Everyone's parents are embarrassing when you're kid. And then, to add to the embarrassment, Daddy sold out to the Romans. He borrowed so much money from a Roman loan-shark--squeezing his people dry to pay off the interest--it was a wonder the entire economy didn't collapse. Rome then took some of Egypt's territories (because they could) and Daddy did nothing to stop them. His … [Read more...] about Cleopatra’s Daddy Issues
Friday Funnies–Ancient Style!
Pompeii Movie–Who’s Planning to See it?
I have to see it, of course. I found out the movie was being made when I was deep into writing Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii. I'm very curious about the creative decisions they've made. I cannot wait. Anybody with me? It opens February 21st. Until then, there's this: And, of course, this: … [Read more...] about Pompeii Movie–Who’s Planning to See it?
New Cover for Pompeii Book!
Release date: May 27At a Facebook party in celebration of Stephanie Dray's latest novel, Daughters of the Nile, I posted the new cover for my upcoming novel, Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii. Only later did I realize that I had yet to formally announce the change here.Oops.So, ta-da! It's striking and beautiful, isn't it? Plus, it connects … [Read more...] about New Cover for Pompeii Book!
A Peek Inside A Conservator’s Lab
Attic horse pyxiz getting restored in the lab.Last weekend, Dr. Renee Stein, conservator at the Carlos Museum gave a talk on the process of conserving and restoring ancient artifacts. The objective of the work, she pointed out, is to suggest the way a piece looked and was used thousands of years ago, without overwhelming it with modern overlays or "fixes."The talk was for … [Read more...] about A Peek Inside A Conservator’s Lab
