Con & Bex chat about the Roman Empire and Being an Empress with Divine Author MJ Woodman!!!
Where did you get the idea for the Divine story? Bex age 9
I loved studying History and Latin at school and was an avid reader from an early age. I was enamoured by dystopian worlds, like those of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner. I remember reading Philip K. Dick’s Man in the High Castle and found the idea of alternate realities fascinating. Combining these passions, the concept for Divine was born, a present-day dystopian reality where the Roman Empire never fell.
Who is your favourite Roman Emperor, and why? Con age 14
I am fascinated by the so-called “bad” Emperors such as Nero and Caligula. They are the archetypal villains of history and more often than not, enigmas, shrouded by layers of myth and popular conjecture. The mystery of their lives and temperament is what draws me to them. Often, these “antagonists” of history inspire my own characters. Villains are undoubtedly my favourite characters to write. I believe the best Emperor was Marcus Aurelius, for the very reason that he didn’t want to become Emperor. He was a man that shunned power at every opportunity and was uncorrupted by the supremacy of his position. Judging by our modern ideals of leadership – peace, kindness, and equality, he was the most qualified of all the Emperors.
What would you do first if you became a Roman Empress? Bex age 9
If I became a Roman Empress during antiquity, I would have certainly tried to give the women of that time the voice they were denied. I would have tried to emulate Empresses such as Theodora, who pioneered woman’s rights in the Ancient World. I would love to try on the beautiful robes and jewels that an Empress might wear on a more selfish note.
The Romans invented Straight Roads and sandals. If you could only have one of these in your life, which one would you choose and why? Con age 14
I would choose sandals. Sandals give you the ability to leave a road, to travel anywhere (within reason) without injuring yourself, and the freedom to choose your own path.
If at 17 years old you had to take on the pressures that Electa had to deal with in the book – what would you do in your free time to deal with that pressure? Bex age 9
While I am unlikely to face the adversity Electa must in Divine, I have suffered with anxiety from an early age. The coping mechanisms I use to manage my anxiety would likely be similar to how I would cope with the challenges Electa must overcome in Divine. I would read, meditate, and do exercise, either long walks or runs, in my free time. When I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed, I love to cook; I find that it can be extremely cathartic.
Which present-day invention do you think would impress the Romans, and why do you think they’d be so impressed? Con age 14
I think they would have found motor engines particularly impressive. The Romans are known for their feats of civil engineering, aqueducts and underfloor heating provided by their Hypocaust system, are just two examples. I expect they would be intrigued by the complexity of such a small contraption and how it revolutionised travel and ultimately, globalisation. Considering the Romans, at the height of their Empire, controlled five million square kilometers of land, stretching from England to Egypt, a motor vehicle would have only served to cement their domination.
What was your favourite gift on your seventeenth birthday and why did you like it so much? Bex
My laptop. As a writer, it is my most important tool. It is unlikely you will ever see me without it. Previously, I had used my dad’s old PC. My parents kindly gifted me the latest MacBook at the time, and it changed my life. It is something I use every day, not only to write but to research.
Divine by MJ Woodman Available Now from Amazon and Apple Books!!!
