It began with a dive. Not the kind of dive that people take into swimming pools, but the kind where you squeeze yourself into a wetsuit and wonder just how tasty your rump must appear to passing sharks now that it looks exactly like an elephant seal. My husband and I had taken a trip to Egypt, and at the suggestion of a friend, we decided to go to Alexandria and do a dive to see the remains of Cleopatra’s underwater city. Let it be known that I had never done an underwater dive before, so after four days with an instructor (and countless questions: Will there be sharks? How about jellyfish? If there is an earthquake, what happens underwater?) we were ready for the real thing.
We drove to the Eastern Harbor in Alexandria. Dozens of other divers were already there, waiting to see what sort of magic lay beneath the waves. I wondered if the real thing could possibly live up to all of the guides and brochures selling this underwater city, lost for thousands of years until now. Then we did the dive, and it was every bit as magical as everyone had promised. You can see the rocks which once formed Marc Antony’s summer palace, come face to face with Cleopatra’s towering sphinx, and take your time floating above ten thousand ancient artifacts, including obelisks, statues, and countless amphorae. By the time we had surfaced, I was Cleopatra-obsessed. I wanted to know what had happened to her city once she and Marc Antony had committed suicide. Where did all of its people go? Were they allowed to remain or were they killed by the Romans? What about her four children?
It was this last question which surprised me the most. I had always believed that all of Cleopatra’s children had been murdered. But the Roman conqueror Octavian had actually spared the three she bore to Marc Antony: her six-year-old son, Ptolemy, and her ten-year-old twins, Alexander and Selene. As soon as I learned that Octavian had taken the three of them for his Triumph in Rome, I knew at once I had my next book. This is how all of my novels seem to begin – with a journey, then an adventure, and finally, enormous amounts of research for what I hope is an exciting story.
I, for one, am grateful for all of your hard work, Michelle, since it means another of your books for us! Thank you so much for joining me here today. And we have great news for my readers, too. Michelle will send a signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter to the winner of my drawing! To enter, just leave a comment here that includes your email address. This contest will be open WORLDWIDE and the winner will be drawn at random. You can enter until midnight eastern on September 14. If you blog or tweet about this giveaway, become a follower thru Google or Feedburner, or fave at Tecnorati, I'll give you an extra entry for each one. (Anyone who already does any of those will get the extra entries too, just mention them in your comment). Best of luck everyone and, as always, thank you for visiting and commenting!!
Michelle is holding some great contests to celebrate the publication of Cleopatra's Daughter. Check out her Digging for Cleopatra's Daughter contest by clicking on the link. And she has a special contest for teens (they can win a $250 gift certificate!), click here for details.
54 comments:
Thanks for this review. It sounds interesting. I may have to add it to my TBR list.
Thanks for the review. I'm off to check out the contest.
That was really interesting, thanks for posting it!
I'd really love for a chance to nab a copy of her newest, she is a fantastic writer. I'm also a follower of the blog :)
Thanks! (lpmccann(at)gmail.com)
I'm definitely wanting to read this book. Count me in please!
+ follower
+ technorati fave
melacan at hotmail dot com
Having read and enjoyed Nefertiti, I'm anxious to read Ms. Moran's other novels. Thanks for the giveaway.
I follow through Google Reader.
lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm fascinated by Cleopatra - please enter me!
teabird17 **at** yahoo ** dot ** com
This book looks very interesting (and has a gorgeous cover)! Count me in!
librariansbook(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win and read this great-looking book. Please enter my name. Thanks.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
I am a follower of your blog and also subscribe via Google Reader.
wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com
Would love to read this book...thanks for the opportunity.
karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com
Great giveaway -- posted about it on Win A Book! No need to enter me.
I would love to win this book. Very nice cover!!
beachlover20855[AT]yahoo[DOT]com
Great post! I am very interested in reading this book, so please enter my name in your giveaway.
zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
I am a follower as well.
The author's comments were very interesting and the book cover is beautiful.
I'm a Feedburner subscriber.
winterset AT peoplepc.com
I would so love to receive a copy of this book--sounds great:
dd DOT bookgoddess AT gmail DOT com
thanks so much
This books sounds really good. i want to try it now.
I've tweeted at http://twitter.com/shalhinds . i am a google follower
smarty91@gmail.com
count me in please
follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
I read Nefertiti and loved her slant on Ancient Egypt and the manners and people so I have been entering for this book all over the web !
Thanks.
Carol
I am a Follower.
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
I have not read any of Michelle's books and am hoping this could be my first.
jen4777[at]hotmail.com
Sounds great! Please enter me in the drawing.
cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com
This looks great. Thanks for sharing it.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I'd LOVE to read this book!
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Please count me too!
I follow you too.
simplystacieblog@gmail.com
Count me in please-she is won of my favorite authors
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
I follow
chocolateandcroissants at yahoo dot com
Michelle must have so much fun researching her books! Please enter me.
I am already a follower!
jgbeads(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love to win this book! Sounds fantastic.
bsyb100 at gmail dot com
Great review!
I am a follower.
Mariag
That is such a lovely, lovely cover, and such fascinating subject matter. I've been hearing a lot of buzz about this author.
I'm a follower.
mayamissaniATyahooDOTca
Please enter me, perpetualmist at gmail dot com
I have posted the contest on my sidebar
http://perpetualmist.blogspot.com/
I'm a follower now.
Thanks for the contest.
Please include me in the giveaway. Cleopatra's Daughter is at the top of my wish list.
heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com
I follow your blog.
Please count me in! :)
I'm a follower.
tweeted this:
http://twitter.com/austenfanblogs/status/3776231307
faved your blog on technorati (austenfan)
austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to win this book. I have become a follower.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway and for your interesting review.
tmrtini at gmail dot com
Please add my name to the giveaway I really want to read this book!
I follow you on google.
redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom
Please enter me. For extra entries I also signed up as a follower, and posted about your giveaway at
http://giveawayroundup.blogspot.com/2009/09/cleopatras-daughter-giveaways.html
ludeluh at yahaoo dot com
I love this author! Please enter me!
Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a follower
Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com
This is a book I really want to read! I love historicals. Thank you for the giveaway!
I'm a follower.
Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com
sounds great thanks
count me in
i follow your blog
wadesherry@hotmail dot com
Great review, thanks
reneetaylor at sympatico dot ca
I would love to win this one!
I also follow.
shhhimreading[at]hotmail[dot]com
I'm really looking forward to reading this book. It's exactly the type I love to read.
ryanw@mts.net
tweeted
http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/3944919177
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bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
This looks like a good book.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I faved you on Technorati
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
subscribe via reader/feedburner
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I Tweeted about this Giveaway
http://twitter.com/
NancyeDavis/status/3946455256
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
i would love to be entered!!
i follow too!!
nicolemarielum @gmail.com
Please enter me!
Thanks,
Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow.
Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
I also tweeted:
http://twitter.com/fitz12383/status/3959066052
Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com
I keep trying to win this book. Perhaps this is my time to shine. Lord knows I'm interested in reading it. At this rate I might have to put a few coppers in Heather Reisman's pockets....Perish the thought.
It was rather interesting for me to read that post. Thanks for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read more soon.
Truly yours
Timm Clade
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