There are so many opportunities to win a free copy of CURSES AND SMOKE: A NOVEL OF POMPEII, I thought I’d do a quick round-up. Enter one or enter them all—it’s up to you. Some are closing within hours or days, so get on it! May the odds be in your favor! ;-) FREE BOOK FRIDAY: (Ends at midnight tonight, … [Read more...] about A Round Up of Ways to Win a Free Copy of CURSES AND SMOKE
Ancient World
They’re Back! Friday Funnies–Ancient Style
In honor of the release of Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii, I'm going with a volcano/Pompeii theme. Enjoy! … [Read more...] about They’re Back! Friday Funnies–Ancient Style
A Volcanic Party for the Release of My Pompeii Novel
I promised everyone a smoking volcano cake at my launch party for Curses and Smoke: A Novel of Pompeii and I didn't lie. It smoked. I swear! For about ten seconds. Then we discovered that the water we were pouring into the container with the dry ice was dripping inside the cake. Of course, the only proper response to that sort of emergency was to shout, THAT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED … [Read more...] about A Volcanic Party for the Release of My Pompeii Novel
Ancient Echoes of the Isla Vista Killer
After the tragedy of the misogynist-driven killings in Isla Vista, I felt a little guilty about the lighthearted approach I took in a recent guest post about ancient curses. That’s because, when I reread one of the ancient spells, it suddenly sounded very much like the kind of “curse” the young mass-murdering misogynist might have made. First, some background. The ancient … [Read more...] about Ancient Echoes of the Isla Vista Killer
Body Image and the Ancient World
My awesome brother, Michael Alvear, just released a book called Not Tonight Dear, I Feel Fat (Source Books). How he ended up writing a book like this is a story in itself--it all started with a sex advice column that led to a British TV Show, to HBO airplay of said show, to appearances on The Tyra Banks Show, and to a firm belief that anything that … [Read more...] about Body Image and the Ancient World