stephaniedraven.com » Greek Myth

Poisoned Kisses First Chapter

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:00:11 +0000

Once a month, a bunch of authors get together and post excerpts from published books, contracted work or works in progress, and link to each other. You don’t have to be published to participate just an writer with an excerpt you’d like to share. For more info on how to participate, head over to the Excerpt Monday site! or click on the banner above.

Chapter One Kyra was dressed to kill. Literally. Just beneath her short red skirt and only inches above her high-heeled boots, a small but deadly hunting knife was strapped to her thigh. A gun might have been more useful, but Kyra preferred the weapons of an older, less complicated time. A knock came at the nightclub’s bathroom door—probably another gaggle of drunken Italian socialites—but Kyra wouldn’t be rushed. She stared at her reflection in the mirror to steel her courage. She might not be able to do much to thwart Daddy and his bloodthirsty minions, but she could do this one heroic thing for humanity. This was her destiny. She’d been born for this. But the mirror reflected a distorted image. It was cracked, as if the thumping club music burst through the wall from the other side. Still, she could see that her plunging pearlescent halter top complemented neither her black tresses nor her ghostly pallor. No matter. Kyra never let mortals see her true form, anyway. Tonight, her prey would see her as she wished him to see her: with blue eyes and cropped platinum hair; after all, she’d studied Marco Kaisaris long enough to know his type. And she was ready. Hydras like Marco were dangerous, but surely not to someone like her. She just had to kill him. Like Theseus and Perseus of old, she had a monster to slay. With that thought, Kyra gave the bathroom door a shove and it swung open like a gate to the underworld. She stepped into the nightclub’s press of bodies and people made way for her, as if they sensed her power. As the dance beat drummed at her pulse points, she brushed against the crowd, and it excited her because she had a nymph’s nature; she found the vitality of humans to be infectious and distracting. This was, of course, one of the many dangers of getting too close to mortals...

Does the Sword & Sandal Genre Have Staying Power?

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:42:42 +0000

I hope the Clash of the Titans people aren't getting ahead of themselves in chatting up "trilogy potential" for their new movie. I have to say that as the author of MIDNIGHT MEDUSA I am predisposed not to like Perseus very much--especially in this picture! The director said:

It's like James Cameron with 'Avatar,' he can explore different planets. Well, I can explore Greek mythology. You've got so many creatures, so many heroes, so many gods. You have Daedalus, Icarus, Percivel. Amazing stuff. You've got several worlds. I could spend the rest of my life directing Greek mythology movies and I would still not finish everything." "If 'Clash' does well and we're lucky enough to make it into a franchise, that's what I'd love to do," he said. He even offered some hints as to where things could go next! "Before the gods, there were the titans, there were even bigger creatures and monsters. That could be something. It's ancient superheroes."

Grepolis: Online Strategy Game With Gods of the Greek Mythology

Stephanie Draven — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:39:38 +0000

Okay, so this game looks pretty neat. It appears to be a free browser game in which you can play against the backdrop of Greek mythology. If only I had the time to play...

Greek Myth Humor and The Princess Planet

Stephanie Draven — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:17:52 +0000

Okay, given that my last book in the modern mythology series for Nocturne is going to feature a Minotaur and a Sphinx, I've gotta love this comic series: I am now a fangirl of Brian Mclachlan, who has envisioned entirely new myth-inspired monstrosity, like the Mino-con (Unicorn mixed with a Minotaur. You have to see the drawing...)

Thesmophoria–Thanksgiving in Ancient Greece

Stephanie Draven — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:26:40 +0000

In modern day western culture, our death holiday (Halloween) and our harvest celebration (Thanksgiving) are celebrated separately. Not so for the ancient Greeks. Demeter was not a death divinity–she was the goddess of grain and she fed the world–but her story is closely tied together with her daughter, Persephone, Queen of Hades. Because of that tie, [...]

Your Favorite Greek God?

Stephanie Draven — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:03:05 +0000

NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits

Stephanie Draven — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:35:19 +0000

I freely admit that I use my Wii mostly for exercise. I do Yoga on the balance board. I dance my fool head off with Dance Dance Revolution. But for a Greek Myth inspired game like NyxQuest, I might make an exception and actually dabble with something...dare I say it...fun? It's based on the story of Icarus, which is oh-so-entangled with the Minotaur Myth upon which I'm building my newest novel for Harlequin's Silhouette Nocturne and it's getting good reviews! Check out the trailer below:

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Movie

Stephanie Draven — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:38:30 +0000

Oh my. It looks like they are making Rick Riordan's young adult fantasy series into a movie, coming out this February. Percy is a twelve year old with ADHD who just happens to also be the son of Poseidon. Think Harry Potter but with more ancient mojo! I have to say, I was totally sold by the cover of THE LIGHTNING THIEF. The sneaker with bird wings is just a genius touch. Now I just have to hope that the movie doesn't suck. It'll be out in February 2010. (I've included the trailer below, and it looks promising!)

Greek Mythology in HBO’s True Blood

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:32:03 +0000

When I heard that Clash of the Titans was going to be remade, I said that I like to think that this is going to be a good year for Greek Myth inspired fiction. Now that HBO's True Blood is getting in on the act, I'm even more hopeful.

Another Review for Wild, Tethered, Bound

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:21:15 +0000

KATHY KOZAKEWICH of Books, books, books... and, from time to time, a little RL wrote: What a fantastic story! There are definitely boundaries never before crossed in a Harlequin based romance, but Stephanie Draven's myth-creation demands it. Very well done and a story that thrilled at the same time broke my heart.

A Challenge to My Home Town of Greece New York

Stephanie Draven — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:07:34 +0000

Okay, so I always thought I had to go to Greece to see the Parthenon, but apparently not. There's a shiny replica in...wait for it...Nashville, TN.

Reviews for WILD, TETHERED, BOUND

Stephanie Draven — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:48:20 +0000

Here are some excerpts from my latest reviews! CataRomance

A bright future is forecast for talented author Stephanie Draven. Her narrative is poetic, as she is able to express every aspect of her story in an insightful way