Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
This week’s excerpt is from my newly released Ghost of the Nile, which hit two Amazon Romance Best Seller lists last week so my thanks to everyone who might have purchased it :-). I’ve skipped a bit since the place where last week’s excerpt ended. The goddess Ma’at is speaking. (The provinces of Egypt were known as nomes.)
“…. I need a champion to go to the Nome of the Shield…”
“My home province,” he said, knowing his voice was unsteady.
Ma’at nodded. “Events are in motion there. I wish to influence the outcome, but it isn’t the kind of situation I can affect directly.” She tapped the table with her stylus, “Nor can I be absent from my duties here for so long as this task may require.”
He found it hard to imagine a goddess walking in his home province for any time at all. Shield Nome was dry, dusty, and far removed from Thebes and the known places of power. “What do you need done?”
Head tilted, smile on her ruby red lips, she said, “You to complete your interrupted journey home.”
The Story:
1550 BCE
Betrayed, murdered, and buried without proper ceremony, Egyptian warrior Periseneb is doomed to roam the gray deserts of the dead as a ghost for all eternity.
But then the goddess of truth offers him a bargain: return to the world of the living as her champion for 30 days. If he completes his mission, he’ll be guaranteed entry into Paradise. Periseneb agrees to the bargain but, when he returns to the living world, two hundred years have passed and nothing is quite as he expected.
Neithamun is a woman fighting to hang onto her family’s estate against an unscrupulous nobleman who desires the land as well as the lady. All seems lost until a mysterious yet appealing ex-soldier, Periseneb, appears out of nowhere to help her fight off the noble’s repeated attacks.
Meanwhile, Periseneb’s thirty days are rushing by, and he’s powerless against the growing attraction between himself and Neithamun. But their love can never be. For his Fate is to return to the Afterlife, and Death cannot wed with Life…
That hopefully is an easy task. interesting snippet.
So simple? I think not! But does he even have a choice?
A challenge and an adventure ahead. Happy dance for sales, Veronica. We must drink champagne or something.
Interrupted journey? That sounds like a risky journey to me. I wonder if he’ll be up for the challenge?
Hmm, since I have the book now, do I go ahead and read this to satisfy my curiosity (and not get ANYTHING done all day), or do I sit on pins and needles hoping you’ll offer more next week….
Oh,nevermind, I already know the answer now….
Ooo, more mystery. I feel like his task is going to be much more difficult than she’s letting on. Then again, gods and goddesses tend to speak in riddles and assume anything can be done at their beck and call. No wonder writers like to use them so much! 😉 Great eight!
Super premise for a book! And I love the snippet–it drew me into the story immediately. Congratulations on your rankings!
I love all of your interfering deities, Veronica! Especially when they delegate. 😀
Is it that simple? Can’t wait to see how this is going to go down.
Thanks for the comments! Oh no, this isn’t going to be simple at ALL LOL. Ma’at isn’t exactly forthcoming on the details, although at least she told him (last week) it’s been 200 years since he was murdered….his choice is to take on this task or stay a wraith in the deserts of the Afterlife, with no chance of ever gaining entry to paradise…I’ll be making my rounds of all the excerpts later today, can’t wait!
When a goddess makes you an offer you can’t refuse…Hope she’s not setting him up for disaster. Great snippet.
I really like this, Veronica. She’s got him right where she wants him, and he knows it. I’m with Alexis – I wonder what she’s up to.
Sounds easy but I’m betting trouble awaits him.
Love that last line! This sounds like an interesting read.
The journey she’s asking him to go on sounds like it’s more complicated and dangerous than meets the eye.
A goddess walking through the dust. Cool stuff.
Intriguing! That is a great eight.
Very intriguing. What I love the most is how you nailed the voice of the period (not that I’d know what it sounded like, lol, but the way you write it, I can hear their “voice” very well). Terrific excerpt.
A promising outcome? Be careful when working for a goddess.
I’m assuming his journey was interrupted by his death, so returning might be a real challenge. Congrats on your multiple bestseller-dom!
I found this rather poignant. Another chance at life after 200 years. Nicely done.
Oh… is that all she needs done? I’m enjoying this… it opens to the door to a whole lot of possibilities.
I absolutely love the last line! I detect more meaning than in her words!
I would imagine since he is attracted to Neithamun he’s going to try some emergency bargaining? Certainly an intriguing conflict to overcome – an eternity in paradise or life of uncertainty in love?
Beware of gods bearing gifts! They have the most interesting sense of humor…
Huh… Well… I’m going to guess she has some ace card or trick up her sleeve based on that last line. Great snippet, I’m intrigued now!
Of course the journey won’t be easy. Where’s the story in that?? Great snippet!
Great descriptions on the emotions here. Absolutely intriguing. Great work!
Oh, yum! Sooo many books waiting on my Kindle…..So many books to write. And then there’s that Vulcan and her human always tugging me their way…
But, oh! I think I’m going to have to buy this one! Lovely premise, lovely snippet…gotta be a lovely story!
Oh just complete your journey home…. Like it’s no big deal. I have a hunch it’s not going to be that simple. lol I’m intrigued by this story. Picked up a copy. Can’t wait to have some time to sit back and enjoy it. 🙂
Yep. What everyone else commented! I am so intrigued. I just bought it on Amazon, Veronica. 🙂
Congrats. on getting on the best seller list. Intriguing snippet–I’m anxious to see what happens now.
oh this will be interesting for him
Thanks for all the support, much appreciated, love this group! I hope everyone who decides to read the book will enjoy the adventure 🙂 I’ll probably post a bit more from this and then move on. I have a new SF romance coming in early July! (One I’ve never excerpted here, she said with an evil smile LOL).
This sounds interesting but I’m not sure the journey home is going to be that simple, she said “champion”.