Launch: Robert Bruton’s Empire in Apocalypse

INTERVIEW BY LESLIE S. LOWE

Robert Bruton is a former intelligence officer and overseas operative. He’s always had a passion for ancient civilizations, especially the Byzantine Empire, a special bond formed after spending several tours in the lands of the former eastern empire. Robert lives in Virginia with his wife and six children.

How would you describe this book and its themes in a couple of sentences?

This book is the story of the challenges Roman Emperor Justinian, General Belisarius, and their fascinating wives, Theodora and Antonina, encountered in holding together an empire facing barbarian invasions, court intrigue, a climate catastrophe, and bubonic plague during an energetic time that sought to revive the sagging fortunes.

What inspired you to start writing historical fiction, and what has been most rewarding about it?

I did my master’s thesis in history at Norwich University on the role that climate change played in the decline of the Roman Empire. During my research, I had my first exposure to Belisarius and was inspired by the strength of his character during his reconquest of parts of the Western Empire. The most rewarding part about writing the trilogy was getting inside Belisarius’s head to understand his point of view during the difficulties posed by war, a jealous emperor, and an unfaithful wife.

How is this latest novel different from Empire Resurgent: Belisarius and the Reconquest of the West? Is this a prequel to Empire Resurgent?

Empire Resurgent covers the period between 530 and 536 when the Roman Empire was making a remarkable comeback after a century of decline. Empire in Apocalypse covers the challenging period between 536, when a massive volcanic eruption caused a major climate catastrophe, record low temperatures, crop failures, and famine, and 542, when the world’s first global pandemic ravaged the population and claimed as much as half the Roman population.

Why the focus on this topic now? Is there a historical event you found in researching that inspired you to write this story to portray a key message for now?

In the twenty-first century, the planet is undergoing the most abrupt climate change since the mid-sixth century’s Little Ice Age, and we recently survived the worst global pandemic in a century. The rumored decline of the West and rise of the East as well as the recent civil unrest have alarming parallels in the Roman era. We can learn something of our own resilience by reading how Romans like Belisarius dealt with or failed to deal with these challenges.

How do the characters transform within the story, over the series? What did that journey mean to you as you wrote it?

Belisarius starts out as a true believer in Roman civilization, but after three decades of ceaseless wars and the accompanied destruction of people and culture, he becomes disillusioned with military conquest and longs for a quiet life with his family. His wife, Antonina, whose boredom during her husband’s campaigns prompts her to take on a lover, transforms herself from a lusty former courtesan to a devoted wife. I enjoyed watching their characters mature and grow in wisdom.

How do you think the reader will connect with Emperor Justinian and General Belisarius, or their wives, Theodora and Antonina in the book?

Readers who like strong, ambitious characters will identify with the two couples in the beginning, but may eventually come to loathe the petty jealousies and intrigue of the Emperor and Empress. Belisarius and Antonina, however, tend to grow on readers because of their willingness to endure all life’s challenges without a hint of resentment or disloyalty.

What are you working on now? Is it connected to this novel or your other work in any way?

I am currently working on another climate change thriller set at the same time but in the lands of the Mayans, who experienced the same climate catastrophe with an equally fatal impact on their civilization.

How did you balance the research with writing the story? Did you get to do any interesting interviews for your research?

Early drafts of the trilogy were more like an historical narrative than a novel as I tried to keep true to the history, but I eventually had to eliminate or combine many of the characters and events. Since all my characters are dead, there were few opportunities for interviews, but reading The Wars of Procopius and The Voyages of Saint Brendan the Navigatoroften made me feel like a participant in their ordeals.

You have a varied background as a former CIA intelligence officer with a couple of degrees in history. How have your life experiences been incorporated with or assisted you in your writing?

I lived, worked, or traveled in many of the places mentioned in the book, incorporated some of my experiences of eating and drinking at a Georgian table (for example) into the book, and made spy networks an important source for decision-making in Belisarius’s war council. For thirty years, I wrote intelligence reports for policy-makers but had to learn creative writing to complete these novels.

Every author has their own publishing journey. Tell me about yours.

My early manuscript read like a long, dull intelligence report, and I had to completely rewrite large parts because they failed to captivate readers. I worked with developmental editors for more than two years to create a book that I hope draws in readers into the fascinating period of the waning days of the Roman Empire. Once the books were completed, I had to get approval from CIA censors to publish and then find a publisher. I have been frustrated that the second book in the series came out before the first due to publishing delays, but my readers have been patient.

What advice would you give to other aspiring historical writers?

1. Read Stephen King’s book On Writing and Lisa Cron’s Story Genius before writing even an outline;
2. Remember that historical fiction allows you to write things that could be true even if they never actually happened.

What is the last great book you read? Why?

I just finished reading Flannery O’Connor’s Everything That Rises Must Converge. I love the way she presents characters who make bad decisions, are then offered opportunities for redemption, but whose deep character flaws prevent them from accepting that grace. The stories of Belisarius and Antonina as well as Justinian and Theodora offer similar lessons learned.