WatchMojo.com had the opportunity to ask author of novel turned film, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” some questions about writing and his latest novel, “The House of Special Purpose.” His most recent novel is part love story, part historical epic, and part tragedy. This captivating novel follows a young man ripped from a loving home and thrust into the heart of a dying empire after he risks his life at 16 years old to save a member of the Russian Imperial Family.

WM- What initially drew you to write, and who are some of your biggest influences?

Boyne- I’ve been writing since I was a child and was initially drawn to it because of my love of reading. I grew up in Dublin and every Wednesday afternoon my mother would take me to our local library to get some books for the week ahead and it was something I was always incredibly excited about. I wanted to be able to write books and stories that moved readers in the same way that my favourite books moved me. My early influences were writers like Robert Louis Stevenson and Alexander Dumas; I loved adventure stories and anything to do with explorers - I was devastated to discover that every country was already on the map as I wanted to be an explorer when I grew up. Later, I loved the works of Charles Dickens and the contemporary writers who have influenced me the most include John Irving and Anne Tyler.

WM- Many of your novels have a basis in historical fact: explain to us the kind of research you must undertake to achieve accuracy.

Boyne- I begin with the contemporary fiction of the time in which my book is set; so, for The House of Special Purpose, half of which is set in the 3 years leading up to the Russian Revolution, I read Tolstoy and Dostoevsky. Anna Karenina was hugely important to me at the start of this book. It’s really useful to read these books as you can discern details of daily life which are often missing from the non-fiction accounts. However, I move on the good histories and biographies next and, if possible, visit the place where my novel is set. Again, for The House of Special Purpose, I spent time in St Petersburg and wrote much of the book in the various rooms of the Winter Palace.

WM-Your book, “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” was made into the 2008 film of the same name. What role did you play in this adaptation and what is it like to see your work transformed onto the big screen?

Boyne- I had a very good relationship with Mark Herman, who wrote and directed the film, and with the producers, so unlike many novelists who feel excluded from the process and then dissatisfied with the result, I felt that my opinions were important right from the start. Mark sent me every draft of the script and took my ideas and notes on board and I spent time on set in Budapest when we were shooting the film. Finally, when it was ready for release, I was included on the several months long publicity tour for the film, which brought me to Spain, Switzerland, Germany, the UK and the United States.

WM- Tell us more about “The House of Special Purpose.”

Boyne- It’s a love story, half of which is set in the 3 years leading up to the Russian Revolution, the other half takes place in the 60 years that follow it. It tells the story of a young Russian peasant boy, Georgy Jachmenev, who is brought from his home to the Winter Palace of Tsar Nicholas II to be a companion bodyguard to the Tsarevich Alexei. It follows his journey there and attachments he forms with the Imperial family, particularly with one of the Imperial daughters. After the revolution, Georgy and his wife Zoya, who is herself highly damaged by the events of recent years, make their way to Paris and then London and we follow their difficult life together as they try to put the past behind them but find that it is impossible to escape.

WM- What are you working on next?

Boyne- A new children’s book, my first since The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. It’s the first book I’ve written which is not set in the past. In fact, Noah Barleywater Runs Away - that’s the title - is a modern fairytale, set in a forest, and illustrated by renowned Irish artist Oliver Jeffers. It will be published in the UK in October of this year and in North America in early 2011. I’m working on a new novel for adults set in the immediate aftermath of the First World War.

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