What is it about the
Tudor Dynasty that still keeps people fascinated after all of these years?
I think it's the high drama of it all. The stakes were high, people were beheaded or
burned to death at whim, but their children may go on to rule a nation. The fact that Henry kept killing his wives,
either passively (Katherine of Aragon) or actively (Anne Boleyn and Katherine
Howard) is shocking, as it should be.
But there were also love stories entwined, forbidden and unfulfilled
love, such as that between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, and that keeps our
attention, too. The fact that Henry had
Anne killed mainly because she did not produce a son, but then their daughter
became one of England's greatest monarchs, is a delightful irony. It's a family saga, really. Most of us enjoy those.
What is the most
interesting thing you discovered during the course of your research for your
books?
There are so many interesting things for history nerds to
discover that I don't think I can choose just one. I would point out that we in the 21C are
often horrified that fathers "pushed" their daughters into loveless
marriages, and we see that as fathers climbing socially using their children as
step stools. But really, that's what
good parents did. They arranged
marriages that were advantageous either financially or dynastically, or both,
and in that way pushed the family ahead.
There was a great sense of stewardship for your family, especially
middle class gentry and higher. Although
we don't use the same means today, parents still sacrifice so that their
progeny can do better than they did.
What inspired the
Ladies In Waiting Series?
I wanted to know the women behind the gowns and the crowns, and that was my motivating
factor. To learn about the queens from a
friend - not a servant, who would be too low born to hear secrets or be on
scene in decisive moments, but not from an enemy, either, who would be
predisposed to look at things from a negative point of view. The ladies in waiting were really the queens'
very closest friends, especially those that they appointed to be nearest to
them. When a person finds herself in
perilous positions, as all of these queens did, who her friends were and how
they helped and viewed her mattered. Seeing events from the ladies' eyes helped
me to peer into the hearts of the queens.
What member of the
Tudors would you have most liked to have known?
I truly love all three of the queens I wrote about. I loved Anne's spark, and her daring, and
that she knew she wasn't conventionally beautiful but didn't let it stand in
her way. I admire Parr's motherliness
and steadfast faith, as well as the fact that she was a writer! And Elizabeth
I, though I would have been intimidated by her, for sure, I would have loved to
at least watched her in action. I had a
portrait of her hanging in my office as I wrote this book, and I felt the
pressure to get her story right!
What member of the
royal family, past or present would you like to sit down to tea with and why?
I admire QE II very much for the steady way she carries on,
for her sense of duty, and for her groundedness. She serves and never diminishes the royal
quality, but she also seems to have a sense of humor. I like Prince William because he has both a
royal and a common touch. And he chose
his wife well, I think. :)
What is the best book
you've read recently?
Oh, I'm writing fiction now so that means I'm only reading
nonfiction. I'm spending time in the
Oxford Dictionary online, which is fascinating, it really is. I was looking up the phrase Snake in the
Grass the other day and found out it originated with Virgil and then became
widely used in English in the 17C, and there was even a series of sermons
written on it. Where else can you find juicy information like that?
Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. Her second book, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, illuminates the mysteries in the life of Henry's last wife.
For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children. For more Tudor tidbits, please visit www.sandrabyrd.com. Follow Sandra Byrd on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
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