Author Daniel Levin answers 7 Deadly Questions about his thriller THE LAST EMBER

1. With your debut thriller THE LAST EMBER you weave a complex story where religion, politics, and terrorism are featured. Which of those three elements are most dangerous in your opinion?

It can be hard to separate those three subjects; there is more overlap among them than one might expect. The novel deals with historical revisionism, which is a very real mix of all three. Just like the Taliban destroying the Buddhas in Afghanistan, or the Waqf destroying Jewish artifacts, it is archaeological terrorism.   

2. Your hero in the story, Jonathan Marcus, isn't the typical good guy. He has some baggage, too. Talk to me about writing Jonathan and how the character developed.

My experience as a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome was very influential in developing Jonathan's character. The Academy took on a larger physical and psychological presence in his background of my hero.  One example is the little painted portraits of previous fellows I saw along the Academy's walls. I remember thinking, "Wow, imagine if you were up there, but you did something so bad the Academy took your portrait down." It turned out to be one of my favorite scenes when Marcus goes back to the Academy and his portrait is no longer on the wall.

3. I can only imagine the research involved with a story that spans both time and place. From across the globe and through the centuries you've incorporated a lot of detail. How exactly did you handle the research for THE LAST EMBER?

I wanted The Last Ember to be as authentic as possible. I tried to map out my research, but every time I opened up the text of an ancient historian, I kept seeing things like a strange translation of the Latin, an errant mark in the margin, or some unexplained notation.  Those things stirred my imagination and the story kept changing, making it more and more believable. The local color I picked up while in Rome and Jerusalem also found its way into the book. The Academy is located in a 19th century villa on the Janiculum Hill, and had an incredible rare books library.  All the Renaissance manuscripts were there, at my fingertips.  Even more incredible were the fellows, I had a great time listening to them share secrets of the ancient world over a beer at the local enoteca.

4.  I'm read your reviews and the comparisons to Dan Brown. Talk to me about the pressure that kind of praise brings to an author.

If The Last Ember sells as many copies as Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, that comparison is OK by me!

5. There were several times while reading THE LAST EMBER that I found myself thinking about Indiana Jones. Did those movies serve as any kind of inspiration?

I did draw on my exposure to the antiquities trade to write the book.  It is a deadly business.  We see these ancient artifacts in museums, glistening in their display cases, but some are soaked in the blood of the trade. Being caught in the middle of all this, as a lawyer, seemed a good place to introduce a compelling character.  The antiquities trade, I can assure you, is a very bloody business. So–the book and those films share a certain tone.

To many the book is just a thriller, like the best of Tom Clancy, Dan Brown, or John Grisham. But as Elie Wiesel's review suggested, the book is a protest against modern and ancient historical revisionism.  I'm glad to have entertained and taught people a thing or two.

6. With the success of THE LAST EMBER there must be talk of some sort of sequel. What are your plans moving forward – will we see Jonathan Marcus again?

I'll say this: readers will definitely hear from Marcus again!

7. Where can readers go to learn more about you?

Readers can learn more about me, and my work, at daniellevin.com. I also have a facebook fan page and a twitter account (please follow me @ Daniel_Levin).

About Daniel

Daniel Levin earned his bachelor's degree in Roman and Greek civilizations from the University of Michigan. He graduated Harvard Law School with honors and clerked for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel.  He was a visiting scholar at the American Academy in Rome in 2004 and practiced international law in New York. He currently lives in New York City, where he is working on his next novel