by Stephanie Dray | Mar 3, 2014 | Cleopatra Selene, Daughters of the Nile, FAQ, FAQ for SONG OF THE NILE, Lily of the Nile, My Works, Song of the Nile
One of the criticisms sometimes leveled at my Nile series is that because the Ptolemaic Dynasty considered itself Macedonian, the emphasis I place on Egyptian culture–and Cleopatra Selene’s awareness of it–is somehow historically inaccurate or...
by Stephanie Dray | Feb 23, 2012 | FAQ
A few years ago, I was enraptured by the life story of a nine year old Egyptian princess who was taken prisoner by the Romans, dragged through the streets in chains, and yet went on to be the most powerful queen in Augustus’ empire. I decided to write some books about...
by Stephanie Dray | Feb 2, 2012 | FAQ, Historical Fiction Genre, Miscellany, My Works, Song of the Nile
The life of Cleopatra Selene is a story so unlikely that magic sometimes seems like the only explanation. But that isn’t why I chose to include magical realism in my book. I included my heroine’s ability to commune with her goddess through bloody hieroglyphs and some...
by Stephanie Dray | Jan 19, 2012 | Cleopatra Selene, FAQ for SONG OF THE NILE
I’ve spent the past few years writing about Cleopatra’s daughter–a fascinating young woman that most people don’t even know existed. Today I want to talk about the next generation, the children that the infamous Queen of the Nile may have bounced on her...
by Stephanie Dray | Jun 13, 2011 | FAQ
Cross-posted from: Unusual Historicals Blog Entertainment in the ancient world relied upon trained performers. Such training didn’t come cheap, so royal patronage was highly sought after by would-be entertainers. The most prestigious patronage to secure in the...
by Stephanie Dray | May 31, 2011 | Articles, Daughters of the Nile, FAQ, My Works
One of the mysteries surrounding the Ptolemaic dynasty is exactly why Cleopatra Selene’s son, Ptolemy, was murdered by his first cousin, Caligula. The traditional belief is that Caligula was simply a madman who resorted to crazy rages whenever the whim struck...
