BY AVELLINA BALESTRI

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Paris, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, Washington D.C. and New York. I’m a member of the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. My husband Chris and I own CostPro, an engineering firm based in Boston. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, work out at the gym, play my piano, devour books of any genre, and spend as much time as possible living the dream on my beloved Cape Cod. 

What first inspired you to start writing?

As every grade school kid, I wrote short stories growing up in Jersey City, and became the editor of my college (St. Peter’s) newspaper. My journalism professor Jim Conniff always believed in me, and when I began writing short stories to submit to magazines, he encouraged me to write a novel, which to me was daunting. He sent me titles of several how-to books, most from Writers Digest, so I read them and embarked on my first novel, a fictionalized version of my first job in a Wall Street brokerage firm, and in those days the industry was very chauvinistic. As most first novels it was highly autobiographical and never sold. Because of my love of history I began writing historicals.

How did you first become interested in history, and what are your favorite time periods?

I’ve been a history buff since early childhood. My mother always had biographies, and gave them to me to read. I first got interested in Lincoln and the Civil War from biographies of him, and my interest in the Tudors began with books about Henry VIII and his wives. My favorite time period is Colonial America and English history beginning with the early kings, up to the end of the Tudor dynasty (early 1600s).

What started you on the journey of historical fiction writing in particular?

Because I’m a huge history buff, I always read historical novels. The inspiration for my first historical was BLAZE WYNDHAM by Bertrice Small. It became 

THE JEWELS OF WARWICK, set around Henry VIII and a fictional mistress. Jewels took 2 years to research and write, with no internet. This was 1990. 

When I finished JEWELS, I scoured the history books for another legendary figure to write about. While I browsed the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Library stacks, a book snagged my eye. Lying, not standing, on the wrong shelf was CROWN OF ROSES by Valerie Anand. It drew me like a magnet. Richard III is a central character in the story, and the author thanks ‘the Richard III Society’ for helping her. Who’s this Richard III Society? I wondered. 

Already hooked on King Richard, his tragic death in battle at 32 and his reputation as a usurper and a murderer of his little nephews, I joined this Richard III Society. So I joined up (again through snail mail, no internet.) 

As everyone else who has a story about how they discovered Richard, he fascinated me. I’d found the subject of my next novel! And it tied in perfectly as a prequel to THE JEWELS OF WARWICK. 

Then the miracle of the internet came to all of us. I found my first publisher, Domhan Books, a British publisher, online. So I lived the moment I’d dreamed about—seeing my first book in print. 

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of working within the historical fiction genre?

My very favorite part of working in the genre is the research; I enjoy that even more than the writing. When I’m looking for an obscure fact or name of a person and I find it, it’s like striking gold. I so enjoy reading history books and highlighting the passages that interest me for my writing, and taking notes. I also have enjoyed joining historical societies such as the Richard III Society, the Aaron Burr Association, and the Surratt Society. I’ve met history experts who’ve given me invaluable help in my research.

How have you chosen which historical characters to feature in your books, and what made their stories resonate with you?

I start with the era and the setting—as a huge Tudor buff, it was easy to decide to set my first historical around Henry VIIIs court.

What is your process in terms of research and bringing historical characters to life?

I read as many books on the subject as possible, highlight passages and take notes. I also take notes on the people I’m writing about so I get to know them as I research them. I have a questionnaire that I fill out as each character would. But I get to know them gradually, as we get to know people in real life.

What is your method to integrate fictional characters and situations into the historical setting?

I start with the era, such as Henry VIIIs or Richard IIIs court, or Prohibition, or New York’s Lower East Side when it was crowded with immigrants trying to start a new life. Then I create the characters and give them situations and conflicts that fit in with the era.

If you had the chance to convey a message to your favorite historical characters, what would it be?

I would go back and tell Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard to get as far away as possible from Henry VIII, and stay away!

What do you find more enjoyable/difficult: First drafts or editing/rewriting?

The first drafts are harder than the editing. With the editing, it’s already on paper, but the initial creating is always difficult.

How have you gone about publicizing yourself and your works?

You really have to work on promotion as well as writing. I’ve read many differing opinions on this, but I do believe you should promote as much as time allows, without taking away writing time. Giveaways seem to be a great way to market your books. I started out giving away bookmarks, pens, and the other usual trinkets, but one author said ‘your book is your best giveaway.’ 

I’ve appeared on local cable TV channels, podcasts, and have had bookstore signings. I send my books to newspapers for reviews. I do blog exchanges with other authors. I promote on Facebook; I belong to several book promotion groups and promote a different book each day. I’ve taken out ads in writing and fan magazines, but haven’t found that ads are a good return on investment. The best advertising is word of mouth, but I haven’t been able to get Oprah to feature my books on her show—yet.

What are some of the main themes/morals you would like readers to take away from your works?

Now that I’m writing about strong ladies in history, I want readers to see that these ladies overcame obstacles, prejudice and adversity to make a difference in the world. They were all way ahead of their time. 

My favorite themes and ideas are free will vs. fate, the paranormal (mostly spirits), and time travel.  

My mission is to make readers forget their troubles for a while, escape into another time and place, and maybe get a few laughs along the way.

What is some advice you would give aspiring authors, especially those focusing on the historical fiction genre? 

I can tell aspiring authors to make sure the opening is a grabber, make sure the reader will care about the characters, make sure the novel is structured well, so that it doesn’t have a sagging middle or any pacing problems, make sure the stakes are high enough so they’re in life or death situations that it seems they can’t possibly get out of, make sure the secondary characters aren’t mere cardboard, and humor always helps. One huge technical rule: show, don’t tell. 

But the #1 rule I learned is that you must convey emotion. Make the reader FEEL what these characters are feeling. Lorraine Heath has a unique talent for this. 

Historical authors need to stay as close to the historical record as possible. Sometimes that’s impossible, of course. So always include a disclaimer that says some parts of the story are fictionalized. But as novelists, we know that we can ‘take license.’ Just make sure readers know this.

Keep believing, and keep the faith! And of course, keep writing, because you’ll only get better. And NEVER give up on your dream!

Plug your socials, published works, and current projects!

My Website: www.dianarubino.com

My Blog: www.dianarubinoauthor.blogspot.com

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