Thank you Judith Arnopp for tagging me in the Meet My Main Character Blog hop. You can read Judith’s (fabulous) blog post here
Firstly, apologies for the delay in blogging up this post (I should have done it on the 19th of April) but my main PC has been misbehavin’, and I’m not tecci enough to blog this up on my mobile phone. Anyway, PC is now fixed so here goes…
What is the name of my main character? Is he real or fictitious?
Aulus Epidius Marsallas is totally fictitious but I have drawn inspiration from real life heroes such as Spartacus. I’ve also been inspired by the many Roman films I’ve watched over the years, such as BenHur, Quo Vardis and Cleopatra. Being a writer is great as you get to watch, read, and ogle about great people all the time – all in the name of research of course! But if I have to think of one person/character who inspired me to write Marsallas’s story then it was Maximus Decimus Meridius – a.k.a Russell Crowe in The Gladiator. I’ve watched this film about 10 tens now and I’m still bowled over by his gorgeousness! He is the typical alpha male Roman hero IMHO.
When and where is the story set?
The story is set in and around Rome in AD79. However, there are flashback scenes 6 years previously when the Hero and Heroine (Justina) first meet each other in their home town of Herculaneum. The date – AD79 – is, as you may recall, a pivotal date in Roman history, as later in the year Mount Vesuvius erupts, destroying all of Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, the majority of the story is set in Rome – Marsallas is a charioteer in the Circus Maximus and he also has a large farm (Villa Rustica) just outside Rome. This is where the heroine ends up (but I won’t spoil it too much!)
What should we know about him?
Marsallas left Herculaneum and fled to Rome as a young man because the only woman he’d ever loved betrayed him by becoming his uncle’s mistress. This has made him bitter, and he trusts no woman, refusing to let anyone ever hurt him again as Justina did six years ago. He’s dedicated to life in the Circus Maximus and excels at the sport, not caring if he lives or dies as he races around the arena. He’s made himself very rich by being the best in the Circus, and this has allowed him to buy up a large farm and become a very successful businessman.
What is his main conflict? What messes up his life?
His life is hard. Endless races, endless wins, has made him tough, not just on the outside but also on the inside. And he refuses to allow anyone (male or female) get close to him. He has few friends and acquaintances outside of the Circus Maximus, preferring to keep himself to himself. He has lovers – but only on his terms. Then Justina comes to see him at the Circus to ask him to return to Herculaneum as his uncle is dying. Marsallas has no interest in ever returning to Herculaneum, but when he sees Justina for the first time in six years all the emotions he’d long supressed come back to haunt him. He wants her like he’s never wanted another woman. And he means to get her…but only on his terms…
What is Marsallas’s personal goal?
Before Justina comes back into his life, Marsallas’s goal was money – and the pursuit of it. He wanted to be richer than his uncle – the uncle that took Justina away from him by offering her more money than he’d had at the time to become his mistress – or so he believed...
What is the book's title?
The title of my book is called – THE ROMAN
When will the book be released?
The Roman was released in e-book format on the 20th of February 2014, but will be available as a paperback via Amazon on the 28th of May 2014.
If anyone else would be interested in doing this Blog hop tour then follow the same format as above. If you could mention me in the beginning that would be lovely! Thanks – Caroline x
THE ROMAN - ROME AD 79 - The one woman he ever loved was the one woman who betrayed him. And now, the Roman will have his revenge… Marsallas and Justina were young, beautiful and desperately in love once, until a tragic betrayal tore them apart. Six years have passed since that day and Marsallas has since thrown himself into the deadly world of chariot racing, gaining fortune, fame, and a salacious reputation throughout Rome. His bed could be kept warm by a different woman each night if he chooses, but his heart remains iced over as the memory of Justina’s betrayal continues to haunts him. The last thing he expects is to see her again, but when she steps back into his life he sees a chance to avenge his broken heart. But beneath the hurt, an attraction so intense still burns between the two, and as their fates begin to intertwine once more, their determination to resist one another starts to falter…
On Amazon.com - http://ow.ly/tPGTX
On Amazon.co.uk - http://ow.ly/tPHfJ
On Barnes and Noble - http://ow.ly/tPHvY
On Kobo - http://ow.ly/tPI1N
