Don E. McGregor is a retired international school principal from New Zealand, now writing full-time. He lived and worked in China for seven years, as well as in New Zealand, the South Pacific, Scandinavia and the Middle East. Don enjoys international news, foreign travel and reading, especially history, and singing and playing his guitars. An ex-member of an Irish folk band, he appreciates all music in general. He has cruised locally and in Australia after completing a solo crossing of the Tasman Sea in his yacht, some years back. A former pilot, he is very interested in all aspects of aviation. Don lives on Great Barrier Island. Octavian’s Light is his seventh published novel. His other titles are: Merran, A Wistful Legacy, Phin, Billionaire Phin, Aisling’s Cloud, Invasion New Zealand 1942. Don talks to NZ Booklovers.
Tell us a little about Octavian's Light.
Octavian's Light is a novel wrapped around the astounding rise to absolute power of Octavian, who became Rome's first and greatest emperor, Augustus. He created the basic template that influenced the following hundreds of years of Roman imperial rule. At just eighteen years of age the teenager inherited two thirds of Julius Caesar's total estate when the dictator was suddenly assassinated. As the great man's nominated godson, he also inherited the name Caesar, which carried great prestige, along with sudden unbelievable wealth. All the older, more mature players in the power stakes did not take him seriously.
The novel brings to life the Roman world, showing how men women and children lived in those times, slavery at all levels is revealed. After gaining absolute power Octavian/Augustus ruled for over forty years, despite recurrent bouts of serious sickness, finally bringing peace and stability to that world.
All this is revealed through the eyes of slave artist Riccar and his women; Mischella, Oline and Mari, who had to fight against entrenched misogynistic attitudes. Rome prided itself on a rule of law but didn't always live up to the ideal! Octavian's Light Immerses the reader in this ancient age, increasing understanding of a fascinating period.
What inspired Octavian's Light?
I have always been fascinated by ancient history and the Romans in particular. They left so much behind; physically, but also many ideas, outlooks and concepts we use today. So much of our modern world has been influenced by Rome, a surprising number of words we use in English come from Latin, in many areas such as justice, education, medicine, government etc. To understand our world we should know and understand their world.
During my very extensive travels I have been always impressed with Roman ruins, the extent and enduring qualities of these, a surprising number have survived around two thousand years.
I have always wondered about the lives of the people who planned and built these -
the workers, craftsmen and engineers and their partners - but above all, the social system that provided the necessary background, engineering know-how, social stability and economics that enabled their construction. The sheer amount of human effort required is mind boggling to us machine and computer supported moderns!
When one considers how incredibly clumsy and slow transport and general communication was in those times, they certainly impacted their known world. Octavian's Light explains, in an easily readable way, the somewhat arrogant, can-do attitude of the Romans. They prided themselves on getting things done, regardless of human suffering at times.
The parallels with our modern world are so vast, they are quite disturbing: extreme militarism immigration, multi-cultural populations, income inequality, inflation, corruption, fake news, slavery, exploitation, overcrowding, political instability, religious...the list goes on and on.
What research was involved?
A lot of research was undertaken over many years. Experts in the Roman world's books were used. Adrian Goldsworthy was a major source: His Augustus, Caesar and the Complete Roman Army were really of value. Mary Beard's SPQR, Peter Jones' s Vene, Vidi, Vici, Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Michael Grant's The World of Rome and countless other sources were used as I strived for accuracy. It must be pointed out that our understanding of the history of Rome has tended to change as recent advances in technology reveal new aspects of that time. The internet was also cautiously consulted throughout the process.
If a soundtrack was made to accompany the book, name a song or two you would include.
For the movie soundtrack I would like ethereal music from Clannad or similar from Karen Matheson and Cappacaile. As a guitarist I have possible love themes I created that could be used in the movie and perhaps some classical works as a background. Ancient Rome does not seem to fit a lot of modern popular material.
If a movie was made of your book, who would you cast in the main roles?
I would like talented, unknown actors to play the characters.....real people as opposed to Hollywood types!
What did you enjoy about creating your novel the most?
I enjoyed the way that while I was writing this novel I was continually transported me back to another age....
How did you celebrate finishing the novel?
I haven't really had time to celebrate the completion of the novel yet as the follow up and promotion activities are really keeping me busy! Hopefully things will settle down soon.
What is your favourite book so far this year?
My favourite book this year is Endeavour by Peter Moore. It is beautifully written and written and superbly researched, revealing the times and background to Captain Cook's first voyage.
What is next on the agenda?
I am not quite sure of my next step. I have a fairly extensive backburner! There is a SOE Second World spy novel well under way, but a follow-up, related novel to Octavian's Light is hovering in my mind somewhere; we'll see...