Interview with Christine Trent
1. What will you be talking about at the conference?
In addition to participating on the “Killing Time: Death Comes to Every Era” panel on historical mysteries and thrillers, I am doing a Koffee Klatch entitled “Death Becomes Her: The Weird and Wonderful World of Victorian Funerals.”
2. What inspired you to come up with this topic?
The heroine of my historical mystery series, Lady of Ashes, is a Victorian undertaker. Other than having a vague understanding of the Victorians braiding dead people’s hair and endlessly wearing black, I really knew nothing about their customs and the reasons behind them. Once I had delved into this fascinating world, I knew I wanted to share it with others.
3. What other panels or events are you looking forward to seeing at the conference?
I am so excited about the conference that I literally printed out the entire conference program from the web site the day registration opened and highlighted everything I want to do. Alas, much of it overlaps. If I had to pick, say, three sessions I am most excited about, they would probably be:
Imagining the American Revolutionary Era (I have a revolutionary era series kicking around in my head.)
Author Collaboration: Writing & Promoting as a Team (I’m contracted for my very first anthology; with C.S. Harris, Anna Lee Huber, and Susanna Kearsley.)
Hooch Through History: From Mead to Martinis (In my latest book, I had my heroine try absinthe. Now I want to see if I described it properly!)
4. Who are you looking most forward to seeing at the conference?
Can I pick 3 again? Leslie Carroll, Margaret George, and Jenny Quinlan.
5. What are you most looking forward to doing in Portland?
Meeting up for dinner with a romance writer friend who lives in Portland, whom I haven’t seen in several years.
6. If you could bring any three historical figures with you to a deserted island, who would you bring and why?
This time you offered me 3 choices, thank you. J
The Apostle Paul
Queen Elizabeth I
George Washington
All three exhibited amazing bravery and daring, and navigated through very dangerous political times (one not quite so successfully). Not only would they have fascinating stories to tell me on the island while I try not to talk to the soccer ball, they could help me be brave in the face of being stranded in the worst place in the world. I hate sand.