Laura:
Sushi. Definitely. Yum!
SASSE:
I’m going to serve up a California roll for myself, with a side of ginger
dressing instead of soy sauce. While you’re digging in, tell the readers a
little about yourself. If you were not a romance writer, what would be your
creative outlet?
Laura:
If I didn’t write, I would draw. I enjoy sketching flora and fauna. I’ve also
done a number of portraits from photos for pay.
SASSE:
I’ve read other historical books by you and you’re a fantastic author, so I am
really look forward to reading Lady of
the Imperial City. How did your muse convince you to travel to Asia in your
mind? What sparked this story to life?
Laura:
Thank you for your kind words. I lived in Japan for three years and have been
wanting to write Japanese historical fiction for a long time now. I did an extensive
study of Heian high society and, as an enthusiastic reader of Regency Romance,
was struck by the similarities between Regency England and Heian Japan in terms
of society and attitude. Between the research and writing and revisions, this
book was three years in the making. I consider it a masterpiece.
SASSE:
Tell us about Lady Kirei. Who was your inspiration for crafting this character?
Laura:
Lady Kirei is fashioned after an actual lady-in-waiting from this time period.
Lady Murasaki wrote a famous novel, The Tale of Genji, which can be purchased
in bookstores to this very day. You may also purchase and read The Diary of
Lady Murasaki. She fascinated me because despite the fact that she was born
into one of the finest bloodlines and the empress considered her a favorite,
her country upbringing relegated her to second-class citizen. I explore what
this meant to such a woman by placing my heroine, Lady Kirei, in the same
circumstance.
SASSE: If you had to pic and actor to play Yūkan,
who would it be? Share your hero with us.
Laura:
Huh. I had never considered matching
Yūkan to an actor. If pressed, I’d have to choose Jin Akanishi. My hero, like
my heroine, is born into the best bloodline and soon becomes a favorite of the
emperor. His country upbringing and the fact that he worked to build his
family’s wealth, make him undesirable in the eyes of the imperial city’s elite.
He comes to the city to pave the way for his younger brother’s success, not
with a mind to finding love. One look at the fine eyes of Lady Kirei, however,
has him pausing in his focus.
SASSE:
If a reader hasn’t really been into Asian romance, what movie would you suggest
they watch to get them into a similar mood and understand of the culture and Lady of the Imperial City?
Laura:
There aren’t many movies that depict life in high society at that time,
unfortunately. There are some movies set in that era, but they focus on the
discrimination against Korean immigrants into Japan or the beginning rise of
the military class that takes rule later in the seventeenth century. There are
some Anime that offer a glimpse into the elite society of Heian’s imperial city
of Kyō. One is Chouyaku Hyakunin Isshu: Uta Koi, which is basically thirteen
episodes of enacted poems written during the Heian period.
SASSE:
Can you offer the readers a short sneak peak of the story?
Laura:
Absolutely! Here’s an excerpt.
Lamplight created punctuated bright points against the
orange glow of dusk along the wall surrounding the Fujiwara estate. At a line
in the sky where brush-stroked clouds floated in stark contrast to gray
nothingness beyond, a flock of birds silently crossed. Behind the distant peaks
of Mount Hiei, cloud cover in coral hues bled finally into crimson against a
purple dome.
On the veranda outside the mansion’s main entrance, her
uncle assessed Kirei’s hair and attire. “I approve.”
She guessed he might not be so pleased were he to see her
next to her resplendent cousin. Adjusting her fan a bit higher, she took in his
beige silk decorated with a five-sided blue medallion print. He rarely dressed
in such finery. In fact, she tried to recall when she had last seen him in
anything but his robes of office.
“You’ll surely win Prince Hansamu’s heart.” He gestured to a
servant who ran to the mansion’s wall gate and threw it open. On the busy
Fourth Ward street beyond, an ox-pulled carriage appeared in the gateway.
“Ojisan, Prince Hansamu’s heart is fickle. I could only
attract his favor for a short time. He has a wife and two consorts, none of
whom he beds any longer. Is that what you want for me? A master who’ll ignore
me? Leave me to rot while he spends his nights in other women’s beds?” She
flicked her fan in agitation.
His eyes shifted to his waiting carriage, and he cleared his
throat. “That’s not something you should concern yourself about.”
She glanced at his lighted conveyance, and it dawned on her
where he headed. He was on his way to another woman’s bed. “Is this my
future? Is this what I have to look forward to?”
He turned his back and accepted a wrapped gift from a
servant who joined them on the mansion’s north veranda. Was that present bound
for the hands of his lover? “Your only concern, Niece, should be in making the
very best political and financial match. Do your family proud and bring us
honor in choosing wisely. Once you’re bound, worry about being the very best
companion. The very best mother. What your master does is his business.”
The temperature had steadily dropped over the past hour, and
into the cold evening, he strode down a set of steps. He offered a wave over
his shoulder without turning then passed out of the north gate.
She didn’t miss how he hadn’t given her a chance to reply.
Frustration burned at the bottom of her stomach. She couldn’t hate him,
however. He simply expressed what everyone seemed to believe. Everyone but her.
She didn’t move as he climbed in, causing the carriage to
sway upon its large wheels. He cast her a final stern look out his window then
gave the driver a curt wave. In seconds, he had disappeared amidst the flow of
other carriages.
Before she turned to go collect Amai from her room, Kirei
felt a draw. Tiny prickles dotted her nape, and hairs on her arms tried to
stand on end under the weight of her eight layers of fabric. Lowering her fan,
she searched the street for its source. Would she spy a ghost, or worse?
A carriage more elegant than her uncle’s approached in the
sea of conveyances. It stood out because it was drawn by a horse and its driver
sat on a seat near the roof rather than walking ahead. It slowed. Its black
lacquered finish gleamed in the glow of torches lining the thoroughfare. Yellow
light spilled from the carriage’s lush interior.
She held her breath. Who rode inside? The horse blatantly
proclaimed him a foreigner. The good people of town would never have
anything but proper oxen pull their carriages. Why did she care? And why
couldn’t she take her eyes from it?
A man leaned forward and captured her gaze. The carriage’s
window framed his square, masculine face. In her year in Kyō, she had never
seen him, yet he was obviously a man of great riches. Was he a visitor from
China? From Korea?
He wore his hair long, the black length smoothed into a high
ponytail and reflecting lantern light rather than in a topknot hidden under a
hat. His lips held no rouge yet had nice color and a fine, bow shape. He wore
no cream or powder to lighten his skin tone, yet his brown hue didn’t offend her.
On the contrary, it lent added strength to the power he exuded.
His spell held her enthralled until
his carriage continued along the avenue and his black stare broke. She blinked.
Too late, she realized she’d lowered her fan. He’d seen her face.
SASSE:
I would like to thank you for the time to sit and chat. Keep up the excellent
writing work!
Laura:
Thank you so much for this chance to share my story, Lady of the Imperial City.
If you enjoy this book, please look for my next Japanese historical fiction,
Lady of the Bridge. Lady of the Bridge is the tale of a samurai and a warrior
princess in seventeenth century Japan and is due to release in September 2015.
Connect with Laura Kitchell!
Website: https://www.laurakitchell.com
FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurakitchellbooks
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