Mask of Romulus follows an oracle whose visions lead her into the midst of the politics of two powerful civilizations. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The impetus to bring India and Rome together started with news of an archeological find in Pompeii. The report chronicled how a statue of Lakshmi was found in the ashes. I was not aware of the cross-pollination between these societies. I started to do some research, which led to Suetonius documenting how an embassy from India reached Augustus vacationing on the island of Samos in 21 B.C. I could not resist asking myself, who were these travelers from India, what was their mission or what did they hope to achieve? What were their lives before and after? How was Augustus impacted? Who was he before and after? The creative license to answer these questions inspired me to weave a narrative between the known facts and create the hidden, untold story of this pivotal woman, Kamala.

What intrigues you about this time period enough to write such a epic period piece?

I have ancestral ties to the Italian, Dalmatia and Balkan regions. I suppose that explains part of the passion. The discovery of that statue certainly sparked my interest and intrigue. The mysteries and missing bits in the chronicles of time that experts have spent their entire careers attempting to discover or explain only added to my creative fervor. There was something there to be told, my heart said. However, while it is fascinating to consider the absolute vastness of all things Roman Empire, that fascination is shared by so many authors that in my mind I was also intimidated to even try.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

As I was doing my research, it occurred to me I could potentially differentiate my telling of the age of Augustus from other works covering this period by not creating a biography of Augustus, following his many feats and political maneuvers, but rather highlight specific ones as landmarks on his journey as a man. How worried was he about his legacy, what insecurities, what frustrations did he feel? The same holds for Kamala, the oracle from India. What a terrifying journey! Would her Buddhist faith be a calming influence? How would her religious and spiritual practices be challenged or accepted by Roman society? Someone owned a statue of the Goddess Lakshmi in Pompeii, so part of her faith most also be accepted in Roman culture of that time. Exploring these questions was more interesting to me as a writer than having an emphasis on one specific event or specific people, whether exploring the dire love of Marc Antony, Cleopatra, or the acts of bravery and stoicism during a specific battle or revolt. I wanted to delve into the psyche and emotions of the characters, to unpack their fears and ambitions, their strengths and weaknesses. In the end, the main themes of destiny, fate, personal philosophies and the role of spirituality are intended to fill each page with meaning, insight, and perhaps wisdom we can use for ourselves in our lives now.

What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?

My next book is centered on the 1921 assassination of the first elected president of the post-WW I newly formed Poland, the man who did it, and the Polish diplomat working as a double agent for the Russians that groomed the assassin into carrying it out. The book will be telling the story of the double agent, exploring his life and motivations through the lenses of societal shifts, family drama, political ambitions, conspiracy theories, and a missing Fabergé egg. It will be another sweeping saga, spanning the century 1850 – 1950. I am targeting late 2027 for that release.

I am also working on a graphic novel adaptation of my first book, The Road to Moresco. I hope to have that available in 2026.

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