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?