The Franciscan Conspiracy, frequently asked questions

The following are some of the most frequently asked questions I hear at book signings and readings.

You have referred to this book as a “medieval history mystery.” This isn’t a genre one sees often. How would you compare it to Name of the Rose or The Da Vinci Code in this respect?
How did you become interested in this particular subject? What are the origins of this novel?
How long did it take you to research and write The Franciscan Conspiracy? What were some of your primary sources?
You say in your disclaimer that this is a work of fiction and that even the historical characters and events are used fictionally. Could you give us some idea of which events actually happened and who those historical characters are?
Again, although you claim this work is fictional, it’s pretty clear that you share the conclusion that Conrad, the friar detective, reaches. How did you come to this conclusion so forcefully that you felt compelled to write this book?
Why did you choose to write a novel rather than a work of scholarly nonfiction?
In your personal background do you have any familiarity with the Franciscan or Benedictine lifestyles? You seem very comfortable with the monastic setting for example. Or with the details of village and country life in this period, for that matter. Are we talking past lives here or just thorough research?
Did language or vocabulary present a problem?
Authors sometimes speak of characters getting away from them or taking on a life of their own. Did you experience that while writing this book?
The middle ages seem to be a particularly violent period and we see examples of that in your novel. Why do you think this is so?
The cover of your book is quite striking and dramatic. Could you tell me more about it?
Do you plan any follow-up novels using some of the same characters? You seem to leave open that possibility in your Epilog.