FAQs

I am concentrating on Albia. I keep an open mind on Falco and Helena. To begin with I kept them out of the way for various reasons, not least that I wouldn’t let them take over. Now they are appearing, as the slightly ludicrous parents and I think seeing them from a different perspective is enough.

Of course if I ever felt inspired to write another, I could do – whatever I might have said previously… But the double series has been called ‘the Falco Universe’, as if it is one bonded entity, and that suits me.

Sorry but no.

• Mad map hobbyists will find the version of ancient Rome that I often use reproduced in Falco: the Official Companion. Buy that!
• Maps have to work at small paperback size
• I believe a novel should contain everything necessary in the text
• I get sick of pedants pointing out mistakes
• Many places are invented by me and I have no real idea where they are located.

I have no plans to do so. Albia has now filled in plenty of gaps.

There are two reasons why I shall probably not write a prequel about Falco and Petro. Firstly, I couldn’t have Helena in it, as Falco definitely meets her in The Silver Pigs.

And then, if what this disreputable pair say about their army career is all true, then I’d be ashamed of them! I prefer not to know whether they were bad boys, or very shy, or just normal insignificant recruits with unformed characters, whose story is in truth not very interesting.

However, the subject may come up. It may even come up in Albia, book 15.

Domitian cleared the informers from the Saepta Julia (so, in fact, did Titus) and of course there is enmity between him and Falco. But Falco has spent a lifetime escaping from difficulties. Perhaps it will be time for him to retire to obscurity (that means Britain). Perhaps it will even be time for me to retire!

See Vesuvius by Night and There will be Bodies.

All these subjects are covered in Falco: The Official Companion

No.

This is not my job. If it is good, send it straight to an agent. Evaluation is their job.

Note: If your work is just plain unoriginal, don’t despair. Publishers love what they already know.

No.

I never review novels that are set in the ancient world. (Nor ones without women characters or a sense of humour, nor books that do have cats, magical realism, time slips, the supernatural, psychiatry, religion, or Birmingham only you can’t tell that it’s Birmingham).

No, no, no.

You don’t realise how many manuscripts I am asked to look at – or how ghastly most are.

I am sorry to sound ruthless, but brutality is what you must expect from agents and editors – and me. Getting a novel published is very, very hard.