A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
Added May 18 – I literally just got home from RT in New Orleans so I’ll be late getting to everyone’s post to savor and comment but I will make it, probably during the week.
Continuing with the excerpts from MAGIC OF THE NILE =>This excerpt follows right after last week’s, when Tyema has returned to her office as the ceremonies are complete for the morning. The temple scribe is speaking. (I messed with the punctuation a tiny bit, trying to be sensitive to the Moderators’ excellent point about how much we all can read at each stop and still make the rounds).
“We’ve a busy morning ahead of us, my lady – reports on the grain harvest, the 
tally sheets for the papyrus shipment—”
Tyema thanked her maids as they removed the complicated headdress and wig, substituting a simpler style, accented with a small circlet bearing Sobek’s cartouche in relief. As the women took the ceremonial items away to be stored for tomorrow’s rituals, she rubbed her forehead and sat in her gold—and—ebony chair. Putting her feet on the hippo shaped stool, she forced herself to ask the one thing she cared about right now, “Are there any audiences?”
Surprised, he moved his quill down the list of items on the scroll, ticking each off as he went. “Why, yes, there’s a Captain Sahure who requests a meeting.” With a satisfied sneer on his thin lips, the scribe raised one eyebrow, saying. “I told him to wait until tomorrow as your schedule was full today.”
As always, I love your comments and feedback. Although this is a published work, the input helps for the future novels…
Here’s the story blurb:
The standalone sequel to Priestess of the Nile…picks up about fifteen years later and tells the tale of Tyema, who was the younger sister in Priestess of the Nile…
After a childhood spent scorned and ignored by her family because of her crippled foot, Tyema was magically healed then installed as the High Priestess of his temple by Sobek the Crocodile God. But Tyema is still haunted by her memories, scarred by the abuse she endured. Despite Sobek’s protection, as an adult she’s become a near recluse inside the temple grounds…
Until Captain Sahure arrives in her remote town, sent from Thebes on an urgent mission for Pharaoh, requiring High Priestess Tyema’s help. From that moment on, her quiet, safe life is upended in ways she never could have expected.
But after a whirlwind romance with Sahure, the two part as Pharaoh orders him to undertake another assignment on Egypt’s dangerous frontier, far from Tyema’s remote town.
Heart-broken, Tyema is ready to return to her life of loneliness, official duties and, now, regret. But the Crocodile God has other plans for his priestess: she must uncover the sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh’s life with black magic. Soon enough, Tyema finds herself thrown into the chaos of Pharoah’s court, neck deep in intrigue and danger. Just when she thinks she can’t take the pressures of a very public court life and her secret investigation for the Crocodile God any longer, Sahure re-enters the scene.
But is her former love there to help or to hinder? Can they resolve their differences and work together to find the dark sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh and Egypt? Will the love between a proud warrior and a shy priestess lead them to a future together?
Available at Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks iTunes Google Play Books
Just finished this (and went back and reread Priestess.) She’s not very happy with that scribe.
Thanks Sueann! no, the scribe isn’t doing himself any favors in this scene…
I suddenly have a strong desire to shop for a hippo shaped stool. Great job, Veronica, I love the description of her costume.
Gorgeous description with detail to make me salivate.. About ‘she forced herself’? She’s in charge . He’s on her mind and she wants to know asap if he asked to have an audience with her. Hmm. Snippy scribe. Fire his butt. Love business as usual with a woman as boss.
I love love love how all the details make a normal daily activity (for her) come alive.
I love how you surround the reader with such vivid setting detail. Always a great read! =D
Wonderful description — I love feeling part of her daily rounds. 🙂
Very nice details. I really get a sense of what daily life was like back then.
Yup, can’t really add to the comments except to agree 😀 😀 Details like putting her feet up make her 3-D. I didn’t sign up today but am visiting 🙂
Very nice details and I love how I could feel her frustration without having to be told. Great eight.
I think that scribe is going to regret sending the captain away! Also, loved the great description. You put me in ancient Egypt. 🙂
She’s so cute. I love seeing this down to business side of her. Didn’t post today, just checking in with a few peeps while the family sleeps : )
I’m flattered! Glad you enjoyed the snippet!
She doesn’t seem to be the type to make people wait. I wonder if she was waiting for someone for an audience.
Yes, she’s been expecting Captain Sahure….
I love all the details, particularly about the hippo-shaped stool. I’d love a piece of furniture like that!
Lots of great descriptions and a very visual scene.
I love everything about this scene, from the relieved rubbing of her poor, compressed forehead to that loathsome little self-righteous scribe, who, in my humble opinion, needs to be reassigned to tooth-cleaning duty for the living symbols of Sobek. 😀
You totally cracked me up, Sarah! Why didn’t I think of assigning the scribe to tooth cleaning duty???
Wonderful detail, but I’d fire that scribe if I were her.
Yippee! So glad you’re writing more about Egypt. It’s great stuff!
Thank you, Karysa. I looove ancient Egypt so I’m happy to find other Readers who enjoy the era too (but with my paranormal twist).
Next week we’ll see what happens next…you all certainly summed up the scribe and his attitude! We’re still working up to Sahure’s entrance and his long-awaited (by us and by Tyema) reaction to her deception the evening before, at the festival. I’ll just continue with the 8 sentences each week from this scene until you’ve had a chance to see it all unfold.
And I *will* get around to everyone else’s snippets this week, I promise. A bit jet lagged at the moment…but I can’t miss reading all the great eights!
Whoops! Methinks the scribe is in for a bit of a telling-off 🙂
Lovely description, I could easily see the setting in my mind so of course I felt like I was right there – and I wanted to reach out and smack that scribe!
Count me in on the hippo-shaped stool-loving band wagon. lol. Your details always do wonders to set the scene, Veronica! Amazing job! 🙂
Oh-oh! I see trouble ahead;). Love the description of her ceremonial garb.