An Interview with Portia Debenham
Tell
us a bit about yourself, Portia, and what inspired you to create such an
interesting character? What are some of her talents and motivations?
I actually had to stop and think about this one because I know I’ve joked with other writers about the character leading me about by the nose so I am very guilty about not thinking seriously about where Portia came from or where she is going to. I actually created Portia for a story that never really went beyond testing it out at Short Cuts…if I remember correctly. She was created for a more modern time with a different set of family members…although those family members almost carried over to 1066. I switched her over to 1066 after having my curiosity tweaked (I believe it was by using words like “1066”, “Battle of Hastings”, “Anglo-Saxon, Normans” and so forth – my curiosity is rather easily tweaked by history) by Lady Isabella (you *grin*). So I migrated her over and thanks to a love of Cadfael (if only Sean Pertwee had always played Hugh B to Sir Derek J’s Cadfael all would be great) decided to have her be from the area of Shrewsbury… Oswestry developed later. The rest has been guided by Portia herself, along with interaction/suggestions from other writers, and has been an ongoing development in that I’ve given her a set of guidelines and like any good parent shoved her out of the nest to trip into vats of dye all on her own. As to what inspired her, the way that I write her, I would say that I hope she has a good dose of Austen and a twist of Peters (although I’m never sure if that’s Ellis or Elizabeth…). Her talents… hmmm… besides a passion for architecture?? Perhaps her talent is that of putting those around her at ease. I wanted her to be a solid rock. A friendly face. A beacon in the storm and yet be able to muck up, fall on her face and come out laughing. She apparently can sing (although I didn’t know that until she went to York). Her motivation is easier. I see her motivated by two things. The first is to reconnect with the world, family in particular, following a lengthy "hermitage" at the insistence of her father and the second is to see her passion, architecture, help her beloved home of Oswestry evolve. But then again, as she leads me around by the nose and is constantly changing on me when I least expect it, I suspect all of this could easily change.
You are a member of 1066: The Year of the Conquest and A Spider's Web. It seems that the history genre is one of your favorites. Could you tell us what appeals to you about writing in the History genre?
I think it’s the unknown. The unknown stories that shaped what we are today. In amongst all those dates that teachers and professors convinced us were essential were the epics, and sagas, of Joe/Jane Everyman/woman… (or in 1066 that would be Cædmon, Mr. Anglo-Saxon-Everyman). Either that or I’m just a soft squishy romantic at heart and a sucker for swords, swashbuckling, dashing-do-gooding heroes and their damsels. Although not always in distress… I believe in a liberated, capable heroine who is not above asking for aid from the person able to lift the massive, heavy sword *g* if there is no other alternative to solving a sticky situation. But back to the unknown, I think it’s also the addition of what we don’t know about their lives. There are so many possibilities, so much potential of what might have happened. As well, from the feminine perspective the history books are filled with the accomplishments of men but precious little about the women around them – I think that almost always fascinated me more. There is so much scope for what these people were like, character wise – we know their actions but do we know why, how they felt, what consumed them, whether or not they cried or raged… Thus history, to me, almost lends itself unconsciously to producing a wealth of wordy potential.
When did you join Pan Historia, and what was it about this community, and writing in general that appeals to you?
I was member of a community ages before and real life got in the way but I basically joined Pan Historia for the same reason. It’s a fantastic creative outlet. There is such a wealth of amazing imaginations and abilities that I get to experience from the other members. That and I get to practice writing… whether it’s character development or plot that is my goal when I start typing. Its the appeal of being a part of that collective creative enterprise that appealed to me in the beginning ...and still does.
What is your favorite part about being a member at Pan? Do you have any favorite novels, or reference books?
My favourite part is the interaction with other writers. What they bring to the table so to speak. The common bond of imagination, wordsmithing and so forth. Favourite novels… I actually so truly wish that I had time to read more of them – there are so many that when I get the time to pop in and read one or two fantastic posts it only drives me crazy that I haven’t freed up more time for myself. In terms of other novels I am always in awe of the sweat and energy that goes into writing for them. Reference… I probably use the html ones the most although lately since Portia’s and Christian’s homes were designed by Lady Gwendolen I confess I haven’t had time to even go there…I tend to watch the lists for posts that grab my eye… if I have time. I suppose my truly favourite novels though are the ones I write for and that’s simply because I get the added bonus of interacting with the other writers. Being a part of those novels means that from the comfort of my living room I get the chance to not only write about a young woman in 1066 England but interact with the character’s of William Wallace’s world. I get to write with a group at Century of Chaos that keep me delightfully on my toes (it’s a novel written sans-plotting so anything can happen including poisoned cookies, skilleting and German midwives who boss around Rome’s upper crust). I even get to imagine what the last days of Troy when the people were staring the army of Agamemnon in the face was like… and I could wax on (and those who have read my lengthier posts know that too well *g*)
If you could choose one character in history to portray, who would it be and why?
That’s a difficult question because I truly believe there are millions of truly fascinating characters waiting for their stories to be heard… hmmm… I tend to lean towards writing women (although I am working on making my male characters more believable and less a woman with a man-shaped costume on) so I suppose I wouldn’t mind sinking my teeth into characters like Boudicca or Himiko who were strong female leaders but who chose two very different paths to tread upon (and granted led two very different lives)… or even more of the females who have never been named in history but were around when Kenneth mac Alpin became King or Atilla united the Huns.
One last question…What are your greatest accomplishments, either here or in RL?
Hmmmm… greatest accomplishments… it probably sounds very sappy but my greatest accomplishment was setting my first foot on the road to exploring the world. I finally decided it was one thing to read about history in a book but another to actually be where it happened. So while I probably still have 99% of the world left to experience I can safely say that standing on the Great Wall twice, getting my wallet stolen in ChangChun, knowing that I’ll always have a spare room to bunk in when in Tokyo, having a marriage proposal from a taxi driver in Fiji, trying to lift a six foot plus authentic sword in a castle in The Netherlands, standing in the pouring rain in Versailles, talking to the most delightful Parisiennes at the neighbouring table at a fantastic little restaurant at Gare du L’est and spending a week with the Iban have all been small steps to not only helping me see this fantastic world but also helping me breath life into characters and their lives. Well, that and finally getting rid of my braces, headgear (but that’s entirely relative, subjective, long in the past and another story *g*)
