Kate Quinn

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Kate Quinn

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Website

Genre

Influences
Bernard Cornwell, Judith Merkle Riley, C.S. Forester, Eva Ibbotson

Member Since
April 2009


--I use Goodreads to track and rate my current reading. Most of my reads are 4 stars, meaning I enjoyed it hugely and would absolutely recommend. 5 stars is blew-my-socks-off; reserved for rare reads. 3 stars is "enjoyed it, but something fell a bit short." I very rarely rate lower because I DNF books I'm not enjoying, and don't rate books I don't finish.--

Kate Quinn is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with “The Alice Network”, “The Hun
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Popular Answered Questions

Kate Quinn What a lovely compliment! Delighted you enjoy my writing. As far as books to recommend, well, I love that question.

A good comprehensive (if you haven…more
What a lovely compliment! Delighted you enjoy my writing. As far as books to recommend, well, I love that question.

A good comprehensive (if you haven't read it) is my Pompeii release of a month ago, "A Day of Fire" - it was co-written with five other authors as a series of interlinked novellas around the last days of Pompeii, so it serves as a good introduction to their styles to see if you want to look up the other things they've written. Ben Kane writes ancient Roman blood-and-battle books; Stephanie Dray has a trilogy on Cleopatra's daughter; Vicky Alvear Shecter has several wonderful YA HF novels; E. Knight has two Tudor novels; Sophie Perinot has a novel of medieval France and England. These authors are all friends, but I can recommend their work without hesitation, or I wouldn't have partnered up with them. Try "A Day of Fire," and it should tell you if their style appeals to you.

As for the authors I do NOT know who I find inspiring, I'd start with Judith Merkle Riley - she was my idol as far as being able to make historical fiction funny, dramatic, action-packed, and romantic. She has six or seven books, all wonderful. My favorite is probably "The Oracle Glass."

Elizabeth Loupas is one of the best currently-writing HF novelists out there right now; three books and counting (two on Renaissance Italy, one with Mary Queen of Scots). All superb.

If you like historical mysteries, the Fiona Buckley series around Elizabethan female sleuth Ursula Blanchard is lovely - funny, historically true to its time, exciting action, and good continuing characters.

If you like the blood-and-battle stuff, Bernard Cornwell is as good as it gets. It's more battle-centric and action-heavy, but he has wonderful poetic prose and great character development; I'd probably start with "The Last Kingdom" as the first of his Viking series.

Stephanie Thornton: kickass women of the ancient world. Start with "The Tiger Queens," about the women of Gengis Khan.

I could go on all day! Hopefully that's enough to start with. (less)
Kate Quinn I'm working on a non-Italy historical novel now, though I can't get specific about the time period because it's still with my agent! (England and Fran…moreI'm working on a non-Italy historical novel now, though I can't get specific about the time period because it's still with my agent! (England and France, though, are the settings.) Cleopatra, Caesar, and Antony I know I would never write about - they're fascinating, but so much has already been written about them, I don't feel I'd have a fresh take. Octavian and his family, maybe. I've got some ideas along those lines. Ancient Egypt? Possibly. (less)
Average rating: 4.33 · 1,123,198 ratings · 91,396 reviews · 26 distinct worksSimilar authors
The Alice Network

4.32 avg rating — 486,867 ratings — published 2017 — 14 editions
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The Rose Code

4.45 avg rating — 246,806 ratings — published 2021 — 18 editions
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The Huntress

4.30 avg rating — 163,023 ratings — published 2019 — 22 editions
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The Diamond Eye

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Signal Moon: A Short Story

4.33 avg rating — 23,206 ratings — published 2022 — 3 editions
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Mistress of Rome (The Empre...

4.03 avg rating — 24,327 ratings — published 2010 — 51 editions
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Daughters of Rome (The Empr...

3.99 avg rating — 10,602 ratings — published 2011 — 31 editions
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Empress of the Seven Hills ...

4.19 avg rating — 7,277 ratings — published 2012 — 25 editions
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Lady of the Eternal City (T...

4.46 avg rating — 4,832 ratings — published 2015 — 16 editions
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The Serpent and the Pearl  ...

3.96 avg rating — 4,687 ratings — published 2013 — 17 editions
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More books by Kate Quinn…
Daughters of Rome Mistress of Rome Empress of the Seven Hills Lady of the Eternal City
(4 books)
by
4.09 avg rating — 47,941 ratings

The Serpent and the Pearl The Lion and the Rose
(2 books)
by
4.05 avg rating — 7,837 ratings

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Quotes by Kate Quinn  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“I love you. I love the way you rub the scar on the back of your hand when you're nervous. I love the way you make a sword into a living part of your body. I love the way you burn your eyes into me, as if you're seeing me fresh every time. I love the black streak in you that wants to kill the world, and the soft streak that is sorry afterward. I love the way you laugh, as if you're surprised that you can laugh at all. I love the way you kiss my breath away. I love the way you breathe and speak and smile. I love the way you take the air out of my lungs when you hold me. I love the way you make a dance out of death. I love the confusion I see in your eyes when you realize you are happy. I love every muscle and bone in your body, every twist and bend in your soul.”
Kate Quinn, Mistress of Rome
tags: love

“What did it matter if something scared you, when it simply had to be done?”
Kate Quinn, The Alice Network

“Have you ever been - well, i mean, have you ever - really wanted someone ? Wanted them like water in the desert - even when you knew all their faults, every single one - and it didnt matter ?”
Kate Quinn, Mistress of Rome

Polls

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“Open the hurt locker and see what there is of knives and teeth.

Open the hurt locker and learn how rough men come hunting for souls. ”
Brian Turner

“Shun epic verse.”
Bernard Cornwell

“It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to talk and remove all doubt of it.”
Maurice Switzer, Mrs. Goose, Her Book

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
Albert Einstein

“Whenever I feel the need to exercise, I lie down until it goes away.”
Paul Terry

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Comments (showing 1-13)    post a comment »
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message 13: by Vahid

Vahid kate thanks


message 12: by Kate

Kate Quinn HermioneJMalfoy wrote: "When I read Mistress of Rome, I thought: "Damn, these kids have something between them!"
Some time later, I saw the Empress of the Seven Hills on your blog (fell in love with the cover, by the way)..."


You're welcome, and I'm so glad you've enjoyed my books! And don't worry; I am writing a sequel to "Empress of the Seven Hills" - no publication date yet, but it's titled "Lady of the Eternal City." In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the Borgia stories. :D


Valentina Markasović When I read Mistress of Rome, I thought: "Damn, these kids have something between them!"
Some time later, I saw the Empress of the Seven Hills on your blog (fell in love with the cover, by the way) and I literally squealed; I was just that thrilled.
*about 1 year later*
Well, this year the book was finally published in Croatia. I read it in about two days.

There I was, lying in the sun, reading your book, and when I reached the "ending" of FaustinaxTitus story, tears just started running down. I don't know if they were happy or sad tears, but I couldn't stop them.

And when I reached the last page I wanted to scream! A cliffhanger! A cliffhanger! Aaah!

I'll read your Borgias when (if) they reach Croatia, and I don't even like Borgias! You just have that something in your writing style that I adore.

Also, thank you for accepting my friend request. :)


message 10: by Kate

Kate Quinn Kirstin wrote: "I just finished Empress of the Seven Hills and I have to say that I loved it completely. I was so excited when I heard you were writing about Vix and Sabina again. I was very impressed with how you..."

Wow, I am sorry I didn't see these comments way down at the bottom of my author page earlier! To answer your question, Kirstin, yes there will be another book after "Empress of the Seven Hills" - in fact, I'm writing it now! It will probably be released sometime 2014, after my Borgia novel which comes out this August. And as far as the interconnected stories go, I write them all simultaneously and switch back and forth between characters - it can get confusing sometimes, but usually I can keep it all straight!


message 9: by Kate

Kate Quinn Jarod wrote: "hey Kate! thanks for accepting my friend request :)"

You're welcome!


Taylor I can't WAIT for the Serpent and the Pearl. The Borgias are crazy and I can't wait to read your take on them. I'm already rooting for the Pearl :)


message 7: by Edik

Edik Baghoumian It is my very DISTINCT pleasure becoming your True friend !!! Wishing you much success, Happiness but above all GOOD HEALTH !!!!!!!!

Your True friend
Edik


message 6: by Ana

Ana Hi Kate, thanks for adding me:) I absolutely LOVED,LOVED,LOVED "Mistress of Rome". Can't wait to read the other two from the Rome series. You are so so talented! Keep up the great work:)


Kirstin I just finished Empress of the Seven Hills and I have to say that I loved it completely. I was so excited when I heard you were writing about Vix and Sabina again. I was very impressed with how you flowed from character to character without confusing the reader at all between their very interconnected yet individual lives. How exactly do you do that? Do you write one person’s story at a time or are you able to switch back and forth while you write? Also, at the end you hint that we will hear the end of Vix and Sabina’s stories, is it true?? Will you eventually be continuing the story??? (I am crossing my fingers for it) Thanks for sharing your wonderful book!!


message 4: by Danna (last edited Apr 03, 2012 06:44AM)

Danna Kate Quinn, thank you very much for accepting my friend request. I have not read any of you books yet, sadly, but I must say all sounds very good. I would love to read them some day!
I wanted to thank you personally for writing those book - amazing or not - ancient Rome is a subject well forgotten in today's fast paced world. I am so glad there is an author who still pays attention to the past and willing to enlighten it for today's readers. Thank you for reviving an amazing culture, no longer unnoticed! I really appreciate writers such as yourself.

*uh-oh*
Well, that was quite an opening speech! Oops...
So, I hope you feel alright and keep writing. Kate (I love your name!) I promise I'll read a book of yours (hopefully, it'd be as good as I expect it to be - and then I might read more than one). It is such a shame I cannot find it anywhere...
Perhaps... Had it been translated to any language?


message 3: by Kate

Kate Quinn Judith wrote: "Kate, I noticed you went on a "blog tour" recently. From the blogger point of view, how does one go about putting together a blog tour for an author or group of authors? I'd love any quick pointers..."

Sorry, Judith, I didn't see your comment earlier. :) As for getting authors onto your blog - all I can say is, ask! I've had plenty of bloggers contact me through my website, and I've blogged for all of them. And if you get into the blogger community - posting comments on other blogs, entering giveaways, getting to know the other bloggers - you'll find it's a small world, and a remarkably supportive one. Many book bloggers are good friends, and they'll spread the love when you get to know them. Good luck!


Judith Starkston Kate, I noticed you went on a "blog tour" recently. From the blogger point of view, how does one go about putting together a blog tour for an author or group of authors? I'd love any quick pointers you have. Thanks, Judith Starkston


message 1: by Kate

Kate Quinn Janell wrote: "Are we going to get a preview of Daughters of Rome? Go ahead, make my day:)"

Not yet! I'm afraid I'm still working on it. I'll post the first chapter on my website and here under "Writings" when I've got a more-or-less final version.


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