by Stephanie Dray | Feb 22, 2011 | Fun Stuff, Miscellany
I’m not normally a science junkie, but I couldn’t resist this news from the UC Berkley’s News Center, starting with, “The asteroid Kleopatra, like its namesake, the last pharaoh and queen of Egypt, gave birth to twins – two moons probably...
by Stephanie Dray | Feb 3, 2011 | Bad Girls of the Ancient World, Lily of the Nile, Miscellany, Upcoming Events
When I schedule events in bookstores, I try not to limit myself to sitting behind a table waiting to pounce on passersby and ask them to buy my book. That always seems like a recipe for social awkwardness, so I like to give a talk. It helps to entertain the crowds and...
by Stephanie Dray | Dec 3, 2010 | Fun Stuff, Miscellany
I wish I could add something to this neato-cool blog post about ancient water organs, a predecessor of our modern church organ, but the author has said it all. And what the author has to say is really worth reading.
by Stephanie Dray | Nov 9, 2010 | Fun Stuff, Miscellany
The Maryland Office of Tourism is conducting a series of oral-history workshops next month in which participants can help document Maryland’s history. As a Maryland resident I’m always fascinated to learn about our state, but as a writer, I’m eager...
by Stephanie Dray | Oct 28, 2010 | FAQ, Fun Stuff
Today we say the rich are born with silver spoons in their mouths. In the ancient world, they said the wealthy were born to the purple. This phrase alludes to the royal robes dyed with a precious shade of deep purple originally created by the Phoenicians in Tyre....
by Stephanie Dray | Sep 23, 2010 | Fun Stuff
Though Augustus is the villain of my novel, Lily of the Nile, I do have a bit of a soft spot for the old tyrant. It seems only fitting that we wish him a happy birthday on this September 23rd. You may wonder why August, the month actually named after him, is not also...
