"Darling, your fig cakes are divine. Now what did you get me?" In ancient Rome, winter break meant schools closed, law courts adjourned and everybody celebrated by decorating trees, visiting friends, exchanging small gifts, and feasting.Sound familiar?They weren’t celebrating Christmas, though, which wasn’t officially acknowledged as a Christian … [Read more...] about ‘Tis the Season, According to the Romans
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Book Review: The Pericles Commission
I’m a sucker for stories set in the ancient world—that’s obvious. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to jump up and down every time I read one. (Steven Saylor’s work? Pretty much guaranteed to induce said jumping. But I digress.)Books that I find exciting have me relating to the main character’s emotional struggles while, at the same time, marveling at the strangeness or … [Read more...] about Book Review: The Pericles Commission
The Cover for Cleopatra’s Moon!
I've known for a while how gorgeous the cover for Cleopatra's Moon is, but I didn't make a big deal about it because, well, it doesn't come out until August. I worried that people might get tired of it if I jumped up and down about it too much, too early.But, I've been seeing it pop up in different places (Goodreads, for one) so I figured I might as well own it. So, TA DA! … [Read more...] about The Cover for Cleopatra’s Moon!
Connecting with Teens Made my Day
I recently spoke to a high school Latin class of juniors (11th graders). I had a blast. But ya know what really made me happy? Not a single kid fell asleep during my talk (hey, it was an early class, okay?And we're talking teens).Yesterday, I received a thank you note from the teacher along with a thick packet of letters and cards from the students. I sometimes receive sweet … [Read more...] about Connecting with Teens Made my Day
“Shall I Pee on your Hair Now?” Going Blonde and Other Ancient Gross Facts
Sometimes, I like to pretend the ancient world fascinates me because I'm intellectually curious. The truth? I like learning about things that make me laugh or that gross me out. Yes, I have the emotional maturity of an 11-year old boy.So, in the spirit of celebrating my true nature, let's get to the fun stuff! Here are some disgusting...I mean, interesting facts I've come … [Read more...] about “Shall I Pee on your Hair Now?” Going Blonde and Other Ancient Gross Facts
