Still counting down to the release date for “Warrior of the Nile” on September 16th…. the snippet below comes after Khenet is rather harsh in response to the heroine’s request for him to call her Tiya, as her family and friends do, instead of being so formal. Here’s her response to him (creative punctuation reigns yet again to make 8 sentences LOL):
Resting her hands on her hips, fists clenched, she narrowed her eyes. Drawing herself to her full height, her voice was chill as she said, “I didn’t ask for this, not any of it. Yes, I volunteered to serve, but I had no idea what Nephthys was going to demand of me – I certainly didn’t request you as my guardian. But, like it or not, we’re in this together, at least until we reach the Viper Nome*, so we don’t need to be rude and angry with each other the whole trip. Common courtesy goes a long way.” She shook one finger in his face. “I understand Pharoah gave you a choice – Nephthys merely told me to ‘Go there and die at my command, girl ‘. “
He had to admire her determination, calling him to task for his rudeness.
*Nome = province of Ancient Egypt
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Oh and if I may SQUEE, the cover of ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE, my new self published SFR, was on the USA Today HEA blog homepage last week (tiny but still…I was thrilled) 
And the blurb for WARRIOR OF THE NILE (which is available on Netgalley now for reviewers BTW):
Egypt, 1500 BCE
Lady Tiya is bound to the service of the goddess Nephthys, who plans to sacrifice Tiya’s body to protect Egypt from an ancient terror. She embarks to meet her grim fate alone but for the hardened warrior Khenet, who is fated to die at her side. Tiya’s dreams of love and family now seem impossible, and Khenet, who is the last of his line, knows his culture will die with him. Struggling with the high cost of Nephthys’s demands, both resolve to remain loyal.
Neither expects the passion that flowers when Tiya’s quiet courage and ethereal beauty meet Khenet’s firm strength and resolve. On a boat down the Nile, their two lonely souls find in each other a reason to live. But time is short and trust elusive.
Without the willing sacrifice of Tiya and Khenet, a great evil will return to Egypt. How could the gods demand their deaths when they’ve only just begun to live?
“Go there and die at my command.” Ouch — that’s not nice. Great snippet this week. 🙂
I like her choice of such bold words. It moves the story with one simple piece of dialogue. Nice 8!
USA Today is terrific. Been there twice and I can happy dance with you. She’s a tough cookie. No holding back for this woman. Good eight.
There’s a quite a bit going on in this snippet, I really like it. You can’t help but feel for Tiya. She’s obeying the goddess but she’s not quite going quietly. Cool.
Wow, that’s a hell of an order. I like her!
“Go there and die at my command.” Yikes. Love it!
I like how assertive and courageous she is in the face of the impossible task she’s been asked to do.
Good for her. I love the finger in his face. 🙂
She’s fiesty. Congrats on the mention in USA Today!
great snippet! I love with when they quarrel though because it’s great sexual tension! And I love her line “Go there and die” lol.
Good for her!
What an amazing characterization
(real life has bogged me down still not participating here)
congrats on your new release
She has a point–and she’s doing something dang brave, so he should be nicer to her.
Lovely, lovely excerpt and I like her courage. Also very impressive for the warrior to recognize and even internally acknowledge it. Nice character reveal in this scene. Very well done!
Thanks for all the kind words today, much appreciated! Yes, the goddess Nephthys doesn’t mince words and she’s not very considerate to humans when she feels the safety of all Egypt is at stake. I’m getting really excited for WARRIOR’s release date 🙂
She’s awesome! I remembered you today and your story because I stumbled on a documentary on ancient Egyptian queens. Congrats on appearing on USA Today! 😀
Ooooh, how much do I LOVE her? You’ve created an amazing character!
Rudeness adds insult to injury when she’s about to die.
I really like her reply. She didn’t play victim (begging for her last trip to at least be nice), she boldly forces him to re-evaluate his position. It creates an interesting contrast between her strong character and the fact that she’s bowing to Nephthys’ command.
Great Character, Veronica! I love how she’s not afraid to stand up to him. Congrats on USA today!
She’s brave and strong. Congrats on the USA appearance.
I love her spunk! Fantastic snippet as usual!
Lady Tiya certainly has class and no sense of a victim mentality that I can detect. Her guardian, if I understand correctly, isn’t there to protect her so much as to ensure her cooperation in dying… and what makes it almost incomprehensibly amazing, is that he is volunteering for this duty, which will certainly end in death for him… unless something happens between now and then. This is really intriguing and I can’t help but hope that they both come out alive!
But he does have Pharaoh’s permission to seek a way to resolve the problem without having to die (which neither Tiya nor the goddess knows). But in the end Khenet is prepared to die to save Egypt if there’s no other solution. Oh, and Tiya knows something *he* doesn’t know….ah yes, intrigue along the Nile 🙂 I just hope people will enjoy the book!
Tiya is an intense and interesting character… It takes a lot to follow an order like that! I’d love to hear his response 🙂 And she has a point!
Good for her for standing up for herself!
May I just concur with all the lovely posts above! And, I’m getting excited for you too Veronica…it’s gonna be here before you know it!!!! Woohoo!
Release day is so close! This is such a unique story. I look forward to more!
I’m glad he does, because I definitely admire her determination. Congrats on making the USA Today HEA blog (even in a small capacity) Veronica. 😀
Oh, I was thrilled to be there, just didn’t want to seem boast-y like my cover was THE big feature LOL. Thanks!
Wow, what a tumultuous snippet! Tiya is a woman to be admired.
Die at my command —great line. Like her feisty attitude putting him in his place!
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I agree with the other comments she is brave and strong and I am enjoying the voices you give your characters.
Great 8! Congrats on the USA Today HEA appearance! So happy for you!
Loved the exchange here, Veronica! And let me congratulate you on the USA Today appearance as well! How exciting is that?! 😀
Yes! I love her response. I can hardly wait to read this one, Veronica!! 🙂
Good girl! But it still looks like they are going to hate each other despite the courtesy.
‘her voice was chill’ and ‘go there and die on command’ WOW. Powerful 8! Also, nice touch with the bit of humor to lighten the tension. Enjoyed. 😀
A powerful eight there.