And We Have a Winner! Plus some.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Tetley who has won the grand prize of the Egyptian-inspired jewelry set plus a copy of my signed novel.

Can't wait to see a picture of you wearing the jewelry, Elizabeth!

And although I originally posted that three others would win signed copies of Cleopatra's Moon,  I increased that number to five, because...why not?!

Here are the winners of books:

Calum McDonald
Erin
Lynn Cahoon
Cathy C. Hall
Tanya Valentine

Congratulations all and thanks so much for participating in the giveaway.

And, oh yeah, if you haven't read the novel yet, it is out in paperback now. (Hint, hint) ;-)

The Paperback is Out! To Celebrate, I'm Giving Away Free Books and this Egyptian-Inspired Jewelry Set

To celebrate the release of Cleopatra's Moon in paperback, I'm giving away multiple autographed hardback copies as well this awesome earring and necklace set inspired by ancient Egypt.

Just so you know, Cleopatra Selene would totally wear this! And, I imagine, she would rock it out on the night she wears her mother's golden Isis dress--the very night she decides to play hard-ball with pretty-boy Marcellus in order to get him to help her win back Egypt. Does she succeed? I'm not going to tell you--read the book! Or, at least, enter the drawing for your free autographed copy.

Where did I get this beautiful set? Why, I thought you'd never ask.  My own mother made it.

Yes, that is right, my mom! She made this for me to give away quite a while ago but I found myself strangely reluctant to part with it. Every time I tried to set up the giveaway, I ended up hugging the set to my chest, stroking the pretty, shiny crystals and cooing, "Myyyyy precious!"

But, with the release of the paperback, I have to face facts. It's time for me to surrender the one ring that will unite us all...er, I mean, for me to share this beautiful, one-of-a-kind set with others. Not easy. I mean, look at this handiwork!

Sigh.

With Swarovski crystals and high-quality beads, the set would probably retail about $75 or more (and yeah, I'm trying to get my mom to open an Etsy shop). So if you win it, you need to send me a picture of you wearing it so that I can show my mom, because...you know. Moms!

Also, free signed books!

Go forth and enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Soon in Paperback!

Two of my books are coming out in paperback next spring. Cleopatra's Moon (AAL/Scholastic), I knew about.

But I only just learned that my mid-grade biography, Cleopatra Rules! The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen (Boyds Mill Press) is also being reissued as a paperback next spring.

Yay!

Drag Queen Cleo is quite happy about this (as you can imagine) because I've been neglecting her lately.  But hey, life goes on and writers move on, right?

But she's not having it. Her demands for attention will not be denied!

When I try to explain that I've been focusing on other fascinating ancient characters, she stomps her man-boots and claims that's impossible.

DQC is my Cleo action figure. Her GI-Joe face is why I call her a drag queen. 

 

"There ARE no other fascinating ancient characters," she sniffed.

"You're wrong," I said (I know, I took my life in my hands...I removed all the knives from the room before I made that claim, though). "There's Hatshepsut and Hannibal and Boudiccea and Nero and Zenobia and--"

But she cut me off. "Oh honey, please. Not a single one of those losers come close to my fame."

"Oh yeah? How do you figure that?"

"How many movies have been made about any one of them?"

"I'm sure I can dig up movies and TV shows about Hannibal and Boudiccea..."

"Yes, but can they lay claim to having a signature haircut always and forever associated with them?

"Umm..."

"No. No, they cannot."

"You got me there," I said, a little bewildered. "You win."

"That's right," DQC claimed. "Even when I lose, I win. It's that quality that made me famous to begin with after all, isn't it, darling?"

Who can argue with that? So, long live the Queen! In paperback, anyway.