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Dear Caroline Lawrence,
My name is Allison ... I'm in 6th grade. I recently read books 1-17 of your Roman Mysteries series..One day I want to be a writer. I hear the chances are one in a million, is that true? What gave you the courage to write a book? Because I would be terrified that people would hate my books.... I hope there are many other series by you because the suspense in your books is terrific! If you ever personally read this I think your books are terrific and you do a great job! You are a great author and I hope you keep writing. I just want to say I am amazed by your creativity and imagination. One day I want to be like you! I look forward too many, many more books, and I hope you enjoy writing them!
P.S. Ven-a-lick-e-us or Ven-a-licsous, like delicious?

Caroline says: Don't worry about what people think, Allison. Follow your dreams, check out my Writing Tips HERE, and say "Ven-uh-LEEK-ee-uss"!

...I absolutely adored your book... In the story, Flavia said that she was good at solving mysteries and I, too, enjoy challenging myself by trying to figure out problems... I use my brain to strategize, just like Flavia did... I would like to know if you have written any books that are not based on ancient history. If you have, what are they called? I already know that you have written other Roman Mysteries and I have also been informed that you have been working on writing Western Mysteries. All the while that I have been reading your book, I have been wondering where you get your information from. Could you tell me where you get it?

Natalie

Caroline says: You won't be surprised to know I get 80% of my information/ideas from books! But I also use the internet, movies, travel & talking to people. I also "borrow" ideas from unlikely places. The opening scene in The Assassins of Rome, the book after The Pirates of Pompeii, is based on a Garfield cartoon!
 

...What inspired you to write this book? I know your book inspired me to love to read. Before I read this book I used to hate to read. I would never read, until after I read The Pirates of Pompeii. Do you have a particular character that is your favorite? Who is it? Mine is Lupus and Nubia. I felt so close to Nubia because I could identify with how she was being treated. Why did you make the setting of this story in Pompeii and not in London? I think I might have made it in my home town, but I understand that the volcano was there. I like the setting and thought it made the whole story. How long have you been an author? Do you also love to read?

Kati

Caroline says: What inspired me to write this book was that lots of people (including me!) write about Vesuvius erupting but not about what might have happened afterwards, when everyone was terrified and confused. I have been a published author for about a dozen years. I love it and yes, I also love to read! 

...I have a several questions I would like to ask you about the book. My first question is; Why did you choose to write a historical fiction book? Secondly, in the novel you did a great job of making sure all parts in it were historically correct, what types of research did you have to do and did you learn anything yourself, while doing this research? I am also interested in knowing, what your favorite part was about writing the book? Do you think there is part of the book you would change if you had the chance to?
Samantha

Caroline says: I write historical fiction books because it's the closest thing to having a time machine. My fave bit of writing is when I get "lost in the world" and the characters seem real! I love reading, reading, reading, so research is fun for me! This is one of my books I would not change. I had so much fun writing it! 

...I would like to know, how do you feel when you have a great idea, but you forget it before you can write it down or use it? It has happened to me before, and I hate it when that happens. It takes me forever to remember what it was and it bugs me until I do. I'm thinking about always keeping a pad of sticky notes with me at all times.
Alexandria

Caroline says: I always carry a "writer's notebook" with me, Alexandria. Or I make a note on my iPhone! 

...I found the detail in this book to be amazing, as a reader I was drawn into the book and felt like I was literally in Pompeii with the characters. There were many great parts in this book but I would have to say that my favorite was on the boat when Pulchra knocks Venalicius out. I really enjoyed the way Pulchra's character changed from being selfish to acting nice and saving Nubia's life.
Zachary

Caroline says: Thanks, Zachary!

...Along with reading this book, my class had many homework assignments to go with it. Before every reading of around thirty pages each, we would do some vocabulary from that week's section. Some of the words could be pretty foreign like palaestra, colonnade, triclinum, or ethereal. We would also have to complete a set of three comprehension questions having to do with important parts of the story. My grades were very exemplary for this book. This homework also helped me to learn more about ancient Rome like how their currency was sestercii. I also learned that slavery was very common in most families and wine was a popular beverage with people of all ages.

Katee

Caroline says: Wow, Katee! I am impressed. You all worked so hard. (And so did your teachers!)

...I have some questions regarding your book, life and career. What inspired you to write about ancient Rome? I personally would have chosen ancient Greece. Looking back at the book "The Pirates of Pompeii”, is there anything that you would like to change about it? I really like how the book was written though. Do you have to do a lot of research for your books? I would think that it would take a while to get the information. What made you want to become an author? If you were to ask me what I want to be, I'd say that it would be fun to work in a hospital.
Lauren

Caroline says: I'm so glad there are people like you, Lauren, who have caring hearts and want to work in hospitals! I didn't write about Ancient Greece because women and girls didn't have as much fun or freedom (relatively speaking) as they did in Ancient Rome. Of all the books I have written in my life, The Pirates of Pompeii was the book I most enjoyed writing. 

...I would like to thank you for introducing to me some new vocabulary words that I have never seen or heard of before. I now know the meaning of palestra, colonnade, gratis, peristyle, triclinum, carruca, kalends, and brazier. I don't know when I will use them, but they sure are historical. They might be helpful very soon for my History class because we will be studying the Roman civilization next... In the book, I found it exciting when Pulchra and Flavia fought in the dirt and bit and kick each other.
Gabriel

Caroline says: lol! You never know when you can use the word peristyle, Gabriel. Here's a picture of the "girlfight" from the BBC TV series based on my books. 

I think while reading this book I got a better grade then any of the other books we read this year because I paid close attention to the details and missed very few assignments. Also this book really grabbed my attention with its twists... I noticed how much the character change and come to understandings throughout the whole book.

Kayla

Caroline says: You are very perceptive, Kayla!
 

...What is it like to be an author? If I don't become a lawyer when grow up I will be an author. If I do become an author I will definitely look up to you. Here is my final question. What kind of research did you do when you were writing The Roman Mysteries? My guess would be that you used computers and books. I was actually very impressed on how educational your book was.
Meghan
 

Caroline says: Being an author is a great job but you can be a lawyer AND and author, Meghan! My favorite kind of research is traveling to the places I write about. Here's one of my BLOGS about doing research at the Villa Limona. 

...When I read your books I feel like I'm there, and I can easily make a really good mental picture of it in my head… I learned many things from reading your book.    I learned that when that Volcano erupted it didn't kill everybody, I thought the ash fell on them and they pretty much all died. I also learned that during confusion or chaos (like the explosion) people would take belongings of other people, like kids! I think that's really mean! I think you're a really cool author, and I can't wait to hear back from you!
Meredith

Caroline says: Thank you, Meredith! 

My name is Victoria ... I am a sixth grade student at Lebanon Middle School, in Mrs.Violette's reading class. We have been reading your book The Pirates of Pompeii, together as a class. The book was so exciting I could not stop reading it... A connection between the book and my life is that during hurricane Irene my grandmother's house got some damage to it. Water got in the house, so it took a while to soak up all the water and dry everything out. After Mount Vesuvius erupted there was also a lot of damage to a lot of people's belongings. Another connection between the book and my life is that I am adventurous, like Flavia, Jonathan, Lupus, and Nubia, because I like to explore in my woods...
Victoria

Caroline says: I hope your grandmother's house is all right now!

...Did objects or people around you inspire you in writing this book? How long did it take to write this book? What did Lupus do to have his tongue cut out? He must have done something very bad to get that kind of punishment. How long did it take for you to write the whole Roman Mysteries series? I am currently reading The Secrets of Vesuvius.

Elizabeth

Caroline says: Oh, yes, Elizabeth! Objects inspire me all the time. Here is a blog I wrote called TEN ROMANTIC ARTIFACTS. To find out why Lupus got his tongue cut out, read book #5, The Dolphins of Laurentum. And to see the answers to most of your questions, go to my FAQS page. 

...I am just curious where exactly do you live in London? Have you ever seen Big Ben? I would love to go see it. I believe that Big Ben is in the town of Westminster. London must be fun to live in. I bet it's more exciting than here. All there is here is farms and woods which leads me to my next topic. When you're not writing what do you do? I'll bet that there are lots of sightseeing places. You could go to the coast or to a river nearby. You're so lucky to have all those choices...
Emerson

Caroline says: I see the Houses of Parliament all the time because I am lucky enough to live in central London. I love London because it is a buzzy, lively city with modern architecture next to ancient buildings, and with interesting people from all over the world. I also love the shops, cafes, movies, museums and the river Thames. I live on the south bank not far from Chelsea and this is the view from my window! 

so what do you recommend I read next? I hope to hear back from you soon!
Vale! Foster (New York)
 

Caroline says: What to read after the Roman Mysteries?
Try these:

1. True Grit by Charles Portis

2. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

3. The Case of the Deadly Desperados by Caroline Lawrence

4. My Family and other Animals by Gerald Durrell

I find it a bit sad, Nubia is trying to rescue her friend Jonathan by looking for the antidote... Rachel

...you have a good imagination. Jonny 

My favourite part is when Miriam found her secret admirer... Amelia

Every scroll was more exciting... Holly

I adore all your books. My best book up to now is ‘The Thieves of Ostia’... Joe 

My favourite scene was when Lupus punched the crazy man and knocked him out... Jack  

I like ‘The Slave Girl in Jerusalem’... Alice

My favourite bit was when pliny comes to the rescue... Jonah

I am your number one fan. I utterly adore your books... Rebecca

Recently we started reading 'The Pirates of Pompeii'. Even though we have not read much I think it is good. Christian

I enjoyed 'Secrets of Vesuvius' so much that much that I even bought the book! Peter

I would really like you to come to our class, Class 8, to chat about your books. James