"Daughters of the Nile" by Stephanie Dray

Posted Amazon Release Date of December 3rd 2013
From Stephanie's Newsletter:

"I get regular emails from readers asking if there will be a third book in the Nile series and when it will be released. So here's the scoop. Yes, there will be a third book in theNile trilogy and it will be out by the end of this year. This one will follow Selene's life as a mother, a magician, and Mauretanian queen. While in the first two books, Selene was desperate to reclaim her mother's lost throne of Egypt. Now she is desperate to keep her children out of the emperor's clutches and she will stop at nothing to defend her new kingdom and the spark of love that has finally kindled in the former ruins of her marriage to Juba II.

I've just finished turning in the first draft to my editor and I can't wait to hear what she thinks. This one is much happier than the previous books but Selene still has some dark struggles to overcome. A fitting tribute, I hope, to the woman who has consumed about a decade of my life. Since I can't give readers an exact date, I thought I'd give them a little peek at the cover--which is still being fine-tuned. (See above.)

And in the meantime, I'll keep sharing snippets and excerpts on my Facebook page where I love to chat with readers".
Find it on Amazon
"Daughters of the Nile" on Goodreads
~Lizzie~

Author Stephanie Dray On The Ancient Magic of Henna Tattoos

 The Ancient Magic of Henna Tattoos by Stephanie Dray The heroine of my novels, Cleopatra Selene, was the Queen of Mauretania and she ruled over the ancient Berbers, the descendants of whom still live in North Africa. For my first novel, Lily of the Nile, I researched the magic of ancient Egypt because I wanted to know the spiritual traditions with which Selene would have been familiar. But for Song of the Nile, I wanted to learn all I could about the life of the people who called Selene their queen. What I learned is that ancient Mauretania was every bit as exotic and sensual as Egypt, and that the women who lived there had a rich and colorful spirituality that expressed itself in their arts. We’ve all heard of Berber carpets. Perhaps we even own a piece of Berber jewelry. But the art of henna is largely associated with Indian culture now, even though it’s believed to have been of Berber origin. Henna is a plant that, when dried, crushed to a powder, and mixed with oil to form a paste, can safely dye the skin--and the color will remain for weeks. Because of this and other medicinal properties, henna became an important part of Berber culture. Like the Egyptians, the Berbers believed in a kind of sympathetic magic, whereby symbols could take the place and power of actual things. For example, whereas the Egyptians might carve a cobra or a jackal-headed god at the entrance of a tomb to guard it, the Berbers might paint a sharp object on a pregnant woman’s belly as if to pierce the evil eye. Whereas the Egyptians spent a great deal of time ornamenting tombs and creating magical amulets to be worn, the Berbers retreated to a more personal, more sensual connection to the supernatural world. By painting protective symbols on the body, the skin becomes its own talisman and magical protection. A manifestation of spirituality that is visible to anyone who might look upon the tattoos. It’s interesting to me that while I used bloody hieroglyphs on my heroine’s arms and hands as a way of the divine world speaking through her, I hadn’t considered the use of symbols on her arms and hands as a way for her to speak back. At least, not until I learned more about the Berbers among whom Selene built a new life for herself. While not exclusively reserved for women, Berber henna tattoos are inextricably entwined with women’s rituals. Henna tattoos are most often applied before a wedding, before and after birth, and before death. At all life’s thresholds, and, incidentally, all the times that a woman might need the comfort of others near her, rubbing her, pampering her, and seeing to it that she has adequate rest. The henna paste can be made with oils--sandalwood is a popular one--so that the long process of painting intricate designs on the skin can give aromatic pleasure to all those involved. Berber women couldn’t easily tattoo themselves, so it become a bonding experience, and one of giving over the body to others in trust. And if that’s not magic, what is?

More on Stephanie Dray...
Stephanie graduated from Smith, a small women’s college in Massachusetts where–to the consternation of her devoted professors–she was unable to master Latin. However, her focus on Middle Eastern Studies gave her a deeper understanding of the consequences of Egypt’s ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion.

Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

"Sorceress. Seductress. Schemer. Cleopatra’s daughter has become the emperor’s most unlikely apprentice and the one woman who can destroy his empire… Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land. Forced to marry a man of the emperor’s choosing, Selene will not allow her new husband to rule in her name. She quickly establishes herself as a capable leader in her own right and as a religious icon. Beginning the hard work of building a new nation, she wins the love of her new subjects and makes herself vital to Rome by bringing forth bountiful harvests. But it’s the magic of Isis flowing through her veins that makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra’s daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother’s throne be more than she’s willing to pay"?

Berkley Trade in October 2011 (Trade Paperback)
# ISBN-10: 0425243044 and # ISBN-13: 9780425243046

B&N
IndieBound
Borders
Constellation Books
Powell's
Amazon
~Lizzie~

The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age, guest post by Author Stephanie Dray

 Please give a warm welcome to author Stephanie Dray!!! Historically Obsessed is very proud to be a part of Stephanie's blog tour for "Lily of the Nile". You can check out the rocking giveaway going on or take a peek at my review. But first check out this amazing guest post by Stephanie on "The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age".

Lily of the Nile

"Heiress of one empire and prisoner of another, it is up to the daughter of Cleopatra to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers... 

To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die"?

The Fashion World of Cleopatra Selene and the Augustan Age

by

Stephanie Dray

Cleopatra VII was the most fashionable woman in the ancient world. Like a modern day celebrity, she set the trends. During her visit to Rome, she made such a sensation that Roman matrons hurried to copy her distinctive hairstyles. It’s hard to believe that her daughter didn’t inherit just a touch of Cleopatra’s sense of style.

Cleopatra’s daughter is the heroine of my forthcoming debut novel, Lily of the Nile. One of the most enjoyable things about writing this book was researching the clothes, cosmetics, jewelry and hairstyles of the period. But whereas Cleopatra was a trendsetter who ushered in an era of extravagance, such lavish indulgence went out of style after the famous queen’s suicide.

Her ten year old daughter, Cleopatra Selene, was captured by the Romans, then dragged through the streets as a chained captive. In the hopes that Selene might one day be useful to him, Augustus spared her life, so she grew up in the imperial household.

As if to define himself as the very opposite of the defeated Queen Cleopatra, Augustus preached of simple virtues, wearing homespun clothing and encouraging the women of his family to dress as modestly as possible. His wife, Livia, owned expensive jewelry (some of them having belonged to Cleopatra) but she seldom wore them in public, claiming that her children were her jewels. In official statuary, Livia and the other women of the imperial family are always portrayed in frumpy swaths of cloth, practically mummified in the name of virtue.

  A Roman lady adorning herself in the latest fashion

However, the emperor’s daughter, Julia Caesaris, is known for having worn fashion-forward clothing in public, in spite of her father’s complaints. During the Augustan Age, transparent Coan cloth was very popular, and it is thought to have been a form of silk. If dyed in expensive colors like purple or indigo, such a garment could have funded a small army. A woman’s gown always fell to her feet--only prostitutes wore anything short enough to show off ankles and knees. However, it’s almost certain that even well-bred ladies gave a flash of leg because the Romans didn’t have buttons or zippers or other modern fastenings. They used pins and clasps to keep their clothes fastened and for wealthy women, this was the way to show off expensive jeweled brooches.

Parthian earrings, a style that shows up on many portraits of women in the era.

And oh, how ancient Roman women loved to show off their jewelry and gems. Cleopatra Selene is known to have worn her mother’s amethyst ring, the famous one with which Cleopatra was said to have bewitched Mark Antony. It’s likely that she inherited some of her mother’s other famous adornments--perhaps some of the giant pearls and emeralds. I absolutely love the cover of Michelle Moran’s Cleopatra’s Daughter on which Selene is depicted with a serpentine armlet, but I often wonder if the historical Selene would have wanted to raise that spectre of her mother’s apparent suicide by snake.

A serpentine armlet such as in Michelle Moran’s cover

Women of the upper classes in Augustan Age Rome plucked all the hair from their bodies and used cosmetics. Given Selene’s Egyptian heritage, she may have lined her eyes with kohl, but given her strict upbringing in the emperor’s household, she’s unlikely to have painted her face until after she became queen in her own right.

Roman Cosmetic pots

Given her adherence to Isis, she may have worn her gown knotted between her breasts, and of course, when she became Queen of Mauretania, imperial purple was one of her biggest exports, so she undoubtedly draped herself in imperial purple!

Thank you Stephanie for the intriguing article on Selene's fashion world and stunning pictures of jewelry. I would kill for the armlet!

BIO

Stephanie Dray is the author of a forthcoming trilogy of historical fiction novels set in the Augustan Age, starting with Lily of the Nile: A Novel of Cleopatra's Daughter. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

Amazon

Giveaway Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

"Heiress of one empire and prisoner of another, it is up to the daughter of Cleopatra to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...
To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die"? 

You can check out my review of "Lily of the Nile" here.

The Rules

 Up for grabs is one paperback copy

The giveaway is open to the US Only, sorry.

For 1 entry leave me a comment with a way to contact you.

For 2 entries follow my blog. If you already do, thank you for following my blog, and please let me know in the comments. You're eligible for the extra entry as well.

For 3 entries blog or tweet this giveaway to spread the word.

Giveaway will end on January 12th at midnight.

I will draw one winner using Random.org 

Good luck to everyone!

Amazon

Book Review: LILY OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray

First we need to cover the fact that Michelle Moran released “Cleopatra’s Daughter” in the not so distant past. Michelle’s novel and Cleopatra’s daughter Selene was more of a traditional historical fiction novel. I know everyone is thinking that two books on the same person; how the heck is that going to work? In my mind ever since I saw a real mummy in an exhibit in the art museum, I have always felt that ancient Egypt holds a mystical power that is deeply etched in to the culture. I have to admit this is the perfect book for anyone who has ever day dreamed of the secrets that Egypt has hidden beneath the desert sands. Covertly Dray sets the stage for Cleopatra’s children to find the magic within them and find the strength to move on in a future full of hostile enemies.

Cleopatra Selene was the daughter of one of Egypt’s most alluring queens Cleopatra and Rome’s most gallant warriors. Her father Mark Antony as most know was a Roman and a high ranking one at that. Rome turned its back on Mark Anthony when he chose Cleopatra over his own birth city. Selene was about 10 or so when the political fight with Rome came to a standoff of emotional and physical warfare. Mark Antony was led to believe Cleopatra was dead and he ultimately committed suicide letting the flood gates open to the Romans. The Romans would waste no time and go in for the kill, they took over Cleopatra’s Egyptian city Alexandria and ultimately she lived up to the family motto “Win or Die”. She chose death and Selene was the one that brought her the snake. Carrying the deadly basket she went to her mother who was hidden away in her sanctuary. Before her mother sent the children away she gave each child a gift; the gift of her magic and a necklace with each child’s own proclamation inscribed in it. Selene’s necklace and gift changed her instantly and forever, her mother stated she was “The Resurrection”. When Selene left her mother’s presence with her twin brother Helios and younger brother Philadelphus they all knew it would be the last time they ever saw her again.

With both of her parents gone and her older half-brother by the great Julius Caesar; Caesarion on the run there was no hope of rescue. The Roman captors locked the children up in their mother’s room. It was only when the brutish Roman general Agrippa came to interrogate the children about their mothers death, Agrippa boasted that the children were to be shipped off to Rome by the orders of Caesar.

Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus the imperator and victor of Actium in other words he was Caesar and also known as Octavian. He marched the children into Rome as war trophy’s and it was gratifying for him to march Cleopatra’s children in such a degrading way because he could not have their mother Cleopatra she was already dead. Selene and her two brothers struggled under their golden gilded collars and chains that were pulled by Octavian’s chariot. The crowds of Romans were viciously infested with rage at Cleopatra. The people pelted the children with things and cursed fiercely at them. The people of Rome hated the children because of their mother “the great whore” who stole Julius Caesar and Mark Antony from Rome.  Selene put on a brave face and with what little dignity she had left. She made it part of the way through Emperor Caesar’s great deliverance when out of sheer fear Selene begged for her life and the lives of her brothers. It took a lot out of her pride to beg but she felt she must beg or die trying. Just as Octavian had planned she begged and Octavian’s sister who was also her father’s ex-wife Octavia pledged with Caesar to spare the children's lives.

Stripped of everything she ever loved including her right to worship her beloved goddess Isis Selene found herself trapped in Octavia’s house of “lamentable embassy of royal orphans” with her unwanted numerous half brothers and sisters. Rome was nothing like Egypt it was painfully brought to light in everything even down to the way the houses were built. The beauty of Egypt was incomparable and Selene tried to console her-self but when the first message appeared it scared even her the first time. It was suddenly that magical hieroglyphics scrolled themselves all the way up her arms and down her hands. It had never happened before in Egypt. The messages hurt and bleed profusely which meant she could not hide it. The messages scared her because she had no idea where they were coming from and why they were happening to her. The messages would led her on a perilous task of protecting her beloved Isis and saving herself from being devoured by her new forced home the barbaric Rome.

4.5/5 Wow that was a good read! I cannot wait for the next one. This was the perfect blend of historical fiction and magic. Typically I am not magic kind of girl unless it is Disney. I guess the fact that it is Egyptian magic made it different in my mind like it was more mystically enticing. The next book “Song of the Nile” is going to be amazing and I am really looking forward to following this new trilogy. I can guarantee if you love anything Egyptian like me you will love this new take on one of history’s most monumental Queen’s. Recommended highly for historical fiction lovers who day dreamed Egypt held magical secrets.

FTC-Sent to me by author.

R-Rating for violence.

For more on Stephanie Dray:

Historically Obsessed's post on "Lily of the Nile" and "Song of the Nile"

She is currently sponsoring the Cleopatra Literary Contest for Young Women, the deadline for which is March 1, 2011, but join her newsletter now for updates and a chance to win a free copy of Lily of the Nile and additional prizes.

Amazon

Early Mailbox Mondays

Secrets of the Tudor Court: By Royal Decree by Kate Emerson

Signed finished copy.

"AS TEMPESTUOUS AS THE TUDOR MONARCHS THEMSELVES, THE SECRETS OF THE TUDOR COURT SERIES HAS BEEN CALLED “RIVETING” (BOOKLIST) AND “WELL DRAWN” (PUBLISHERS WEEKLY).
 
Charming. Desirable. Forbidden. Brought to court with other eligible young noblewomen by the decree of King Henry VIII, lovely Elizabeth “Bess” Brooke realizes for the first time that beauty can be hazardous. Although Bess has no desire to wed the aging king, she and her family would have little choice if Henry’s eye were to fall on her. And other dangers exist as well, for Bess has caught the interest of dashing courtier Will Parr. Bess finds Will’s kisses as sweet as honey, but marriage between them may be impossible. Will is a divorced man, and remarriage is still prohibited. Bess and Will must hope that the king can be persuaded to issue a royal decree allowing Will to marry again . . . but to achieve their goal, the lovers will need royal favor. Amid the swirling alliances of royalty and nobles, Bess and Will perform a dangerous dance of palace intrigue and pulse-pounding passions.

Brought to glowing life by the talented Kate Emerson, and seen through the eyes of a beautiful young noblewoman, By Royal Decree illuminates the lives of beautiful young courtiers in and out of the rich and compelling drama of the Tudor court".

Lily of the NileLily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray

"To Isis worshipers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die"?

The Darling Strumpet: A Novel of Nell Gwynn, Who Captured the Heart of England and King Charles II by Gillian Bagwell

Finished copy, my arc was cover-less. I was so hoping they would send me a final copy.

 "A thrilling debut novel starring one of history's most famous and beloved courtesans.

From London's slums to its bawdy playhouses, The Darling Strumpet transports the reader to the tumultuous world of seventeenth-century England, charting the meteoric rise of the dazzling Nell Gwynn, who captivates the heart of King Charles II-and becomes one of the century's most famous courtesans.

Witty and beautiful, Nell was born into poverty but is drawn into the enthralling world of the theater, where her saucy humor and sensuous charm earn her a place in the King's Company. As one of the first actresses in the newly-opened playhouses, she catapults to fame, winning the affection of legions of fans-and the heart of the most powerful man in all of England, the King himself. Surrendering herself to Charles, Nell will be forced to maneuver the ruthless and shifting allegiances of the royal court-and discover a world of decadence and passion she never imagined possible".

LILY OF THE NILE and SORCERESS OF THE NILE by Stephanie Dray Releasing 2011

This has really peeked my interest, since I did enjoy Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran I just have a good feeling about this one. Here is what the publisher had to say:

"Now your next thought might be but Michelle Moran wrote about Cleopatra's Daughter already. And this is when I'd say with much amusement, that Stephanie submitted her story with no knowledge about Moran's book. How's /that/ for an intriguing segway for a blog post? Not only that, the two books split off into two entirely different directions".

Hum very interesting same person but completely different story lines.

Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray  Releasing 

January 4th 2011

"With her parents dead, the daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of her Roman captors. Heir to one empire and prisoner of another, it falls to Princess Selene to save her brothers and reclaim what’s rightfully hers…In the aftermath of Alexandria’s tragic fall, Princess Selene is taken from Egypt, the only home she’s ever known. Along with her two surviving brothers, she’s put on display as a war trophy in Rome. Selene’s captors mock her royalty and drag her through the streets in chains, but on the brink of death, the children are spared as a favor to the emperor’s sister, who takes them to live as hostages in the so-called lamentable embassy of royal orphans…

Now trapped in a Roman court of intrigue that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, Selene can’t hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her flesh. Nor can she stop the emperor from using her for his own political ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined honor her mother’s lost legacy. The magic of Egypt and Isis remain within her. But can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win or die"?

After "Lily of the Nile" releases there will be a sequel coming out sometime in 2011. Here is more on it below.

Sorceress of the Nile

Update: the title has now been changed to Song  

"Pledged to an emperor who abuses her burgeoning sexuality, and wed to a man who means to rule in her name, a courageous fifteen-year-old queen learns to harness the magic that will protect her kingdom and bring her enemies to their knees…

Cleopatra’s daughter struck a dangerous bargain to win a throne. Now the young queen must face the perverse consequences of her promise to become Octavian’s own Cleopatra. To protect her faith, her brothers, and her people, the teenager upends a world ruled exclusively by men. But while Selene uses her powers to bring forth bountiful harvests that make her indispensable to Rome as a capable leader and religious icon, her rebellious twin brother Helios thwarts the Romans across the African continent, reviving the legend of Horus the Avenger".

Here is some more interesting information about author Stephanie Dray.

"Author Stephanie Dray beat the odds this year, signing contracts with two major New York publishing houses. In a two-book contract, she sold her debut novel, a historical fantasy about the life of Cleopatra’s daughter, to Berkley Books. Under the pen name Stephanie Draven, she also sold a paranormal romance series to Harlequin’s Nocturne line, for a total of six works sold in one year.

The author’s Mythica series, which has been described as “Percy Jackson for grown-up girls,” is based on the premise that Greek mythology is real and that ancient gods still walk among us. In October 2010, Harlequin publishes the first full-length novel of the series: Poisoned Kisses, a sassy but emotional tale for anyone who wonders what kind of daddy issues a girl has when her father is Ares, Greek God of War.

In January 2011, the author releases her first book for Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Group.  Titled Lily of the Nile, this historical drama takes readers to ancient Rome and into the life of Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, who was captured by the Romans and forced to struggle for survival in the home of her parents’ worst enemy.

The author kicked off her paranormal romance series with two novellas--Midnight Medusa and Wild Tethered Bound--both of which received glowing reviews. Both works have already been issued in electronic form in anticipation of their appearance in paperback later this year".

I can not wait for this one to be featured on Historically Obsessed. I am hoping to have a guest post and a giveaway for all the readers around the release day which is quite a way off. One more to look forward to in 2011.

Amazon