Based on the real royal scandal of the Princes in the Tower, Daughter of the White Rose covers a shocking episode in medieval history that has captured the imagination for 530 years. A story of murder, betrayal, resilience, and growing up, this girl-led medieval middle-grade novel will make a perfect companion to Catherine, Called Birdy and The Mad Wolf’s Daughter.
We had the pleasure of chatting to author Diane Zahler about her new release, Daughter of the White Rose, book recommendations, what she’s working on next, and more!
Hi, Diane! Tell our readers a bit about yourself!
Thanks for having me on The Nerd Daily! I live in the Hudson Valley with my husband and our extremely eccentric border collie mix, and temporarily with my son (Covid days, you know). I’m the author of 7 novels for middle-grade readers and 2 YA nonfiction books.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that—good or bad—you can’t stop thinking about!
Wow—this question is harder than I thought. There are so many books that had a major influence on me, and ALL of them made me want to write children’s books. I’m not sure I can remember the absolute first book I remember reading, but the ones that really made an impact were all middle-grade, and all either fantasy or history. The Oz books. The Narnia series. The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angelis. Edward Eager’s Half Magic, Knight’s Castle, Seven-Day Magic. E. Nesbit’s Five Children and It. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I read and reread them when I was a kid, and I’m still rereading them.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a writer—specifically, a children’s book writer. My family spent Friday nights at the library, returning a huge box of books and taking out another huge box for the week. We read every night at the dinner table! My book choices were always children’s books, even after I was no longer quite the right demographic. My father was always bewildered by the fact that I read the same books over and over again—but they were SO good. Nothing compares to a good children’s book.
Your new novel, Daughter of the White Rose, is out February 16th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
History, mystery, princes, murder, & love
Now tell us a little more! What can readers expect?
The story takes place in the 1400s during the Wars of the Roses in England. Edward IV is king, and his first son is born on the same day as the daughter of the queen’s butcher. The two children grow up together, becoming great friends despite their difference in rank. When the king dies and his brother Richard seizes the throne, they find themselves in sudden, terrible danger.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
The back story is true. King Richard III imprisoned his nephews, Edward and Richard, in the Tower of London when he usurped the throne. After July of 1483, they were never seen again. What really happened to the princes has been a mystery for over 500 years!
Is there a character or scene that you really enjoyed writing?
There’s a scene in which the young Prince Edward—Ned—and the main character, Nell, are playing with a ball during a banquet in the Great Hall of Westminster. They lose control of their toy and it lands in the middle of the banquet table, and the royal fool comes to their rescue. A song, a joke, description of a lavish feast, and under it all, the ruthless gaze of Richard III—for me, that scene had it all.
What challenges did you face while writing and how did you overcome them?
When I began writing this novel, well over 20 years ago, it had a different beginning, a different ending, a different point of view, and a different title. I couldn’t possibly count the number of rejections it suffered. Part of that was because I was still basically learning how to write a book; part of it was because historical fiction is not always a popular genre. I can’t say I never gave up on it—I probably gave up on it a dozen times. But I always came back to it, reworking it, refining it—and it finally found its home at Holiday House.
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I worked in the children’s room at our public library through high school and college and at a children’s book publisher after college. Then I quit and became a freelance education writer while writing children’s fiction when I could. Over a decade (and innumerable rejections) later, HarperCollins published my first children’s novel, and I’ve had six others published since then. The road to publication is paved with rejection for most writers, and certainly it was for me. It can be a rough journey—but totally worth it!
What’s next for you?
Holiday House is publishing a fantasy novel of mine, Goblin Market, in 2022. It’s based on the Christina Rossetti poem, about two sisters who run afoul of goblins selling enchanted fruit, and what one sister has to do to try to save the other.
Lastly, are you currently reading anything and do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
For children’s book lovers, I’m currently reading The List of Things That Will Not Change by Rebecca Stead, one of my favorite kidlit writers. Like all her books, this one is absolutely wonderful. For history lovers, I’m looking forward to starting Hillary Mantel’s The Mirror and the Light, the final installation in her Thomas Cromwell trilogy.
