Interviews
Heart to Heart Interview with Virginia Henley
Heart to Heart: When did you first discover a passion for the Middle Ages?
Virginia Henley: I was born in England and went to school there. That's when I discovered my undying passion for history -- not just for the Middle Ages, but all periods of history. My favorites are medieval, Elizabethan, and Georgian; however, I've written stories set in periods as early as ancient Rome, right up to the Victorian era.
HtoH: When did you first start writing historical fiction? What are the advantages of the genre, from an author's point of view?
VH: I first started writing historical fiction in the late '70s and kept pictures of Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rogers on my refrigerator until my first book was published by Avon in 1982. The biggest advantage of this genre for me is that it allows me to blend fact and fiction. I love to have real people of history interact with my fictional characters. History gives me the plot. I research the period meticulously, and then I blend in a romantic and sensual love story to give it balance. The heavier the history, the more romantic the couple must be. My readers wouldn't want the history without the romance, nor vice-versa. It's like a one-two punch that satisfies the reader, and satisfying my readers is what it's all about.
HtoH: Unmasked is set in the sunset years of Cromwell's Protectorate and the return of Charles Stuart. What drew you to this particular period of time, and how did you research the background for your story?
VH: I have always been drawn to the Restoration period of Charles II. I have a soft spot for Charles Stuart, who was always loving and kind to the opposite sex. The members of his court were fascinating, and Barbara Castlemaine was one of the greatest courtesans in history. I have used the Restoration period before in The Pirate and the Pagan, and that book is a favorite with my readers. I use my own history books for research -- and for Unmasked, I added Royal Survivor by Stephen Coote to my collection.
HtoH: What are you working on now? What's your next book to be published and when?
VH: At the moment [summer 2005], I am writing Jory de Warenne's story. She first appeared in my Scottish medieval, A Year and a Day, for which I won a coveted Maggie Award for Excellence. I have had so many requests for Jory's tale, so rather than just making it a sequel to the previous book, I am going back in time to when she was 17 and telling her whole story. My working title is A Flagrant Proposal, and it will be published by Signet in fall 2006.
