Interview with Author Sophie Perinot + Two Book Giveaway of THE SISTER QUEENS

Today, I am thrilled to bring you an interview with the fabulous Sophie Perinot in honor of the virtual book tour for her wonderful novel, THE SISTER QUEENS!  I also have two copies of THE SISTER QUEENS up for grabs, so be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of this post.

Sophie will be touring the blogosphere through April 4th and to check out the other blogs that will be hosting the virtual book tour, please see the tour schedule HERE.


And now, on to the interview with Sophie Perinot...


Have you always wanted to be a writer?  And did you always want to write historical fiction?

No.  I have always and forever been a storyteller, but I never thought about writing as a career.  When I was in elementary school I wanted to be the junior senator from the state of Ohio (not kidding) so I decided I needed a law degree.  By the time I was in college all thoughts of politics had faded (I am outgoing, but I am not Teflon) but the law dream remained.  I majored in history as an undergrad, then headed straight to law school where, in a scene directly out of a bad movie, my future husband handed me my orientation packet.

Being a lawyer for a number of years taught me something important – being good at something is not the same as enjoying it.  So I decided to reinvent myself.  Writing became part of that reinvention because of my sister.  She said to me “I know you are making up a story right now in your head, pick up your dictaphone and start saying it out loud.”  I did and the rest is history (sorry, I couldn’t resist).  I’ve blogged about this transformative sister-push if anyone is interested in reading more.  

Once I began writing, historical fiction was THE natural genre choice for me.  Besides studying history, I am from a family full of history nerds (my sister is a professor of history).  Also my personal reading tastes have always run to literary classics (which are, obviously, set in the past) and historical fiction.

Can you please tell us a bit about The Sister Queens and the inspiration behind writing it?

I’ll start with the moment of inspiration.  More than seven years ago, while researching a totally different project, I came upon a footnote in a history of Notre Dame de Paris—a footnote about Marguerite of Provence (whose kneeling image is carved over that great church’s Portal Rouge) and her sisters.  These remarkable 13th century women were the daughters of the Count of Provence and related, through their mother, to the house of Savoy.  The Savoyards were celebrities in the High Middle ages—a family of considerable political and marital power, whose members were renowned for their personal attractiveness.  People wanted to be like the Savoyards, and people (even kings and popes) wanted to be seen with them.  All four of these extraordinary sisters made politically significant marriages yet I had never heard of them.  I wondered how these women could have slipped through the fingers of history.  I started a file folder with their names on it and tucked it away, vowing to come back and tell their story.  The Sister Queens is the result of that vow.

My finished novel weaves together the stories of the two eldest sisters—Marguerite who became Queen of France, and Eleanor who became Queen of England.  I chose this pair not only because their marriages were more significant than those of their younger siblings, but because of their particularly close bond.  Like most sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor were rivals, but they were also life-long friends and their mutual devotion helped each to navigate the challenges posed by love, war, political intrigue and betrayal.  It’s that sisterly support that I wanted to celebrate in my book, both in honor of my own sister, who is and always has been my best friend, but also because I believe it will resonate with sisters everywhere.
If readers are interested in a description of the book, I urge them to check out its back-cover blurb because I really think my publisher did a brilliant job of summing up the novel.

What misconceptions might readers have about women in the 13th Century that you’d like to address?

People tend to assume that history—including women’s history—is linear.  That things always get better.  But in reality the progress of history is more akin to one step forward, two steps back.  So the common idea that women in the time of The Sister Queens had fewer rights than all the women who came after them is false.  If I were given my choice I would rather be a noblewoman in 13th century then in a number of later periods.  Here are just two facts about 13th century women that might fly in the face of modern readers’ assumptions.

Women had political power in the 13th Century.  It was not uncommon for 13th century noblewomen to hold and govern territory in their own right.  For example, Marguerite and Eleanor’s youngest sister, Beatrice, inherited the County of Provence when she was still in her teens.  Nor did marriage mean surrendering your territory to your husband.  Marguerite and Eleanor’s uncle, Thomas of Savoy, gained the title of Count of Flanders by marriage, but when his wife pre-deceased him he had to clear out to make way for that lady’s son—the next count.  There is a wonderful webpage, “Women in Power 1200-1250” if you really want to get an idea of just how many women there were in positions of political authority during that time period. 

In 13th century Occitania (a term for the Occitan speaking world of which Provence was a part) men were often absent for long periods of time, thanks to a nearly continuous string of crusades.  These absences provided additional women with the opportunity, at least temporarily, to administer family holdings and dispense justice.

Women in the High Middle Ages had sexual rights (albeit nothing like those women enjoy today).  In my novel I sometimes refer to “payment of the marriage debt,” and Marguerite feels wronged when her husband, Louis IX of France, spurns intercourse with her.  That is not a case of me, as a writer, imposing modern ideas on a 13th century woman.  As a matter of history, Marguerite was entitled to feel gypped because, under the doctrine of the medieval Church, a married man was obliged, under penalty of mortal sin, to give his wife sex as a preventative measure against temptation from the sin of adultery.

So readers, when you are enjoying a work of historical fiction and something that a female character thinks or does seems suspect or “modern,” do a little investigating.  You might be pleasantly surprised.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?  What do you find the most difficult?

I have a favorite moment in the writing process—the moment when my characters come to life and begin to speak and act for themselves almost without my volition (and sometimes against my wishes).  After that “genesis moment” they can become disruptive—for example starting conversations when I am showering, or weaving scenes I am desperate not to miss when I am driving—but it is so much better than trying to coax them into action.

The most difficult part of the process for me is NOT comparing how I work to how any of my (very wonderful) writer friends work.  I happen to be a slow first drafter, and I tend to write scenes as they come to me rather than in chronological order.  I have friends who can turn out a draft in a month or two.  If I start thinking about that, the next thing I know I am curled in a fetal position under my desk with whatever chocolate was handy.  That’s no good.  I have to write my book my way or it won’t get written at all.  That means listening to my friends’ stories without obsessing over or internalizing their writing processes.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Everybody always says “never give up,” so I am going to go in a different direction. 

1) Master the art of patience.  When you think your manuscript (or the query letter you need to pitch it) is ready it’s probably not.  Don’t let your enthusiasm for your book and your excitement over actually finishing it drive the train – patience, self-control and discipline are your friends.  Let everything sit.  Get feedback.  Let that feedback percolate.

2) Writing may be an art, but you’d better learn the business.  While you are polishing your manuscript (or better yet back when you first start drafting it), take some time to learn about the business of publishing.  That way when the happy day arrives and you have an agent and a book contract, the facts of life (e.g. authors need to be involved in marketing and promotion) or simple definitions (do you know the difference between line and copy edits? Do you know what it means to “earn out”) won’t stop you in your tracks.  If you haven’t taken the time to learn about the business than you shouldn’t be looking for an agent or a publishing deal no matter how ready your manuscript is.

What are you working on next?

I am currently working on a novel driven by the mother-daughter relationship.  It is set in 16th century France and my main character is Marguerite de Valois, sister to three kings (Francis II, Charles IX and Henri III) and wife of a fourth (Henri IV).  Here is the tagline I am using to focus my writing:  “The mother-daughter relationship is fraught with peril—particularly when your mother is Catherine de Médicis.”  Yes, Catherine.  I know she is a popular character in historical fiction but I don’t believe we’ve ever seen her through her daughter’s eyes :)

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be and why?

What a fascinating question.  There are a handful of books I’ve read multiple times and plan to keep on reading because each time I see something more or different (Anna Karenina is a perfect example).  But I’ve never imagined having the opportunity to come at a novel fresh for a second time.  Probably I’d pick a book that I “under appreciated” the first time because I was too young when I read it.  Maybe Hemmingway’s A Farewell to Arms.  It would be interesting to see if, as a mature woman with lots of life and love experience, that novel would strike me differently than it did in my teens.

What authors have inspired you?

Naming names would take more space than you’ve allotted to my interview and sound like an Academy Award acceptance speech (generally not a good thing).  There are dozens of writers who inspire my life and inform my work on various levels.  In many cases these writers tackle topics or write in genres far removed from my own.  Quite a number have “mad skills” I could never hope to equal.  Going back to the roots of historical fiction, I deeply admire the work of the genre’s two grandfathers—Alexandre Dumas and Sir Walter Scott.   Both clearly understood that story comes first in all fiction, including historical.  They also wrote adventure stories and I love an adventure.

About THE SISTER QUEENS

Publication Date:  March 6, 2012

NAL Trade

528P

SYNOPSIS

Like most sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor were rivals.  They were also queens.

Raised at the court of their father, Raymond Berenger, Count of Provence, Marguerite and Eleanor are separated by royal marriages--but never truly parted.

Patient, perfect, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. But Louis IX is a religious zealot who denies himself the love and companionship his wife craves. Can she borrow enough of her sister's boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in a forbidden love?

Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Henry III is a good man, but not a good king. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away?

The Sister Queens is historical fiction at its most compelling, and is an unforgettable first novel.

About Sophie Perinot

Sophie Perinot writes historical fiction. In Spring 2012 her debut novel, The Sister Queens, will be released by NAL. Set in 13th century France and England, The Sister Queens weaves the captivating story of medieval sisters, Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence, who both became queens – their lifelong friendship, their rivalry, and their reigns

Ms. Perinot has both a BA in History and a law degree. She left the law to pursue artistic interests, including writing. An avid reader, especially of classic literature, and life-long student of history, it seemed only natural that Sophie should write historical fiction. As someone who studied French abroad and a devotee of Alexandre Dumas, French history was a logical starting point. An active member of the Historical Novel Society, she has attended all of the group’s North American Conferences.

Active among the literary twitterati as @Lit_gal (a moniker she also uses at Agent Query Connect www.agentqueryconnect.com), Sophie is a regular contributor to the group writers' blog "From the Write Angle" http://www.fromthewriteangle.com/. Find her on facebook at www.facebook.com/sophie.perinot.author.

 

For more information, please visit Sophie Perinot's WEBSITE.

Giveaway Information

- To enter, please leave a comment below and include your email address (only comments with email addresses will be entered in the giveaway).

- Giveaway is open to to US and Canada ONLY.

- +5 additional entries become a follower of Passages to the Past. If you are already a follower you will automatically receive the bonus entries. 

- +3 additional entries join the Passages to the Past FB Page.
- +3 additional entries follow me on Twitter.

- +1 additional entry each, please help spread the word by blogging, posting on sidebar, tweeting or posting this giveaway on Facebook or Google+.  You can use the SHARE buttons below.

- Giveaway ends on March 9th.

Good luck to you all!