Monday, October 8, 2012

Anne Boleyn

As many of you know, a couple of weeks ago, Jaime Arnold over at Two Chicks on Books announced that Book 2 will be titled TARNISH and will be narrated by a young Anne Boleyn.  Jaime asks fabulous questions, so if you're interested in knowing a little more, please see the whole interview here.

One thing Jaime didn't ask was why?  Why Anne Boleyn?  If anything, I'm treading over already well-trodden ground with this character.  The number of biographies (by such greats as Eric Ives and Alison Weir) and historical novels (The Other Boleyn Girl, anyone? Not to mention the amazing Hilary Mantel) are daunting.  Plus innumerable extensive chapters in every history of Tudor times, from Starkey's Six Wives to books solely about Anne's daughter Elizabeth.  We know all of this already, don't we?

The decision was a daunting one.  Anne is iconic.  She fascinates - her charisma transcends 450 years.  It's not just the tragedy of her story that captures the imagination - not like Romeo and Juliet.  I believe it's her strength.  She was an opinionated, outspoken woman in a time when women were meant to be seen and not heard.  In a time when even queens (including Mary I) believed they should be ruled by their husbands, Anne Boleyn believed in telling her husband exactly what she thought - and sometimes disagreed with him when he did the same.  So not only would I be fictionalizing the life of a beloved figure, I had to be true to her spirit. (kind of like Michelle Williams playing Marilyn Monroe or Katie Holmes playing Jackie Kennedy).

I have to admit, I was afraid.  I never intended to write a book about Anne.  But on a long drive one day, a voice came to me.  Not a Joan of Arc, "the saints are speaking to me" kind of voice.  But a fictional voice.  A strong, opinionated, snarky, emotional, teenaged voice.  The voice of a girl who speaks without thinking - often ending in regrets.  A girl who can love, but is afraid of it.  A girl who doesn't fit in, who isn't well-liked, but is, ultimately, likable.  Even lovable.  And once I started thinking in that voice, it wouldn't let me go.

I wanted to write a book about a girl who could become the tragic, iconic, lovable-hatable figure history has handed us.  And in the process, I, too, fell under her spell.

I'm still afraid.  I hope I do Anne's character justice.  I hope the other Anne Boleyn fans out there agree with my portrayal.  I hope, above all things, that I get it right.  Because I think she deserves it.

14 comments:

  1. After this post I am eve more excited to read Tarnish. Your strong desire to "do it right" and make sure you created an authentic voice for Anne makes me glad you decided to write about her. I can't wait to read this book!

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    1. Thank you, Kathy! And I can't wait to hear what you think!

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  2. I personally, can never get enough Anne. I love that your doing her youth and while her tragic ending will always be in our minds, adding to the suspense and tension, I know that you can make us believe that her outcome could be anything she wished it to be.

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    1. Thank you for your faith in me, Leigh! I've absolutely fallen in love with Anne, myself - her story is so potent. I'm glad you're looking forward to more!

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  3. If anyone can get her right, you can!

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    1. I second that. Yes, Anne deserves the best. And I know you'll do it brilliantly!

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  4. Having seen what you did with Gilt, I know you can make this a very interesting story. Anne is such a fascinating and divisive character. How much did she manipulate, and how much was she manipulated? I'm looking forward to seeing your take on it! (And it will be nice to see a younger Henry too)

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    1. Thank you, Maryanne! (and I admit, it was a LOT of fun writing a younger Henry...)

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  5. As someone who is also treading on much-trodden ground with a Big Historical Figure--Mary, Queen of Scots--I understand your drive and applaud you. The key to keeping things fresh is giving new dimension to a frequently portrayed figure. I can see you know that.

    I'll look forward to Tarnish.
    Best,
    Geri

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    1. I love Mary, too, Geri! Another strong, complex historical woman. And another that intrigues readers enough that they will continue to seek out books about her for a long time to come. Best of luck with her!

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  6. I had a feeling Book 2 would have something to do with Anne Boleyn! But I'm guessing it takes place way before she hooks up with Henry, am I right?

    I'm so excited to read it, especially since Anne (with all due respect to Cat) had a lot more substance, for all her bitchiness.

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    1. I'm so glad you're excited! And that's really one of the delights of writing fiction - being able to get deep into a broad variety of characters. It was very fun to write someone so very different!

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  7. Katy, I have so much faith in you that you will do Anne's character justice. You blew us away with Gilt and I have no doubt that you'll do it again with Tarnish. ♥

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