Longsword: Edward and the Assassin follows an orphan who after saving a prince becomes a trusted member of the Prince’s men and heads on a journey to find a powerful healer. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?

My son, actually.

I’ve found that 7-year-old boys, besides playing with knight figures, really like a game that is backed up with a good story. Especially if it’s based on a real one.

Thanks to my history and literature teachers, I’ve kept my interest in the subject. I had just read an article about the most famous assassination attempts in history, and I shared Edward’s story with my son and he started > What happened next?

It became a good bedtime story.

Being a historical fiction novel, how much research did you undertake for this book and how much time did it take to put it all together?

It took me a year to complete the book and a year to research and gather material.

For me, I found that I actually enjoyed the research process a lot and sometimes you can get pretty bogged down and lost in the subject you’re looking for. All I needed sometimes was a book, warm socks and the sound of the rain on the windows makes you forget about everything else.

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

The different classes, their roles and motivations.

One day my son asked me what the word orphan meant, which he had heard from somewhere.

It’s hard to explain to a child what an orphan is, and how a child can grow up without parents. For this reason, my son and I decided the main character was an orphan.

And last but not least, one of the most important themes is that even a hero with a different origin can be brave and decide other men’s fates.

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

I am currently working on the next book about the adventures of Peter and his friends.

I hope to have it ready for publication by the end of the year.

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