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Author interview with Robert Fabbri

Author interview with Robert Fabbri

In my search to find more interesting read I came across the books of Robert Fabbri and his Vespasian series. I have always enjoyed a good Roman fiction story and his series proves to be just that. Telling the tale of young Titus Flavius Vespasianus and his rise through the ranks in the military. But what makes this series quite different is that it started of in a way that I haven't seen before, from the birth of Vespasianus, and hereby Robert Fabbri gives this story quite a unique and most interesting start, and showed Vespasianus in a more than relatable way when he had his hardships. So far I have read the first book and I am hooked so far. It has great references to the Rome of old, the political intrigue and backstabbing that you know and above all some magnificent large and small scale battles.   

So far the series consists of four books:Tribune of Rome published 2011, Rome's Executioner published 2012, False God of Rome published last January 2013, and soon to come Rome's Fallen Eagle this January 2014. but if you continue reading you know that Robert Fabbri has a lot more in store for you!

Author bio:
Robert Fabbri was born in Geneva in 1961. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital School, Horsham and London University. He worked for twenty-five years as an assistant director in the film and television industries.

Having had his fair share of long, cold nights standing in the rain in muddy fields and unbearably hot days in deserts or stuffy sound stages he decided to start writing.

Being a life-long ancient war-gamer with a collection of over 3,500 hand-painted 25mm lead soldiers and a lover of Roman Historical Fiction the subject matter was obvious.

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Hi Robert, welcome to The Book Plank and for taking you time to answer these few questions.

BP: First off, could you give us a short introduction of who Robert is? What do you like to do when not writing, your likes/dislikes?
RF: I started writing five years ago to escape from my old career. Writing now takes up nearly all of my time. When I’m not working I read, watch films, travel, drink Merlot and sleep very well.

BP: Writing a book is hard, but perhaps writing a story based on history and fiction can be even harder. When and why did you decide that you wanted to write Roman fiction?
RF: In the sleeve notes for Under the Eagle by Simon Scarrow it said that “Simon decided to write the sort of book that he would want to read”. That struck a chord with me back in 1999 as I was looking for a change of career. I thought about it, researched various ideas and then sat down at the kitchen table at 1100 on 8th February 2008 and started.

BP: After getting experience with your debut Tribune of Rome, have you been able to use anything you learned in writing it in your subsequent books?
RF: I know that I’m my harshest critic so I make sure that I’m always looking over my shoulder as I write, to check that I’m not boring myself and not repeating myself.



BP: The Vespasian series currently stands at three books with the fourth one to be published in January 2014, has the series turned out the way that you wanted it to be? Or would you, if you were given the chance, rewrite certain parts?
RF: So far it’s turned out roughly how I imagined it; nothing is ever going to be exactly as the writer plotted it because you can never allow for what your characters might do – they often turn left when you expect them to turn right! I don’t think that I would rewrite much if I had the chance; however there are some sentences here and there that could be tidier and perhaps the first couple of parts of book 1 could be tightened.

BP: The Roman history is rich in many magnificent characters. How did you decide that you wanted to focus your story on Titus Flavius Vespasianus? Had you considered other characters as well?
RF: To me Vespasian was always the outstanding subject but I did look at others. Vespasian’s life stands out because during his career he served in almost every part of the empire with the exception of Hispania.  Rome, Thrace, Cyrene, Germania, Britannia, Africa, Greece and Judaea each provide a different backdrop to successive books. The fact that he survived the reigns of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius – in the form of his wives and freedmen – and Nero and went on to win a civil war and become emperor is a feat in itself. I looked at his life and discovered that the story was already half-written; I just had to tie all the episodes together.



BP: In setting up the storyline in Tribune of Rome you started with Vespasian being a newly born. For me this gave a solid introduction to the story, but it is not often done. How did you come by starting of the story in this way?
RF: Suetonius makes much of the omens surrounding Vespasian’s birth so it seemed the obvious place to start: we know, or at least suspect, that he is destined to become emperor, the only person who is not in on the secret is Vespasian himself. It also gave me the chance to splatter blood over everyone as the three beasts are sacrificed and introduce the reader into my view of a world very different from ours.

BP: What has been so far your biggest challenge in writing the Vespasian series?
RF: Trying to make each book different, yet part of a series and yet a stand-alone book.

BP: Have you encountered any specific problems during your writing, had you have been on the point of not knowing how to continue?
RF: When I’m stuck I do two things: re-read the primary sources and then go to bed for a half hour nap. Nine times out of ten I’ve solved the problem by the time I wake up; if I haven’t then it’s back to bed.



BP: Writing about history can be quite a daunting task, especially if you want to keep certain facts straight. Did you have to do a lot of research for your series about certain events or Roman history in general?
RF: I’ve always read around the subject because of my interest in wargaming – I have 3500 25mm ancients. I read every day as part of my routine and always try and keep the story within the facts; I don’t believe in changing history, it’s Historical Fiction that I write not
Historical Fantasy. If a known historical fact doesn’t fit the plot then it’s not an inconvenient fact, it’s the wrong plot.

 BP: The Vespasian series is now counting four books; have you already thought about how many books the series will run? And can you tell a bit of what is in store for the reader?
RF: The series has grown since I started out; originally it was going to be six books, now it’s eight with the possibility – but not the promise – of nine. Book 4 deals with the death of Caligula and Claudius’ freedmen’s attempts to keep their master in power by giving him victory in Britannia. Book 5, Masters of Rome, which I finished in the summer, finds Vespasian in his last couple of years in Britannia facing the resistance of Caratacus and the cold menace of the Druids. He then returns to Rome to face malevolence of a different sort. I’m just about to start Book 6, Rome’s Lost Son, which starts off with Vespasian as Consul in AD 51, coincidently the year that Caratacus was brought in chains to Rome. After that nothing is known about Vespasian until he becomes the governor of Africa in AD 63, so the last two thirds of bk6 and the first half of 7 will be a completely fictional reconstruction of his missing years. Then we’ll be back on track with the Governorship of Africa, Nero’s tour of Greece and then the Jewish revolt. The final book will end soon after he becomes emperor.

BP: Are you currently working on other projects or are there other things you wish to pursue in the near future?
RF: At the moment I’m writing the third Magnus short story. I enjoyed writing the first two, The Crossroads Brotherhood and The Racing Factions, so much that I’ve decided to carry them on with The Dreams of Morpheus. I’m also writing a memoire of Arminius and when you read Rome’s Fallen Eagle you may understand why!

BP: and just lastly if you would have to recommend your 5 favourite books, which would they be?
RF: Julian, Gore Vidal
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, JRR Tolkien
The entire Aubrey and Maturin series because it essentially is one long book, Patrick O’Brian
The entire Flashman Papers, George Macdonald Fraser.
Rites of Passage, Close Quarters and Fire Down Below trilogy. William Golding
I Claudius and Claudius the God, Robert Graves – sorry, can’t count!

BP: Thank you for your time Robert and good luck with your future writing! I'll be looking forward to them!

Find out more about Robert Fabbri's writing at his website or connect with him on twitter: @RobertEFabbri

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