For her research for her latest book, Utah author Jennifer A. Nielsen traveled to Rome so she could more accurately portray the places and events she writes about in “Mark of the Thief" (Scholastic, $17.99, ages 10 and up), the first book of the Praetor War series, set to be released Feb. 24.
“I really wanted to get it right historically. I went to Rome and I spent time in the places that I talk about in the book,” Nielsen said in an interview with the Deseret News. “It’s one thing to read about it in books or online; it is another thing to stand on the floor of the Colosseum and get a feeling for what it must have been like to be a gladiator standing there.”
"Mark of the Thief" centers around how the great Roman emperor Julius Caesar often told people he was the demigod son of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and fertility, and what would happen if that were true.
In Nielsen's novel for middle grade readers, Nic is a slave working in the mines outside of Rome. When a Roman senator orders him into a dangerous cave to retrieve a medallion that belonged to Julius Caesar and is rumored to hold unimaginable power, Nic gets much more than he bargained for.
While retrieving the medallion, Nic decides to keep it for himself, unknowingly giving himself power that no mortal was meant to have. With pure intentions, he sets out to free himself and his little sister but gets caught up in a wicked conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Empire.
Historical details play a part throughout the story. At one point in particular, Nic notices that the color of the sand in the Colosseum has changed since the last time he was there. This is something that the ancient Romans really did; the color of the sand was changed depending on the event.
“Something as minuscule as that little detail, those were things I wanted to bring into the book so that a reader could almost feel like they were walking into ancient Rome,” said Nielsen, who is the author of seven other books for middle grade readers, including "The False Prince," which was on the New York Times' best-seller list for children's middle grade books.
When she writes, Nielsen says, she starts out with a general outline and end in mind but ultimately lets art take over.
“That being said, things happen along the journey that aren’t really expected, and I think that it is really important artistically to respond to those and let the characters become who they want to become,” Nielsen said. “I follow my outline, but it’s not written in stone. I’m always listening for ways to make it better.”
On advice for budding authors, Nielsen said, “Don’t write for who your reader is. Write for what your reader wants to be.”
Nielsen lives in Morgan, Utah, with her husband and three children. She says her family is incredibly supportive in all of her writing pursuits and that she couldn’t do this without them.
“To my family, all of the things that are happening to me are all really strange, for all of us. Ultimately, I’m just mom,” Nielsen said. “To them, I could have major news and they are still wondering what is for dinner.”
Some items on Nielsen’s bucket list are seeing her books made into movies and living in New Zealand.
“I’m all about the bucket list,” she said. “I would love to be in public one day and see someone reading my book. I think that would be so ridiculously cool.”
"Mark of the Thief" includes twists at every turn and a gripping cliffhanger ending. Nielsen is currently working on the sequel, which is set to come out around February 2016. The second book will take Nic to the chariot races in Circus Maximus.
“It will be even more dangerous and even more exciting,” Nielsen said. “I love book two.”
“Mark of the Thief” is for readers age 10 and up and has no profane language. Although there are some violent elements, they are not descriptive, and there is no sexual content.
If you go ...
What: Jennifer Nielsen book signing and "Mark of the Thief" launch party
When: Saturday, Feb. 28, 4-5:30 p.m.
Where: Provo City Library, 550 N. University Ave., Provo
Web: provolibrary.com, jennielsen.com
Email: mswensen@deseretnews.com