Please welcome Veronica Scott, who stopped by Book Lovers Inc. to celebrate the release of her new novella Priestess of the Nile, which is a unique paranormal historical romance set in Ancient Egypt! So join us to learn more about the inspiration behind the story and to get to know the author better as well. There is also a surprise giveaway waiting for you at the end. 😉

Stella: Hi Veronica, welcome to Book Lovers Inc! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Veronica: I grew up in a house full of science fiction, history, and other books, and when I ran out of things to read, I inevitably started writing my own stories. I got married at 19 to my high school sweetheart, was then widowed quite young, now have two grown daughters, a very energetic 9 year old grandson and cats. I’m always reading, writing or on twitter (except when I’m at the day job or on the freeways!). I’m very happy to be here today, thanks for inviting me!

Stella: Describe a typical day of writing? Are you a planner or pantser?

Veronica: I’m a total seat of the pants person! I’m pretty much superstitious about my writing – the ideas just come to me, usually a broad situation, and then the two main characters. I know the beginning, the end and one or two major scenes but the rest comes to me as I write. I sit at my greatgrandmother’s desk and bang away on the laptop, for a few hours every night after work, if I’m lucky. I get some longer stretches in during the weekends.

Stella: What do you think is the difference between a reader and a real Book Lover?

Veronica: First of all, anyone who takes time to read stands high in my estimation! Perhaps the Book Lover is more likely to go back and reread their favorite novels often, to think about the characters and ponder what might have happened next…to look for the author’s backlist, search out similar novels..maybe even research something that piqued their interest. Reading the book isn’t a one time experience, more of an immersion.

Stella: Your novel Priestess of the Nile was just released recently, can you tell our readers what they can expect of it?

Veronica: It’s a fast paced, yet sensual romance, set in Ancient Egypt, telling of the forbidden love between Sobek the Crocodile God and Merys, a priestess. There are prohibitions against such unions and Isis, Queen of the Gods, is opposed to the couple’s happiness. Events in the human world also drastically affect their chances to stay together for eternity.

Stella: Why did you choose to set your story in Ancient Egypt? Is Egyptian mythology your favourite kind?

Veronica: I’ve always been intrigued by ancient civilizations, how we try to piece together the puzzle of their history from broken monuments, tombs and fragments. The Egyptians were so focused on the aspects of the afterlife, yet you can see from the tomb paintings and household items how much like us they were as well. It’s fascinating to contemplate living in another time and place, and the adventures you – or your characters – could have. I’m pretty fond of their mythology right now, that’s for sure!

Stella: And I’m curious to know: what inspired you to choose Sobek, the Crocodile God as your hero? Crocodiles aren’t usually considered attractive and beloved, did you consider it a challenge or did you read part of a legend about Sobek that intrigued you?

Veronica: I enjoy the Egyptian setting and there was a challenge involved in taking a character like the Crocodile God through an emotional arc. He’s been around since the universe was created yet never felt true love, even though he’s been linked to at least four goddesses. He doesn’t really relate to humans until he meets the right woman! Which puts his immortal heart in serious jeopardy of being shattered…

As you say, crocodiles aren’t the first creatures to come to mind in terms of attractiveness, or being beloved BUT in the novella, when Sobek reveals himself to Merys, he’s in a whole other class from your everyday Nile crocodile, more of a dinosaur/dragon feeling. The uber, antediluvian crocodile! And when he’s fully human, the guy is HOT.

And of course the Ancient Egyptians tended to visualize many of their gods as half human/half animal so in that context, Merys the heroine, found nothing at all strange about falling in love with him.

Stella: Which Egyptian God is your favourite one and why is that? Or which one is your favourite Egyptian legend?

Veronica: My favorite is the goddess Lady Ma’at, keeper of the Scales of Truth, which she uses to judge the hearts of those who have died and seek entrance to the afterlife. Maybe it’s something about me being a Libra (which also has the scales as the sign) but she just appeals to me. She’s pretty much in every book I’ve written so far. To me, Ma’at’s got the most sympathy and understanding for the humans. It was believed that if she didn’t exist the universe might fall into chaos!

Stella: Can you summarize Priestess of the Nile for us twitterstyle (140 characters or less)?

Veronica: Can love between a human and an immortal survive the ultimate test of the Egyptian gods? Fast moving, sensual tale of Ancient Egypt!

Stella: What kind of research did you do for Priestess of the Nile?

Veronica: I usually start on the internet, maybe looking up a particular goddess or an ancient city. I follow the threads from site to site, gathering data. I also have a very large collection of reference books on Ancient Egypt, including an illustrated translation of The Book of the Dead. Those are my ultimate sources. Of course since I set my stories in an alternate, paranormal version of Egypt, I make no claim to rigorous historical accuracy. I may play with the details!

Stella: Now can you tell us 3 reasons why people should read Priestess of the Nile?

Veronica:

1) A sexy hero and a strong heroine, facing down the universe together to achieve their happy ending
2) An exotic setting where many things are possible
3) Something a bit unusual, with the hero being a Crocodile God and a shifter!

Stella: What shall we expect from you, what is next on your schedule?

Veronica: I’ve got more stories in this connected series in various stages of editing and submission. I love Ancient Egypt and the ideas keep flowing. I just finished book #3, tentatively titled “Dancer of the Nile” and sent it to my Critique Partner.

Stella: I have read on your website that you also write paranormal romance and science fiction stories. What attracted you to these genres? Do you prefer either?

Veronica: I enjoy stories where many things are possible that couldn’t happen in our normal, daily life. I read contemporary romances as well, but I’m most fascinated by the big epic tales or wildly unusual adventures a heroine can have in paranormal or science fiction.

Stella: Can you share with us some little secret trivia, something that not many people know about you?

Veronica: I used to be really good at archery!

Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library full of books as its heart, and when she ran out of things to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one young grandson and cats.

Veronica’s life has taken many twists and turns, but she always makes time to keep reading and writing. Everything is good source material for the next novel or the one after that anyway, right? She’s been through earthquakes, tornadoes and near death experiences, although nothing is as stressful as meeting a book deadline. Always more stories to tell, new adventures to experience—Veronica’s personal motto is, “Never boring.”

Where to find Veronica:
Website | Twitter | Facebook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~

Veronica has generously offered an ebook copy of Priestess of the Nile to one lucky commenter!

All you have to do is leave a meaningful comment about the interview, or tell us what do you find the most interesting/fascinating about Egypt?
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)

Please be sure to include a valid email address in the comment form (need not be in the actual body of the comment).

This giveaway is open to all!

Giveaway ends on Saturday, February 18th, 2012; we will announce the winner on Sunday.

Good luck!!!!

About Stella

Stella is a proud bookaholic and a self-taught multilinguist in training. Besides reading, her other great passions are travelling and baking. When she is not globetrotting she lives in sunny Budapest, where she loves to spend her free time preparing (and feasting on) delicious cookies or devouring equally yummy books. Her favourite genres are urban fantasy and romance and she couldn't live without her daily dose of sunshine. Besides being the Latin Lover on BLI Stella also blogs about books and a bookish life on Ex Libris.

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