From HEIRESS OF THE NILE…

The snippet – the POV of Senebkai, the heroine’s 9 year old brother. Jumped ahead a bit. I’ve skipped the details of how he sneaks into Pharaoh’s public audience as well as the cases the ruler hears and decides. General Marnamaret (the MMC of this novel) is there and has been watching Senebkai (who he doesn’t know yet) because the boy obviously doesn’t belong. Now the day is done and Senebkai must act:

At the end of the afternoon, as the long shadows fell across the courtyard, the last case was decided. the Chief Scribe uttered the closing words one final time. “As Pharaoh has declared, so let it be done.”

Now or never. Now or never. Now or never. No matter how intense the chant in his head became, Senebkai’s limbs were paralyzed, though, as if his feet had become encased in the stone courtyard. Taking a deep breath, he shoved away from the wall and stepped fully out from the sheltering columns. “Wait!” To his chagrin the word came out strangled. He cleared his throat and shouted, “Wait, there is one more petition to be heard.”

He dodged through the crowd, eluding grasping hands trying to catch him. He stopped at the steps to the throne, throwing himself prone. “Please, Great One, please stay a moment and hear my request.” Senebkai scooted to his knees, arms thrown wide in appeal but kept his gaze pinned on Pharaoh, begging.

King Tut’s Crook & Flail; photo is from Author’s personal collection

Guards were coming at him from both sides. Edekh loomed menacingly as he glared down, staff of office raised to strike should Senebkai attempt to reach the throne. Although wary of the scribe, watching him from the corner of his eye, Senebkai kept his focus locked onto Pharaoh.

“Hold.” Nat-re-Akhte raised the golden flail. Everyone froze. Pharaoh settled into the throne, eyes crinkled in amusement. “Apparently, we have one more matter to decide today. Edekh, how careless of you to leave an item off the docket.” He smiled ever so slightly and cocked one eyebrow at the Chief Scribe.

VS: Pharaoh is pleased to be amused…

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. The story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

All books in the series are Available at all major ebook sellers…

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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet – the POV of Senebkai, the heroine’s 9 year old brother. Jumped ahead a bit. A priestess has come into the room of the temple where he was sitting. She reminds him Pharaoh need soldiers and now they discuss how Senebkai might proceed.

“I hear he’s reinstituted the public judgment and petition sessions.” She rose and walked over to rearrange the small statues on the altar then shot a glance at him over her shoulder. “There’s one today, isn’t there?”

“The tickets were all assigned by lottery, months ago.” Senebkai stood, and dusted himself off, threw his shoulders back. “But a man, the head of his household, does what he must, doesn’t he?”

She tilted her head slowly in agreement. A shaft of early morning sunlight illuminated her, making her appear taller, and her robes richer. If Senebkai had not been sitting and talking like old friends with her for the last few minutes he would have been intimidated by this new vision.

His head was full of hopeful plans for the day. “I’d better get going. Thank you for breakfast.”

Raising one hand, she said, “Go with the blessings of Hathor, young Senebkai, son of Hapuseneb.”

He stepped out of the chapel and hurried from the temple, heading toward Pharaoh’s palace.

It was only much later he realized he’d never told her his name.

VS: Next week, We’ll go to Pharaoh’s court…

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Did a cool trailer for LADY OF THE NILE last week….I love the soundtrack…

All books in the series are Available at all major ebook sellers…

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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet – switching to the POV of Senebkai, the heroine’s 9 year old brother. This is the lead up to his encounter with Hathor. We’ll get to her next week.

Senebkai sat huddled in the small side chapel of Hathor’s temple, trying to stop crying. I’m too old to cry, aren’t I? But Mother was dying, no matter what Old Nurse said, and his sister Pebatma was selling the last of their possessions today to pay the landlord. He knew as well as she did there wouldn’t be enough deben and the landlord had been clear he’d take her for his own if there was a deficit.

And he, Senebkai, was supposed to tamely go and do his baker’s apprentice duties. A baker, of all things. What kind of training was that for one who burned to be a soldier? Whose father and grandfather had been warriors? Not only was baking an inglorious profession, it paid nothing, maybe an eighth of a deben each week and free—if stale—bread.

Senebkai paused to consider the lone fringe benefit as his stomach rumbled.

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

A fun TikTok video I did for MAGIC OF THE NILE is here. If you’re on TikTok I’m happy to Follow you! I’m @veronicascottauthor…

All books in the series are Available at all major ebook sellers…

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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet –  Last week General Marnamaret’s thoughts turned to marriage and he decided to settle…

The decision brought him no comfort. A loveless marriage sounded abhorrent to him. He wanted what his parents had enjoyed, the proof of which was painted all over his father’s tomb, in lively and happy vignettes depicting the best times the two shared. His mother had no fear of the Afterlife, because she was unshakable in her belief they’d be reunited.

Marnamaret shivered, fierce soldier that he was. If I pick the wrong woman now, will I be tied to her for all the millions of years of Afterlife? A more daunting prospect than facing a line of Hyksos chariots while on foot and unarmed. Seized by an unaccustomed whimsy, he went to the household altar, which was dedicated to the primary Great Ones worshipped by his family, made obeisance and whispered a name which rarely fell from his lips, although his mother and sister prayed to her often.

“Great One Hathor, Mother of us all, I beg your help in finding the love of my life, the woman to stand with me as partner, side by side, arm in arm, the way my own parents are depicted in their tomb carvings. Clearly I can’t accomplish this on my own since I’m still unmarried.” He grinned at the idea of himself praying to the goddess, which wasn’t something soldiers often did. Setting the sacrificial fruit, beer and bread on the altar, he bowed his head.

A breeze wafted across the roof and he caught the scent of the blue lotus, which was odd because his house was some distance from the Nile. Goosebumps rose on his arms and he pulled his red cloak closer.

Today is the day.

Marnamaret was on his feet instantly, hand on his dagger but the roof was empty. Had the goddess truly whispered to him or was he beguiled by the breeze?

VS: Next week I may jump to the third character who has a role in the situation, Pebatma’s younger brother…we’ll skip a fun conversation between the general and his mother but I’m only supposed to be supplying enticing snippets, right?

I’m always fascinated that the Egyptians thought in terms of  a million of this or that…who in the ancient world ever had a million of anything?

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…

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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet – I promised we’d switch to General Marnamaret this week:

General of Pharaoh’s Army Marnamaret was an early riser. He liked to watch Ra’s sunboat surface from the night and begin its daily journey across the sky. Everything was peaceful at dawn and he could pray to his own sworn Great One, Horus, and gather himself for the day ahead. Currently, with his boyhood friend Nat-re-Akhte installed as Pharaoh after a long and grueling war with the Usurper, life was fairly peaceful. Marnamaret was sure there’d be more action in his future, to complete the job of driving the Hyksos from Egypt and assuring the security of the Black Lands.

Yet this morning his thoughts wandered to the softer side of a man’s life—home, wife, children. He had the home of course, none finer save for the palace. But there was no one to share his life and no prospect of having the family he craved. Pharaoh was happily married and wished for all his companions to know similar bliss. He pushed subtly for Marnamaret to choose a worthy woman and settle the issue. His own mother, blessed be her ka and may she know only peace, prosperity and health, was much less subtle on the topic and had the habit of suggesting specific girls to him.

Sooner than later we’ll be on the campaign trail again against the Hyksos or another enemy. I need to stop waiting for the god of Fate to send the right woman for my heart into my path and take action before the wars resume.

VS: I think we know who that right woman might be…more from Marnamaret next week…

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…

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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet – skipping ahead a bit from last week. I omitted the explanation Pebatma gives the priestess of her family’s troubles. She breaks down in tears and is comforted, and says:

“I’m so sorry to burden you with my entire basket of worries.”

“I asked, did I not?” Tapping her toe, the priestess watched her for a moment, her eyes dark and sparkling. “Today is the day, little sister. Change is carried in the breeze from Mother Nile and the god of Fate plays with the lives of others now. Be patient, walk one step at a time and remember in life as in the game of senet one cannot jump to the golden square and claim victory without passing through the challenges first.” She raised one hand, sketching the symbol for Hathor in midair, which glowed turquoise. “Go forth, have faith and be well.”

Pebatma blinked as the glare from the blazing symbol grew blinding. When she opened her eyes, she was outside the temple, standing in the doorway of a shop, having no memory of how she left the priestess.

VS: Next week we’ll switch to General Marnamaret’s POV.

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…

From HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet from near the beginning of the novel. Pebatma has grown sad and distressed about her family’s dire situation on her visit to the temple of Hathor and a kindly priestess has invited her to sit and rest:

Feeling as if she’d lost control of the situation, Pebatma allowed herself to be drawn through a narrow door she’d never noticed before and walked into a cool, green garden. A fountain played lazily in the center and the overflow ran in a burbling stream until it disappeared from sight. The smell of the blue lotus was pleasant on the air and Pebatma found her chest loosening with each breath. Birds sang a merry tune. The well-designed garden and the granite bench carved in the shape of a reclining cow, with the seat projecting from the beast’s stone side reminded her vaguely of her family’s estate, before they’d fallen from favor of course.

“Will you have a bite to eat? These are from the temple’s inner sanctum,” the priestess said with a wink. “Blessed but safe for human consumption.”

Unsure if she could avail herself of the offer, Pebatma heard her stomach rumble embarrassingly and she selected a fragrant sesame roll glazed with honey. “You’re very kind.”

If she hoped to receive a name from the woman, she was disappointed. As Pebatma nibbled the roll, the priestess said, “You’ve been a devoted servant to the Great One, through all your own travails. Not a word of reproach have you offered to her for what your family has suffered. Diligent in your daily prayers, offering what you can, when you can. I’m sorry you never became one of the sacred order yourself, but Shai the God of Fate had other plans. We must all bow to his will of course.”

Wondering how this person could know so much about her, when she’d never spoken a word to anyone at the temple since the day she and her mother were refused entry, Pebatma swallowed hard. “You’re remarkably well informed, my lady.”

With a vague gesture, the other dismissed the remark. “Temple walls have eyes and ears, or so it is said. Why not tell me yourself what troubles you today? What would you ask of Hathor were she standing here?”

Pebatma heard a cow moo in the distance and the faint sounds of a sistrum whirring. Goose bumps rose on her skin and she shivered, unable to take another bite of the roll. She became uneasy about where it was she truly sat right now and to whom she spoke.

Depositphotos

HEIRESS OF THE NILE  1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. The story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…

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!)

May be edited a bit from published version.

I’vemoved on from COLONY ON FIRE and am now going to do a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.

The snippet from the beginning of the novel:

Pebatma slipped through the relatively quiet streets of early morning Thebes, holding her cloak tightly around her. At this hour all the drunken soldiers and sailors from the night before should be in their beds and the petty thieves and other lowlifes had yet to appear because not enough honest citizens were about to fleece. She liked the city at this hour and could tell herself and believe there was a possibility of good things happening on this day. She gave thanks to Ra, whose sunboat was beginning its rise, for another dawn.

She really couldn’t spare the time for this errand, early as it was. Right now she was supposed to be in the kitchen of the Leaping Perch inn, stirring the fire and preparing the ingredients for the inn’s signature stew, under the watchful eye of the old cook. But her mother’d had a restless night, stifling her moans of discomfort and the rent was due yesterday. Pebatma had almost enough deben today, after her brother brought home his day’s wages as the baker’s apprentice and could only hope the jackal of a landlord would accept the late, incomplete payment.

Heart filled with despair, Pebatma didn’t think she could manage another day without going to the temple of Hathor and offering prayers. Surely the motherly goddess would reach out to help this time.

The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…

A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….

Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay

Available at all major ebook sellers…