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Vicky Alvear Shecter

Goodreads Author

Born

in Miami, FL, The United States

Website

http://www.vickyalvearshecter.com

Genre

Historical Fiction, History, Young Adult

Member Since

April 2008

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/historybuff

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Vicky Alvear Shecter wishes she had a time machine to go back to the glory days of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Until she can find one, she writes about the famous and fabulous lives of the ancients and their gods instead. She is also a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University.

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Greetings Mrs. Shecter! I thoroughly enjoy Classics (it's my college major) and have loved both of your books. I also enjoy writing and story-telling. My question is more writing-themed, such as: How can you write an accurate story without bogging the readers down in the details of "this is how Roman houses were built/etc"? Any tips on keeping this delicate balance will be greatly appreciated! Thank you very much!

Vicky Alvear Shecter Hi WittySofa! (Great name)

I'm so glad you've enjoyed my books! Your question is an important one and I think all historical fiction writers struggle w…moreHi WittySofa! (Great name)

I'm so glad you've enjoyed my books! Your question is an important one and I think all historical fiction writers struggle with this. After all, we wouldn't write about other time periods if we weren't completely enthralled with them and all their strange, delicious details!

Here's one rule: If the detail would not be of interest to or new to your character, don't include it. That sounds simple on the surface, but it's not. For example, if your character is a builder or an architect, then he might very well ruminate about how houses are built or notice architectural elements. But if he or she isn't, then you can't remark on it or include details about it because those little details are likely invisible to him or her. I know--ouch!

If you've read Robert Harris's POMPEII, then you know that the main character spends A LOT (some say too much) time thinking about pipes and wells and aquafers--but we forgive him because he is a water engineer. As an aquarius, that's his job, so he's allowed to be a "nerd" about it--in fact, it's expected!

Clearly Harris was fascinated by Rome's aqueducts, so he conveniently made his MC an expert so he could indulge in sharing some of the fascinating facts. So that's one solution--if you are fascinated by something, make your main character someone who does that work. That's a little more difficult if your character is a woman since women were forbidden from so much in the Roman world, but there are ways around that. For example, if you are fascinated by the painters of frescoes and your character is a girl, make her father or brother a fresco painter, giving her the opportunity to tag along to sites and learn the craft. Maybe she becomes a great master but has to pretend a male relative is doing the work and shenanigans ensue (I would read that!).

Another thing to remember is that most of what we find extraordinary would be absolutely ordinary to them. So while we may be shocked about public latrines where everyone "shares a bench," your character wouldn't think twice about it! You can draw attention to such fascinating details by making something unusual happen--such as someone runs out with the sponge-on-a-stick they use to wipe themselves with. Then your character would notice! But again, if it isn't somehow related to the main story, you're going to have to cut it.

One last example. When I was researching for my novel set in Pompeii, I was tickled/horrified to learn that there were many graffiti and official signs warning the locals to "not defecate here." Who knew public defecation was a problem? That detail cracked me up, but I couldn't make a big deal of it, not only because apparently it was common place, but also, it would set up the reader to worry about or look for a scene where she might step in it. I did manage to sneak in a mention, though, when she was hurrying through the city as she reminded herself to watch where she stepped. But overall, unless a detail plays a part in the growth of the character or the advancement of the plot, you've got to avoid it.

I hope this helps!(less)

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Hello again Mrs. Shecter! I *literally* just finished rereading "Curses and Smoke," (with more than one tear in my eye), and just wanted to say that I would love to see Lucia's and Tag's story on the silver screen. In the meantime, I was wondering whether or not you were working on another Classical, historical story? In the meantime, I'll be reading Robert Harris's "Pompeii," as recommended!

Vicky Alvear Shecter Hello again, WittySofa! I wish Lucia's and Tag's story were on the silver screen but no takers. Unfortunately, the movie POMPEII, starting Kit Harring…moreHello again, WittySofa! I wish Lucia's and Tag's story were on the silver screen but no takers. Unfortunately, the movie POMPEII, starting Kit Harrington's abs (lol), was panned and didn't make any money so I'm guessing no one is interested in trying to make another expensive period piece.

I am working on another Classical historical fiction but it's super-secret because if I talk about it before I'm finished, I'll end up ruining it for myself. Also, right now, it's hard to sell a classical book because historical fiction books these days tend to concentrate on WWII.

I hope you enjoy Robert Harris's POMPEII. I love that book! Thanks for writing!

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Vicky Alvear Shecter’s books

Average rating: 3.99 · 9,518 ratings · 1,743 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	Cleopatra's Moon 4.01 avg rating — 4,345 ratings — published 2011 — 21 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Curses and Smoke 3.74 avg rating — 1,314 ratings — published 2014 — 11 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Cleopatra Rules!: The Amazing Life of the Original Teen Queen 3.63 avg rating — 232 ratings — published 2010 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hades Speaks!: A Guide to the Underworld by the Greek God of the Dead by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author), J.E. Larson (Illustrator) 3.96 avg rating — 105 ratings — published 2014 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Anubis Speaks! A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author), Antoine Revoy (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) 3.95 avg rating — 95 ratings — published 2013 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Alexander the Great Rocks the World by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author), Terry Naughton (Illustrator) 4.11 avg rating — 44 ratings — published 2006 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thor Speaks!: A Guide to the Realms by the Norse God of Thunder by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author), J.E. Larson (Illustrator) 3.79 avg rating — 34 ratings — published 2015 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Warrior Queens: True Stories of Six Ancient Rebels Who Slayed History by Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author), Bill Mayer (Illustrator) 3.55 avg rating — 29 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thor Speaks! 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Anubis Speaks!: A Guide to the Afterlife by the Egyptian God of the Dead (Secrets of the Ancient Gods) by Shecter, Vicky Alvear(October 1, 2013) Hardcover 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Vicky Alvear Shecter's Blog

Nefertiti, Ancient Eyeliner, and My Amphora Earrings

I marched my way into the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University yesterday. I was pumped up to tour high school Latin students through our Greek and Roman galleries, only to learn that the tour was cancelled. And I’d even put on my new earrings from Plato’s Fire for the occasion!

My lil phone photo does not capture the shiny awesomeness of these amphorae. And no, they are not heavy. If you lo

Series by Vicky Alvear Shecter

Secrets of the Ancient Gods (3 books)
by

Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author),

J.E. Larson (Illustrator)

3.93 avg rating — 234 ratings

Hades Speaks! (2 books)
by

Vicky Alvear Shecter (Goodreads Author),

J.E. Larson (Illustrator)

3.96 avg rating — 200 ratings

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Vicky Alvear Shecter wrote a new blog post “Don’t Make Up What You Don’t Know!” Seems a bit obvious, doesn’t it? After all, Don’t make up what you don’t know is standard in academia. But that hasn’t always been the case when it co Read more of this blog post »
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Vicky rated a book really liked it The Glamourist (The Vine Witch, #2) by Luanne G. Smith (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Quotes by Vicky Alvear Shecter (?)

“You must make a choice,” the Goddess said.

“Is that my only choice – to choose between men?” I asked. “I want what Mother had!”

“Your mother chose two men,” she said with light laughter.

“No! She chose independence for her country. She chose power and freedom,” I yelled.

Almost as if in response, a pulsating energy moved up from the ground into my bare feet. It thrummed up my body and radiated out in a bright light, first from my toes, then from my fingertips, then the top of my head.

“I choose power,” I said. “I choose freedom.”
― Vicky Alvear Shecter, Cleopatra's Moon

tags: choice, cleopatra, cleopatra-selene, isis

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“I especially treasured my glimpses of Mother, Queen Cleopatra VII. She sat on a golden throne, looking as resplendent as one of the giant marble statues guarding the tombs of the Old Ones. Diamonds twinkled in a jungle of black braids on her ceremonial wig. She wore a diadem with three rearing snakes and a golden broad collar, shining with lapis lazuli, carnelian, and emeralds, over her golden, form-fitting pleated gown. In one hand, she held a golden ankh of life, while the other clasped the striped crook and flail of her divine rulership. Her stillness radiated power, like a lioness pausing before the pounce. It left me breathless with awe.”
― Vicky Alvear Shecter, Cleopatra's Moon

tags: cleopatra, cleopatra-selene

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“I groaned inwardly, hating how men blamed their own lusts on women’s “magic.”
― Vicky Alvear Shecter, Cleopatra's Moon

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Vicky’s Quotes

“The writer Umberto Eco belongs to that small class of scholars who are encyclopedic, insightful, and nondull. He is the owner of a large personal library (containing thirty thousand books), and separates visitors into two categories: those who react with “Wow! Signore, professore dottore Eco, what a library you have ! How many of these books have you read?” and the others - a very small minority - who get the point that a private library is not an ego-boosting appendage but a research tool. Read books are far less valuable than unread ones. The library should contain as much of what you don’t know as your financial means, mortgage rates and the currently tight real-estate market allows you to put there. You will accumulate more knowledge and more books as you grow older, and the growing number of unread books on the shelves will look at you menancingly. Indeed, the more you know, the larger the rows of unread books. Let us call this collection of unread books an antilibrary.”
― Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable

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