Her focus on Ptolemaic Egypt and Augustan Age Rome has given her a unique perspective on the consequences of Egypt's ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion.
Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today.
She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has-to the consternation of her devoted husband-collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.
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I hesitated to contact Ms. Dray. Would she even answer me? But true to form, Stephanie graciously agreed to let us get into her writer’s brain so that her fans can get to know her better. Here are the questions I posed to her:
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I hesitated to contact Ms. Dray. Would she even answer me? But true to form, Stephanie graciously agreed to let us get into her writer’s brain so that her fans can get to know her better. Here are the questions I posed to her:
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Stephanie, was there “an epiphany” that led you to write about Selene (Cleopatra’s daughter) in particular?Cleopatra VII of Egypt was the most powerful woman in the history of the world. I don’t say that lightly. There have been other queens and female secretaries of state and prime ministers, too. But none of them had the same relative wealth, geographic dominion and unfettered power enjoyed by this iconic woman. That her legacy could have ended with her was something that always saddened me, so when I discovered that she had a daughter--one who carried on that legacy--I had to write about her.
Considering that Selene was brought up in Rome, not only did you have to do research about Egypt’s history, but Rome’s as well. Emperor Augustus’s reign is well-documented. Hence, there could be no fudging the facts (or widely accepted fiction, as it were). That the reign of Augustus is relatively well-documented was a big help to me because Selene’s life could only be reconstructed by using the information we know about the men in her life, including Rome’s first emperor.
Though there are touches of magic realism in my story, I was constrained by the facts. Luckily, the facts surrounding the Julio-Claudian dynasty are deliciously operatic, complete with wife-swapping, superstition and political plotting. As I explain in my author’s note, the most outrageous things that happen in the book are actually true.
You have had an astounding success with your books. Did you first go the painful traditional route (querying agents, etc.), or self-publish to begin with?
Thank you for your kind words; I hope my publisher agrees with you about the success of my books! I did go the traditional route of querying agents and going out on submission and suffering rejections, etcetera. My self-publishing ventures have, so far, been quite limited.
I am currently giving away THE PRINCESS OF EGYPT MUST DIE, a short young adult novelette, for readers to get a sense of my storytelling, and I intend, at some point, to follow that up with a full-length book about Queen Arsinoe II, which I might publish myself!
How would you describe your writing style?
Deep, dark, and dramatic.
Apart from the Selene books, you have other historical fiction novels, also about Ancient Egypt.
Just the one novelette, but I intend to do more! And, lastly, can you tell us what you are working on now? This year I’m taking a brief detour away from the ancient world and into the Revolutionary War era. I’m so excited about this new project! Together with the brilliant and talented colonial historian Laura Kamoie (aka NYT Bestselling author Laura Kaye), I’ll be writing the story of Patsy Jefferson, whose loving but deeply destructive relationship with her father, the third president of the United States, defined her life and our national legacy.
Fascinating! And if that doesn’t want anyone to pick your books off from under the tree, I don’t know what will. Stephanie, a great thanks for sharing a writer’s insight and process with us. And I am certain, your fans can’t wait for more of that “deep, dark and dramatic” story-telling you do so beautifully.
Thanks so much for having me!
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Somewhere on her own blog, Stephanie vows to “hibernate for the Holidays.” A commendable effort; I say effort because it is so difficult to keep away from our passion, especially when those great ideas spawned at two AM cry out to be put to paper. But for the time being, I will take her advice – and hibernate as well (for a while, anyway).
Happy Holidays, everyone.
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Now, go and cuddle up with Stephanie Dray’s wonderful Nile Trilogy:
Heiress of one empire and prisoner of another, it is up to the daughter of Cleopatra to save her brothers and reclaim what is rightfully hers...
To Isis worshippers, Princess Selene and her twin brother Helios embody the divine celestial pair who will bring about a Golden Age. But when Selene's parents are vanquished by Rome, her auspicious birth becomes a curse. Trapped in an empire that reviles her heritage and suspects her faith, the young messianic princess struggles for survival in a Roman court of intrigue. She can't hide the hieroglyphics that carve themselves into her hands, nor can she stop the emperor from using her powers for his own ends. But faced with a new and ruthless Caesar who is obsessed with having a Cleopatra of his very own, Selene is determined to resurrect her mother's dreams. Can she succeed where her mother failed? And what will it cost her in a political game where the only rule is win-or die?
Buy Lily of the Nile
Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land. The magic of Isis flowing through her veins is what makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra's daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother's throne be more than she's willing to pay?
Buy Song of the Nile
Based on the true story of Cleopatra’s daughter…
After years of abuse as the emperor's captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe-harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty. With her husband, King Juba II, and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both.
But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind. Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved-ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?
Buy DAUGHTERS OF THE NILE
And for a Bonus Free Sample of Stephanie’s Work….
Before she became one of Egypt's greatest queens, she was a lonely princess who ached to belong... Princess Arsinoe came of age in the glittering court of Ptolemaic Egypt. Abused by her ruthless sister, a pawn in the dynastic ambitions of her father, and dismissed by the king who claimed her for a bride, young Arsinoe finds herself falling in love with a young man forbidden to her. She dreams of a great destiny, but if she is ever to rule Egypt, she must first survive the nest of vipers otherwise known as her family.
Get THE PRINCESS OF EGYPT MUST DIE
Free
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