Io Saturnalia!
The other day, I wrapped pine garland around the bannisters and put candles in the windows. As I type this, there are cookies baking in the oven. I'm planning a big feast for my friends and family and buying gifts for my loved ones. All these traditions would be familiar to the ancient Romans who celebrated this time of year in much the same way we do. Since my Saturnalia Celebration at Constellation Books for the launch of Song of the Nile was snowed out, I've decided to do a virtual version. So, read on and we'll share in the solstice together.
First, The Feasting...
This month I've had the pleasure of hosting an archeological food extravaganza on my blog in which we've reproduced historical menus and recipes for the modern palate. I can't tell you how hungry it has made me to format these delicious posts and now I get to share some of my favorites with you:
And the Wine...
If you're a reader or writer of historical fiction and you live in the Chesapeake Bay Area, you should know that we're in the process of starting a new chapter of the Historical Novel Society. We intend to make our first meeting on March 6th when we will gather round debut author Sophie Perinot to ply her with wine and keep her calm during her release of The Sister Queens.
Then the Boasting...
As it happens, I have something to boast about. I recently sold the rights to Lily and Song of the Nile to Spain. Yes, Spain, where Juba II probably earned his kingship fighting the Cantabri. Moreover, while Song of the Nile seems to be the most controversial book I've ever written, it's also been garnering quite a bit of flattering praise!
"A Striking Sequel." ~San Francisco Book Review
"Historical women’s fiction at its finest." ~History and Women
"This book radiates with the magic of Isis and the characters leap off the page." ~Acting Balanced
"[Dray] is now solidly on my (very short) list of favorite historical fiction writers." ~Small Review
"An outstanding piece of historical fiction." ~Night Owl Reviews
"A magnificent novel with a magical twist!" ~Fresh Fiction
"The book was a fast read that left me feeling stronger and more powerful myself." ~Paperback Dolls
And the Tomfoolery...
Brace yourselves if you're in the NJ/NY/DE/PA area because I'll be frolicking, gaming, reading and signing books on Saturday December 17th at A Novel Idea, Chapter II in Bridgeton, NJ between 2-4pm with fellow author Laura Kaye. If you're in the area, I'd love to see you. And if you come out on a wintry day just to see us, we'll make it worth your while ;)
In April, I will be giving my Bad Girls of the Ancient World talk at Smith College's annual ConBust--in fact, I will be there all weekend as a guest and panelist on March 30-April 1st and would love to see friendly faces. Trust me, there's nothing that an author likes more than discussing her books and chatting with friends. I always love to hear reader feedback--even when it's terrible--so please don't be shy about letting me know what you think!
Then the Gifts...
I'm happy to announce that the lucky winner of the Song of the Nile celebratory motherlode of historical fiction is Riva K. Bell! Riva, when you read this, tell me where to send your books:
     
And More Gifts...
You may recall that I had to call a halt to my "Review My Book, Win a Nook" contest last month due to legal complications arising from the nature of the contest. However, I still have an ambition to get more e-readers into the hands of book lovers like you. And I'm not about to bail on the idea of giving my readers an e-reader when I've promised one. So, I do have a Nook to give away. It's a Nook Touch, light grey, beautiful and new in the box. You can win it with minimal effort by either adding any of my books to your Goodreads "to be read" pile and/or using twitter/facebook to recommend that others do so. ( See Details.)
Until Next Time, Happy Holidays!
Stephanie Dray
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