Book Launch Interview with Richard Woulfe, Author of Master Secretary: Robert Cecil - A Life in Fiction

Available from Amazon UK and Amazon US

In this richly imagined sequence of eighteen interlinked stories, Cecil’s voice is joined by those of his family, allies, and adversaries―Elizabeth I,  Anthony and Francis Bacon, Walter Raleigh, Ben Jonson, Arbella Stuart, and nameless spies and commoners whose lives brushed against his. From court intrigue to tavern gossip, from the grandeur of the Somerset House Peace Conference to a humble Limerick shop, these tales weave fact and fiction into a vivid portrait of one of history’s most remarkable political survivors.

I'm pleased to welcome author Richard Woulfe to The Writing Desk:

Tell me about your latest book

This is a cradle to almost-grave collection of stories relating to Robert Cecil, Secretary of State from 1586 to 1612, a role his father William Cecil had previously occupied. It begins on the day he was born, when William Cecil is trying to get home for news of the birth but is delayed by Queen Elizabeth and others, and ends with Robert discussing the design of his tomb with its sculptor. 

It covers the Lopez execution, the Essex Rebellion, the transfer of power from the Tudors (Elizabeth 1st) to the Stuarts (James 1st) and the Gunpowder Plot. Also included are Francis Bacon (Cecil's first cousin), Ben Jonson, Walter Raleigh, Arabella Stuart. Other female voices include Cecil's wife, Anne Bacon, Elizabeth Ist on her deathbed, an intelligencer, as well as the wife of a Limerick shop owner who had only vaguely heard of Robert Cecil.

What is your preferred writing routine? 

I am definitely a morning person. And start almost immediately after getting out of bed. I have this routine, which by and large I stick to: the first hour going over the previous day’s writing, followed by five hours of 200 words each. Now, 200 words does not take up a whole hour but the remainder is spent with housework, eating, brushing my teeth etc, anything that does not require much mental thought.  I try not to go on the internet (not always successfully). And after four days I take a day off, the next day should be revision only, and the day after that thinking and researching about what to write next. Then the weekly cycle begins again. I read that Anthony Trollope wrote 250 words every 15 minutes for 2 1/2 hours (with a stopwatch beside him) thus writing 2,500 words per day. No way could I match that.

What advice do you have for new writers? 

Keep going. it takes time but slowly you’ll see the number of your words rise. And that gives you the impetus to continue. You will get there eventually. Then comes the rewrite. And the next rewrite. And rewrite after that.

What have you found to be the best way to raise awareness of your books? 

I don’t have much experience on this but have found fellow historical writers on Instagram to be a great help. Like we are one big club – one writer helping another. I am not very tech savvy – only joining Instagram late last year – but am hoping to learn a lot from this book.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered during your research.

I had always imagined Shakespeare explaining frantically before Robert Cecil and the Privy Council why he had allowed a special performance of Richard II to be enacted. After all, the staging of the play was a way of bolstering support for the Earl of Essex, Cecil’s enemy, just before the Essex Rebellion. But then I found out that Shakespeare was not there. No, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men sent an actor/manager, Shakespeare merely being the writer. While the poor actor/manager could only offer meek apologies at first, the table turned on Cecil when Elizabeth I requested a court performance of Richard II on the day before Essex’s execution.

What was the hardest scene you remember writing? 

I briefly studied Latin at school, still know my amo, amas, amat but had to delve in deeper as Robert Cecil’s son had to learn his verbs as part of his homework set by his father. Robert Cecil had no difficulty with Latin, could almost be described as a child prodigy, but his son William no matter how hard he tried just couldn’t remember those conjugations, nor could he see why he needed to know them. Robert later wishes to be kind to his son, so asks him what he considers easy questions. William keeps making basic mistakes, getting Robert to accuse him of deliberately not trying to learn. This indicates the enormous gulf between father and son.

What are you planning to write next? 

Richard II is someone who has fascinated me for ages. He became king at the age of 10, had little guidance, was briefly deposed by the Lords Appellant, gained his revenge on them years later, before being dethroned at the age of 32. Chaucer was writing in that time, so when better to write some tales.

Richard Woulfe

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About the Author

Richard has had two radio plays produced: one by RTE Radio based on James Joyce's/Nora Barnacle's time in Trieste, the other a Victorian drama by the Wireless Theatre Company. Stage plays of his have also been performed, and short stories published. Richard is from Limerick, and now lives in London. He can be found on Instagram and X on @woulfewriter