From Rome to the Wild West - An Interview with Caroline Lawrence

 
Caroline Lawrence is the author of the fantastic Roman Mysteries series, which follows a group of child detectives all around the ancient world, and of a new series which is called Western Mysteries in the USA and P. K. Pinkerton Mysteries here in the UK. As you can probably guess from the name, these are set in the 19th century American West, and they are just as absorbing and exciting as the Roman Mysteries.

I’ve been a huge fan of Caroline’s writing ever since I picked up my first Roman Mysteries book in the library (recommended by my cousin’s daughter). I was reading completely out of order at first (The Sirens of Surrentum), but soon bought the whole collection and read through in order. They are completely addictive! (You can win a copy of the first or second P. K. Pinkerton Mysteries book in my giveaway here!)
 
Today, Caroline has stopped by to answer some questions about herself and her books.


Hi Caroline! Hope you’re having a lovely day!

I am indeed, Vicky! I just finished the first draft of my fourth P.K. Pinkerton book.

What made you decide to go from Rome to the American Wild West?

For me, writing historical fiction is like time travel. Ancient Rome is one place I’d love to visit in a my magic time-bubble; the other is the American West. I love the landscape, the history and the movies associated with that place. Also, the American West is part of my heritage!

How much research goes into each book?

My whole life is research. Attending Latin classes, going to movies, talking to friends, listening to music, reading books, walking, day-dreaming and travelling: all are grist to my creative mill. But I also do specific research, like browsing the database of Mark Twain’s letters online or attending Roman Re-enactment events.

Have you found out anything really surprising during your research, or busted any Western myths?

Yes, I’m always making discoveries as I do research. For example, most western saloons don’t have those swinging doors, but I love them so much that I kept them. What I didn’t realise was how prevalent tobacco was in the American Civil War period, when I’m writing, and especially spittoons. There were even dainty glass spittoons for women!

Would you ever consider changing any historical facts to fit the plot or to make things more exciting, or is that a big no-no?

I get so much inspiration from real historical events that I hardly ever make changes. One little change I made in my latest P.K. Pinkerton book was putting the exploits of shootist Farner Peel in 1862 rather than 1864.

How many of the places in the books are real, and what made you choose Virginia City as your main setting?

Caroline and StinkE (Caroline's photo)

In 2008 I went on a road trip with my sister Jennifer to find the most exciting setting for my new Western series. The “living ghost town” of Virginia City, Nevada was high on my list because

a) some of our ancestors had lived nearby
b) its heyday was during the Civil War
c) Mark Twain lived there…

But it captured my heart when we drove in and the first person I saw was StinkE with a capital E! (see picture) When I discovered that the owner of the B&B we had booked was a Nevada historian I knew it was meant to be!

Caroline and Jennifer on their road trip (Caroline's photo)

Am I right in thinking that you travel a lot? What’s been your favourite place(s) to visit?

Near Sorrento (Caroline's photo)

I’ve travelled to almost all the places where my books are set. I even try to go at the particular time of year when the book will take place so I can get details of weather, bird migration, seasonal food, etc right. I love Ostia, the ruins of Rome’s port, and I think there is something almost magical or perhaps I should say ‘numinous’ about it. I also adore Sorrento and the Bay of Naples, the deserts of the American West, the Sierra Nevada mountain range and San Francisco. In fact, it’s often the places I love that determine where my books will be set!

You grew up in America. Do you have any personal family connections to the history of the American Old West?

Yes! My great grandmother was born in Battle Mountain Nevada and worked for a time at the Carson City mint. Another one of my ancestors was a Union paymaster in the American Civil War.

The Western Mysteries, like the Roman Mysteries, have such brilliant characters. Are any of them real historical people?

I am always using real people! But I try to make them peripheral rather than main characters, (though sometimes they will take over). In my Roman Mysteries you will meet Pliny the Elder, Pliny the Younger, the Emperor Titus, his paramour Berenice, Josephus the Jewish historian, Suetonius the famous biographer and Valerius Flaccus a patrician epic poet, just to name a few. In my P.K. Pinkerton books we meet Sam Clemens AKA Mark Twain and lots of real gunfighters, politicians and newspaper reporters from California and Nevada Territory! I have to be careful there because some of them have great, great, great grandchildren who are still alive!

The main character, Pinky, seems to have Prosopagnosia (difficulty recognising faces), and perhaps also Asperger Syndrome. This can make some aspects of being a detective tricky, but is also advantageous in some circumstances (such as remaining calm when in danger). Why did you decide to write Pinky in this way?

My starting point for PK was that the books would be told in first person without the reader being certain of whether PK is a girl or a boy. (So yes, add gender confusion to those other things!)

Who is your favourite character from any of your books?

In a strange way, P.K. Pinkerton is the most like me. I took my own quirks and eccentricities and exaggerated them to the max!

Do you have any writing habits or a favourite place to write?

I love to write on my Apple Mac in my riverside flat in London (see picture). I’ve found the first few hours of the day most productive. I only write for an average of two hours a day. The rest is ‘research’!

Caroline's flat (Caroline's photo)

 
What’s your favourite book/author?

The Last of the Wine, by Mary Renault. It changed my life because it introduced me to the Classical world. Some of my other fave books are True Grit, My Family and Other Animals, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and the historical novels of Patrick O’Brian.

I don’t have much experience of Westerns beyond your books, True Grit, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Can you recommend any favourite Western movies?

My favourite Western film of all time is The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). The others on my list are always shifting and changing but here are four more I think my fans would enjoy: Lonesome Dove TV series (1989), Eagle’s Wing (1979), The Tin Star (1957) and Little Big Man (1970). Notice not one of them stars John Wayne!

Can you leave us with one fun fact about the Romans or about the American West?

First century Rome and Western America in the 1860s had a surprising number of elements in common: both were horse-powered societies, both were surrounded by perceived “barbarians” and both had achieved roughly the same level of medical knowledge. But if I had to choose one to live in, it would be the American West: at least they had chocolate!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Caroline!

Thank YOU! And Happy One Year Anniversary of your great blog!
 

Me proudly wearing my 'P.K. Pinkerton Private Eye' badge!

The Case of the Good-Looking Corpse - Book Review

The Case of the Good-Looking Corpse, by Caroline Lawrence, is the second book in her Western Mysteries series, and the sequel to The Case of the Deadly Desperados:

My name is P.K. Pinkerton and I am a Private Eye operating out of Virginia City.

At the moment I am in Jail in the shadow of a hangman's noose. It is all because I tried to solve the biggest mystery here in Nevada Territory and protect a girl who witnessed a terrible crime.

If I write an account of what happened, then maybe I can convince the jury not to hang me by the neck until I am dead. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

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You know how there are certain authors whose books you feel sure you’re going to enjoy, because you always do? Caroline Lawrence is one of those for me. She just gets stories. And this one didn’t disappoint.

The Case of the Deadly Desperados - Book Review

Introducing P. K. Pinkerton, Master of Disguise. When twelve-year-old P. K. (Pinky) Pinkerton's foster parents are murdered by Whittlin' Walt and his gang of ruthless desperados, Pinky goes on the run. He's forced into hiding with Ma's priceless last possession: the deed to a large amount of land and silver mines in the Nevada Mountains. But relying on disguises will only keep Pinky hidden for so long, and the desperados are quickly closing in... (Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

The Case of the Deadly Desperados is the first in a new series of mystery books from The Roman Mysteries author Caroline Lawrence. It follows P. K. (Pinky) Pinkerton, a twelve year old private eye in the year 1862. This series seems to be ‘The Western Mysteries’ if you’re in the USA, or ‘The P.K. Pinkerton Mysteries’ if you’re in the UK, because apparently our children don’t really know what a western is anymore. Hopefully this series might change that, if the strength of the first book is anything to go by. It’s an exciting, action-packed adventure in which Pinky never seems to be out of danger. All the traditional elements of a western are there, as well as plenty of interesting facts about the real Wild West.

The Sewer Demon - Book Review

Euge! I won a signed copy of The Sewer Demon by Caroline Lawrence in a Twitter competition from the Big Book Babble! This sent me into slightly unreasonable levels of excitement. Partly because I’ve never won anything in a prize draw before, but mainly because The RomanMysteries series has been a favourite of mine for a long time.

But, aren’t they children’s books? Yes, of course they are, but like Disney cartoons, they’re absolutely delightful for grownups too. I would class them as ‘family books.’ They’re funny, clever, exciting, and historically accurate. I think they are some of the best stories set in the Ancient World in either adult or children’s fiction. Besides, I’m fairly sure I never actually grew up...

I was introduced to the Roman Mysteries books by my cousin’s daughter, who a) was in love with the series, and b) was amazed and overjoyed that she had written to the author, Caroline Lawrence, and Caroline had actually written back! Not all authors will do this, mainly because they are so busy, but I remember having a similar experience when I was younger and it really does make such a difference to a child. Anyway, I was studying Classics at university at the time, so “it’s about Romans” was (and still is, if I’m honest) enough on its own to get me excited. A combination of ‘Romans’ and ‘friendly author’ meant they were a must-read. I borrowed one from the library, reading horribly out of order (The Sirens of Surrentum), and on the strength of that one book alone I bought a set of all the books written to that point, with the beautiful second generation covers. Every single one was good, and I’ve been collecting them ever since.

The Sewer Demon is a companion book to The Roman Mysteries series, moving away from the Roman Mystery children to focus on a new main character, a boy called Threptus. Readers of The Roman Mysteries books might remember Threptus, who popped up in The Man from Pomegranate Street, and in ‘Threptus and the Sacred Chickens’ in The Legionary from Londinium and other Mini Mysteries. Threptus is an eight year old boy living in Ostia, once a beggar, but now working for Floridius, who is a prophet, soothsayer, amulet-seller and dealer in sacred chickens! This is the first in a new series called The Roman Mystery Scrolls, which seems to be aimed at slightly younger readers, with shorter books and ruder humour.

The same easy-going and humorous style of The Roman Mysteries series is found in this book, with plenty of jokes that both young readers and their parents can enjoy. The curses (Pollux!) and exclamations like ‘Great Juno’s Beard’ always make me laugh out loud. Because the story is set in Ostia, familiar faces and places appear. At one point Threptus is forced to crawl through the town’s sewers, and learns why the local magistrate Bato should never eat cumin-dusted eggs. The mystery is intriguing and solving it is fun, with the usual variety of fascinating Roman facts and titbits incorporated into the story. I’ve never noticed anything un-historically accurate in a Roman Mysteries book, and the same goes here (makes sense – the author really knows the Ancient World).

Caroline Lawrence has a wonderful ability to conjure up places and people so well in so few words, and her characters are always so alive they jump off the page. (The little illustrations that accompany each chapter pick up on this brilliantly. Here’s my favourite.) The pacing is spot on, there are no boring bits, and no scene is wasted or ‘filler.’ It’s a very easy read. This would make it a perfect book for younger readers or less confident readers, before diving into the more complex mysteries and plotting of the Roman Mysteries stories. It’s also a great companion book for readers who are already fans of the Roman Mystery world.