Interview Barengaria Brown

CTR: Our next guest is Berengaria Brown. First, please give us a bit of information about the book or books you’re sharing today. At least ISBN, Publisher and buy link please! Also the genre and heat level if applicable.

BB: “Lady Caroline’s Reward” by Berengaria Brown. Coming from Torquere Press on 6 November.
http://www.torquerepress.com/
This is an erotic lesbian story, a Regency-set historical.

CTR: What is your favorite historical period or region and why? Did you enjoy history while you were in school or was it frankly boring? How would you suggest we teach history to kids now—(i.e.) can fiction maybe be a tool here? Do you think we can and should learn from the past or is it now irrelevant to modern times and issues?

BB: I loved history in school and have always enjoyed reading history text books, and biographies as well as historical fiction. Likely my favorite era is Regency England, thanks to an addiction to Georgette Heyer developed in my early teenage years, but I also enjoy medieval. One of the first biographies I read was of Queen Elizabeth I of England and I developed, and have maintained, a great deal of admiration for her.
People and what motivates them don’t change, but the means by which they achieve their ambitions may change. I think kids enjoy history more when they hear the stories of the people. Learning the dates of battles may be boring but hearing about the people who lived through those battles is more engaging.

CTR: Do you think historical accuracy is important in fiction? How about the use of modern speech and politically correct ideas instead of those that faithfully portray the period? Do you find this good, bad, a necessary evil or something you shun?

BB: Factual accuracy is essential. People did not know about germs, microscopes and antibiotics had not been invented. They would never have sterilized the wounds. But your hero can fall into a river and wash off the dirt that way. Politically correct is a bit different. You do need to be correct to the ideas of the times. For example “bloody” was not used as a swear word as it was considered a reference to menstruation – something that was never discussed. The farther back in history you go though, the more difficult it is to use the correct language as we have lost the words or their meanings have changed. But I consider it very important not to use a concept that was not yet understood. No psychology in medieval times, but you heroine may be considered mad or a witch.

CTR: Can you share a favorite author and title that perhaps inspired you to write in the historical genre?

BB: Georgette Heyer. Any of her Regencies. She is the epitome of the era for me.

CTR: If there was such a thing as a time machine where would be the first place you would go once you had a ticket to ride? Do you think you’d want to stay or just look around and then come right back to today?

BB: I would like to go to the Court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. I was a very exciting time historically and she was an incredibly powerful ruler.
But I would likely miss not having bathrooms and heating or air conditioning and come home after a little while – in winter of not before.

CTR: Where can our readers find out more about you and your writing? Please share your web site, social network pages, blogs or any other contact areas you maintain

BB: I update my blog several times a week: http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/
Website: http://berengariabrown.webs.com/
Friend me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter

CTR: Thanks for being part of our November event and please come back whenever you have a book to share that fits the theme or just to visit with us!!

BB: Thank you for inviting me over to play!