Vicky Alvear Shecter's Blog, page 6

Countdown to Thor’s Day: Odin, Poetry and Bird Poop

From Thor’s Speaks! A Guide to to the Realms by the Norse God of Thunder “The story of how Odin obtained the gift of poetry to share with humans involves murder, beheadings, black-hearted dwarves, and bird poop. My favorite kind of story!”

Come see me talk about Thor Speaks! on the children’s stage at the Decatur Book Festival this Sunday at 3:00. I’ll be on stage with Mike Lowery, illustrator of the Junior Genius Guide to Ancient Egypt and other terrific books.

 

The post Countdown to Thor’s Day: Odin, Poetry and Bird Poop appeared first on Vicky Alvear Shecter.

Countdown to Thor’s Day: It’s Hammer Time!

Thor on his super hammer, belt of power, and magic iron gloves:

“You should know that I don’t actually need these power tools. I mean, I’m already super-strong. But I’m not going to lie–using them is a blast! And no, I won’t let you borrow them. Ever. So stop asking…”

From Thor Speaks! A Guide to the Realms by the Norse God of Thunder

 

The post Countdown to Thor’s Day: It’s Hammer Time! appeared first on Vicky Alvear Shecter.

Countdown to Thor’s Day: Goat Chariot!

The official release date for THOR SPEAKS! is September 8th, though I will be signing it this weekend at the Decatur Book Festival! Come on out and see me on the Children’s Stage this Sunday, September 6, at 3:00.

Meanwhile, did you know that Thor rides a chariot pulled by goats? Here’s his take on it:  “Sorry about the smell. Riding behind them after they’ve gorged on fermented shark–a delicacy in my neck of the woods–was maybe not the best idea. [My goats] give the concept of ‘gas-powered ride’ a whole new meaning.”

The post Countdown to Thor’s Day: Goat Chariot! appeared first on Vicky Alvear Shecter.

Friday Funnies Returns–In Honor of THOR!

It kind of snuck up on me but Thor Speaks! comes out in a week! It’s gotten a thumbs up from PW and Kirkus and I’ll be introducing it at the Decatur Book Festival on Sunday, September 6th, on the children’s stage. In the meantime, I thought I might revive Friday Funnies in honor of the big lug. Enjoy!

with permission via http://thedeepend-comic.blogspot.com/
(Because he’s DEFINITELY worth it.)
(Thanks, Thor, for leaving spiderman in such a sticky situation!)

 

The post Friday Funnies Returns–In Honor of THOR! appeared first on Vicky Alvear Shecter.

Look at this Cover! LOOK AT IT!

Isn’t it amazing?! I’m proud to be part of the cover reveal for Stephanie Dray’s new novel, America’s First Daughter, the story of Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Patsy. It releases in March. I can’t wait to read this one!

Also, get this. Just as the two authors–Stephanie and Laura Kamoie (aka Laura Kay)–were about to release the galleys for printing, the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies released a whole new cache of letters from Patsy, revealing information that changed a few things in the novel. So they stopped the presses to include that information. How cool is that? I love it when brilliant authors take the time to be authentically brilliant!

About the Book:

In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and

original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, tell the

fascinating, untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s eldest daughter, Martha “Patsy”

Jefferson Randolph—a woman who kept the secrets of our most enigmatic founding

father and shaped an American legacy.

From her earliest days, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson knows that though her father loves his family

dearly, his devotion to his country runs deeper still. As Thomas Jefferson’s oldest daughter, she

becomes his helpmate in the wake of her mother’s death, traveling with him when he becomes

American minister to France. And it is in Paris, at the glittering court and among the first

tumultuous days of revolution, that she learns of her father’s liaison with Sally Hemings, a slave

girl her own age.

Patsy too has fallen in love—with her father’s protégé, William Short, a staunch abolitionist

intent on a career in Europe. Heartbroken at having to decide between being William’s wife or a

devoted daughter, she returns to Virginia with her father and marries a man of his choosing,

raising eleven children of her own.

Yet as family secrets come to light during her father’s presidency, Patsy must again decide how

much she will sacrifice to protect his reputation, in the process defining not just Jefferson’s

political legacy, but that of the nation he founded.

I will always have a soft spot for Stephanie because she and I share a bond in our mutual love for Cleopatra Selene. We met when she was about to release her book on Selene, Lily of the Nile (the first in a trilogy about Cleopatra’s daughter) around the time my book, Cleopatra’s Moon, was also preparing for release. Since then, we’ve worked on two novel collaborations, A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii and the current work-in-progress, A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica’s Rebellion (releases this November). And here’s what I can tell you about this amazing author: besides being one of the warmest, loveliest humans around, she is fiercely intelligent, deeply committed to research, and a terrific, terrific writer. I am seriously looking forward to this novel.

Enter to Win One of Ten Advanced E-Galleys of America’s First Daughter!

Go forth and enter! https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NTIxYWM0YzhjYmFkNDc1MDkxYzA3ZDNmMjhhM2RjOjc2NQ%3D%3D/

Also, support your local independent bookstore by pre-ordering today. You can also pre-order at Amazon, B&N, iTunes, and Kobo.

The post Look at this Cover! LOOK AT IT! appeared first on Vicky Alvear Shecter.

Announcing A New Collaborative Novel!

After the success of A Day of Fire, a number of us ancient-history-lovers–Ruth Downie, Stephanie Dray, E. Knight, Kate Quinn, SJA Turney, Russell Whitfield and I–decided to work together on a new collaborative novel. We are proud to bring you:

A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudicca

Britannia: land of mist and magic clinging to the western edge of the Roman Empire. A red-haired queen named Boudica led her people in a desperate rebellion against the might of Rome, an epic struggle destined to consume heroes and cowards, young and old, Roman and Celt . . . and these are their stories.

A calculating queen sees the sparks of revolt in a king’s death.

A neglected slave girl seizes her own courage as Boudica calls for war.

An idealistic tribune finds manhood in a brutal baptism of blood and slaughter.

A conflicted warrior hovers between loyalty to tribe and loyalty to Rome.

A death-haunted Druid challenges the gods themselves to ensure victory for his people.

An old champion struggles for everlasting glory in the final battle against the legions.

A fiery princess fights to salvage the pieces of her mother’s dream as the ravens circle.

A novel in seven parts, overlapping stories of warriors and peacemakers, queens and slaves, Romans and Celts who cross paths during Boudica’s epic rebellion. But who will survive to see the dawn of a new Britannia, and who will fall to feed the ravens?

Due for release November 2015.

Seriously, it is beyond my imagining that I have the honor of working with such talented writers. It’s more than a dream come true. And just wait until you read how we’ve interwoven both Roman and Celtic lives into one cohesive whole!

The post Announcing A New Collaborative Novel! appeared first on Vicky Alvear Shecter.

A Day at the Museum

“You betta write!” she seemed to be saying!

I love being a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University. Introducing kids to the world of ancient history is a great joy. Sometimes, being at the museum combines more than one awesome thing. Today was that kind of day.

First I gave a tour to a bunch of wonderful sixth-grade boys. They and their schoolmates from two different schools had climbed onto a bus at the crack of dawn and traveled two hours from Augusta to visit us. We docents gave them tours of the African Cosmos show, as well as key pieces from the ancient Egyptian galleries. After that, they went to the planetarium for a show on the constellations discussed in the Cosmos exhibit.

Meanwhile, I went upstairs to write in a quiet space, overlooked by a Caryatid, a replica of one of the six female statues that served as pillars/columns on the porch of the Acropolis (the artifacts on the third and bottom floors of the museum are replicas, while everything in the galleries are the “real thing”). Her severe stare kept me writing even though I didn’t have my computer and was forced to write long-hand (the horror).

Then there was the visit to the Museum Bookstore. Every time I go near the place, I SWEAR that this time, I’m not going to buy any books, but I inevitably cave. They always have the most interesting selections about the ancient world and ancient art. Plus, they sell my books! (I walked out with three new reads.)

After the kids went to the Emory cafeteria for lunch, it was time for another tour, this time of the Greek and Roman galleries. But first, the school requested a brief visit with me. Turns out many of the students had read Anubis Speaks and Hades Speaks and wanted to meet me. I answered questions about the books and about why I always write about myths and the ancient world.

I told ‘em:  “Look, to impress your teachers and parents, I could go ahead and speechify about how ancient cultures provided the backbone of our civilization, blah, blah, blah. But the real answer? Because this stuff is CRAZY weird, funny, and sometimes gross and I find it all irresistible.”

Then I gave them copies of the Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) of Thor Speaks  (releases September 2015), which I had just received. I reminded them that these were uncorrected proofs and that the latest round of revisions weren’t reflected in the ARC (which makes me crazy), but I wanted to give them something. Then we were off to the Greek and Roman galleries. The boys were bright and eager and seemed to enjoy my stories.

The museum, writing, storytelling, and book signings all in one place. What an awesome day!

 

Pictorial: Another Roman Funeral for Yet Another Roman Fish

Meet Sisyphish, named after that ancient Greek rock star, Sisyphus. Pretty boy lived two years (which is about standard, I’ve learned. Don’t judge.) Sadly, he recently went belly up. Which meant it was time for another Roman funeral. (You can see the first one, here.)

Unlike our first ancient Roman fish funeral for Aeneas (may he rest in peace), this time, we had a procession of the masks of the ancestors, which was a Roman funerary practice.. We did not hire, however, professional mourners to pull their hair, rend their clothes, or wail their grief. Because, well, he was a fish. Geez.

Then came the pouring of the libation near the pyre.  (We poured Coke, okay? Do you know how much wine costs these days? We saved the wine for the feast. And, no, fish sticks were not on the menu.)

And the ceremonial burning of the body.

Finally, we ended the rites with a gladiatorial combat in which yours truly ruthlessly celebrated yet another kill. The shades of the dead must be honored with blood!

HONORAMUS SISYPHISH!

Oh You Romans. From a God of Farts to Boiling Drinking Water, You Never Cease to Amaze!

Water carriers from the Parthenon.

The wonderful thing about researching history is that I’m always learning new things. The most aggravating thing about researching history is that I’m always learning new things too late.

I hate it when I find something new I could’ve used in my past books.

For example, I recently learned that the Romans had a god of farts and BMs called (wait for it) CREPITUS! I would’ve totally used that in Hades Speaks! Actually, I probably wouldn’t have since I couldn’t find confirmation in any sources, but still.

They could’ve, right?

I’m constantly learning new things. The latest? That the Romans boiled their water before drinking!

I thought that boiling water was a thoroughly modern practice. After all, we have germ theory. They did not. We understand that it’s necessary to boil water when there’s some question of its suitability.

Yet even without understanding the microbial world, ancient Romans figured out that boiled water was healthier to consume. Pliny the Elder even gives a recommendation for purifying water: “The best corrective of unwholesome water is to boil it down to one half.” (Natural Histories, 31.23)

He also claims that it was “the Emperor Nero’s invention to boil water, and then enclose it in glass vessels and cool it in snow; a method which ensures all the enjoyment of a cold beverage, without any of the inconveniences resulting from the use of snow.”

By any inconveniences, I imagine he means the “runs” or diarrhea.

In Justinian’s Digest, he mentions a “bronze vessel” used for boiling wine and water as part of an inheritance of a villa. That’s two solid sources claiming this.

Knowing this wouldn’t have made much difference in Cleopatra’s Moon because a princess of Egypt—even when taken to Rome—would have little knowledge of how her water would’ve been safeguarded. Others would’ve taken care of that for her.

But it would’ve shown up in my Pompeii novels.

For example, in A Day of Fire, I have a scene where young Caecilius makes a comment about a puzzling water shortage in Pompeii. I might have worked in the fact that people were getting sick because folks weren’t boiling their water as long in order to conserve what they had.

Or maybe not. It’s not that interesting a detail.

Still, I would have definitely made use of this fact in Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii because Tag, the male protagonist, is a medical slave in a gladiatorial school. He would’ve made use of boiled water in the drinks and herbal tinctures he prepared for injured fighters.

Perhaps it’s better that I didn’t talk about this because surely some reader would’ve excoriated me for claiming that the Romans boiled water when “everybody knows” they didn’t. But our penchant for holding on to old beliefs is another post.

I recently learned another factoid I could’ve used in Curses. Lucia, the female protagonists, gets away from her father in one scene by stealing his horse while on the road. I had her step up on an unmoving carriage wheel to mount the stallion. It turns out she would’ve merely stepped up on a stone block called a gomphus instead. These stones were placed on Roman roads at regular intervals for just that purpose.

These small details wouldn’t have made much of a difference to the story arcs in my novels. Yet like all historical writers, I want to get things right as much as possible.

I wonder what little factoid I’ll stumble upon next?

 

 

The Joy of Feasting Like a Roman–For Real!

Chef Jim Stacy.

There’s a local chef celebrity in my neighborhood. Jim Stacy, owner of the Pallookaville restaurant, is known for his clever takes on traditional southern foods. His outsized personality (which matches his 6’6″ frame) has turned his latest creation into a huge hit. Gourmet corn dogs and liquored up milk-shakes? Yes, please.

I didn’t think I could love the place anymore–until I heard Stacy was creating a series of “anthropological dinners.” First up: “Eat Like an Ancient Roman.” Yes! Only one problem. By the time I learned about it, it had been sold out. (You know how last week you woke up in the dead of night, shivering at the echo of someone’s tortured scream? Yeah, that was me.)

Anyway, no amount of pleading made any difference. Until an hour-and-a-half before the event when I got the call: “We’ve had a cancellation.”

“I’m there!” I yelled. Sadly, there was just an opening for one, so hubs couldn’t go (I’m not sure he’s forgiven me yet). Anyway, I showed up to find some friendly faces from the neighborhood and then, to my delight, I saw Liz Bouis, former Latin teacher and head of the National Junior Classical League’s 2014 convention at Emory University, along with two other Latin teachers–her husband Randy and friend Amy. To sit with folks who share my love of all things ancient Roman? I couldn’t believe my luck.

The evening started off with Jim explaining the concept behind the dinners and his love for anthropology and history. He talked about the books he used for research, including the recipes of one Marcus G. Apicius. He and his team worked incredibly hard to be as authentic as possible, which included everything from finding non-hybridized boar for the main plate to offering soft boiled quail eggs for us to mix into our garum-laced salad. Throughout the evening, his staff served honeyed water, honeyed wine, anthropological beer (beer brewed from the yeast/recipe found in a tomb), a red wine so strong and so authentic it burned the tips of my eyelashes, and even barley water.

Salad with quail eggs.

First, came the salad. With every plate, Jim explained the preparation and the way the Romans ate it. Our salads came with two barely boiled quail eggs sitting in oil.

“Poke a hole in the top of each egg and then squeeze out the contents into the bowl,” he instructed. “Then whip it together and pour it over your salad.”

Cod cakes in a veal consomme/reduction.

It was weird and I definitely heard a couple of murmured, “Ewwwws,” around the room but everybody went with it. To my delight, the salad was delicious. Light, refreshing, and like so much of the food to come, filled with the rich flavors of coriander, mint, raisins (Randy swears some Roman called them “tired grapes” but we couldn’t find a source for the claim) oil and the ever-present garum sauce.

The next entree was wild caught cod cakes steeped in a rich veal consomme. Jim reported that they spent DAYS cooking and reducing the broth. I could believe it. Fabulous.

Roasted boar with apricot ragout.

The main dish was roasted boar topped with an apricot ragout over barley and boiled cucumber and celery. It was amazing! I wasn’t sure I was going to like the savory boiled vegetables but to my surprise, I did, though nothing could beat the rich flavor of the boar and apricot ragout. I even liked the well seasoned barley! (Who knew barley could be made to taste good?)

Roasted red pair with rosemary and boiled honey over coriander custard.

Finally, came dessert–roasted red pear with crunchy rosemary over a coriander custard made with boiled honey and (yup, you guessed it,) garum. It was amay-zay-zing! A fascinating mix of sweet and savory, firm and silky.

We ended the meal with an aperitif that sounded like “oxy-garum”–a drink Jim swore would get you buzzed even though it contained no caffeine or alcohol. The trick, he explained, was to slam it down fast.  Easier said than done–the drink was vinegary and salty. I could only take the occasional sip but Randy and Amy valiantly downed theirs. Both said it felt like a real “pick-me-up.” I was okay with taking their word for it.

I borrowed his legionnaire’s helmet to take a selfie with owner-chef, Jim Stacey.

Overall, it was an extraordinary meal! A lot of love and time went into perfecting these dishes, that was clear. From using Italian volcanic salt crystals and importing garum made the “ancient way,” every effort was made to be authentic. At the end of the meal, Jim reminded us that “not a smidgeon of butter” was used the whole evening (the Romans did not cook with butter and thought the Gauls were barbaric and GROSS for doing so!)

There’s something really special about seeing passionate, creative people pour their curiosity and intelligence into a project like this. I wasn’t alone in thinking so. Jim and his crew received wild applause at the end of the meal.

Pallookaville is offering a series of these meals, including, “Eat Like a Native American,” “Eat Like an American Colonist,” and “Eat Like the Victorian Upperclass .”  But, like the Roman one, they fill up fast, so sign up early. Thanks, Pallookaville, making my night!