his lands. We know about him from the Roman historian Tacitus, Annuls of Imperial Rome.
I am currently writing another duology which takes place between 44-69 A.D., THE BROKEN LANCE. This is an epic novel which begins during the Roman invasion of Britain and ends during the culmination of the YEAR OF THE FOUR EMPERORS, the great civil war. This is all seen through the eyes of Marcellus, a Spanish centurion later tribune and retainer for Titus Flavius Sabinus, older brother of future Emperor Vespasian. It is a story of action, adventure, political intrigue and murder that ranges from the far reaches of Celtic Britain to the inner palace circles of decadent Rome.
I am currently writing another duology which takes place between 44-69 A.D., THE BROKEN LANCE. This is an epic novel which begins during the Roman invasion of Britain and ends during the culmination of the YEAR OF THE FOUR EMPERORS, the great civil war. This is all seen through the eyes of Marcellus, a Spanish centurion later tribune and retainer for Titus Flavius Sabinus, older brother of future Emperor Vespasian. It is a story of action, adventure, political intrigue and murder that ranges from the far reaches of Celtic Britain to the inner palace circles of decadent Rome.
Jess Steven Hughes
You must develop a sense of self-discipline, a thick-skin and be persistent if you want to get your work published. Find a good writers support group that will give you good constructive criticism. Believe me, a good group is not going to tell you how wonderful your work is. They will poke holes through it because you to become a better writer. Listen to what the people have to say and then rewrite. Most of writing is rewriting.
Jess Steven Hughes
I write historical fiction and for me the best thing about being a writer is the freedom that it allows me to use my imagination. There are so many gaps in history, especially, classical historical that I can speculate and fill in those gaps when I write my stories (THE SIGN OF THE EAGLE; THE WOLF OF BRITANNIA, PART I & II). Also, I am retired and have outside income, I can write at my leisure.
Jess Steven Hughes
I think about what is the worst situation I can put a main character of my story in and then I work my way through it, solving the problem.
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