The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece!
Where burning Sappho loved and sung,
Where grew the arts of war and peace,
Where Delos rose, and Phoebus sprung!
Eternal summer gilds them yet,
But all, except their sun, is set.”
-Lord Byron
Why have I been so quiet lately? Because I’m going to Greece on Sunday!
We’re staying a week on Crete- there will be ruins, beaches, hiking, caves, and a whole lot of food. (But no cat, thanks to Gary’s warning.)
In honor of my vacation, I will not be blogging, but I am holding a CONTEST!
The super-easy rules:
1. Follow my blog.
2. Leave a comment on this post with your email address.
3. Take a wild guess as to which historical era my third book is going to tackle. All eras are fair game!
4. Want an extra entry? Blog about the contest and you can have a second guess!
The winner will be the person who guesses the correct historical era first.
The prizes:
1. A copy of Alcestis by Katharine Beutner. (A retelling of a classic Greek myth: Read all about it here.)
2. $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card.
3. Some serious Greek swag. I’m not talking a T-shirt, but some pretty awesome goodies (plural!) that I will find along my journeys and send straight to your mailbox.
The winner will be announced on July 22nd. Until then, happy entries and happy writing!
Photo from Valery Tours.
My guess would be during one of the Pelopponesian Wars, since you're going to Greece and one of the prizes is a book about a Greek myth.
My history's a bit rusty, but that might in fact include the Delian League and the founding of Athens as a political power. Just a guess.
Just remembered that I'm supposed to include my e-mail. novicewriteranonymous@gmail.com
Have a great trip! (*shoots jealous dagger eyes at you*)
OMG HOW FUN!! I'm very much jealous. Have an awesome time! I don't think I'll get this right, but you're going to write about…the first Olympic games! I don't know. My ancient history is super foggy (which is awful, since I'm writing about it lol) – I'm a lot better with American history. :/ But share some pics when you get back and have a great time!
Have a great time in Greece. I hear it's beeeeoooooteeeeeful.
My guess is ancient Egypt..(judging from the pyramids and whatnot) Do I have to be more specific? How about before Cleopatra?
Stephanie, I am so jealous! I hope you do have a fabulous time.
I will take a guess of the Bronze Age (around c.1500 BC, or 1628 BC depending on the source), since you will be visiting Crete. I would adore the chance to visit the ruins on Crete.
DreamyCowgirl@hotmail.com
Have a great time!!!!!
We expect tons of photos when you get back. 😀
Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip and what a cool contest to share. As I'm terrible at history, I won't even venture to guess. Best of luck to everyone.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Very cool idea! Let's see my guess is the Athenian period in Greece. (Do I have to know the years?) Ooh, and you could include the Persian invasion. What fun.
Have an awesome time in Greece. My email addy's on my profile…I think.
Have an amazing time, Stephanie! Please take zillions of photos to share when you return. Vicarious travel is a lovely second to the real thing. And what a perfect quote. Byron is one of the few poets I "get".
Unfortuantely I know more about Greece during Byron's time there – he died in Missolonghi – than I do about ancient Greece. Since you're going to Crete, I, too, will say the Bronze Age (which kind of eliminates my being thefirst to guess) – the Minoan Civilization? But the, maybe I'm being influenced by Amalia's bull dancing posts…
I'm guessing you're going to write about Ancient Greece (duh!) but what period? Perhaps, since you're headed to Crete you'll be writing about the Minoan or Mycenean eras?
Anyway, mostly wanted to comment and say "Have fun!" The islands are beautiful, especially at this time of year. Oh, and make sure you take along some sweaters and pants! It gets cold out there at night! 🙂
~Lia
Lia.Booke@gmail.com
I'm guessing you're going to write about Ancient Greece (duh!) but what period? Perhaps, since you're headed to Crete you'll be writing about the Minoan or Mycenean eras?
Anyway, mostly wanted to comment and say "Have fun!" The islands are beautiful, especially at this time of year. Oh, and make sure you take along some sweaters and pants! It gets cold out there at night! 🙂
~Lia
Lia.Booke@gmail.com
I'm so jealous – you get to go to Greece!! I'm going to live vicariously through you if you don't mind! 🙂
I'm going to guess Ancient Rome – with gladiators 🙂
I'm so excited for you! Safe journey…
My guess is the Bronze Age.
HAVE FUN!! *green with envy*
Love,
Lola
Have an excellent time! I cant' wait to hear about it when you return.
Have a great holiday Stephanie.
I know you earned it!
What an amazing trip, Stephanie. I hope you have an awesome time. I'll be traveling vicariously through you!
Enjoy Greece! I spent a few days before in Athens, Crete and Delphi – loved it! So beautiful and such fascinating history (especially Crete!). I hope you have a great time!
Since Bronze Age is already taken, I'm going to say Iron Age – I actually think the Greek Dark Ages in the early Iron Age are a pretty interesting time period, although the Bronze Age was fascinating too.
guinevere dot rowell at gmail
I'm guessing Ptolemaic Egypt!
and my email address: amalia(dot)stankavage(at)gmail(dot)com.
Have a great time in Greece! I can't wait to hear about it! Did you get book two finished? I hope you'll consider me for a beta reader! 🙂
Wow…have a WONDERFUL time, lucky you!
My guess is your next historical will be set in the very end of Dynastic Egypt, during the Greek period.
Can't wait to read it, whatever it is…and The Reluctant Queen…and Hatshepsut! 😀
Oh, and my email address… libbiehawker at gmail.com
I am SO jealous! Have a wonderful time on Crete and a fun, safe trip. I hope you tell us all about it when you get back 🙂 I don't know much about Greek history but judging from the mention of Sappho in the Byron poem you quoted, I'll guess that the story takes place during 600-500 BC (the Archaic Period?).
juleswrites85@hotmail.com
Sooooo jealous! Have an amazing time! Hey, I was in New York City yesterday with my husband to see a show, and we had time to kill so we just started walking down 44th Street and guess what we accidentally fell into? The National Geographic King Tut exhibit (complete with 3-D mummy movie, lol). It was amazing and I thought of you! http://www.kingtut.org/home
Wow, what an incredible trip-of-a-lifetime! Enjoy 🙂
Totally awesome! I'm going to Greece with my wife in September. Let me know how you like it:)
Oooh, how exciting! I've always wanted to go. I hope you have a great trip!
Hmm, it wouldn't be set in Ancient China, would it???
😀
Greece would make a very intriguing setting. As for the era, I've no idea, so I'll let someone else win this one.
Have fun out there, you lucky person you!
I'll take a guess at the time of Homer. I don't remember my Greek history too well, my mythology is much better. So if this is your third novel, was the second one also about Ancient Egypt/Hatshepsut?
I've always wanted to visit a certain place to do research and setting for my book. Alaska. So I'm doubly envious of you.
Have a wonderful trip – it sounds lovely. I have no chance of winning, because I am incompetent when it comes to (most) historical subjects, so I'm not going to even try! 🙂
I look forward to pretty pictures! 🙂
Awesome contest, and have fun on your trip.
1. Follow my blog. – Yup
2. Leave a comment on this post with your email address. – sharif(at)sharifwrites(dot)com
3. Take a wild guess as to which historical era my third book is going to tackle. All eras are fair game! – Middle Ages
Stephanie, if you're around here, I just wanted to let you know that you won one of the runner-up prizes in Kathleen Ortiz's DECEPTION contest. You'll probably want to head over there to claim it ASAP.
I would like to exchange links with your site http://www.blogger.com
Is this possible?