Mantz, Erika L.

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices7-18-2003UNH Professor Authors Book on Time TravelErika L. MantzFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationMantz, Erika L., "UNH Professor Authors Book on Time Travel" (2003). UNH Today. 1950.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/195010/11/17, 12(32 PMUNH Professor Authors Book on Time TravelPage 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2003/july/em_20030718warner.htmlRelated LinksA.D. 62:Pompeii UNH Professor Authors Book on TimeTravelContact Erika L. Mantz UNH News Bureau603-862-1567July 18, 2003DURHAM, N.H. - Fiction writing - historical fantasy to be exact -might seem like quite a leap for a psychology professor steeped instatistics, but for Rebecca Warner it's a natural transition.A psychology professor at the University of New Hampshire for 21years, Warner recently self-published "A.D. 62: Pompeii" throughiUniverse under a pseudonym, Rebecca East."Statistics really is like writing fiction," she says. "It's taking a batchof data and coming up with a coherent story." One of the types ofstatistics she has worked with is time series analysis, which is lookingat patterns in data over time.The importance of time is a common thread in both aspects ofWarner's work. She describes her novel as a fairy tale for grownups.In it, the main character, a woman, travels from the present day to 1stcentury Rome, gets stranded and is sold into slavery. She experienceslife in the ancient world from an intimate, "Upstairs/Downstairs"perspective.Warner and her husband, an astronomer, have traveled to Pompeiiseveral times."I was fascinated, but left wondering what life was like," she recalls."I started collecting books - I now have an entire room full - onhistory, archaeology, anything related to the period."The idea for the story came from overhearing a customer in a Pompeiibookstore asking what life was like in the individual houses, and aquestion her husband proposed to her: "If you could travel back intime, where would you go?"Although the book is a work of fiction, some of Warner's characterdescriptions are based on real people. The descriptions of settings arebased on ancient works of art and detailed background research. "Itried to make the story historically accurate. If I said they locked the10/11/17, 12(32 PMUNH Professor Authors Book on Time TravelPage 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2003/july/em_20030718warner.htmldoor with a key, I did research to make sure they had locks and keys."Warner worked on the book nights and weekends for about a year anda half, adding that it was much more difficult to sell it than to write it."I always felt there was a side of myself I wasn't using," she says,"my storytelling, dreamy, imaginative side. I've gotten positivereviews, but I won't quit my day job."The novel is available through major online booksellers or by specialorder from bookstores. For more information visit www.rebecca-east.comWarner is now working on a statistics textbook. Back to UNH News Bureau

UNH Professor Authors Book on Time Travel

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UNH Professor Authors Book on Time Travel

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