sther's story is one of the most dramatic in the Bible: a renowned beauty, she used her feminine wiles to capture the heart of a king and so win the deliverance of her people from the threat of death. The Gilded Chamber creatively re-works the famous story to show us how this young girl came to be in the harem of King Xerxes and how her path to womanhood enabled her to save a nation and find peace.
This is a tale of strength, seduction and survival, of the solidarity of women, and its descriptions of the Persian palace and the secrets contained within those walls will hold you spellbound to the final page.
"I was born in Chicago Illinois and grew up in the northern suburbs of that city. I have a younger brother and sister. I attended the University of Chicago where I studied English literature, particularly Dickens and the Romantic Poets. I wrote poetry and short stories from about the age of eleven and always knew that I wanted to write professionally. After college I took a job in publishing to support myself. In 1989 I married Professor Meir Kohn, an economic historian and moved to New Hampshire. Our daughter Leah was born the following year. Being away from the distractions of civilization I began to write full time but it took about ten years and four books to realize my dream of being published. In addition to writing I spend a fair amount of time doing volunteer work for my local synagogue. I love to work in my (ever-expanding) flower garden and I study modern dance with a wonderful teacher in Hanover. I often tell people that in my next life I want to come back as a dancer and a writer!"
What inspired you to write a novel about Queen Esther?
I had been reading a work of nonfiction on the political ramifications of the Book of Esther and began to wonder if Esther's role was perhaps more complex than I realized. When I went back to the biblical text and read it closely I realized that the sanitized Sunday school version so many of us know is not only incorrect in important details, it also does not do justice to Esther or the complexity of her relationships. I thought it would be an interesting challenge to recreate the historical context and try to imagine how the story might have actually happened to a real, albeit extraordinary, young woman.
The ancient world of Persia is brought so vividly to life in your novel, did you carry out extensive research on this biblical era?
Yes! I researched intensively for about three months before I began to write. Then I continued to research throughout the writing process. I was fortunate in my choice of topic because the archaeological record is good, although to recreate Susa I did use some elements from Persepolis which is better preserved. I had much information available to me: maps, photos of artifacts, floor plans of the palaces, translations of inscriptions. Details about the food, clothes, and jewelry I created based on what we know about materials available to them, descriptions in the biblical narrative itself, and some of the things that have survived to this day. I particularly enjoyed researching Persian gardens and jewelry! In addition to this I researched the role of women, Zoroastrianism, the political organization of life at court in the Persian Empire, the Persian war against Greece, the flora and fauna of the region, Persian music, and beauty treatments. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote quite a bit about Xerxes and the Persian empire. I relied on him to some extent, though he was very biased against the Persians since they were at war with the Greeks. I used scholarly research both for the history and the archaeology as well as biblical commentary from many sources, both ancient and more recent. Scholars have been fascinated with this period for a long time so I found much to draw upon
What is your perfect writing environment?
I am very compulsive about my writing environment. I have an office in my house near my bedroom. No one other than me is allowed to use the space or even touch my computer! I need to have my desk clear of everything except materials relevant to what I am working on at the moment. I like to surround myself with maps and photos that reflect the time, place, and culture. When I am working on a first draft I can only work very early in the morning when everyone else is asleep or after my daughter goes to school. I live at the end of a street that borders on a wooded area so it is not too noisy. But I have been known to call the neighbor and ask him to take his barking dog inside! So my perfect environment is familiar and very quiet.
Are there other biblical stories that you would like to write about and if so, what are they?
I am just finishing a novel based on the Exodus story. It alternates viewpoints between Miryam (sister of Moses) and Tzipporah (wife of Moses.) It is a bigger and more complicated story that Esther. After that, we'll see. There are so many possibilitites!
Who or what always puts a smile on your face?
My husband, my daughter, and my poodle.
What are you reading at the moment?
I am working my way through the 2004 Man Booker prize nominees in no particular order.
Which author do you most admire?
Can anyone ever name one? Contemporary authors I most admire include Peter Carey, Vikram Seth, and Kazuo Ishiguro. From the greats of the past I would have to say Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, and Charles Dickens.
What's your earliest memory?
I remember being in the hospital after a nasty fall I took down some stairs when I was about two. I was fine but they kept me overnight for observation. Years later I described the hospital room to my parents and even what I had for breakfast the next morning. They were astonished that I remembered everything.
Did you enjoy school?
I did not enjoy school until I got to college. I went to the University of Chicago and I loved the environment there. It was a great experience to study literature with professors who were experts in their fields.
What is your greatest fear?
That I will wake up and find that publishing my first book, The Gilded Chamber, was really just a dream.
Have you even done something you've really regretted?
I suppose we all regret things we do every day! I do regret that I didn't start writing seriously sooner. I always knew I wanted to be a writer and I always dabbled, but I waited far too long to get to work. My advice to young writers, my daughter included, is always: "Take yourself seriously!"
How do you spoil yourself?
Online shopping, definitely, especially for girlie stuff: makeup, jewelry, shoes.
What's your favourite book?
Another tough question! Probably my all time favorite would have to be Wuthering Heights. Vikrim Seth's An Equal Music is close behind.
Who do you turn to in a crisis?
In a crisis I definitely turn to my husband, the wisest and most supportive man I know.
What makes you angry?
I am not easily angered! But one thing that consistently bothers me is people who are so rigid in their opinions that they are unwilling to hear another point of view, be it about politics, ethics, or even a book.
What's your worst vice?
If you asked my family they would say I exercise too much!
What are you proudest of?
I would say that I am proudest of my daughter, Leah. She is a remarkable young woman and a real role model for other teenagers.
When was the last time you cried?
This morning! Some friends who have known each other about a year told me that they are getting married. I was so happy for them.
One wish; what would it be?
Security and freedom for people across the globe.
