Hi! First of all, I'd like to say I adore your Roman books (haven't read the Borgias yet, but I plan on doing it as soon as I get a chance). As both a history student and an aspiring writer, I was wondering how many history book about a certain topic do you read before sitting down to write a historical fiction novel? Since your books always seem rather on point from the historical point of view. :)

Kate Quinn Thanks so much! As far as research goes, I'd say the reading never really stops. I do a deep-dive if I'm headed into a new and different historical era--trying to acquire the kind of hands-on daily-life detail that you need to paint a world on the page requires a lot of familiarity, and thus a lot of reading--but even after I feel comfortable enough in a new setting to plunge into writing about it, I never stop reading. You never know when you're going to find something electrifying and/or useful!

flag

My question is: Would you ever consider writing a story time travel? It would be such a interesting and satisfying way to commemorate all the different eras, or would you prefer to stick to one era, and write it in a more profound and elaborative way?

Helen asked Kate Quinn:

How did you organize the "facts" that were contained in THE ALICE NETWORK? I had all my research in notebooks and found myself constantly flipping thru them to include the "facts." It seemed very disorganized.

thetis asked Kate Quinn:

Hello, I would like to ask a question about Daughters of Rome. Is the "Lady Statilia" in Otho's group who Cornelia meets supposed to be Statilia Messalina? (I enjoyed reading this one a lot :) )

All answers from Kate Quinn…

Kate Quinn

38,135 followers

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

More Answered Questions

My question is: Would you ever consider writing a story time travel? It would be such a interesting and satisfying way to commemorate all the different eras, or would you prefer to stick to one era, and write it in a more profound and elaborative way?

How did you organize the "facts" that were contained in THE ALICE NETWORK? I had all my research in notebooks and found myself constantly flipping thru them to include the "facts." It seemed very disorganized.

Hello, I would like to ask a question about Daughters of Rome. Is the "Lady Statilia" in Otho's group who Cornelia meets supposed to be Statilia Messalina? (I enjoyed reading this one a lot :) )

About Goodreads Q&A