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| Blast from the past! |
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Bestselling author and history buff Steve Berry talks to Enid Parker about his books, technology and inspirations…
If it’s a blast from the past, it’s sure to interest Steve Berry – which is probably why all his eight published novels are steeped in history.
Berry, who found success as a writer with The Amber Room in 2002 after 12 years and 85 rejections, has created a foundation called History Matters to assist communities worldwide with restoration and preservation.
His latest work, The Paris Vendetta, is due for a paperback release in stores soon while an upcoming novel, The Emperor’s Tomb, will be published in November. Another novel, The Charlemagne Pursuit, has been shortlisted for the eDunnit award, given in recognition of the best thriller/crime e-book of the year. It will be presented for the first time this year at Crimefest in Bristol, England, on May 22.
Tell us about The Emperor’s Tomb. What attracted you to the story of China’s first emperor’s tomb and its army of terracotta warriors?
“The tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi, has remained sealed for 2200 years. Though it could well be the greatest archaeological exploration of the century, no Chinese government has ever allowed the tomb to be opened. Why? That intrigued me. The terracotta warriors are another facet of Qin Shi’s tomb, one that is equally perplexing, one that I could not resist including. It’s a sweeping tale that will take the reader from Denmark to Belgium to Vietnam, then on to China.”
Your thoughts on The Paris Vendetta.
“Napoleon was the driving force behind The Paris Vendetta. He’s fascinating, polarising, even today, nearly 200 years after his death. Only Jesus Christ has had more books written about him - which is pretty amazing. His second exile is particularly interesting. Here was a man who’d attempted to conquer Europe and Russia. He’d wrought total havoc. Millions had died. When finally stopped, he was simply exiled to Elba, but he escaped and tried to do it all over again. Then the Allied powers sent him to St. Helena, a desolate island off the African coast. Why didn’t they just kill him? Historians say that making him a martyr would have been the worst thing possible. Even in defeat, Napoleon commanded a great popular respect. But you have to wonder. Why banish him to a rock in the Atlantic Ocean, isolating him for five years, until he dies of natural causes? Was there a treasure Napoleon concealed - part of the spoils that he skimmed off his massive plunder? Wealth that the Allied powers, especially Britain, wanted back? Many believe so but, in the end, he took whatever secrets he harboured to his grave. Or did he? That’s what makes for a great novel.”
What prompted you to start blogging and to what extent has it succeeded as a forum for interacting with your fans and well-wishers?
“We created a blog so that we could connect with the fans in a more direct and immediate way. I have to confess that I have not, as yet, used this forum to its maximum potential but that is something we plan to remedy in the near future. Facebook has also proven a great way to connect. I have a Facebook fan page that grows by the day. We’ve posted photos, videos, and many reports from the field. The website itself, www.steveberry.org, remains the main way we keep in touch though.”
How do you feel about The Charlemagne Pursuit being shortlisted for the eDunnit award? Do you feel advancements in technology (e books etc.) will gradually diminish the demand for actual books?
“Being shortlisted for the eDunnit award is pretty cool. I don’t often get nominated for awards. E-books are a growing commodity. Millions of people have decided that to be their preferred delivery system for reading. I’ve seen a great increase in the number of my e-book sales over the past two years. They certainly are not, as yet, replacing the traditional book, but they are definitely supplementing it.”
Have you travelled to any country in the Middle East? Would you consider, in the future, writing a novel based in the Middle East?
“I would love to explore the Middle East. I am, myself, half-Lebanese, and would love to see Lebanon. I touched on the Middle East in The Alexandria Link and I plan to use the region again in the 2012 story.”
Oman Tribune
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