Michelle Moran speaks about historical fiction and her new novel, Cleopatra's Daughter

Michelle Moran has written three historical novels set in Egypt, and two of them became best sellers--Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen.  Her latest novel, Cleopatra's Daughter, goes on sale today, Sept. 15.

Cleopatra's Daughter takes place during the time in Egypt after Celopatra and Marc Antony, following their marriage and the birth of their three children, die rather than face the wrath of Octavian.  Their three orphaned children, including the twins Selene and Alexander, are dragged to Rome and face hatred and danger.  This is their story.

Michelle Moran took time from her busy writing and publicity schedule to answer some questions about writing historical fiction and writing habits.

Historical fiction hugs the line between fact and fiction.  Has there ever been an instance where you have opted for fiction over fact in your novels because it created more drama or improved the story?

99.9% of the time, the answer is no. I do my very best never to change the history.

However, in my first novel, Nefertiti, the queen ends up having six children. I found myself writing about the birthing scene so often that I decided I couldn't take it anymore (which meant my readers were probably tired of hearing about the birthing chair as well!).

So I combined Nefertiti's last two births into one and gave her twins! Now, I do admit to this in the authors note. And this is rare.

What I will do, however, is opt for the most creative way of filling in the "black holes", so to speak. In Nefertiti, for example, no one can be certain how Mutnodjmet felt about her sister’s vision of an Egypt without the Amun Priests, but in an image of her found in Amarna, she is standing off to one side, her arms down while everyone else is enthusiastically embracing the new god Aten. In a period where art attempted to portray reality for the first time, I found this significant.

As a writer of historical fiction, you must have to "get away" from the genre sometimes.  Are there particular genres you read instead? And what about those genres appeals to you?

I really enjoy narrative nonfiction. Some of my favorite books have been Erik Larson's Devil in the White City, Gary Kinder's Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea, and Benjamin Wallace's The Billionaire's Vinegar.

Cleopatra is a "large" historical figure, much like Nefertiti.  Do you plan to stray from these strong, female historical characters to delve into the lives of some male leaders?  Why or why not?

The publishing industry is not currently looking for a much historical fiction told by male characters, so no, I won't be doing that any in the near future.

A very good author friend of mine who's had a hugely successful career wanted to write her next book from a male POV and her publishers weren't happy. Unless the novel is about war, they don't seem to sell as well as female-driven books (at least so far).

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran drops into stores today.  Check out this book trailer.