Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino: Mark Jamilkowski Interview | Mask of Romulus, Ancient Rome, India & Historical Fiction

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Mark Jamilkowski Interview | Mask of Romulus, Ancient Rome, India & Historical Fiction

Welcome to a new edition of the Famous Interviews with Joe Dimino series. On this episode, we catch up with Author Mark Jamilkowski to explore his remarkable journey as a writer and his acclaimed 2025 historical fiction novel, Mask of Romulus.

Published in November 2025, Mask of Romulus takes readers deep into the world of Ancient Rome, where Augustus, Rome's first emperor, encounters Kamala, an oracle from India, creating an unexpected connection between two ancient civilizations. The novel weaves together history, philosophy, mythology, political power, spirituality, and human destiny.

Mark's inspiration for the novel began with an archaeological discovery in Pompeii—including the discovery of a statue of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi—which led him to explore the historical connections between ancient Rome and India.

This is also a reunion conversation. We originally caught up with Mark in 2024, and much has happened since then. His writing career has continued to grow alongside his work as a healthcare startup entrepreneur, and Mask of Romulus has attracted strong reviews and recognition from publications covering historical fiction.

We also revisit his first historical fiction novel, The Road to Moresco, which follows Maria-Luisa and her daughter Chiara through the upheavals of early 20th-century Europe. Mark drew heavily on research, interviews, and family history to create the story.

In this conversation, we get into historical fiction, Ancient Rome, Augustus Caesar, ancient India, mythology, philosophy, research, storytelling, entrepreneurship, family history, the creative process, and what it means to bring the past to life through fiction.

It's quite a story. Enjoy this interview.