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…
Continuing with the excerpts from MAGIC OF THE NILE =>This excerpt follows after last week’s, when Tyema has returned to her office as the ceremonies are complete for the morning and the scribe was so pleased with himself that he’d denied Sahure’s request for an audience. I’m skipping some byplay between Tyema and Jemkhufu the scribe, who has “thoughts of advancement” in more ways than one, shall we say? The scribe finally goes to summon Sahure.
Jemkhufu added an admonition to the visitor, “Be honored to enter the presence of High Priestess Tyema.”
She caught her breath as Sahure sauntered in, resplendent in his full uniform, the golden falcon badge prominent on the leather straps crossing his broad chest, scarlet cloak swirling around his legs. He was even more handsome than she’d remembered. He bowed, “Good morning to you, my lady.”
“And to you, captain.” With great effort, she kept a smile from forming on her lips as unfamiliar heat pulsed in her core and she suppressed the urge to shift her hips in response.
“I appreciate your seeing me today instead of tomorrow,” he said, staring at her with narrowed eyes.
Oh, I couldn’t wait till tomorrow.
We’ll keep going with this scene for a while since Tyema and Sahure have some things to say to each other about her deception the night of the festival…and the scribe is still in the room as an interested observer right now.
As always, I love your comments and feedback. Although this is a published work, the input helps for the future novels…
And, in exciting news, ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE is a Finalist for the 2014 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award! I was thrilled. I used to excerpt that one on this loop (some people here referred to it as “Captain Tom and Andi”….)
Here’s the story blurb for MAGIC OF THE NILE:
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
And I can see why she didn’t want to wait! This exchange promises to be lots of fun! Great 8.
Bit of a surprise for him.
Congrats on being a Golden Quill Finalist. In the above snippet, I’m wondering how Captain Sahure will react now that he knows she’s a priestess. Intriguing scene.
Love the last line in this snippet. So many possibilities! I’ crossing my fingers and hoping I have time to read the story in it’s entirety next weekend.
Congrats on the ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE news!
hehe, you did an excellent job at making pretty clear that she couldn’t wait until tomorrow! 🙂 have a great memorial day week-end!
Great playful tension in this scene, Veronica, very well written!
Congrats on being a finalist! That’s wonderful news!
Big congrats to you, Captain Tom, and Andi. How cool. Have I told you lately how much I love all your covers? I really do.
I’m loving the tension in this snippet. Very well done. 🙂
Congratulations on being a finalist! I am intrigued and definitely want to know more. Thanks for leaving us all hanging;).
Thanks for the comments and congratulations! Much appreciated 🙂 My Egyptian covers are by Frauke of Croco Designs (she once said my Priestess of the Nile was one of her favorite covers EVER) and the SFR are from Fiona Jayde. I’ll keep going with this scene in the snippets for the next few weeks, I promise!
Oh yeah, I can understand her not wanting to wait — I don’t either! And congrats on being a finalist. That’s exciting news. 🙂
Oh, he’s not happy, is he? Hopefully it’ll all turn into a playful banter (of which the scribe will take note, I’m sure, LOL). Great snippet and big congratulations on being a finalist, Veronica!
Congrats on being a finalist, but I’m not surprised. The book is great. I love that she couldn’t wait to see him. I forgot to sign up, but mine are at http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com.
You rascal, Veronica. Heat on the Nile. As contemporary as today with more finesse.
You so deserve all the accolades heaped upon you.
Ooh, “Heat on the Nile” – maybe that should be my next title LOL! Thanks, Charmaine!
God bless a man in uniform. What woman can resist? lol. Congrats on your exciting news, Veronica! 🙂
She’s got some explaining to do! But she doesn’t seem too worried about handling him. 😉
Congrats, Veronica!
Love the snippet–can’t wait to see what happens next! 🙂
Congratulations! Can’t wait to read that one too. Really enjoyed this week’s snippet, as usual.
Oh, I think he knows he’s gotten to her. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
Thoughts of “advancement”? That scribe guy? Ewww, that’s just . . . no.
Yup, quite a bit of the scene I skipped over relates to that topic…needless to say, Sahure doesn’t think much of the scribe either, as the novel progresses.
Good man, Sahure. 🙂
An interesting man! Really love the visuals I get from your snippets.
Congrats on being a finalist! Wonderful news. As for the snippet… Surprise, surprise… love it! No wonder she couldn’t wait. 🙂
I LIKE the description of him, Veronica! This is going to be interesting. 🙂
I love that time period of history. Congrats on Escape from Zulaire becoming a Golden Quill finalist! How exciting!!
Actually, Escape From Zulaire is a NERFA Finalist and Dancer of the Nile is the Golden Quill Finalist but it was all exciting to me for sure!
No wonder she couldn’t wait another day!
Congratulations on becoming a finalist.
Congratulations on receiving the recognition you so richly deserve.
Great snippet, I like the way she is anticipating seeing him.
Since the last snippet, did he see her or find out who she was because there doesn’t seem to be any surprise on his part?
About two excerpts ago, I posted a snippet where she was conducting the morning ceremonies and was unable to concentrate because she guessed he was in the crowd of worshippers. So then of course he would know she was the High Priestess. It’s hard to keep continuity on 8 sentences at a time LOL! Thank you for the very kind words about the award 🙂 I was thrilled…
Ah, she’s under the spell of a hunk in uniform 😀 This excerpt puts a wonderful vision in my head, LOL! And *congrats* Veronica!
This is so great. Totally put a smile on my face : )
Ooo! I bet she couldn’t 😉 Great snippet! Very sultry.
I knew she was waiting for someone, awesome interaction. Now they just need to get rid of everyone around and that’s not going to be easy unfortunately.