We’re thrilled to have here today Attila the Hun from Joan Schweighardt’s new historical novel, The Last Wife of Attila the Hun. Attila is a 47, ruler of half the known world, and resides in the City of Attila.
It is a pleasure to have him with us today at Beyond the Books!
Thank you so for this interview, Attila. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?
I was fairly portrayed, yes. The author did her research and had good information about my activities. My only regret is that she chose to reveal some of my failures as well as my many successes. And while I had never trusted my most important officers, it was only by watching over the shoulder of the author as she researched and wrote the book that I came to learn that one of them, a man I had thought less likely than the others to betray me, played a huge part in my destruction.
Do you feel the author did a good job colorizing your personality? If not, how would you like to have been portrayed differently?
Having never actually seen me or even a drawing of me, the author had a lot of nerve describing me as “terrible to look upon.” I would say whoever cast Gerard Butler to play me in the film Attila the Hun achieved a much closer likeness.
What do you believe is your strongest trait?
My bravery of course, and my leadership skills. I wiped out half the Roman empires (there were two back in those days, the eastern and the western) and lots of Germanic tribes as well.
Worse trait?
Can a man who ruled the world be said to have any negative traits? To even suggest such a thing could be dangerous…for you!
If you could choose someone in the television or movie industry to play your part if your book was made into a movie, who would that be (and you can’t say yourself!)?
As I said, I liked Butler, but if this particular version of my story, which is much closer to the truth than that movie with Butler, were to be made into a film (which, Wise Filmmakers Who May Be Reading This, would be an extraordinary idea), I would suggest Johnny Depp to play me. While the author and I might be at counterpoints regarding whether or not JD looks like me, I think she would agree that he could pull off the acting for such a part.
Do you have a love interest in the book?
I had many wives, but I loved none of them. I couldn’t even be bothered to determine which of them I would sleep with on any particular night. I let my officers decide that. The element of surprise appealed to me.
At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?
I knew how it would end, didn’t I?
If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?
I would never want to change places with anyone. While my empire eventually crumbled, as all empires at some point must, I relished those days when all the world bowed to me.
How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away?
Ha! I can’t believe you would even ask such a question! Let us just say, I did not care for the ending at all.
What words of wisdom would you give your author if s/he decided to write another book with you in it?
I would suggest that the next time she writes about me, she sticks with me all the way, through every battle. I had to share pages with lots of other characters.
Thank you for this interview, Attila. Will we be seeing more of you in the future?
Of course, when The Last Wife of Attila the Hun film comes out!
Title: The Last Wife of Attila the Hun
Genre: Literary/Historical Fiction with a Legendary Component
Author: Joan Schweighardt
Website: www.joanschwweighardt.com
Publisher: Booktrope Editions
Purchase on Amazon
About the Book:
Two threads are woven together in The Last Wife of Attila the Hun. In one, Gudrun, a Burgundian noblewoman, dares to enter the City of Attila to give its ruler what she hopes is a cursed sword; the second reveals the unimaginable events that have driven her to this mission. Based in part on the true history of the times and in part on the same Nordic legends that inspired Wagner’s Ring Cycle and other great works of art, The Last Wife of Attila the Hun offers readers a thrilling story of love, betrayal, passion and revenge, all set against an ancient backdrop itself gushing with intrigue. Lovers of history and fantasy alike will find realism and legend at work in this tale.
About the Author:
Joan Schweighardt is the author of several novels. In addition to her own projects, she writes, ghostwrites and edits for private and corporate clients.
Website: www.joanschweighardt.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joanschweighardtwriter
Twitter: @joanschwei
Beyond the Books 