Why Roman? I have a BA and most of an MA in Classics,so I know there is lots of info,but why not phalanxes or cavalry? 

It comes from the genesis of the novel. The novel came out of dispute with another aspiring author over whether good ideas or good writing were necessary to make novels successful. Jim was in the good writing camp, saying that even terrible, tried and tired ideas could be given life by skilled writing. As a challenge, he told the other author to give him two terrible ideas and he'd turn them into a masterwork.

The first idea the other author came up with was "lost Roman legions" because the plot element had been way overdone. So, the people of Alera came from the IX Hispana Legion. The other idea was "Pokémon."

(Googles him)

This guy?


He seems to young and fit to me. Butters always seemed a bit more scrawny and maybe a bit more middle aged to me.

I love listening to Jim because he's got such a great comic delivery of his jokes. I listen to all of Brandon Sanderson's Q&As too, and they are great and funny, but no where near as humorous as Jim's.

Jim Butcher and Skin Game at University Book Store, Seattle

Recipes That Work: New Stories, New Characters, and Fan Expectations with Jim Butcher at Wyrd Con 5