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Michelle Moran | WHY CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER
September 14, 2009
It all began with a dive. Not the kind of dive you take into a swimming pool,
but the kind where you squeeze yourself into a wetsuit and wonder just how tasty
your rump must appear to passing sharks now that it looks like an elephant seal.
My husband and I had taken a trip to Egypt, and at the suggestion of a friend,
we decided to go to Alexandria to see the remains of Cleopatra’s underwater
city. Let it be known that I had never gone scuba diving before, but after four
days with an instructor (and countless questions like, "Will there be sharks?
How about jellyfish? If there is an earthquake, what happens underwater?") we
were ready for the real thing. We drove one morning to the Eastern Harbor in Alexandria. Dozens of other divers
were already there, waiting to see what sort of magic lay beneath the waves. I
wondered if the real thing could possibly live up to all of the guides and
brochures selling this underwater city, lost for thousands of years until now.
Then we did the dive, and it was every bit as magical as everyone had promised.
We saw the blocks that once formed Marc Antony’s summer palace, came face to
face with Cleopatra’s enigmatic sphinx, and floated above ten thousand ancient
artifacts, including obelisks, statues, and countless amphorae. By the time we
surfaced, I was Cleopatra-obsessed. I wanted to know what had happened to her
city once she and Marc Antony had committed suicide. Where did all of its people
go? Were they allowed to remain or were they killed by the Romans? And what
about her four children? It was this last question that surprised me the most. I had always assumed that
Cleopatra’s children had all been murdered. But the Roman conqueror, Octavian,
actually spared the three she bore to Marc Antony: her six-year-old son,
Ptolemy, and her ten-year-old twins, Alexander and Selene. As soon as I learned
that Octavian had taken the three of them to Rome for his Triumph, I knew at
once I had my next book. And when I discovered what Cleopatra’s daughter lived
through while in exile--rebellion, loss, triumph, love - I absolutely couldn’t
wait to start writing. I can only hope that Cleopatra's Daughter is as
exciting and intriguing as the research proved to be. It may be two thousand
years in the past, but a great love story, as they say, is timeless.
Comments
13 comments posted.
Re: Michelle Moran | WHY CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER
Dear Michelle Moran:
Thank you for your article. Scuba diving in Alexandria Harbor---talk about surreal! No wonder an experience like this inspired you to write your new novel.
Like you, I'm an ancient history buff. I've studied quite a bit about classical antiquity, have quite a few of my favorite spear-and-sandal movies on DVD, and never miss a doc about the era on The History Channel. I've even named my cats after famous people from ancient times. As I type this, one of then, Lucretia, is sitting in my lap, purring away.
However, I've been told that I shouldn't try to write a novel in that setting. It would be hard for readers to relate to a period so long ago and far away. It's especially risky if, like me, the author doesn't have an impressive track record.
Yet you seem to be doing all right. Any advice?
Uh-oh; Spartacus just started to play with my mouse. Hope there aren't any typos!
Sincerely,
Mary Anne Landers
www.facebook.com/maryannelanders
(Mary Anne Landers 3:01am September 14, 2009)
Hi Michelle,
This is such a fantastic idea for a book, and I can't wait to read it. I didn't even realize that Cleopatra had a daughter!
(Carrie Divine 7:14am September 14, 2009)
Have been seeing this book on a lot of sites, now it have my interest. Best Wishes!
(JoAnn White 9:59am September 14, 2009)
Hi Mary Anne Landers,
I think quite a few novels set in the ancient world have succeeded. I say go for it! It's not about the setting, imo, but about how the story is told. People said the same thing before I began writing Nefertiti, and I'm still here as an author and publishing!
Good luck :]
(Michelle Moran 11:03am September 14, 2009)
Thank you Carrie and Jo!
(Michelle Moran 11:03am September 14, 2009)
I am ready to put on a wet suit! Thanks for the trip.
(Karin Tillotson 11:12am September 14, 2009)
Scuba diving in Egypt. How awe inspiring and I can only wonder how richly detailed your book will be. Congratulations on its release.
(Armenia Fox 11:41am September 14, 2009)
What a wonderful experience for you, something I would like to try. I would of worried about the sharks and jellyfish also. Good thing you never ran into something like that. The book definitely sounds like a good read.
(Theresa Buckholtz 12:12pm September 14, 2009)
Sounds exciting, and very interesting.
(Shannon Scott 12:14pm September 14, 2009)
We just had a documentary on jellyfish on TV otherwise I wouldn't have known what a problem they are. Anyway, how fascinating a dive to these ruins must have been.
BTW, I wrote you an e-mail about 2 weeks ago outlining a problem I have. I'll send it again today.
(Sigrun Schulz 2:54pm September 14, 2009)
The news has had a lot lately on the underwater city and bringing up a carved sphinx face. What an intriguing line you go after, descendants who's characters need to be explored and exposed to the light. I like how you keep the thread going.
(Alyson Widen 8:15pm September 14, 2009)
Michelle, the story of Cleopatra has always ended with her death. Your book tells the rest of the story. Michelle, I am anxious to read your new release. The story of your underwater adventure was fascinating. Congratulations on 'Cleopatra's Daughter'!
(Rosemary Krejsa 8:49pm September 14, 2009)
Thanks for being here today Michelle I enjoyed the blog your book sounds so good I'm looking forward to reading it.
Thanks
Penney
luvhistoricalromance at gmail.com
(Penney Wilfort 11:52am September 16, 2009)
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