Literary Quote of the Month

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

Friday, September 11, 2009

Giveaway: Cleopatra's Daughter AND The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

Walk the streets of Rome with Selene... Cleopatra's Daughter

Congrats to the Winners Heidi & Hayden! Heidi won the signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter! Hayden won the signed copy of The Heretic Queen! And a Thank you to EVERYone who joined in on the fun!

One of the most passionate and tragic love stories of all time is that of Antony & Cleopatra! As Egypt was being conquered by Octavian's Roman armies the lovers committed suicide and became immortalized for all eternity. They also left their children orphaned and in the hands of their enemy....

Michelle Moran writes Cleopatra's Daughter in the voice of Selene, the 10 year old daughter of Antony & Cleopatra. Selene is a keen observer as we are swept up in the Roman triumph over Egypt and the story of Selene and her twin brother Alexander becoming the prisoners and responsibilities of their captors, who take them back to Rome...

"Three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts"

It is a story written in such wonderful rich detail that you feel as though you are walking beside Selene as she observes her new surroundings..."Is this Rome? Selena asked. There was no Museion gleaming in the afternoon light, and the villas that hugged the vast stretches of shore were plain, without columns or ornamentation. There was nothing to distinguish one squat white building from the next except the colors of their wind-beaten shutters." Meet the historical cast of characters from the era including Octavian, the emperor of Rome, his sister Octavia, who was once married to Antony (before he left her for Cleopatra), and the poet Vergil, and even experience the building of the Pantheon. Michelle's background in archaelogy and her love of history is apparent in her writing -making Cleopatra's Daughter not a dry retelling of Egyptian/Roman history. I love historical fiction and was captivated by this book. Writing the story with Selene as narrator, gives the story an interesting viewpoint, as we get to see the wonders and horrors of this era thru the eyes of a young girl- something us girls can relate to!

"Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place —the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her
unique interests and talents... Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of Imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of history, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart."

About Michelle...
Michelle majored in English at Pomona College. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University. Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. A public high school teacher for six years,
Michelle Moran is currently a full-time writer living in California with her husband. She is the author of the bestselling historical fiction Nefertiti and its stand alone sequel, The Heretic Queen.

A few insights into Michelle...
How long did it take you to get published?
My first attempt at getting published was in seventh grade, when I was twelve. So I guess I can say it took me fifteen years. I had written a full length book that was probably pathetic but everyone praised it and my father hailed it as the Next Great American Novel.
Where are some of your favorite places to travel?

France tops my list, and I mean anywhere in France. Paris, the Riviera, Normandy, Saint Symphorien, the Languedoc region. Then Italy, particularly Venice, and finally Vienna in Austria. I could live in any of those places easily, and someday probably will.
If you weren't a writer what would you want to be?
A teacher. I taught in a public high school for six years and nothing could be more rewarding than exposing young adults to historical fiction and many other kinds of reading and writing. Many people talk about teaching with an abundance of clichés. You can change lives, you can open doors, you can etc etc. But for me, those clichés were all true.

If you love historical fiction, do not miss reading Cleopatra's Daughter! Or Michelle's other books, Nefertiti, The sweeping story of a powerful Egyptian family telling the tale of two sisters, the first of whom is destined to rule as one of history’s most fascinating queens, and The Heretic Queen, In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past, and remake history. Want to learn more about Michelle and her books? Here's the LINK to her website! Cleopatra's Daughter will be released on Sept.15th! You can become a Literary Archaeologist that day and search the shelves of some independent bookstores for some prizes! Find out how at Michelle's website HERE!


But wait! Not only is Michelle a wonderful writer, she's also a generous one! She is going to
give away a signed hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter to a lucky reader of Chick with Books! AND a signed paperback copy of The Heretic Queen to another lucky reader! The book will come directly from Michelle and she say's she'll ship it ANYwhere in the world! So that means all you international readers of Chick with Books can join in on the fun too!

Here's the Giveaway Details...
Since we are giving away a copy of Cleopatra's Daughter AND a copy of The Heretic Queen, I'm going to randomly pick TWO names for this giveaway!
First name picked will receive the signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter in hardcover, second name picked will receive the signed copy of The Heretic Queen in paperback!

To Enter this Giveaway..
*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!
*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button! Just let me know you became a new follower!)
*For another entry Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! As long as Michelle can send a book to you - you can join in on the fun! Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on Sept. 26th. I'll randomly pick the winners the next day and email the winners. Please check your email... winners must reply to me within 3 days...

Thank you so much Michelle for sending me the review copy of Cleopatra's Daughter! And for the wonderful giveaway to the Chick with Books readers!

Good luck everyone!

95 comments:

Kay said...

Please enter me :)
I'm a historical fiction devotee :)

kay at kaysbookshelf dot com

(I am also subscribed to your RSS feed, I'm not sure it matters but I thought I'd mention it just in case)

Cherie J said...

Please enter me. I enjoy historical fiction and this is a time period I would enjoy reading about. Thanks for the giveway.

cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I love historical fiction - please count me in!
Thanks ~ megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

Emma said...

these book sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

Anonymous said...

I never have the time to rad fiction, but for this one I'll make an exception! I love anything egyptian...

cpsilva at comcast DOT net

Jen said...

I'm a follower...and I want a copy of the book!

jennifer dot cook at gmail dot com

mrsshukra said...

Count me in!!!

delilah010(at)yahoo(dot)com

mrsshukra said...

Already follow!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Michele said...

please enter me.

Thanks,

mmmtnbike09@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower of your blog.
wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

Jenny N. said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I would love to enter.

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

Jenny N. said...

+1 Already a follower of yours

jen4777[at]hotmail.com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

Please include me in this giveaway.

Thanks,

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I follow :)

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

A Bookshelf Monstrosity said...

I also tweeted:

http://twitter.com/fitz12383/status/3919999069

Amanda
fitz12383(at)hotmail(dot)com

chey said...

Everything I've read about these books sounds great!

I follow

chey127 at hotmail dot com

Simply Stacie said...

Thanks for the chance.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Simply Stacie said...

I follow.

simplystacieblog at gmail dot com

Heidi V said...

Both sound interesting, I have to admit I haven't read many historical fiction books...

Thanks
heidivargas [at] live dot com

stpand said...

Please enter me.
Stpand

Pam said...

I really want to read these books!

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

follower

melacan at hotmail dot com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Please enter me I've always been fascinated by Cleopatra and would love to read both books!

dancealert at aol dot com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Follower

dancealert at aol dot com

chocowafer said...

I'd love to be entered in the giveaway. :)

austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com

chocowafer said...

I'm a follower.

austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com

chocowafer said...

linked this on my sidebar:

http://fictiondoesitbetter.blogspot.com/

austenfanblogs[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to read one of these :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

Anonymous said...

Already following with Google Friend Connect
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

Anonymous said...

Tweeted
blog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org

LoveMyCoffee said...

Jumping up and down! Yeah! Please enter me in this wonderful contest.

New follower

Dutchlvr1(at)aol(dot)com

Every day life said...

Both of them sound like a great read. Thanks for reviewing them.

Stormi said...

Sounds like a good book.

New follower

Stormi
ladystorm282001[at]yahooo[dot]com

DarcyO said...

Please enter me. I'd love to read it!

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

DarcyO said...

I follow with Google Reader.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Marian Perera said...

I love the blurbs and excerpts. Please include me in the giveaway!

Marian - mdperera at hotmail dot com

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

I would love to win either of the two books! Both sounds so good :-) my email: ladybug[AT]bluezone[DOT]no

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

I'm already a follower(I hope you meant to leave a separate comment for each entry).

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

I've tweeted about this giveaway.

Michelle Santiago said...

please enter me for your contest! i've stopped myself from buying books for now because i'm broke. here's hoping i win this one :)

i just became a follower also

Michelle

Michelle Santiago said...

sorry i forgot to include my email address:
bookmakeupreview at gmail dot com

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

Please enter me for Cleopatra's Daughter.

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I am a follower.

FlyFreeMyBooks said...

I posted a link to your giveaway on my blog here:

http://giveawayroundup.blogspot.com/2009/09/cleopatras-daughter-giveaways.html

throuthehaze said...

count me in please
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Ruth (Book Focus) said...

Could I enter your contest, please? My email address is kiwibooklover at gmail dot com

I'm also following your blog now. :)

Thanks for the contest!

Sue said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Aik said...

I'd love to win The Heretic Queen! Thanks!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Aik said...

I'm a follower.

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Oh pretty please enter me in the draw for Cleopatra's Daughter! =)

I'm now a follower as well. Yay!

grottis6 [at] gmail [dot] com

Karen H said...

Please enter me in this drawing. I've never read Michelle's work before. This would be a good place to start.

+1 I am a current blog follower

kkhaas AT bellsouth DOT net

Yvette Kelly said...

Please enter me

terra DOT ferma AT vodamail DOT co DOT za

+1 current follower
+1 tweeted

Mystica said...

Please enter me - both books have got such wonderful reviews.

Mystica


mystica123athotmaildotcom

Unknown said...

Please enter me. Michelle Moran is one of favorite authors.
I became a new follower.
I tweeted about this giveaway. http://twitter.com/amandawk

amandarwest@gmail.com

Memory said...

Please enter me. I'd love a chance to win either book! I also tweeted the contest here.

-- Memory
xicanti AT gmail.com

Heather said...

I'd love to be entered in this contest.

Thanks,
Heather

chapman.hm at gmail dot com

Mary Kontrary said...

Hi! I like your blog ~ glad I found it. I'd like to read both of these, so either would be great to win. Thanks for the chance.

I'm a new follower, and I tweeted about the contest. (I'm @storeetllr on Twitter.) My email is mkip@aol.com.

Anonymous said...

I love historical fiction. I'd love to read this book.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I love historical fiction. Please enter me.

denise_22315(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carol M said...

Please enter me in the contest! Thank you!

I follow your blog.

Carol M
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Beth said...

Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Strangelove said...

I really need to read this!
:)

carlos_durao AT hotmail DOT com

Maria D said...

Count me in, please!
:)

dr.strangelove.vs.citizen.kane
@
gmail.com

Gloriana Salgado said...

I'm a new follower, but I would love to win Michelle's new book!

gloriana_salgado at hotmail dot com

Lea Bristow said...

Hi Suzanne,
My name is Lea Bristow from South Australia. I would really like to partake in your giveaway. Either of the books sound very intriguing.

I'm a follower of your blog and a follower on your twitter.

my contact details are
leabristow@yahoo.com.au

Unknown said...

Michelle Moran is one of the most generous authors! Please enter me in your giveaway!

I am a follower!

Aimala127@gmail.com

Jaime said...

WOuld love to read
copperllama at yahoo dot com

mariag said...

Please enter me to win. I would love to win any one of these books.

I am now a follower.

Unknown said...

Please enter my name for this book...looks like a good one!! I have seen it on another blog and was reading the review.

I am a follower!

Thanks!
jtcallaway@yahoo.com

Mel (He Followed Me Home) said...

Please coutn me in :)

hefollowedme AT gmail DOT com

Mel (He Followed Me Home) said...

and I'm a follower :)

hefollowedme AT gmail DOT com

Jennifer said...

Thanks for the giveaway!

jennifer(dot)arnold11(at)gmail(dot)com

Jennifer said...

I'm a Google Reader follower, too!

booklover0226 said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I can't wait to read both books.

Tracey D
booklove0226 AT gmail DOT com

I am a follower

Thanks!

Bonnie said...

Thanks for the great giveaway. Please add my name to the drawing for Cleopatra's Daughter only.

I am a new follower!

I've blogged about this giveaway in my sidebar under Other Blog Giveaways:

http://redladysreadingroom-redlady.blogspot.com/

redladysreadingroomATgmailDOTcom

bashtree said...

Oh please enter me! I am so excited to read Cleo's Daughter.

bashtree said...

I'm a new follower, too! Thanks for the chance to win such a special prize.

Edu Chico said...

I'm up for a chance!
:)

educhico AT gmail DOT com

Carol W. said...

I'm eager to read these books. Please enter me in the giveaway.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol W. said...

I follow your blog.

wolfcarol451(at)gmail(dot)comretsy

Anonymous said...

I'm very interested in reading this book! Please enter me:
dwndrgn[at]hotmail[dot]com

ossmcalc said...

I would very much love to win either of these books. Please enter me.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I became a new follower.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/4308075963

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

andrea b said...

thanks for the giveaway! the books sound great!

andrea //

brigneti [at]gmail[dot]com

andrea b said...

I'm a new follower

andrea//
brigneti {at}gmail{dot}com

andrea b said...

Tweeted about the contest here: http://twitter.com/andreadbc/status/4310472594

andrea//
brigneti {at}gmail{dot}com

Jafantunes said...

Please count me in!
:)

o_rei_de_havana AT hotmail DOT com

Caty said...

Uh, goody, goody!
:D


catarina DOT magoito AT gmail DOT com

Susy said...

This is the best giveaway!
:)

39.5susy AT gmail DOT com

Mil said...

I definetly want to try this.
Count me in.

goncalo DOT mil AT gmail DOT com

J Dias said...

I'm still on time!
:)

joanapatriciadias
@
gmail.com

Tanita said...

Sounds good.
I would love to read it!

tanitalves AT sapo DOT pt

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