Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 37
February 13, 2021
Welcome to Day 3 of the 2021 RWISA “REVOLUTION” Blog Tour! @YvetteMCalleiro @RRBC_Org @RRBC_RWISA @Tweets4RWISA #RRBC #RWISA
Welcome to Day 3 of the RWISA “REVOLUTION” Blog Tour! We’d like to introduce you to an amazingly supportive RWISA member, Author, Yvette M. Calleiro. Take a peek at her writing below…
EMERGENCE
The cocoon –
Formed because of a virus,
Reinforced by fear and anxiety.
Surrounded
Protected
Sheltered
Imprisoned
The incubation –
Agonizing silence led to loneliness.
My inner voice tormented
Until the tears flowed freely
And the salty river healed the soul.
Meditation led to self-reflection.
Acceptance
Forgiveness
Release
Self-care
Emergence –
The walls slowly crumble.
Timid to step out but
Resolved to join the world again,
To rise up and feel whole.
Resilience
Strength
Courage
Hope
The RWISA Revolution Blog Tour challenged its authors to write with this year’s theme in mind: A New Year – A Fresh Start. Immediately, I thought of a cocoon. A caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly is not an easy one. This past year has not been easy for any of us. Even though I’m used to being home most of the time, being isolated and fearful of getting COVID (or worse, giving it to someone I love) has crippled me at times. I spent this year working on my inner self. I took meditation courses and worked with my therapist to manage my anxiety better. I’m a constant work in progress, but I feel stronger and healthier today than I was a year ago. For that, I am grateful. RWISA (Rave Writers – International Society of Authors) asked us to ponder a few questions, so here are my thoughts.
What are your plans for the new year?
This year, I plan to continue being careful and cautious when out and about. I will continue to strengthen my physical, emotional, and mental well-being. I will nurture the friendships that held firm despite the distancing. I will continue to create memorable moments with my family. Without them, this year would have been much more difficult.
What are your goals?
I had hoped to write an entire novel during COVID since I was home so much, but my muse locked herself in her own cocoon and refused to cooperate. She, too, has burst through and has begun to share her mojo with me. With the help of my RWISA critique group, I am going through my final edits for a new novel. It’s a young adult novel with no connection to my current series. I will publish it at some point this year.
I am also writing Drake’s story once again. For those who have read my Chronicles of the Diasodz series, you know I’ve been working on this for a few years. He and I have had a bit of a difficult time in telling his story, but we are finding our way through. My goal is to finish writing his story this year. Then, I’ll use next year to revise and edit it before sending it out into the world for everyone to enjoy.
What will you do to contribute to the betterment of our society?
I believe in the energies of the world, and I choose to spread kindness, love, and laughter as often as possible. As a teacher at a middle school, I empower my students to be confident in their abilities and challenge them to be positive and productive members of their communities. I also post inspirational quotes on my Instagram. I have a separate Instagram that focuses on being proud of the beauty within. It’s been dormant for a bit, but I’m hoping to get it restarted. We need more positivity in the world, and that’s my little contribution.
How will you succeed in the midst and in spite of COVID-19?
One needs to define success in order to answer this question. For me, success is a day when I stay present in the moment. It presents itself as a moment where I notice my anxiety and allow it to flow down my mind’s river of worry without me. It’s when I make a student feel accepted and cared for or when my son sits with me at night to watch a show together.
I do not measure success by money earned or by a title. Instead, I measure success by the impact my choices have on those around me and on myself. As we continue to deal with COVID-19, any day where those whom I love are alive and well is a successful day for me. This year, I celebrate the little things because those are what matter most.
***
Did you enjoy Yvette’s writing? Then please, help us support her and her work along this REVOLUTION tour! We ask that you click on the author’s RWISA Profile below and visit all of her profile pages – some offering more insight into the member and others showcasing the author’s talent.
Lastly, we ask that you support this member as well as the host of this blog, by sharing this page and the author’s profile pages across all your social media platforms.
RWISA ProfileWhat Yvette has to say about RWISA…
Check out Yvette’s book…
“BREATHLESS”
***
Now, we’d like to give you a chance at some of this awesome promotion for yourself!Have you written that book or short story you want the whole world to know about? Are you looking for a great way to promote your creative endeavors? Perhaps you’re seeking to add some prestige to your body of work! If this sounds like you, we invite you to come on over to RAVE WRITERS – INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, otherwise known as RWISA.
At RWISA, we invite and accept into membership only the very best writers the Indie community has to offer.
If your work is exemplary and speaks for itself, stop by the RWISA website today at RaveWriters.wordpress.com and find out how you can submit your sample of writing for consideration.
We’re an exclusive bunch but we’d love to have you join us!
NOTE: If you’re looking to improve your writing while taking another route to membership into RWISA, while you’re at the site, visit RWISA UNIVERSITY!
Thanks for dropping by and don’t forget to leave the author a comment below! To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the tour’s home page!
February 12, 2021
Welcome to Day 2 of the 2021 RWISA “REVOLUTION” Blog Tour! @Jinlobify @RRBC_Org @RRBC_RWISA @Tweets4RWISA #RRBC #RWISA
WELCOME TO DAY 2 OF THE #RWISA “REVOLUTION” BLOG TOUR! #RRBC @JINLOBIFY @RRBC_ORG @RRBC_RWISA @TWEETS4RWISA #RWISAREVOLUTIONTOUR
Welcome to Day 2 of the RWISA “REVOLUTION” Blog Tour! We’d like to introduce you to an amazingly supportive RWISA member, Author, Joy Nwosu Lo-Bamijoko. Take a peek at her writing below…
A LIGHT IN THE TUNNELI don’t know about the rest of you, but my new year started on November 3, 2020, when Biden was pronounced the winner of the presidential election. I went to bed that night early because I needed to be alone in prayer for God to rid America of the worst four years of this country’s political life. I did not want to see the results trickling in, especially as the first results did not favor Biden.
This has always been my practice. Even when the team I’m rooting for is playing, I never watch the game. I would rather wait for the end of the game to know the results. The live game always gives me something near to a heart attack. This was why I didn’t wait up to watch the results of the election as they came in. I wanted to wake up in the morning to the news that Biden had won!
It was with great trepidation that I woke up the next morning, November 4, 2020., to find out who won. First, I turned my Television to CNN, and saw Van Jones in tears. I didn’t know why he was in tears, but I joined him. In my head, I had concluded that anything that would cause Mr. Jones to cry could not be good. Slowly, it started to dawn on me that his tears, my tears were tears of victory. Biden had won! Glory to God for He had answered my prayers! I forgot my aches and pains and did a jive! What a glorious day it was!
For me, Biden’s win opened up for people of goodwill, many positive possibilities. The first thing I felt was that the gloom which hovered over everything sane, the sense of despair that dogged the last administration’s tenure, the fear about where all the damaging rhetoric was taking us, and the danger of the divide, had all dissipated. I felt the sun shining again. My hopes for the future of this great country returned. I knew that all would be well again.
When Trump threatened the results of the election by refusing to acknowledge defeat, or concede, at first, I thought it was a passing whim. Somehow, deep inside me, I was strong in my belief that God had spoken. The deal was done. Nothing and no one could overturn the results of the election!
The funny thing about all this, is that while we were rejoicing here in America about Biden’s win, in Nigeria, some misguided individuals were carrying about banners of a Trump’s win. I couldn’t understand how the business of the American elections had become the business of Nigeria. Relatives from Nigeria started texting me to sympathize with me. A cousin from London texted to warn me about an impending war in America. I texted him back asking him where he would want me to run to. The cousin humorously replied, from frying pan to fire! That’s a Nigerian idiom meaning from bad to worse.
I remember that day very clearly. In fact, we were having a fun time on the RRBC chat forum when I turned on my Television and saw, in horror, Trump and his cohorts moving to the USA Capitol. Well, he promised to march with them, then he snuck away. I alerted the RRBC chat members who were still talking about everything mundane on WhatsApp. It was horrible! How could one man hold this country to ransom? Why was Trump trying to ruin my new year’s resolutions?
There is a saying that goes, our happiness is in our own hands. There and then I decided that Trump or no Trump, this election was done. Biden won! God had spoken, and thanks be to God! The whole world, and I mean, the whole world was in jubilation!
Before Biden’s win, I prayed to God for him to win. After his win, I upgraded my prayer. This time, I prayed that the two outstanding seats in the Senate should go to the Democrats so that Biden would be able to do a good job for the country without being blocked by the Republicans. I still remember what they did to the Obama administration, so I prayed night and day for those two seats to go to the Democrats, and now that they have those seats, my prayers have changed again. I have started channeling my prayer for Biden’s safety and good health. I am sure he needs both. I’m sure you will all agree with me that he looks so frail every time we see him, and his voice sounds so tired when he speaks. May God sustain him!
This year is looking good already. I am able to write again. Last year was one of my worst writing years. I couldn’t write at all, and this had nothing to do with writer’s block. I could see my stories. Sometimes, I would jot somethings down, and then, that feeling of hopelessness… like the end was near, would overwhelm me. I would ask myself, why bother? Rather than write, I would sit and stare into space, and dream. Although I was not putting anything down on paper, I would rehash everything in my head.
With the country calmer now, my worries have started to melt away. I can now focus more and stay on course. I can’t believe that in just two days, I have written two blog posts. In short, I am back!
I am happy that Biden is on course, too. He is not allowing anything, to distract him. When the country is on course, we are all on course. I pray that God will help him to heal America and pull America back from the hole which the last administration had plunged it. America deserves better. We deserve better.
***
Did you enjoy Joy’s writing? Then please, help us support her and her work along this REVOLUTION tour! We ask that you click on the author’s RWISA Profile below and visit all of her profile pages – some offering more insight into the member and others showcasing the author’s talent.
Lastly, we ask that you support this member as well as the host of this blog, by sharing this page and the author’s profile pages across all your social media platforms.
RWISA ProfileWhat Joy has to say about RWISA…
Check out Joy’s book…
“PREGNANT FUTURE”
***
Now, we’d like to give you a chance at some of this awesome promotion for yourself!Have you written that book or short story you want the whole world to know about? Are you looking for a great way to promote your creative endeavors? Perhaps you’re seeking to add some prestige to your body of work! If this sounds like you, we invite you to come on over to RAVE WRITERS – INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, otherwise known as RWISA.
At RWISA, we invite and accept into membership only the very best writers the Indie community has to offer.
If your work is exemplary and speaks for itself, stop by the RWISA website today at RaveWriters.wordpress.com and find out how you can submit your sample of writing for consideration.
We’re an exclusive bunch but we’d love to have you join us!
NOTE: If you’re looking to improve your writing while taking another route to membership into RWISA, while you’re at the site, visit RWISA UNIVERSITY!
Thanks for dropping by and don’t forget to leave the author a comment below! To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the tour’s home page!
February 11, 2021
Welcome to Day 1 of the 2021 RWISA “REVOLUTION” Blog Tour! @HealthMN1 @RRBC_Org @RRBC_RWISA @Tweets4RWISA #RRBC #RWISA
Welcome to Day 1 of the RWISA “REVOLUTION” Blog Tour! We’d like to introduce you to an amazing RWISA member, Author, Harriet Hodgson. Take a peek at her writing below…
COVID, WRITING, AND ME: A FREELANCER’S TALE
John and I lived in a retirement community in the heart of the city. We chose the community for its closeness to Mayo Clinic and its many support services. Though we lived here for more than a year, we felt like we were living in a motel. Several months ago, John and I felt so badly we thought we had Covid-19. I called 911 and we took “his” and “her” ambulances to the ED (Emergency Department).
Both of us were tested for Covid-19 and the results were negative. As it turned out, John had advanced prostate cancer. I had cellulitis, a bacterial infection that can be fatal, and was treated with antibiotics. After six days in the hospital, I was dismissed. John stayed a few more days.
Because I had been in the hospital, the retirement community quarantined me for two weeks. It was a serious quarantine. I had to set trash and laundry outside the front door for pick-up. Whenever someone came to the door, I had to wear a mask and practice social distancing. The retirement community didn’t allow visitors and we felt isolated and alone.
“Staying in my apartment is driving me crazy,” a neighbor shared. She wondered if I was going crazy too.
“I’m writing like crazy,” I answered. Because I’ve been a freelancer for 40 years, I was used to working at home. However, being John’s caregiver took up most of the day. But I am a disciplined writer and sheltering at home sparked my creativeness. In fact, I wrote five children’s books.
Covid-19 has increased the need for grief resources. This made me think about how children grieve. For example, teens may turn to peers for comfort rather than their parents. The more I thought about children’s grief, the more concerned I became. With a BS in early childhood education and an MA in art education, I could be of help.
I wrote two books … a workbook for grieving kids ages 5-8 and a workbook for grieving kids ages 9-12. I contacted a grief publisher I had worked with previously and both books were accepted.
My co-author and I finished a leadership book, Ready, Set, Lead! Leadership can be learned, and we think it begins in early childhood. Our picture book is a rhyming poem. The first half defines leadership, and the second half tells kids how to become leaders. We also wrote a companion art activity book.
Weeks passed. I spent more time on caregiving than writing. I knew I had to practice self-care to survive. The grief workbooks are illustrated with doodle art. Though I have a graduate degree in art, I never heard of this art form. What was it? I researched doodle art online and started doodling. To my surprise, I discovered that doodling provided respites from stress.
If doodling helped me, it could help others.
I started writing a book for teens, Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles. When I was writing I was almost in a trance. Grieving kids don’t need tomes, they need concise resources. Grief Doodling is the first book I have written and illustrated. My current publisher accepted the book and I contacted influencers—experts who might write reviews. Eight experts responded and their positive words are on the back cover.
Late in November of 2020 I realized John was dying. He knew it and I knew it. Since John was paraplegic and needed more care than I could provide, he was moved to short-term rehab. After two staff members tested positive for Covid-19, John and I were re-tested. John tested negative. I tested positive and was quarantined again. Thankfully, I never developed any symptoms.
At a time when I wanted to see John more, I saw him less. I didn’t see him for a month. Though we stayed in touch by phone, calls weren’t the same as seeing each other face-to-face. John called several times (which was difficult for him) to say “I love you.” Three days after my quarantine was up, John died. I posted a notice of his death on Facebook.
Nonnie Jules let RRBC and RWISA members know about John’s death and many contributed funds for sympathy gifts. The gifts just kept coming—a food basket, cozy blanket, comfort stones, blessing cards for women, musical jewelry box, and more. Every gift sparked tears. I wasn’t alone. RRBC members had my back and were family. I am grateful for their kindness and support.
Life had another surprise for me. Three months before the release date, Grief Doodling received a first place award in the self-help category. I was thrilled and am still thrilled. I had a book trailer made for the book and posted it on Facebook. Advance sales are going well, and I hope the book trailer generates more sales.
One of the reasons I write is to figure things out. I researched end of life care and took notes about the tasks I had to complete before John died. I am hard at work on another book. The purpose of the book is to help spouses and significant others understand the present and believe in a future.
The pandemic is hellish and tragic. All of us know someone who tested positive, gotten the virus, or died. Yet if we look carefully, we can find grace in sorrow. I was able to see the blessings in my life—one-on-one time with John, understanding that every life is a miracle, and writing five children’s books. At age 85 I’m still working part-time, giving Zoom talks and workshops, competing in the book business, and setting goals.
John was amazed at my writing output and often joked, “While you’re up, write me a book.” I love to write and working on a new book gives purpose to my days. I think John would be pleased and proud.
***
Did you enjoy Harriet’s writing? Then please, help us support her and her work along this REVOLUTION tour! We ask that you click on the author’s RWISA Profile below and visit all of her profile pages – some offering more insight into the member and others showcasing the author’s talent.
Lastly, we ask that you support this member as well as the host of this blog, by sharing this page and the author’s profile pages across all your social media platforms.
RWISA ProfileWhat Harriet has to say about RWISA…
Check out Harriet’s upcoming release…
“READY, SET, LEAD!”
***
Now, we’d like to give you a chance at some of this awesome promotion for yourself!Have you written that book or short story you want the whole world to know about? Are you looking for a great way to promote your creative endeavors? Perhaps you’re seeking to add some prestige to your body of work! If this sounds like you, we invite you to come on over to RAVE WRITERS – INT’L SOCIETY OF AUTHORS, otherwise known as RWISA.
At RWISA, we invite and accept into membership only the very best writers the Indie community has to offer.
If your work is exemplary and speaks for itself, stop by the RWISA website today at RaveWriters.wordpress.com and find out how you can submit your sample of writing for consideration.
We’re an exclusive bunch but we’d love to have you join us!
NOTE: If you’re looking to improve your writing while taking another route to membership into RWISA, while you’re at the site, visit RWISA UNIVERSITY!
Thanks for dropping by and don’t forget to leave the author a comment below! To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the tour’s home page!
February 7, 2021
Stuart Rudge The Fall of Kings #HistoricalFiction #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub @stu_rudge @maryanneyarde Instagram @coffeepotbookclub
It’s my pleasure to feature Stuart Rudge as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Blast being held on February 8, 2021. Stuart Rudge is the author of the historical fiction novel, The Fall of Kings (Legend of the Cid, Book 3), which was independently released on February 5, 2021 (406 pages).
Below are highlights of The Fall of Kings and Stuart Rudge’s author biography.
Highlights of The Fall of Kings
The Fall of Kings (Legend of the Cid, Book 3)
By Stuart Rudge
Castile. 1071AD. Three kings. One crown.
After Sancho II of Castile dispatches his champion Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar to capture his brother, King Garcia of Galicia, he hopes it is a defining moment in his quest to reunite the lands of his father under one banner. But Alfonso VI of Leon is one step ahead, and has already added the lands of Galicia to his domain. When the only alternative is war, Sancho turns to Rodrigo to lead the armies of Castile, and he must use all his tactical acumen to defeat the Leonese in the field. Only one son of Fernando can claim victory and become the Emperor of Hispania.
Rodrigo and Antonio Perez, now a knight of the realm, find difficulty adjusting to the new regime. Dissent and unrest run rife throughout the kingdom, and the fear of a knife in the dark from enemies old and new hangs heavy upon the pair. But if it is allowed to fester, it threatens to undo all that has been achieved. Can Rodrigo and Antonio root out the enemies of the king, and prevent chaos reigning throughout the land?
The Fall of Kings in the breath taking third instalment of the Legend of the Cid.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU
Author Bio: Stuart Rudge
Stuart Rudge was born and raised in Middlesbrough, where he still lives. His love of history came from his father and uncle, both avid readers of history, and his love of table top war gaming and strategy video games. He studied Ancient History and Archaeology at Newcastle University, and has spent his fair share of time in muddy trenches, digging up treasure at Bamburgh Castle.
He was worked in the retail sector and volunteered in museums, before working in York Minster, which he considered the perfect office. His love of writing blossomed within the historic walls, and he knew there were stories within which had to be told. Despite a move in to the shipping and logistics sector (a far cry to what he hoped to ever do), his love of writing has only grown stronger.
Rise of a Champion is the first piece of work he has dared to share with the world. Before that came a novel about the Roman Republic and a Viking-themed fantasy series (which will likely never see the light of day, but served as good practise). He hopes to establish himself as a household name in the mound of Bernard Cornwell, Giles Kristian, Ben Kane and Matthew Harffy, amongst a host of his favourite writers.
Social Media Links:
Blog Tour Schedule
February 3, 2021
British Kings Atrebates
Below is a reblog of an article entitled, “Atrebates British Kings” that was originally posted on my previous website on March 20, 2016. The article is an overview of some of my research in preparation for writing the historical fantasy series, Curse of Clansmen and Kings. The books in this series are set in the historical backdrop of 1st Century southeast Britannia (modern-day England). Below is an overview of competing kings in the Atrebates tribal kingdom after Julius Caesar’s invasions in 54-55 BC up to 25 AD (twenty years prior to Claudius’ conquest in 43 AD). The article is provided below in its entirety. For the original post, click British Kings Atrebates.
___________________________________
Cities and Thrones and Powers
Stand in Time’s eye,
Almost as long as flowers,
Which daily die,
But, as new buds put forth
To glad new men,
Out of the spent and unconsidered Earth,
The Cities rise again
—Rudyard Kipling
Julius Caesar described some of the tribal kingdoms in southeast Britannia (Britain) as identical to those in Gaul (modern-day France), but he does not specify which ones. Much of the population was divided into named units in the order of tens of thousands of people which were called civitates, usually translated as ‘tribes’ or ‘states’.
Celtic Gold Torc
It is striking that most of the tribes that Caesar mentioned in his accounts vanished by the time of Claudius’ invasion in 43 AD. Archaeological finds, particularly coins minted by the British kings, suggest great instability and volatility in the ever-expanding dynastic states. Coin evidence is no substitute for detailed political accounts. Nevertheless, it provides us with the earliest names of the players in the political struggles. Coins also provide a crude indicator of tribal territories, alliances, and the political geography of southern Britannia. The power struggles between pro and anti-Roman factions played a crucial role in triggering the Roman invasion in 43 AD.
Celtic Tribes in Southeast Britannia
One of the most powerful British tribal kingdoms was the Atrebates that was also a tribe in Gaul. King Commius fled to Britannia after Caesar’s conquest in Gaul to establish this powerful dynasty. Below is a tabular summary of British kings who minted coins in the southern and northern dynasties.
British Kings in Southeast Britannia
DateRomeSouthern DynastyNorthern Dynasty50 BCCivil War, Murder of Caesar;40 BCCommius30 BCOctavian and Mark Antony Civil WarAddedomaros20 BCAugustusTasciovanus10 BCTincomarusDubnovellaunos1 ADAD 10EpatticusCunobelinVodenosAD 20TiberiusEppillusAD 30VericaAdminiusAD40CaligulaCaratacusAD50Claudius
Commius of the Atrebates
Alliance with Caesar
Julius Caesar considered Commius one of his strongest Celtic allies in Gaul where he made him king of the Atrebates. In 55 AD, Caesar sent Commius as a diplomatic emissary to Britannia to win their loyalty to Rome. The tribal leaders who Caesar had in mind were those that had fled from Gaul during his military campaign. The moment Commius disembarked on the shores of Kent and announced his mission, he was taken as a prisoner. Later that summer, he was handed back to Caesar in his first expedition to Britannia. Commius then went with Caesar on his second expedition to Britannia where he helped with the peace negotiations.
Replica of Celtic War Chariot
Resistance with Vercingetorix
In spite of winning Caesar’s favor, Commius allied with Vercingetorix and was appointed as one of his chief officers in a united Gallic resistance against Caesar in 52 BC. After Caesar’s great victory over Vercingetorix at Alesia, Commius escaped the battle with the aid of the Germans.
Statue ofVercingetorix
Caesar sent a special team to execute Commius, but he managed to escape with a severe head wound. He avoided yet another encounter with Roman executioners at a party. After that, he sailed to southeast Britannia with a band of his followers. Again, he eluded the Roman ship that was pursuing him.
Frieze of Roman Warship
Atrebates Southern Dynasty
Commius landed on the British Sussex coast and established himself as the British king of the Atrebates. He established his capital at Calleva (Silchester). There may have already been an Atrebates tribe in Britannia that accepted Commius as their king. Commius coinage was widespread, suggesting his authority spread over a large area north of the Thames, Hampshire, and Sussex.
Abrebates British Slater
Tincomarus
Tincomarus, son and heir of Commius, ascended to power around 20 BC. Roman Emperor Augustus scored a great diplomatic triumph winning over the son of the man who hated the Romans. Tincomarus issued coins that more closely resembled the Roman types.
Based on the imagery used on his coins, Tincomarus may have been brought up as an obses (diplomatic hostage) in Rome during the early years of Augustus’ reign. It is conceivable that he gained experience in the Roman army before his return to Britain in 20 BC. He most likely established trading and diplomatic links with Augustus as evidenced by Roman pottery and other imports that have been dug up at Calleva.
Celtic child in Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace)
Augustus maintained diplomatic links in Britannia to ensure the southeast region stayed in the hands of friendly tribes. To the north was the ambitious and aggressive Catuvellauni tribe (their name means ‘Men Good in Battle’). To keep them in their place, Rome cultivated their southern rivals, the Atrebates. As far as the Romans were concerned, the rest of Britannia and Ireland beyond the trading gateway were remote and thus irrelevant.
Bust of Augustus Caesar
Sometime before 7 AD, Tincomarus was driven out of his kingdom for unknown reasons and fled to Rome as a refugee. His expulsion may have resulted from a family dispute with his brother, Eppillus. Tincomarus appeared before Augustus as a suppliant king. Augustus recognized Eppillus as REX (king) rather than depose and reinstate Tincomarus. Augustus may have planned to use his ally’s ejection as an excuse to invade Britannia but other more pressing foreign policy matters took precedence.
Celtic Shield Retrieved from Thames River
Epillus and EppaticusEpillus’s rein over the Atrebates was short-lived. Eppaticus, the brother of Cunobelin (Catuvellauni tribe) most likely expelled Eppillus with the support of the anti-Roman Druids. Eppaticus managed to establish himself over the Atrebates at the time Rome was preoccupied with its own troubles about 10 AD.
Verica, the grandson of Commius, regained the throne from Eppaticus who he subsequently killed.
Post-Augustus Policies and TradeUpon his death in 14 AD, Augustus instructed his successor, Tiberius, not to expand the Empire. Tiberius accepted this policy since he was weary of many years of warfare and maintaining order over conquered regions.
By then, Cunobelin most likely signed a formal treaty with Rome. This is implied by the Greek historian Strabo who states in 14 AD, “With important export duties, Rome receives greater profit than any army could produce.” Strabo listed British exports as grain, cattle, gold, silver, iron, hides, slaves, and hunting dogs. The general philosophy was that treaties with client kings made Rome’s position in Britannia so secure that there was no longer any need for Rome to invade.
During the campaigns on the Rhine under Germanicus in AD 16, some warships were blown across the North Sea and wrecked on the British coast. These were returned, clearly indicating a friendly gesture from one of the tribes, perhaps under a treaty obligation.
Bust of Roman Emperor Tiberius
To be Continued
Upcoming posts will provide an overview of the final political upheavals after 25 AD that triggered Rome’s Invasion of Britannia.
ReferencesJohn Peddie, Conquest: The Roman Invasion of Britain; St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1997.John Manley, AD43 The Roman Invasion of Britain; A Reassessment; Tempus Publishing, Inc., Charleston, SC, 2002.David Miles, The Tribes of Britain; Phoenix, an imprint of Orion Books, LTD, London, 2006Graham Webster, Boudica: The British Revolt Against Rome AD 60; Routledge, London, 2004Graham Webster, Rome Against Caratacus; The Roman Campaigns in Britain AD 48-58; Routledge, London, 2003Graham Webster, The Roman Invasion of Britain; Routledge, New York, 1999.©Copyright March 20, 2016 by Linnea Tanner. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
January 31, 2021
Welcome to the BLOOD/CRIMSON Blog Tour! @OverbeckRandy @4WillsPub @4WP11 @RRBC_Org
Welcome to the “BLOOD/CRIMSON” BLOG TOUR!
It is my pleasure to introduce Dr. Randy Overbeck on Day 5 of the 4WillsPub/RRBC Blog Tour and Giveaway. His books include: “Blood on the Chesapeake” and “Crimson at Cape May.”
For your chance at winning one of the awesome giveaways below, simply leave a comment below!
(1) e-book copy of BLOOD ON THE CHESAPEAKE or CRIMSON AT CAPE MAY (Winner’s choice)(1) $10 Amazon gift cardAUTHOR BIO: RANDY OVERBECK
Dr. Randy Overbeck is a veteran educator who has served children as a teacher and school leader. For more than three decades, his educational experiences have included responsibilities ranging from coach and yearbook advisor to principal and superintendent and he’s lived the roles of many of the characters in his stories. An accomplished writer, he has been published in trade journals, professional texts and newspapers as well as in fiction, with his third published novel. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.
Social Media Links
Twitter: @OverbeckRandy
Facebook: Author Randy Overbeck
Crimson at Cape May
No matter how far you run, you can never really escape a haunted past.Darrell Henshaw—teacher, coach, and paranormal sensitive—learned this lesson the hard way. Now, with his job gone and few options, he heads for Cape May to coach a summer football camp. The resort town, with gorgeous beaches, rich history and famous Victorian mansions, might just be the getaway he needs. Only, no one told him Cape May is the most haunted seaport on the East Coast.
When a resident ghost, the Haunted Bride, stalks Darrell, begging for his help, he can’t refuse, and joins forces with Cassie, another sensitive. As Darrell and the street-wise teen investigate the bride’s death, they uncover something far more sinister than a murder. Can Darrell and Cassie expose those behind the crimes before they end up becoming the next victims?
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BOOK TRAILER LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9nWiaGO-KM
Blood on the Chesapeake
Wilshire, Maryland, a quaint shore town on the Chesapeake, promises Darrell Henshaw a new start in life and a second chance at love. That is, until he learns the town hides an ugly secret. A thirty-year-old murder in the high school. And a frightening ghost stalking his new office. Burned by an earlier encounter with the spirit world, Darrell doesn’t want to get involved, but when the desperate ghost hounds him, he concedes. Assisted by his new love, he follows a trail that leads to the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and even the Klu Klux Klan. Then, when two locals who try to help are murdered, Darrell is forced to decide if he’s willing to risk his life—and the life of the woman he loves—to expose the killers of a young man he never knew.
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BLOG POST7 FACTS ABOUT GHOSTS
You probably didn’t know
When I did the prep work in advance of writing the first two novels in my new series, the Haunted Shore Mysteries, I conducted a considerable amount of research. For example, for Blood on the Chesapeake, not being a sailor, I had to learn the details about a sloop and specifics about sailing the Chesapeake Bay. And of course, I had do some scholarly research on the social issues focused on in the novels, lynching and racial injustice for Blood on the Chesapeake and human trafficking for Crimson at Cape May. But, as the novels in the series are ghost stories as well as mysteries, I also had to gather considerable knowledge about ghosts and the spiritual world. Since I want my writing to reflect, as close as possible in fiction, what we know for sure about ghosts, I did my best to study up on the subject. I read books, examined verified websites, checked out reported sightings and even met with ghost hunters. What I learned surprised me…in many ways and I thought they might surprise you as well.
Here are a few facts about ghosts that we believe and know.
Approximately half the people in the U.S. acknowledge a personal belief in ghosts. Belief in ghosts and the spirit world is not merely the thing of childhood nightmares or foolish hobgoblins of minds. Two different studies conducted over the past several years have yielded almost identical results—48% of respondents replying yes to this question in the first (Harris Poll, 2003) and 51% in the second (Huffington Post, 2017).One in five Americans believe they have had a personal encounter with a ghost. This incredible statistic was confirmed through two separate studies, (Baylor University, 2006 and AP Ipos, 2007). These encounters include hearing, seeing and even sensing a ghost.Every religion in the world includes a belief in ghosts as part of their mythology. No matter what faith community you were raised in—Christianity, Judaism, Muslim, Buddhism, Hinduism, Native American religions—you were taught that ghosts are a very real part of our existence on this earth.Many famous scientists, performers, inventors, politicians and athletes have shared that they believe in ghosts, most often because they have had a personal encounter with the spirit world. Belief in ghosts is definitely not for the feeble minded. The list of names might surprise you. Thomas Edison, Ronald Reagan, Paul McCartney and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., just to name a few.
Interest in ghosts and hauntings are so widespread that there are ghost hunting groups, organizations and even companies in every state and a great many cities and towns. A simple exploration of the web will yield a surprising number of “ghost hunting” groups in your area. And none are anything like the famous Ghostbusters.
Almost all experts who study this field believe ghosts are individuals who have died, but have some unfinished business that keeps them tethered to this world. This is ample evidence of this in the anecdotal records of documented ghost sightings all across the globe.Often, though not always, a ghost encounter will result in a dramatic drop in a room’s temperature for the time the ghost is present. This experience has been documented repeatedly, using very precise scientific instruments, video and audio recording devices. In all the reports I’ve read, I’ve never seen a “physical” explanation for the very physical change in the atmosphere. And this phenomenon seems to be universal.
So, as I crafted my narratives, I worked to keep the fiction of the ghost story as close to the documented reality of the spiritual world as possible. I’m hoping the inclusion of this “paranormal” element in my storytelling makes the novels just a bit more interesting. I’d love to hear what you think.
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To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the authors’ tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in a similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting this author and his work!
January 27, 2021
Heidi Gallacher Rebecca’s Choice The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour #HistoricalFiction #RebeccasChoice #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub
Featured Author: Heidi Gallacher
It’s my pleasure to feature Heidi Gallacher as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 25th – February 5th, 2021. Heidi Gallacher is the author of the historical fiction novel, Rebecca’s Choice, which was independently released on October 30th, 2020 (211 pages).
Below are highlights of Rebecca’s Choice, Heidi Gallacher’s biography, and an excerpt from her book.
Praise for Rebecca’s ChoiceRebecca’s Choice was awarded 5 stars and is a Recommended Read by The Coffee Pot Book Club. The book was awarded a Bronze Medal for Debut Novel 2020 by The Coffee Pot Book Club.
“This is a story that is utterly beguiling from the opening sentence to the very last full stop.”- Author Mary Anne Yarde
“The historical details are so skillfully woven in that the reader steps with ease into the late 19th century.” – Author Liz Harris
Highlights of Rebecca’s Choice
Rebecca’s Choice
by Heidi Gallacher
‘Can Rebecca find the love and passion she craves within a Victorian world that seems to be conspiring against her?’
It is 1887 and Queen Victoria is on the throne. Businessman and meteorologist Geoffrey de Roussier is passionate about his weather station and railways, yet little of his passion seems to filter through to his shy, naïve young wife, Rebecca.
Following his tragic demise, Rebecca discovers that Geoffrey’s railroad investments have failed, leaving her penniless. As the past threatens to engulf her, Rebecca realises she has to make a choice. Gwilym Llewellyn, Geoffrey’s trusted friend and advisor, has an emotional debt to repay to Geoffrey and meets Rebecca to offer her a solution. Meanwhile, Rebecca has found passion in another direction …
One man will save her from destitution, the other will offer her the love and excitement that she aches for. Whom will she choose?
This book has a beautiful setting in Cardiff, South Wales. If you like a good mix of an evocative depiction of the Victorian era and a modern-thinking heroine then Rebecca’s Choice is the novel for you.
This is Heidi Gallacher’s debut novel, a compelling historical Victorian romance. Pick up ‘Rebecca’s Choice’ today to lose yourself in this wonderful story!
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Author Bio: Heidi Gallacher
Heidi Gallacher was born in London in the Sixties. She grew up in Cardiff and Swansea, South Wales. She jumped at the chance to move to Paris in her twenties to learn a new language and culture. Following the arrival of her first son, she moved to sunny Switzerland where she has lived ever since. She completed her Masters in Creative Writing in 2018 and her first short story Changing Places was published in September of that year. Rebecca’s Choice is her first novel.
When not writing, Heidi writes and performs music, swims in Lake Zürich, and fundraises for a school in Tanzania.
Social Media Links:
Twitter • Instagram • Facebook • Goodreads
Excerpt from Rebecca’s Choice… I take the spiral staircase up to the turret room. It is peaceful; I lie on the bed for a while. I shudder as I relive in my mind the strange meeting with Dafydd. Closing my eyes, I relish the feeling of the warm sunlight caressing my eyelids.
When I have regained my composure, I get up from the bed and smooth over the covers. Taking up the pail, I scatter the rose petals over the white linen counterpane and decorate the pillows until the bed looks exquisite and the flowery, sensual aroma fills the room. I place the bottle of Pineau on a small marble-topped table next to the bed.
I wander to the window and gaze out over the rooftops to where the sea lies gleaming, framing the far edge of the city like a thin, silver ribbon. There are dark bunches of thunderclouds far into the distance, rolling in over the sea. I pray that the inclement weather will not disturb us here to-night, for I wish to be able to throw back the curtains for Geoffrey and reveal to him the stars.
~
Much later, I leave the anteroom and walk over to the bed in our austere bedroom. I am wearing the silken lingerie that Geoffrey bought for me on our honeymoon in Jersey – oh, how long ago, how far away those days seem, now. My lingerie is hidden beneath a pretty dressing robe that I acquired from a little dress shop near the bottom of Rumney-hill.
The mattress feels solid beneath me as I sit, quite unlike the soft, feathery confection that adorns the bed where I shall be leading my husband. I nibble at a nail.
The light is fading fast in the bedroom; a soft rain brushes against the window. I hope that Geoffrey will be finished with his bedtime ablutions soon enough.
I flinch as the door that leads from his dressing room creaks ajar, then I watch his shadowy figure approaching the bed. ‘Geoffrey. I—’
‘Rebecca. What are you doing, pray, sitting here in the dark? Gracious, I nearly fell over you.’
‘I am sorry. I…I want you to come with me. There is something I should like to show you.’
He sits, heavily, next to me on the bed. ‘Rebecca, my dear. I beg your pardon, but it is too late to play silly games. I should really like to sleep.’
‘But—’
He raises his voice a smidgen. ‘Have you forgotten? I hosted a meeting here to-day in Tredelerch, and I am tired. Some of us have not been so lucky as to spend our time picnicking and playing outside with the children.’
I swallow hard. I place my hand over his and squeeze it. ‘Come with me, Geoffrey. Please.’
He snorts and gets to his feet, pushing my hand aside. ‘Very well. Let’s go and see what this is all about. And then I shall be able to come back here and have myself some sleep.’
I can feel my heartbeat, fervent and racing, as I light a small candle and lead him out of the room. I am relieved that the wall candles are still burning in their sconces as we creep along the wide corridor towards the landing. When we reach it, I gasp as I catch sight of the huge paintings. The dark portraits and landscapes appear eerie in the quivering light.
Geoffrey thrusts a hand through his tousled hair and turns to regard me. ‘Where to now, Rebecca? Where on earth are you taking me on this foolish wild goose chase of yours?’
I beckon him across the landing to where the steps lead up from the kitchen. We follow the wall around until we reach the bottom of the spiral staircase.
I begin to mount the curving stairs. ‘Please come up here, Geoffrey. I promise you it will be…’
I hear an anguished moan and turn around.
‘No…no… I cannot go up there. I cannot… I promised myself.’ He falls to his knees, wailing.
‘But, Geoffrey, what is the matter? It is beautiful up here. The bed is ready for us, we could be happy together, and…and…’ I untie the belt of my silken robe and let it fall to the floor. I stand above him and loosen my long hair so it cascades down over my undergarments.
In the flickering glow of the candles, Geoffrey looks up at me. I can see pain contorting his eyes. Even in the dim light I can see that he is wringing his hands. I know he is not seeing me at all, then.
‘I cannot go up any further,’ he repeats. ‘The turret was where I used to meet with Angharad. I swore to myself I would never, ever visit it again after she left me. I…I am so terribly sorry…’
My husband turns and stumbles away from me. From far away up the stairwell comes the crash of thunder and a drumming of swollen rain. As Geoffrey disappears, I bend down to retrieve my robe, draped unruly over the curving steps.
Blog Tour Schedule
January 24, 2021
MJ Porter The Danish King’s Enemy Book Blast #HistoricalFiction #BookBlast #CoffeePotBookClub @coloursofunison @maryanneyarde
Introduction
It is my pleasure to spotlight MJ Porter as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Book Blast being held on 25th January 2021. MJ Porter is the author of the historical fiction novel, The Danish King’s Enemy (The Earls of Mercia, Book 2), which was independently released by the author on 20th December 2020 (211 Pages). Please note this is a rerelease of Viking Enemy, which was a rerelease of Ealdormen.
Below are highlights of The Danish King’s Enemy and MJ Porter’s biography.
Highlights of The Danish King’s Enemy by MJ Porter
The Danish King’s Enemy
(The Earls of Mercia, Book 2)
by MJ Porter
Every story has a beginning.
Leofwine has convinced his king to finally face his enemies in battle and won a great victory, but in the meantime, events have spiralled out of control elsewhere.
With the death of Olaf Tryggvason of Norway, England has lost an ally, and Leofwine has gained an enemy. And not just any enemy. Swein is the king of Denmark, and he has powerful resources at his fingertips.
In a unique position with the king, Leofwine is either honoured or disrespected. Yet, it is to Leofwine that the king turns to when an audacious attack is launched against the king’s mother and his children. But Leofwine’s successes only bring him more under the scrutiny of King Swein of Denmark, and his own enemies at the king’s court.
With an increase in Raider attacks, it is to Leofwine that the king turns once more. However, the king has grown impatient with his ealdorman, blaming him for Swein’s close scrutiny of the whole of England. Can Leofwine win another victory for his king, or does he risk losing all that he’s gained?
The Danish King’s Enemy is the second book in the epic Earls of Mercia series charting the last century of Early England, as seen through the eyes of Ealdorman Leofwine, the father of Earl Leofric, later the Earl of Mercia, and ally of Lady Elfrida, England’s first queen.
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The Danish King’s Enemy is only 0.99 for a Limited Time Only. The Danish King’s Enemy is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.
Author Bio: MJ Porter
I’m an author of fantasy (Viking age/dragon-themed) and historical fiction (Early English, Vikings and the British Isles as a whole before the Norman Conquest), born in the old Mercian kingdom at some point since AD1066.
I write A LOT. You’ve been warned!
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Book Blast Tour
January 18, 2021
Sleighed: A Christmas Tale #ShortStory by Award-Winning #Author WJ Scott #NewRelease #Free
It is my pleasure to feature the award-winning author, Wendy Scott, and the FREE eBook promotion for her newly released short story: Sleighed: A Christmas Tale.
As part of this blog tour, you will find an excerpt and book trailer for Sleighed: A Christmas Tale; Wendy’s biography and inspiration for writing the story; and my review.
Sleighed: A Christmas Tale
Blurb:
Tinsel is the newest apprentice in Santa’s Workshop, but this young elf lands himself in strife on his first day!
He’s sent to care for the reindeer and instead ends up on a magical adventure.
Will the Toy-Inspector allow him back into the Workshop?
A fun Christmas story for younger readers and those young at heart.
Book Trailer:
FREE eBook on Amazon KDP 18-22 January 2021 –download now!
Click Amazon Universal Link
Post: Memory Tour
In March 2019, my sister (who lives in Canada), visited me in New Zealand, and we embarked on a memory tour. We revisited places from our childhood, including Queenstown, where our grandmother used to live.
Our great-grandfather had been an engineer on the iconic century-old coal-fired steamship, the TSS Earnslaw, back in the day when it transported stock and supplies across Lake Wakatipu. We enjoyed a delightful sunny cruise to Walter Peak High Country Farm.
During our travels, we set a challenge, to each write a 1500 word story. I chose to write a Children’s Christmas story, based on a writing prompt from my Aspiring Author Series, and that’s how, ‘Sleighed’, came to be created.
Aspiring Author Series Link Aspiring Author Series (6 book series) Kindle Edition (amazon.com)
Author Bio: Wendy ScottWendy Scott has a New Zealand Certificate in Science (Chemistry), which allows her to dabble with fuming potions and strange substances, satisfying her inner witch.
Wendy writes short stories, fantasy, and children’s novels. Her books have won multiple awards.
One of the creeds she lives by is to always – Live a life less ordinary!
Click Full book list
Click Amazon Universal Link
Connect with Wendy:
Children’s Websites:
http://www.authorchildrens.com
Facebook: ChildrenAuthorWJScott
Twitter: @WendyJayneScott
Pinterest:
Book Review
Sleighed: A Children’s Christmas Tale by WJ Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Even though Sleighed: A Children’s Christmas Tale by WJ Scott is an entertaining children’s book geared toward elementary school-aged students, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it as an adult. The story is about Master Tinsel, an elf, who is assigned to work the nightshift on the soft toy-stuffing production line. Magical glitter from the ceiling lands on his hands and the toy inspector cautions, “The magic dust isn’t so much fun when it gets into places it shouldn’t.” When Tinsel is asked to help feed and groom the reindeer, he discovers what happens when you don’t wash off the magical dust.
WJ Scott has created a clever book that would appeal to elementary students and challenge them to learn new vocabulary. An example of humorous dialogue when Tinsel is shown at the reindeer stables follows: “Nasty ailment. Rudy will be grounded for a week. Sneezing and sleigh-flying aren’t a wise mix. Santa warned him not to snort those snowballs.” The tale contains vivid, sensory descriptions that stimulate your imagination. “Tinsel rubbed his fingertips together, and the glitter exploded into miniature fireworks.”
The illustrated Christmas tale is one that both children and adults will enjoy reading. Highly recommended.
January 5, 2021
Christopher D Stanley A Rooster for Asklepios Blog Tour The Coffee Pot Book Club #HistoricalFiction #ARoosterforAsklepios #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub
Introduction
It is my pleasure to feature Christopher D. Stanley as part of The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between January 4th – January 15th, 2021. Christopher is the author of the historical fiction novel, A Rooster for Asklepios (A Slave’s Story Trilogy, Book 1). The first book was released on May 23rd, 2020 by Amelia Books (522 pages). The 2nd book in the series, A Bull for Pluto was released on June 17th 2020 by Amelia Books (325 pages).
Below are highlights of A Rooster for Asklepios (Book 1) and A Bull for Pluto (Book 2) from A Slave’s Story Trilogy; Christopher D. Stanley’s biography; and my review of his first book in the series.
Praise for A Rooster for Asklepios and A Bull For Pluto
This compelling and enjoyable story offers the reader a superb ‘insider’ view of life in the first-century Greco-Roman world. I enjoyed traipsing around Anatolia with Lucius and Marcus!”
-Dr. Terence Donaldson, Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College, Canada
“The realism of this story reflects the author’s deep first-hand knowledge of the landscape and culture where the narrative takes place.”
-Dr. Mark Wilson, Director, Asia Minor Research Center, Antalya, Turkey
“This well-researched book really brings the Roman world to life!”
-Dr. Alanna Nobbs, Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University, Australia
“The amount of research, imagination, and effort involved in crafting this story earned my admiration, and stirred my curiosity, too.”
Dr. Mark Nanos, Lecturer, University of Kansas, USA
Excerpt: A Rooster for Asklepios
A Rooster for Asklepios
(A Slave’s Story Trilogy, Book 1)
by Christopher D. Stanley
Marcus, a slave in the household of Lucius Coelius Felix, enjoys a better life than most slaves (and many free citizens) as the secretary and accountant of a wealthy aristocrat. His master is rising in the civic life of the Roman colony of Antioch-near-Pisidia (central Turkey), and his responsibilities and income are growing as well. If this continues, he could soon earn enough to buy his freedom, set up a small business, and even marry.
Then misfortune strikes, and his master falls into a deep depression that is exacerbated by a nagging illness that his physician is unable to cure. The future looks bleak until the physician receives a dream from the healing god Asklepios calling Lucius to travel hundreds of miles across western Asia Minor to his sanctuary at Pergamon for treatment and, he hopes, a cure.
Accompanied by Marcus and his new wife Selena, Lucius embarks on a long and eventful journey in which both master and slave encounter people and ideas that challenge long-held beliefs about themselves, their society, and the world around them. Values are questioned, loyalties tested, and identities transformed in a story that brings to life a corner of the Roman empire that has been neglected by previous storytellers.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU
Excerpt: A Bull for Pluto
A Bull For Pluto
(A Slave’s Story Trilogy, Book 2)
By Christopher D. Stanley
After a lengthy and eventful stay at the sanctuary of Asklepios in Pergamon, the time has come for Lucius and Marcus to return to Antioch. Selena had been sent home earlier when Lucius learned that she was pregnant, and the impending arrival of the winter snows could soon make it impossible for them to reach their destination before the child is born.
To Marcus’s surprise, Lucius announces that he plans to stop for a while in Hierapolis to bask in the healing waters of the city’s renowned hot springs. Here Marcus meets a young woman named Miriam who challenges him to embrace his long-hidden Jewish ancestry. Marcus is torn between his budding love for Miriam and the cost of heeding her advice.
A tragic decision by Lucius seals their fate, as their full attention must now be devoted to preserving Lucius’s life. They reach Antioch in time to learn that Lucius’s son Gaius has failed miserably in his management of the household while his father was away. If Lucius should die, Marcus, Selena, and her unborn child will be at the mercy of this tyrant.To fend off this danger, Lucius must tell Marcus the full truth abut his past, a truth that will ensure Marcus’s future at the cost of his master’s honor. Can he bring himself to act before his inevitable end?
Buy Links:
Amazon UK • Amazon US • Amazon CA • Amazon AU
Author Bio: Christopher D. Stanley
CHRISTOPHER D. STANLEY is a professor at St. Bonaventure University who studies the social and religious history of the Greco-Roman world, with special attention to early Christianity and Judaism. He has written or edited six books and dozens of professional articles on the subject and presents papers regularly at conferences around the world. The trilogy A Slave’s Story, which grew out of his historical research on first-century Asia Minor, is his first work of fiction. He is currently working on an academic book that explores healing practices in the Greco-Roman world, a subject that plays a vital role in this series.
Connect with Christopher:
Website • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Goodreads
A Rooster for Asklepios Book Review
A Rooster for Asklepeios by Christopher D. Stanley is a historical fiction novel about a Roman aristocrat, Lucius Coelius Felix, and his educated slave, Marcus, in the backdrop of mid-1st century Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Despite their differences in status—master and slave—Lucius and Marcus both aspire to rise as they navigate through the changing political, religious, and cultural climates in their times. Recently widowed, Lucius finds his duties as both an agoranomos (city administrator with control of the marketplace) and partner in a luxury goods business overwhelming and thus depends on Marcus to help him keep accurate accounts and record all meetings. Just as his fortune seems to be rising, Lucius begins to suffer from an abdominal illness that at times incapacitates him. He relies heavily on Marcus to assist him in both his personal and business needs. To show his gratitude, Lucius helps Marcus set up a rudimentary business in the marketplace. As Lucius’s health deteriorates, he faces further challenges with the misconduct of his son and the discovery that his business partner secretly practices Judaism, a religion frowned upon by Roman aristocrats. After losing his civil position, he finds comfort in the arms of a female slave, Selena, and shocks everyone when he announces that he is going to free and marry her. As his maladies worsen, Lucius seeks relief through a local physician. After bringing a rooster to offer as a sacrifice, Lucius sleeps in the local temple of Asklepios (god of healing). There, he is told by priest that the healing god wants him to travel to Pergamum and visit his temple there. He decides to embark on a hundreds of miles journey with Marcus and his newly pregnant wife across western Asia Minor to the sanctuary at Pergamon to be cured by Asklepios. Both the lives of Lucius and Marcus are transformed as they meet new people in the various cities and are introduced to new philosophical and religious beliefs.
Author Christopher D. Stanley has the keen eye of a historian as he weaves the ancient story into the rich tapestry of everyday life and rituals performed by Roman aristocrats in their homes and in temples. The author remains true to actual historical accounts based on his impeccable research. It felt as though I was being led by a tour guide through all of the individual streets, houses, and public buildings as Lucius’s entourage visits each city. It was interesting to learn about the extensive planning that a traveler must do to journey long distance back then. If possible, travelers arranged lodging in households of friends or business acquaintences rather than stay in hostels or inns. Contrasts among various religions (pagan, Judaism, and Christianity) are explored, and rituals at temples are vividly described as Lucius seeks treatment. Also, it’s fascinating to learn how medicine was practiced at a time in which the Hippocratic Oath was adopted.
The story is primarily told from Marcus’s point of view, although other perspectives are interjected throughout the story. The characters are most engaging when they face universal issues such as Lucius’s conflicts with his son who’d rather compete in local games than learn the family business. Both Lucius and Marcus must come to grips with their prejudices and open their minds to other beliefs and culture. Admittedly, I prefer more action in a historical fiction novel and felt the story was too slow-paced, at times, with the inordinate historical detail. However, it is highly recommended for readers who enjoy reading a challenging book that explores the philosophies and the beliefs of various cultures in ancient civilizations and that pulls you into the everyday life of a person in the ancient Greco-Roman world.
