stephaniedraven.com » cleopatra’s daughter

Writers, Freaktastic Coincidences & the Collective Consciousness

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 04:36:45 +0000

Remember the year two major studios both put out movies about an astroid hitting the earth? Remember the year every book in the B&N was about Anne Boleyn? Remember the year a certain author *cough* published a book about Cleopatra’s daughter and so did everybody else? I’ve always assumed this kind of thing happens because there’s [...]

Baby Elephants!

Stephanie Draven — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:21:54 +0000

What, might you ask, does a baby elephant have to do with my work as an author? Well, I'm so glad you asked. As it turns out, elephants figure into some of the research I'm doing for my sequel to LILY OF THE NILE (my forthcoming book from Berkley about Cleopatra's Daughter, Selene, to be released January 2011). The guy pictured above is an Indian elephant, which is a smaller breed than the more well-known Ethiopian Elephant (now known as the African Elephant). There used to be a third kind. The elephants that Hannibal took over the Alps were North African elephants, now extinct, but Cleopatra Selene's husband Juba wrote extensively about the species and described it as having an uncanny intelligence. Okay, so that gave me my excuse to post an adorable baby animal picture!

Review: Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:47:16 +0000

After my interview with author Michelle Moran, I wanted to read her book about the very last Ptolemaic Queen a second time, and I'm glad I did. It's in the second reading of Cleopatra's Daughter that the atmospheric details and astute editorial choices not only surprise but delight. As far as ancient women go, Selene, isn't as famous as her mother, but she was arguably more successful, and this book is a captivating story of her youth as a virtual prisoner of war in Rome. Ms. Moran stays close to the true events of history, but like all the best writers of historical fiction she adds some flair of her own. She conjures up a mythical figure of...

My Interview with Michelle Moran, Author of Cleopatra’s Daughter

Stephanie Draven — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:23:52 +0000

Anyone who has ever been inside my front door knows that I'm obsessed with Ancient Egypt and Late Republic Rome. I spent part of my honeymoon reading Margaret George's "The Memoirs of Cleopatra" and much of the next decade researching the fate of Cleopatra's children for my own novel. Now, historical fiction writer Michelle Moran, the best-selling author of NEFERTITI and THE HERETIC QUEEN, brings us the fascinating story of CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER. I'll be telling you more about this stunning book in a separate review, but for now I give its gracious and talented author the floor!