A Conversation with C.M. Mayo

 C.M. Mayo's "The Last Prince of the Mexican Empire" is a novel that took years to research and is based on history -- yet it's told as a fairy tale.

Intrigued yet? You should be. This is a perfect book for lovers of historical fiction. Who could resist at least starting the story after seeing the photo of Augustin de Iturbide y Green that Mayo holds up in this video? The half-American prince (and yes, he really was royalty) appears as a toddler, dressed up in typical Victorian finery for toddlers -- in other words, he looks like a beautiful little girl to modern eyes. 

That photo and its strangeness to our world is one "way in" to the fairy tale the Mayo spins with authority, taking the reader from Mexico to Washington and even on to Europe. It's a delicious and well-paced read. Why did the author choose to tell it as a fairy tale? You probably know what I'm going to say: You'll have to watch to find out! Thanks, as always, for reading.