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Welcome to My Official Web Page!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Dead People at Dinner

I've recently been reading a number of works by Voltaire (Candide is absolutely hilarious if you're in the mood for an Enlightenment era soap opera) and really wish the famous philosophe was still alive so I could invite him to dinner. So that got me thinking about who I would invite to my ideal dinner party of old dead people.

(Because yes, this is what I spend my free time thinking about).

So here's my list of famous dead people (would they technically be zombies?) that I'd like to pop open a bottle of wine and share a plate of coq a vin with. (And because you all know I'm obsessed with Theodora and Hatshepsut, I've left them off the list, but if I ever invent a time machine they're at the top of my list of people to stalk. In fact, I've restricted anyone from ancient Egypt, the Byzantine Empire, or the Mongol Empire from being invited. *sigh*)

1. Voltaire- As I said, this guy was incredibly funny, (he makes my students and me laugh out loud, which is pretty impressive considering he's been dead for over 200 years) with a biting wit that meant I'd have hated to be on his bad side. Just ask Liebniz and everyone else he lambasted in Candide. Oh yeah, and he had all sorts of great ideas on social reform.

2. Theodore Roosevelt- I'm not kidding when I say I've pretty much gotten as close to stalking this dead president as I possibly can. (My students think it's creepy that I've been to his grave). Any man who can survive being shot and still give an hour long speech (while bleeding!) is pretty freaking awesome. Not to mention other cool stuff like building the Panama Canal, charting Rio Roosevelt in Brazil, and being the first Progressive President. (You know, stuff we all do in our free time).

3. Leonardo da Vinci- Because really, you'd have to be living under a rock the past 500 years to not want to meet him. I could spend hours just talking to Leo about his sketches, especially the giant crossbow (we're talking GIANT here people--27 yards across!) and his flying machine.

4. Catherine the Great- I've pretty much been obsessed with Catherine since I read her new biography by Robert Massi. The woman got the short end of the stick of life with her poxy-liked-to-play-with-dolls husband, Peter III, but things worked out pretty well once she seized the throne and he kicked the bucket. (Because her lover's brother killed him). And really, who wouldn't want to talk to one of the only women known as an "enlightened despot?"

5. Caligula- Two reasons to invite Caligula: He was born on my birthday (or vice versa) and he was crazy. If Catherine, Roosevelt, and Voltaire spent too long discussing how to improve the plight of man (all three were sort of progressive that way) and da Vinci started doodling, I could rely on Caligula to pull out his sword and make things interesting. Who wouldn't want a madman at their dinner party?

So that's my guest list. There are a number of other interesting humans I could have chosen--Jesus, Frederick II, Lucrezia Borgia--but that's my list and I'm sticking to it.

So... who would you invite to your dinner party?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Crash Course: How and Why We Read

I'm not sure if any of you have seen John Green's Crash Course:World History on YouTube, but seriously, you need to. I actually discovered this nifty (and obscenely addictive) series this year when a student told me Green reminded her of me lecturing, except with a lot more bells and whistles. (Because Henry VIII puppet shows and stick figure doodles aren't high tech, I guess).

Here's a couple of my favorites episodes:

1. The Mongols (Cue the Mongol montage!)



2. The Columbian Exchange (Butterflies on llamas=hilarious!)




And as of this week, there's a new series on English Literature, kicking off with a pretty great episode on why we all read. (Because it's awesome, that's why).

So without further ado, I bring you John Green with "How & Why We Read..."

 

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sneak Peek: The Tiger Queens


I've been tagged by Judith Starkston and Taryn Tyler for The Next Big Thing blog hop. (Thanks, ladies!) As this is a great excuse to procrastinate writing the last scenes of my WIP, I've happily agreed to play along. 

What is your working title of your book?
My WIP is called THE TIGER QUEENS. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?
I was almost done writing THE SECRET HISTORY when browsing through Costco. Jack Weatherford's book THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE MONGOL QUEENS caught my eye, and I picked it up on impulse. Later that month, a teacher left a pile of free books at work. One of them was Weatherford's GENGHIS KHAN AND THE MAKING OF THE MODERN WORLD. Sometimes the stars just align--I knew I had to write a novel about the Great Khan's women. (Not to mention it's totally random that the primary sources for both Theodora's life and Genghis' women are called "The Secret History.")
 
What genre does your book fall under?
Historical fiction
 
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?


Khulan Chuluun played Borte in the movie "Mongol," but I think she'd make a great Alaqai Beki.

 
Lyndsey Marshal played Cleopatra in HBO's "Rome" and could easily become Fatima, the Persian slave who eventually rises to power. 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
The death of Genghis Khan will launch four women--seer, warrior, slave, and mother--into a battle for the ultimate prize: control of the greatest empire the world has ever known.  

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
TIGER QUEENS is represented by Stringer Literary Agency and has been purchased by NAL/Penguin. It will hit the shelves sometime after next winter's release of DAUGHTER OF THE GODS. 

How long did it take to write the first draft of the manuscript?
The first draft should wrap up by the end of this month. That puts me at six months.

What other books would you compare this to in your genre?
Surprisingly, there's not many books out there about Genghis Khan. Format-wise, it will likely be similar to Alice Hoffman's THE DOVEKEEPERS. 

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
I'm always on the look-out for forgotten or maligned women in history. Sadly, the amazing women in this book fit both of those categories.  

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
Wrestling contests, horse races, fermented mare's milk, torture, prophesies of doom and redemption... and the Mongols bent on world domination. Life in the Mongol Empire was never dull!


Now I'm supposed to nominate five other authors, but as most writers I know are currently immersed in the NaNo writing marathon, I'm going to say anyone who wants to play can consider themselves tagged. 

What about you? What's the scoop on your WIP? Got anything to rival fermented mare's milk? (Blecch!)

Sunday, November 4, 2012

History's Greatest Female Rulers

I was walking down the hallway behind one of my former students the other day, listening as he talked to his friend about Queen Elizabeth. 

(Never mind how excited I was to hear students discussing history in the halls when they could be talking about the Avengers, whether to have McDonald's or Carls Jr. for lunch, or their friend's latest Facebook status).

"Queen Elizabeth was important," he said, "because she was the first great female ruler in history."

I literally had to bite my tongue. 

I almost lambasted this young man with a tirade on history's amazing female leaders, but decided to save the poor soul what promised to be a very long lecture.  (Never say I wouldn't make a benevolent dictator). Instead, I let him continue on his merry way while expounding on Elizabeth's many virtues.

However, not launching into a speech then means that you all have to endure it now. (Cue the evil laugh). I'll make it easy--here's my top ten list! 

(Note: This is my very own non-scientific list, and yes, some of these ladies moved up just because I like them more. So sue me.)

1. Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt)
2. Theodora (Byzantine Empire)

I'll be honest--Hatshepsut and Theodora are really a tie, but I've loved Hatshepsut since 7th grade so she gets to be #1.

3. Elizabeth I (England)
4. Catherine the Great (Russia)
5. Isabella of Castile (Spain)
6. Sorkhokhtani (Mongolia)
7. Boudicca (England)
8. Wu Zetian (China)
9. Maria Theresa (Austria)
10. Eleanor of Aquitaine (France)

There you have it! And yes, I'm well aware Queen Victoria isn't on the list, but honestly, she lost points because I already had two Britons on the list. Not to mention she's only been dead 111 years--I'm an ancient history kind of gal. 

Is there anyone I've missed? Or anyone you'd move around the ranks? And on a side note, if anyone has any book recommendations (fiction or non) on these women, feel free to leave them in the comments!