Hiatus

I haven’t updated my blog in quite some time, but I’ve been terribly busy. I’m currently reading Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol and I am quite sure I”ll end up writing about it. So far, I’m not impressed. In fact, I’m actually sorry I paid for the book. Then again, I am only half-way, so I hope it improves.

Otherwise, keep checking back. I’m sure I’ll have some writing inspiration soon. I am not the type of narcissist to write mindless drivvle about a ridiculous subject no one else cares about just for the sake of writing something. That’s tacky and I actually respect and admire my readers! I would never ‘dumb down’ my writing just to give the audience something new to read.  I Am Not Jane Austen shall return…

Published Again: Books That Journey into Darkness

A couple of months ago, I was asked to compile a Flashlight Worthy list of books regarding any subject I chose. Visit this site to see what books I recommend!

http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/Dark-Books-Novels/514

Contest: Cleopatra’s Daughter

CONTEST CLOSED SEPT. 4TH NOON

CONGRATULATIONS TO HUMA RASHID WHO WON THE FIRST PRIZE AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF CLEOPATRA’S DAUGHTER.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LINDSEY KARM WHO WON THE SECOND PRIZE AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE HERETIC QUEEN.

Now for the moment you have all been waiting for: the giveaway contest for Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran, scheduled to be released Sept. 15!

The Rules:

1. You must either follow me on Twitter, befriend me on Facebook, or have previously posted a comment on this blog site. (Sorry, no exceptions.)

2. You must be a U.S. resident. (Sorry, foreign friends!)

3. The contest ends at noon on Friday, Sept. 4th!

Now, for the contest:

You have to work for it and possibly do a minor amount of research if you don’t already have a basis is Egyptian history.

As a comment to this post, write 3-4 sentences or a brief paragraph answering the following writing prompt:  

Which powerful Egyptian queen would you rather embody — Cleopatra or Nefertiti — and why?

The best, most creative answer wins an autographed copy of Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran (author of Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen). The contest ends at noon on Friday and the winner will be determined and announced at 5 p.m. Good luck!

Learn more about Cleopatra’s Daughter in my post “Q & A with Michelle Moran.”

Cleopatra’s Daughter: Q & A with Michelle Moran

From the author of such bestselling historical fiction novels as Nefertiti and The Heretic’s Queen comes Cleopatra’s Daughter, to be released in hardcover on September 15th.

“The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt.  Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.” – taken from jacket

Q: What prompted you to write a novel about Cleopatra’s daughter?

A:  I do a great deal of traveling both for research and for fun, and most of my destinations are archaeological sites. On a trip to Alexandria in Egypt, I was afforded the amazing opportunity of participating in a dive to see the submerged remains of Cleopatra’s ancient city. More than ten thousand artifacts remain completely preserved underwater: sphinxes, amphorae, even the stones of the ancient palace. Although I’m not a fan of diving, it was an incredible experience, and it changed the way I looked at Cleopatra. I immediately wanted to know more about her life, and it was mere coincidence that my next trip took me to Italy, where her ten year-old children were brought to live after her suicide. While in Rome, I was able to retrace her daughter’s steps, and upon seeing where her daughter had lived on the Palatine, I knew I had my next novel.