M.J. Woodman is the debut author of Divine and a passionate student of the Ancient World. A Classics enthusiast and self-proclaimed book-nerd, M.J. began writing Divine when she was thirteen. She revisited the untouched manuscript several years later, re-writing the novel with a clear, and mature voice. Divine is a Young Adult, Fantasy novel, set in a world where the Roman Empire never fell. The first instalment of this exciting new series introduces the reader to the mystical world of Appia which is redolent of Young Adult dystopian worlds seen in novels such as The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Maze Runner. Divine reimagines the brutality of the Roman Empire in our modern day with an exciting and diverse cast of characters.
MJ grew up on isolated Dartmoor, in England, surrounded by nature, and as an only child, there wasn’t much to do but read. Books soon became her best friend, so it was only natural that she should develop a passion for creative writing at school.
Inspired by a creative writing course at the University of Toronto, and by her studies of the Ancient World, her writing has culminated in Divine, an alternative-history, YA novel set in a rich and detailed world where the Roman Empire never fell.
She spends her time reading, studying, writing, and developing new projects inspired by the enigmatic and mythical world of history. She hopes one day to use her platform as an author to engage young people with history, which she believes, is crucial to building a better, brighter future.
“If I could give this book 10 stars out of 5, I would. This book was truly amazing!! If you enjoyed Red Queen, Circe, and the Hunger Games then you would LOVE this book! The best part is the strong, badass main character (Electa Steel) and her multiple love interests! I'm so obsessed with the aesthetic that this book captures and the whole world that MJ Woodman created. Honestly, I liked this book more than the Hunger Games and I think everything will too! I cannot wait for the sequel! MJ can have all my money because I'm so obsessed!”
– Amazon Customer
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A note from the Author.
Divine is a love letter to the fantasy worlds that captivated me as a young child. I dreamed and envisioned a world of my own that would be a safe space for children like me, the daydreamers, wanderers, and lost souls looking for a home. Divine is the book I wanted to read growing up, and in writing this story, I was able to relive some of the most joyous moments of my childhood - gazing up at the Colosseum, aged nine, holding my parents' hands. It is a sight that still leaves me in awe to this day. Rome has always felt like a home to me, in a way England never has, and to be able to explore the city's history in writing my first novel was only fitting. I can't wait to explore more of the Ancient World in my future novels and share my weird, wild imagination with bookworms everywhere. Thank you for all your support.
MJ Woodman x