Category: Uncategorized
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Giraffe City: Cusae and Egyptian Municipal Administration
“We are leaving the Arsinoite now, afibi-t.” She lifts her face to the breeze, her eyes closed. “What strategia does Memphis open to?””The Heptanomis,” I reply, trying to coax a dragonfly onto my fingers. “And the last is the Thebais.””Very good. What is the administrative division beneath the strategia?””The nomes, Aetia.””And how many of them…
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More Non-Standard Tips and Tricks for Writing Memorable Characters
Since it’s been nearly ten months since my last writing craft-focused entry, I thought we’d do another little dive into that arena—specifically looking at how to write deep, fully-formed characters that your readers can connect with. I know I tend to focus a lot on character when I talk about writing, but I find, in…
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Egypt Under the Sun: Agatha Christie’s Akhnaton
AKHNATON: More lands, more subject peoples, bigger palaces, still greater temples to Amon, thousands of beautiful women where my father had hundreds? No, Horemheb, listen to my dream. A kingdom where men dwell in peace and brotherhood, foreign countries given back to rule themselves, fewer priests, fewer sacrifices. Instead of many women—one woman. A woman…
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Home By Any Other Name: The Multifaceted History of Ombos
“Once upon a time, there were larger, more elegant cities here, though now it was just one of many out-of-the-way places that dipped their feet in the river’s edge. Tombs from before even the Egyptians’ long memories begin dotted the surrounding desert, ones of massive scale said to be made when the gods were young…
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Truth and the Divine: The Roman Imperial Cult
I had promised more Daughter of Scorpions content, and I confess that I was briefly at a loss for topics we hadn’t already discussed during the other God’s Wife releases, until I realized we’ve never really specifically talked about something that is a major hinge in this story—mainly, the Roman imperial cult. So I thought…
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History’s Henchman: The Rise and Fall of Lucius Aelius Sejanus
“Sejanus was feared, loathed, despised, and loved…at times disarming and amiable, always efficient and reliable, but arrogant and cruel when they occasion demanded.” – Sejanus: Regent of Rome (John S. McHugh), p. 16 “He’s a Caesar with no mercy and a Sulla with no restraint.” – Daughter of Scorpions, Chapter 29 Okay, two weeks ago…
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Shadow of the Colossus: Susan Fenimore Cooper’s Elinor Wyllys and Other Work
“Writing may be a very pleasant pastime; but printing seems to have many disagreeable consequences attending every stage of the process” – Elinor Wyllys, author preface “‘Yes,’ replied Mrs. Bernard; ‘but it is a pity her face should be so ugly; for she has rather a pretty figure—‘“ – Elinor Wyllys, chapter 2 Whew wee,…
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Release Day for DAUGHTER OF SCORPIONS
Gods defend us, dear readers, we have (finally!) reached release day for my sixth book, and fourth God’s Wife novel, Daughter of Scorpions! I’m so excited for all of you to (re)meet my girl Zosime as she unravels another deadly plot against Rome with the help of both some familiar faces and some new allies.…
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Publication Announcement for DAUGHTER OF SCORPIONS and Ebook Sale!
Howdy folks, I know that I’ve been MIA for a couple of weeks, but I’ve been getting the last proofs and minutiae ready for the next book, and I am delighted to announce that my fourth God’s Wife novel, Daughter of Scorpions, is wrapped up and arriving at the internet storefront of your choice MAY…
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Palfrey Pony Club: Horses in the Middle Ages
It’s been a busy couple of weeks on this end since my last post between travel for the Easter holiday and at last getting cover finalization for Daughter of Scorpions completed (paperback proofs are in the mail!), and this week I’m stuck in six hours of legal continuing education to maintain my attorney’s license. What…
Sarah Holz 