Featured Interview With Judith Starkston
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I write about the Trojan War and the Greeks set in what is modern Turkey, although back in the period of the Trojan War it was the western edges of the Hittite Empire. That’s a long way from Southern California where I grew up. As a child, I gobbled up books about pioneers on the American frontier–not nearly as far back into history as I’d eventually go. Now I live in Arizona, where my golden retriever Socrates ably assists me in writing by sleeping on my feet and keeping me in my chair.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
From my early fascination with pioneers, I moved on in college to classical literature and history. A group of young but inspiring professors hooked me on the ancient Greeks. After a career teaching works like Homer’s Iliad, I decided to write a novel to answer a question I’d been thinking about for years. In the tales about Troy, the captive woman Briseis falls in love with Achilles, the invincible Greek warrior, a half-immortal son of a goddess. He’s destroyed her city and killed her menfolk. No matter how godly he is, Briseis’s love just didn’t make sense to me–so I went digging. Quite literally, since much of the evidence for this intriguing woman comes from archaeology. And before you decide it’s some ancient Stockholm Syndrome, keep in mind Achilles is not only the best fighter, but the man who questions why they are fighting the war. No brainwashing here. The answer lay deeper in the psychology of Briseis. Read ‘Hand of Fire’ to find out who she is and what happened when she discovered her love for this famous hero–he doesn’t make it easy!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favorite genre is historical fiction. I’m deeply inspired by the Homeric poem, the Iliad, although no one needs to have read the Iliad to enjoy ‘Hand of Fire’. It’s my job to keep true to the tradition and bring you all the history and life of this exotic place and time–you get to sit back and enjoy the time machine and a fast-paced plot. Other authors I also love include Priscilla Royal, Kate Quinn, Sharon Kay Penman, Rebecca Cantrell, Ann Weisgarber and a host of others. Basically, my favorite reading experience is stepping effortlessly into the past with an author who knows both superb story-telling and her history.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Trojan War threatens Troy’s allies and the Greek supply raids spread. A young healing priestess, designated as future queen, must defend her city against both divine anger and invading Greeks. She finds strength in visions of a handsome warrior god. Will that be enough when the half-immortal Achilles attacks? Hand of Fire, a tale of resilience and hope, blends history and legend in the untold story of Achilles’s famous captive, Briseis.
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