Although I only sent off the email earlier today I have already had a reply:
Although this is obviously disappointing I was prepared for this eventuality, I understand completely how busy these people must be. I have therefore had to adapt to solve this problem and using the Forbes article Romm (the academic I contacted) co-wrote as a basis decided to expand on this area of research which I had wanted to question Romm about. I have found other sources debating similar topics surrounding the nature of Alexander's enemy and this may actually be more beneficial to my dissertation as it gave me a breadth of opinion and interpretation that just emailing Romm wwouldn't have given me.
I am disappointed that Romm was too busy but I am glad that I was able to solve the problem and what I will take from this is that it is worth trying to email academics even if they may be busy but that you should always have a back up plan so don't place all your hopes no one reply to an email.
If I am to email another academic I will do similar things i.e. surrounding the structure of the email and the general tone of it because Romm did not ignore me, he took the time to write back with a suggestion rather than simply not reply which suggests that my email itself was adequate it was just his schedule not allowing him the time.
I am disappointed that Romm was too busy but I am glad that I was able to solve the problem and what I will take from this is that it is worth trying to email academics even if they may be busy but that you should always have a back up plan so don't place all your hopes no one reply to an email.
If I am to email another academic I will do similar things i.e. surrounding the structure of the email and the general tone of it because Romm did not ignore me, he took the time to write back with a suggestion rather than simply not reply which suggests that my email itself was adequate it was just his schedule not allowing him the time.