It's my pleasure to bring back my friend Veronica Scott who has another new release. She took a break from science fiction romance and delved into Egyptian mythology. Fascinating! Before reading her other books in the Gods of Egypt series, I knew little about Egyptian myths. Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, yes. Egyptian and Norse, not much. I guess I will always be an eager learner.
Here's Veronica to tell us about her new book.
Thanks for having me as
your guest!
I’ve always loved
ancient world romance, but of course being me, I have to have those mystical
paranormal elements included. It’s not a huge audience – or at least not
currently, things can change- but I have an enthusiastic core of readers for
the Gods of Egypt novels and I’m grateful. The new one, Heiress of the Nile, is my tenth story to revolve around events in
Pharaoh’s court of 3500 years ago (about the time of King Tut, although my
Pharaoh is fictitious).
I’m proudest of a
review I received from the Dear Author blog for Ghost of the Nile, where they said, “There’s Egypt and gods and magic and strong men and stronger women and
love even beyond death and into the Afterlife. The historic details add spice
throughout the story and these definitely aren’t 21st C people in linen kilts.”
I felt the reviewer caught exactly what I was striving to achieve with all
of these books, which is to take the reader with me into my version of ancient
Egypt and to enjoy the action, adventure and romance.
In the current book, I
got to tell the story of General Marnamaret, who’s been a supporting character
in the other novels. Turns out he’s a boyhood friend of Pharaoh’s and a proud
soldier looking for just the right woman to share his life and the Afterlife.
He also has a mother who isn’t getting any younger and wants grandchildren.
Here’s
the blurb:
1550 BCE
Forced by a vengeful
Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady
Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young
brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no
possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new
pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…
A powerful general in
command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a
nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for
less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.
Will the goddess answer
these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the
course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….
Author’s Note: This is a connected
series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my
newest novel, the story falls between Priestess of the Nile and Warrior of the
Nile timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.
A
quick excerpt:
General of
Pharaoh’s Army Marnamaret was an early riser. He liked to watch Ra’s sunboat
surface from the night and begin its daily journey across the sky. Everything
was peaceful at dawn and he could pray to his own sworn Great One, Horus, and
gather himself for the day ahead. Currently, with his boyhood friend
Nat-re-Akhte installed as Pharaoh after a long and grueling war with the
Usurper, life was fairly peaceful. Marnamaret was sure there’d be more action
in his future, to complete the job of driving the Hyksos from Egypt and
assuring the security of the Black Lands.
He varied
his choice of secluded spots each day, depending on his mood. Today he chose
the roof of the sprawling house a grateful Pharaoh had gifted him, along with a
large estate, gold of valor and other tokens of appreciation. As the General of
Pharaoh’s army, Marnamaret had vast responsibilities and nearly limitless power
and he carried the attendant duties easily.
Yet this
morning his thoughts wandered to the softer side of a man’s life—home, wife,
children. He had the home of course, none finer save for the palace. But there
was no one to share his life and no prospect of having the family he craved.
Pharaoh was happily married and wished for all his companions to know similar
bliss. He pushed subtly for Marnamaret to choose a worthy woman and settle the
issue. His own mother, blessed be her ka
and may she know only peace, prosperity and health, was much less subtle on the
topic and had the habit of suggesting specific girls to him.
Sooner than later we’ll be on the campaign trail again
against the Hyksos or another enemy. I need to stop waiting for the god of Fate
to send the right woman for my heart into my path and take action before the
wars resume.
The
decision brought him no comfort. A loveless marriage sounded abhorrent to him.
He wanted what his parents had enjoyed, the proof of which was painted all over
his father’s tomb, in lively and happy vignettes depicting the best times the
two shared. His mother had no fear of the Afterlife, because she was unshakable
in her belief they’d be reunited.
Marnamaret
shivered, fierce soldier that he was. If
I pick the wrong woman now, will I be tied to her for all the millions of years
of Afterlife? A more daunting prospect than facing a line of Hyksos
chariots while on foot and unarmed. Seized by an unaccustomed whimsy, he went
to the household altar, which was dedicated to the primary Great Ones
worshipped by his family, made obeisance and whispered a name which rarely fell
from his lips, although his mother and sister prayed to her often.
“Great One
Hathor, Mother of us all, I beg your help in finding the love of my life, the
woman to stand with me as partner, side by side, arm in arm, the way my own
parents are depicted in their tomb carvings. Clearly I can’t accomplish this on
my own since I’m still unmarried.” He grinned at the idea of himself praying to
the goddess, which wasn’t something soldiers often did. Setting the sacrificial
fruit, beer and bread on the altar, he bowed his head.
A breeze
wafted across the roof and he caught the scent of the blue lotus, which was odd
because his house was some distance from the Nile. Goosebumps rose annoyingly
on his arms and he pulled his red cloak closer.
Today is the day.
Marnamaret
was on his feet instantly, hand on his dagger but the roof was empty. Had the
goddess truly whispered to him or was he beguiled by the breeze? Staring at the
painted image of Hathor, he wondered if she’d given him a blessing. In
Pharaoh’s company he’d certainly met Horus the Falcon and several other Great
Ones, such as Sobek the Crocodile. Perhaps the goddess was less likely to
reveal herself to a mere soldier?
Now the
wind carried a distinct chuckle, followed by the faint sound of sistrums, her
sacred musical instrument.
Slowly the
sounds faded and he was alone. “If—if you have chosen to honor me by accepting
my plea, Great One,” he said slowly, searching for the right words as carefully
as if he was addressing a high born woman of the court, “Then I’m blessed
indeed and I dare to hope it won’t be long before I meet the lady.”
A ray of sun
struck the golden disk between the graceful horns of the statue and rebounded
into his eyes, making him blink hard. There was no further sign from the
goddess and he could no longer smell the lotus which heralded—perhaps—her
divine presence.
“Darling, why
in the name of the blessed Nile have you sacrificed to Hathor today?” His
mother stepped onto the roof and strolled toward him. “I can’t remember the
last time you prayed to her.” She deposited the flowers she was carrying on the
altar next to his offerings before rising on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
“Are you all right? You seem out of sorts.”
“Fine,
mother. I’ve got to run or I’ll be late to the palace and my first meeting is
with Pharaoh today.” Best to forestall her questions right now, before she
pried his melancholy truth loose from his heart and made any awkward
suggestions about specific girls of marriageable age. None of the ladies at
court spoke to his heart.
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Author Bio and Links:
USA Today Best Selling
Author
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a
library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and
Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran
out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
Seven time winner of
the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction
Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal
relating to her former day job, not her romances!
She read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in
the official audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of
Forever.”
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