YA Historical Fiction Month: Susan Coventry Interview and Giveaway!

1. What was your inspiration to write The Queen's Daughter? Why Joan of England?

I’m really passionate about historical fiction, so there was never any serious question of me writing anything else. I wanted to write a medieval adventure novel about the crusade against the Cathar heretics in Southern France. As I was researching and writing that book, I fell in love with the tragic southern leader, Count Raymond VI of Toulouse. But I got sidetracked when I discovered that before the war, Raymond had been married to Eleanor of Aquitaine’s daughter. I was familiar enough with Eleanor and her sons to know that being her daughter must have been a big deal. How did the count of Toulouse end up with such a prize? So I started researching Joan. And the more information I dug up, the more I was hooked. How unfair that her mother and brothers hogged all the limelight! Joan had a fascinating life -- she deserved to have her story told.

2. Did you have to do a lot of research while/before writing?

Yes. I did a lot of research before and kept researching the whole time. In fact, research is a great cure for and enabler of writer’s block. It was difficult to find much specific information about Joan, but there is a wealth of information about the time period and it’s so interesting and complex. Whenever I had trouble writing, I would just read and read and read.

3. In what ways do you relate to Joan?

My first disclaimer is MY MOTHER IS WONDERFUL!!!! So in the most basic ways, I can’t relate to Joan at all. She had a horrible childhood. Her family was torn apart, violently, by ambition, distrust, and greed for power. And she was sent away to marry a stranger before she was even teenaged. It’s hard for any suburban twentieth (twenty-first?) century American girl to relate to that. But Joan tried to stay true to her own inner values even while being loyal to the people she loved. And I think that even when she was attempting to be as tough as her mother, Joan was inherently kind. She treated people nicely. I can’t say that I always do that, but it’s what I want to do.

4. What are some of your favorite YA historical fiction novels?

I love Jude Watson/Judy Blundell’s writing, so What I Saw and How I Lied is one of my favorites even though it isn’t medieval. And I absolutely can’t get enough of Gerald Morris’s The Squire’s Tales series.

5. If you could travel back to any time period where would it be?

I would love to visit the middle ages, around 1200, but only for a couple of days. Times were too tough back then. If I had to live in the past, I might pick the Colonial period.

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Thanks so much, Susan!

The Queen's Daughter is an AMAZING book, be sure to check out my review here

Also, for more info on Susan visit her website.

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GIVEAWAY

I have a signed copy of The Queen's Daughter to giveaway to one lucky winner!

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