An interview with Author June Trop

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

My name is June Trop. I began my professional life as a science teacher and retired forty years later as a professor of science teacher education at the State University of New York.

Once I retired, I began writing historical fiction in the mystery genre. My protagonist, Miriam bat Isaac, is an amateur sleuth and alchemist living in Roman-occupied Alexandria during the first century of the Common Era. So far, I have written seven books in the series. Each stands alone, but all have the same setting, core characters, and three-word titles beginning with “The Deadliest . . .”.

2. Where did you get the idea for your protagonist?

I was taking a course on the historical development of concepts in chemistry when I encountered the work of Maria Hebrea, who probably lived in Roman-occupied Alexandria during the first century of the Common Era. I wondered how a Jewish woman from Alexandria became the legendary founder of Western alchemy and held her place for 1500 years as the most celebrated woman of the western world. Because the practice of alchemy was a capital offense during the Roman Empire—the emperors were afraid that synthesizing gold would undermine their currency and destabilize the empire—she had to practice in secret. Accordingly, very little is known about her life, but as I researched the little that is known, I decided to model my protagonist on her and make up the rest.

3.Why do you write crime fiction?

I’ve been reading crime fiction my entire life, beginning with Nancy Drew, Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle. It was my way to escape to a place where justice triumphs. And fortunately, with our ever-expanding genre, I’ve never run out of great mysteries to read.

Since I couldn’t become a detective, the next best thing for me wasto create one. Besides, the challenge of writing a tightly crafted detective story appealed to me. You must play fair with your readers by providing clues but still make it virtually impossible for them to anticipate the ending. Does it get more fun than that?

4. Why do you write in the first person?

My protagonist, Miriam bat Isaac, narrates most of the stories. I’ve set my books in a time and place none of my readers have visited. So, I use the first person to bring readers close to her and her world, to make their relationship with her more intimate and the setting more immediate.

5. Where did you get the idea for the story you’re currently working on?

I got the idea from a famous, first-century murder case known as “The Wall of Handprints”. Tried in the Roman Forum, the defendant was acquitted, but no one else was ever indicted. So, I asked Miriam to find the culprit and tentatively titled the story “The Deadliest Hand”.

6. Who is your favorite author and why?

My favorite author is Arthur Conan Doyle. Aside from his memorable Sherlock Holmes stories, he wrote a host of other tales of horror and mystery. I enjoy reading and re-reading them for their atmosphere. Whenever I re-read my favorite, The Hound of the Baskervilles, his description of Dartmoor still makes my nerves tingle.

7. Where do your plot ideas come from?

One source of plot ideas is the stories I’ve read or heard about but with a “what if” twist that suits my characters and setting. Of course, that’s just the beginning of a plot idea. I keep a journal of such ideas. Most of the storylines reach a dead end, but some come alive. Other sources? Ideas can pop into my head while I’m exercising, washing my hair, or just waking up. I keep a pencil and paper by my bed and in my car.

8. Where do your characters come from?

I recognize now that they’re a composite of people I’ve known with a little bit of me in the mix.

9. How do you get inspired to write?

I don’t need to get inspired to write; I need to get inspired to do my chores! I begin each day with a list of tasks I need to do—exercise being one of them, though I cheat a little on that one—and just as important, with the tasks I want to do. My favorites include reading and writing. But being a writer also means managing the business of writing, such as book promotions, soliciting reviews and speaking engagements, maintaining a website and social media presence, and networking with other writers. So, the time to sit and write becomes precious.

10. What considerations occupied you as you decided to write a series?

Should the principal characters get older or stay frozen in time? I decided to let the characters and their world get older because significant historical events moving forward were worth framing in a subsequent story.

Are my characters complex enough to be worth developing over time? For example, can my protagonist’s best friend and romantic interest add spice to future stories?

How can I make my titles similar but different, so each book is recognized as belonging to the series, but the prospective reader is not likely to confuse them?

11. What is the best thing about being a writer?

The best thing for me is’ my own boss. That means I can write in my pajamas and manage my own time. But most of all, the experience of writing unleashes my imagination and enables me to escape to a world as far-fetched as I want to make it.

12. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

The most important advice is to persist. These practices may help:

Avoid comparing yourself to other writers. You have your own distinct voice and story to tell.

Accept your failures and learn from them. In fact, if you’re not getting rejected some of the time, then you’re not taking the chances you need to improve your craft.

Join or start a writers’ group for the friendships, encouragement, and  opportunities to share your experiences and knowledge of the craft.

Be grateful you have this opportunity to express yourself.

13. Will you have a new book coming out soon?

I’m so glad you asked! My next book, The Deadliest Returns (Level Best books), will be coming out in 2024.

Whether it means going back or giving back, returning is never easy, at least not in this volume of three deadly novelettes. In the first story, Miriam’s brother, an erstwhile gladiator, returns home to serve as a bodyguard to the son of a legionnaire.

In the second, an old man disguising himself as a matronly beggar, returns to Alexandria to find the lovechild he left behind.

And in the third, Miriam sails to Ephesus to return a black pearl donated to the city by Emperor Augustus himself.

I think you’ll love these stories! The Historical Novel Society has praised my work as finely crafted historical fiction. Moreover, the stories are baffling puzzles filled with action, a startling twist, and an array of characters to support Miriam in her quest for justice.

14. How should readers get in touch with you?

The best way to get in touch with me is through my website, https://www.junetrop.com, especially my contact page. I publish a blog on my website and Facebook page each week about life in Roman Alexandria and the writing craft. You can reach me on Facebook. I hope you contact me. I want to connect with you.

15. What would you like to say about the Prachesta website?

I am dazzled! I’m old enough to be amazed at this world of technology. In particular, the Prachesta website is so well designed as a source of information that even I can easily find what I want.