Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

The much anticipated "Cleopatra's Daughter" by Michelle Moran was released on September 15th! Congratulations Michelle! To celebrate, Michelle has agreed to do a Guest Spot here at Park-Avenue Princess and a GIVEAWAY!! And not just any giveaway...she's going to give the winner a Hardcover copy of "Cleopatra's Daughter" as well as an ancient Roman coin complete with certificate of authenticity (like the one on my website HERE). Isn't that cool! So first let's talk a little about the book and the author and in the next post, I'll have Michelle's visit and the Giveaway! I hope everyone is enjoying Book Blogger Appreciation Week! I know I am!

Cleopatra's Daughter

By: Michelle Moran

Release Date: September 15, 2009

Publisher: Random House (Crown Publishers)

Pages: 430

Buy Cleopatra's Daughter!

About the Book:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s vengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their 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.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters

Octavia: the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra

Livia: Octavian’s bitter and jealous wife

Marcellus: Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir-apparent

Tiberius: Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power

Juba: Octavian’s ever-watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals

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. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the time. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.

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 the Author:

Michelle Moran was born in the San Fernando Valley, CA. She took an interest in writing from an early age, purchasing Writer's Market and submitting her stories and novellas to publishers from the time she was twelve. When she was accepted into Pomona College she took as many classes as possible in British Literature, particularly Milton, Chaucer, and the Bard. Not surprisingly, she majored in English while she was there. 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 standalone sequel, The Heretic Queen. Her third novel, Cleopatra's Daughter, will debut September 15, 2009

Read an excerpt of Cleopatra's Daughter - Here!

I am SO looking forward to Michelle's Guest Spot and Giveaway

KISSES ~ XXX