20 Questions with Judith Arnopp

I am delighted to welcome Judith Arnopp to On the Tudor Trail. Judith has written a number of works of historical fiction, including ‘The Kiss of the Concubine: A Story of Anne Boleyn’ and ‘The Winchester Goose’ set in London in 1540.  I hope you enjoy our Q & A!

1.        When did you realise that you wanted to become a writer?

I’ve been a writer since I was a little girl and wrote stories to read to my dolls and teddies. As a teenager I penned some very bad poetry and romance stories. As a young mum I cast my children in a series of adventures. This was a great way of keeping my hand in and amusing the kids at the same time. My dream was to be a ‘proper’ author but I always thought it was unattainable. I never thought it would happen.

2. What sparked your interest in Tudor history?

I was about thirteen when my history teacher gave me a novel about Henry and his wives. From there I read a whole range of historical novels before turning to academic study. At university I took a master’s degree in medieval studies and my early books concentrate on that period. It was constant requests from readers for ‘Tudor’ books that made me write The Winchester Goose which was a great success.  My next novel, The Kiss of the Concubine; a story of Anne Boleyn proved that people still love and want to read good novels about Tudors, and who am I to refuse.

 2.        Tell us a little about the process you follow when researching your novels.

I read every book I can lay my hands on. I am lucky to live close to my old university at Lampeter and I am able to use their facilities, plus I have quite an extensive library of my own. Mind you, I am always buying books. I can’t seem to stop. Before putting pen to paper I read every available book on the subject from every angle and then decide which view point to follow. There are so many different perspectives that, to get a rounded story, you have to be aware of all of them.

3.        Do you have a favourite Tudor personality?

That is a bit like choosing my favourite ice-cream. There are so many and all are delicious in their own way. The more I research, the more I am intrigued by Henry VIII. It sounds a bit obvious but he is so complex. I don’t believe in ‘evil’ and I don’t think he was a ‘monster.’ As I discover more about him I am finding him psychologically damaged, trying to aspire to things beyond his control. His quest for a son was driven by the insecurities of the Tudor regime. The Tudors were relatively new on the scene and desperate to maintain a hold on the crown. It is unfortunate that it never occurred to Henry that women can be excellent monarchs. Power can be a very negative thing and someone, probably Cromwell, let Henry realize just how much power he had. It didn’t bode well for those who crossed him.

4.        What is something you love about your hometown?

The town I grew up in is spoiled now. It used to be lovely, all cherry trees and lush verges but now they’ve dug up the grass to make way for parking. The streets are cluttered with wheelie bins, and no one seems to love it anymore. We moved to Wales when the children were small, and have never regretted it for a second. This is my hometown now. I love the scenery; the mountains, the wild coast line, the big windswept skies. And the history is fabulous. We have castles, ancient churches, monasteries, manor houses all on the doorstep. It is a great place to live even if you don’t write, but if you do it is even better.

5.        What is your favourite holiday destination?

We always came to Wales before we moved to this house, so the answer is here. We haven’t had a proper holiday for 18 years because we haven’t needed one. We tend to take short breaks or days out. There are still a million local places we haven’t seen.

6.        What music do you listen to?

Oh, lots of different types. I like silence while I am writing so I mostly listen in the car.  All the old bands from my youth: Queen, Dr Hook, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon. I also like classical opera but can only listen to that when I am alone since my husband isn’t so keen. I have a cd of Gregorian chant that he cannot stand. I put it on when he has upset me, just to annoy him.

7.        How do you find inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere isn’t it? Books, T.V., the scenery, places we visit. I usually have a pile of story lines backed up in my head and when the time comes for a new novel I sort through and pick the one I fancy most. I should write a list really for when my memory finally goes.

8.        Describe a day in your life when you are writing. Do you follow any rituals?

I write for four days a week, leaving the weekend free for other things. Sometimes I even do some housework. But, on a writing day I am very strict with myself. I answer emails and carry out some social networking while I eat my breakfast, then I open my w.i.p. and get down to it. I aim for 5000 words a day; sometimes I make the target, sometimes not. It isn’t a problem if I miss it but it is a goal that suits me. Before I start to add anything new I read through the work of the day before, making small corrections and additions as I go. This gets me in the zone and I sail through until lunch time. I try to get away from the desk for an hour then but that doesn’t always happen, sometimes I am too hooked into what I am doing. In the afternoon I write until 4 or 5 o’clock before downing tools until the next day.

9.        What does your writing space look like?

Oh, it is lovely. I have a large U-shaped desk, designed by myself, built by my lovely old fella. The room looks across the gardens to the mountain beyond. It has loads of books; a 19th century dresser stuffed with Victorian china; a picture of Richard the third that has been with me since 1978 and a pin board with a Tudor background collage that I made myself. The things I need most, e.g. phone, research books, coffee are all within arm’s reach so I don’t have to move too often.

10.      Describe your perfect Friday night.

We are always in bed by ten.  We usually go out on Fridays and come home really tired, so that isn’t as decadent as it sounds.

12. What makes you smile?

My children. They are all grown up now but the thought of them still makes me smile. My old fella makes me laugh aloud most days. We have been together for about 30 years now but I still find his jokes hysterical. Other things that make me smile are; the sea, the garden, baby animals, my silly smelly dog, Bryn; a good Amazon review or an email from a fan. Oh, and that wonderful feeling when you are struck by a fabulous new plot twist.

13. What is something most people don’t know about you?

I met Prince Charles once. He is the chancellor of the university I attended and I was chosen from my year to be introduced to him during a ‘do.’ He is very nice, very polite and seemingly interested. He looks exactly as he does on the telly.

14. What are you reading right now?

Hilary Mantel’s, A Place of Greater Safety. I loved Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies and can’t wait for the next one. I am not enjoying this one quite as much as her Tudor novels but that is probably because I am not as familiar with the French Revolution as with the Tudor court. It is very well written and original though. I am also reading Anne Somerset’s book about Elizabeth I.

15. Do you use social media?

Far too much! I find facebook invaluable for forging new friendships and contacts. I have a lovely bunch of friends on there and have joined a few groups, although, as I said earlier, I have to limit my time spent socializing. I have my posts linked to my twitter page to save me time. I have joined pinterest but find it a bit confusing. Google + is also bewildering and I don’t have the time to sort it out. I need to spend more time writing, not less.

16. What women in history do you most admire?

Strong women who stepped from their prescribed role to do something marvelous. There were women like Aethelflaed,  who ruled Mercia for thirty four years, led armies against the vikings, refortified the Roman towns of Chester and Tamworth, founded Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Warwick and Stafford.  Eleanor of Aquitaine who, among other things, ruled England on her son Richard’s behalf until he could come to claim his throne. Margaret of Anjou who fought unsuccessfully for her son’s rights, Margaret Beaufort whose campaign to put her son, Henry VII, on the throne, was rather more successful. Women who fought for something they believed in; Anne Boleyn and Katherine Parr who supported church reform despite the dangers.

17. Are you currently working on any new novels?

I am always working on something. My current work in progress is called Intractable Heart and is the story of Katherine Parr, Henry VIII’s last wife. Before I began to read around her I thought she was too dull to merit a book dedicated to her life but how wrong I was! She married four times, once to Henry as we know. She lived through a siege, the dissolution, was our first queen to publish a book. She acted regent to the country while Henry took himself off to fight the French. She is really fascinating and had a great deal to do with Elizabeth Tudor while she was growing up; Katherine’s influence is clearly detectable in the queen Elizabeth later became.

18. Do you have a favourite quote?

Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. It is from Much Ado About Nothing. I am not sure why I like it; perhaps it is the rebel in me enjoying the grammatical peculiarity. It also excuses my very laid back approach to life. I am not a screamer and have embraced the most scream-worthy events with little more than a smile.

19. What was your favourite book as a child?

Oh there were so many. I had stacks of books. I still have some of them. King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table; Kidnapped; Treasure Island; The Chronicles of Narnia; The Hobbit; Winnie the Pooh. I can’t pick a favourite but it is probably one from that list.

20. If you could travel back in time and change one single event in Tudor history, what would it be?

Despite the horrors, our history is a rich and wonderful place; it wouldn’t do to alter it. I’d be too afraid to change anything. You know what Captain Picard says about meddling with the time continuum.

I always felt Richard the third’s reign ended badly; given the chance I think he would have made an o.k. king. But imagine if I went back and saved some insignificant, drowning boy and that boy grew up and tipped King Richard off about the Stanley’s plot. I would be responsible for wiping the Tudors from history and then what would I write about?

 http://www.juditharnopp.com/

http://juditharnoppnovelist.blogspot.co.uk/