ISBN: 193314212X

The following interview was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN:  Editor of Bookpleasures. CLICK TO VIEW  Norm Goldman's Reviews

To read Norm's Review CLICK HERE

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Nancy J. Attwell, author of The Fools’ Path: A Tale From The Lothemian Legacy.

Good day Nancy and thank you for agreeing to participate in our interview.

Norm:

Nancy, how did your book come about? What was your main reason for writing your book?

Nancy:

As a student of classical history, I was intrigued to learn that historians had considered the Trojan War a myth until Heinrich Schliemann found the remains of the city of Troy. Schleimann’s discovery proved that – whatever the embellishments – real events lay at the heart of Homer’s tale. This led me to wonder whether fairy tales, also, had their roots in history. Was Cinderella once a flesh and blood woman whose story, told and retold over the centuries, had been transformed into the familiar fairy tale? For several years a single scene lurked at the back of my mind. Once I actually took the step of writing down that scene, I was hooked. It was a little like embarking on a scavenger hunt because that one scene led to another, which led to another. And that first scene is not even in the final version of the book!

Norm:

When did your passion for writing begin? What keeps you going?

Nancy:

I went through high school and college blissfully unaware that a writer dwelt within me. It was not until I actually sat down at the computer one day, to try to write the scene I’ve already mentioned, that I fell in love with the process of writing a novel. There are times when I am tempted to give up and return to normal life, but my passion for my characters keeps me writing: an unfinished manuscript leaves them suspended with incomplete lives. I want to free them from the confines of my head so that they will continue to exist even when I am no longer on this earth.

Norm:

Can you explain some of your research techniques, and how you found sources for your book i.e. what kind of research did you do to write this book?

Nancy:

Although I am no expert, I do have a passion for the middle ages. My personal library contains a few hundred volumes on the medieval period, including biographies, histories, reference books, and of course, historical fiction. Reading all those words gave me knowledge but they did not give me texture. Several years ago I had the opportunity to spend a year living in the Groot Begijnhof of Leuven, in Belgium, a secular nunnery built in the 13^th century. Although modernized, this walled compound retains many of its original features including cobblestone streets, winding stairwells, and a Cinderella-like hearth as the centerpiece of our home. This experience granted me great insight into what it was like to live in a medieval community. But the most important part of my research has been to travel throughout Europe, touring medieval sites, experiencing the weather, viewing the landscape, and observing local customs.

Norm:

What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your book? How did you overcome these challenges?

Nancy:

I am a slow writer. (I used to feel embarrassed about this until I read that Hemingway would sometimes spend a whole week searching for one perfect word!) When I am setting out a new scene, it usually takes six hours before what I am writing is worth retaining. Unfortunately, during the years that I was raising my children that six-hour point would hit just when they were coming home from school. I solved this by going on a week’s retreat, two or three times a year. I still continued to write at home but during my week away I would accomplish so much more. One thing I loved about this complete withdrawal from my ordinary life was that by the third day of my retreat I would be so immersed in the medieval world that it was as real to me as our own.

Norm:

How did you create Sebastian and Raynar in your book? Did you have a difficult time initially in fleshing out the other characters?

Nancy:

When I am writing from a particular character’s point of view, I am that character. I am thinking, feeling, and experiencing what he is thinking, feeling or experiencing. There has been no need for me write a biography or create a list of personality traits for any character. At the moment I am writing a scene, I know that character as intimately as I know myself. It is interesting that Raynar first appeared in this novel only as someone for Sebastian to talk to. Later, when I wrote a piece from Raynar’s point of view, I was startled to learn that he was a minnesinger, a storyteller, always ready to spin a tale to an admiring audience. This revelation changed the focus of the novel from the relationship between Sebastian, Katrina, and Eleanor, to the nature of stories themselves. That Raynar ended up being the hero is, of course, a role that he delights in.

Norm:

What would you say is Sebastian’s biggest strength and his greatest weakness?

Nancy:

Sebastian is a man of honor who has compassion for nearly everyone, regardless of their estate. He will as readily sacrifice himself to save an unknown peasant child as he will to save a boon companion. However, to protect himself from emotional injury he builds a wall around his heart, with the result that he hurts those who have the greatest claim to his love and compassion.

Norm:

You include some very detailed dialogues in the book, where did that dialogue come from?

Nancy:

Dialogue was the easiest part of the book for me to write. Since I was always in the point of view of one of the characters, it was very much like recording a conversation. Certainly, I would make improvements to the dialogue but this usually involved minor changes. Harder than dialogue was description, and the most difficult was transitioning from one scene to another. For description, I labored over my writing as I pondered what words to write so that the reader would see what I see, and feel what I feel. As for transitions – one scene change could fill a garbage pail with scrap paper! Very often I would find the solution by physically moving myself to a different location. I’m not sure why this was effective, but by changing my own environment I seemed to be able to write from a completely fresh perspective.

Norm:

What are your hopes for your book? How has the feedback been so far?

Nancy:

I hope that many readers will be swept into the story, surprised by some of the plot turns, intrigued by a few of the characters, and sorry when the book is over. It has been a thrill to receive emails from strangers – men and women from all walks of life and spanning all age groups – who enjoyed spending time with my characters. The biggest surprise has been the comment from several men that they cried. No women have told me that!

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to share with our readers and what is next for Nancy J. Attwell?

Nancy:

I have not mentioned that The Fool’s Path is the first book of trilogy, a medieval family saga retelling fairy tales as the history of the kingdom of Lothemia. The second book, The Oathbreaker, follows Sebastian’s family into the next generation, and is a retelling of the story of Sleeping Beauty. I am asking my readers to vote on which fairy tale they would like for the third book: Rapunzel (a sequel) or Beauty and the Beast (a prequel)? They can email me at  nancy@nancyattwell.com. And I’d love to hear their reasons! For those who are interested in checking out my  website.

Thank you very much, Norm, for giving me this opportunity to share a little of myself with your readers.

Thank you Nancy and good luck with all of your future endeavors.