221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura Vosika

Publisher:  Mill City Press, Inc. (January 31, 2018)
Category: Historical Fiction, Ancient Civilizations, Supernatural Powers, Young Adult
Tour dates: October-November, 2018
ISBN: 978-1545626108
Available in Print and ebook, 364 pages

Set against the backdrop of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, an alternate history unfolds, linking the power of the pharaohs to magic. Brother is pitted against brother in a race to find twelve amulets, lost with the ancient pharaoh, and unlock their powers. Whoever holds the amulets holds that power; to save the world…or destroy it.

Praise 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura Vosika

“As the debut novel opens, King Ptolemy IV, Macedonian ruler of Egypt, is distraught over the apparent murder of his friend and mentor, Qibo (“Multiple gashes covered his body. His eyes stared at the ceiling, as if he could still see whatever had killed him”). The ancient Taoist master had worked at the Museum of Alexandria for years. This act seems to be the dark culmination to a number of days in which Ptolemy has been plagued with nightmares laced with what appear to be strange signs. He dreams he is the Pharaoh Amenhotep, worrying over his kingdom and suffering from dental pain, the latter of which seems to affect Ptolemy’s waking hours as well. After exhuming the dead pharaoh’s body, experts discover that he did indeed have advanced abscesses in his teeth, which leads head librarian Eratosthenes to posit that someone might be working magic against the king, perhaps to re-create history. The theory is that Qibo was murdered to prevent him from translating ancient tablets that might help Ptolemy unlock the magical powers of a set of 12 amulets that have been in the possession of the pharaohs for untold years, each associated with a different element. Using the artifacts, someone might be able to wrest control of the kingdom. As the story proceeds, Price paints a vivid, intricate portrait of war, juggling a wide array of famous characters, including the notorious Hannibal, and using meticulous research to flesh out this universe, rooted in historical facts and details. The prose is rich and involving, and the twists are carefully designed and executed. An inventive blend of Egyptian history and magic, this dynastic tale opens what promises to be a stellar series.”- Kirkus

“What grabbed my attention was the fact that it was based in Egypt during the time before Christ, about the Pharaoh Ptolemy III and his family struggle to maintain their control of the united Egypt. I love how the story is created with historical facts into mystery of hidden artifacts that hold magical powers and having characters with unusual powers too. It makes for a very entertaining novel and keeps the reader wondering what will happen next.”- Valerie I. Rosica, Amazon Review

“Clearly a great deal of research was done to write this book. It’s also exceptionally creative and engrossing! Hope there’s more to come….”-Kathryn Price, Amazon Review

“Very interesting  take on the Egyptian family the Ptolemy’s and their possible aliens within the ancient world and the invasion of Rome by Hannbal. Historical fiction worth reading!”-Char, Amazon Review

Interview with Kendall Price and Laura Vosika, Authors of 221 BC

Hi Kendall and Laura, welcome to Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus!

TR: Please tell us something about the book that is not in the summary.  (About the book, character you particularly enjoyed writing etc.)

KP & LV: The book is based on years of research in the global ancient world. From Spain to China, all parts included. I picked this time because it is a pivotal year in history often overlooked (new kings/rulers of Egypt, China, Greece, Asia, etc)

TR: What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

KP : I love the scene at the Delta theater where Xiphos and Hannibal (best friends) foil the assassination attempt against the king. A few years ago we went to San Antonio for my wife’s college reunion and there is a great riverside theater that is the model for the Delta theater.

TR: I always enjoy looking at the names that authors choose to give their characters. Where do you derive the names of your characters?  Are they based on real people you knew or now know in real life? How do you create names for your characters?

KP & LV: Most of the character names are historical and accurate. The only 2 names I made up are Xiphos (Greek for sword) and Cynisca (actual name of different Spartan princess). The name s are a bit crazy but that’s the nature of ancient history J.

TR: How much time and effort went into your research for the book?

KP & LV: About 10 years of off and on research writing and editing. Laura took over about 3-4 years ago I believe.

TR: Where did you get the inspiration for your cover?

KP: Our great formatting and cover folks (DDD (deranged doctor design) suggested a few covers and our kids and I worked on it. The cover is one where Cynisca is doing a healing spell for Magus.

TR: What draws you to this genre? 

KP: I love comics, D&D, scifi/fantasy, and now history. True heroes and villains not too complicated by the world. Laura helped me make it deeper.

TR: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from 221 B.C.?

KP: I don’t know young actors these days but the Rock and the new Tomb Raider actress are the right types.

TR: You are sitting in a coffee shop. What does your writer mind see?

KP: A lot of nice people eating food that is bad for them but think its ok. Folks think if I just have a little it’s ok when they are really shaping the space-time reality of their body and mind.

TR: What book/s are you reading at present?

KP: Phillip 2 of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great)

KP & LV: What are you currently working on?

KP & LV: 220 BC

TR: Is there a question that you would have liked me or another blogger to ask but didn’t?

KP: I guess my thoughts on Eastern and Western medicine (complimentary, valid, and interesting)

About Kendall Price

Dr. Kendall Price was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland, the third of four children. He attended high school at the Phillips Academy Boarding School in Andover, MA, a place that left him with many fond memories, and that he calls the most formative time of his life. The friendships in 221 BC are loosely based on his time at Andover.

Following in the footsteps of his father and two grandfathers, all doctors, Kendall attended Amherst College in Amherst, MA and the University of Illinois College of Medicine and studied pathology at Stanford University.  While there, he did four fellowships, including medical staff/ autopsy, hematopathology, surgical pathology, and immunohistochemistry.

Doctor Price lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with his wife Michelle and their three children.  It was Michelle’s influence, with her study of Chinese medicine, and a masters degree in Chinese acupuncture, that led Dr. Price to become certified in acupuncture himself.  The magic in 221 BC is based on Chinese medicine.

In addition to writing and Chinese medicine, Dr. Price enjoys exercise, reading, and travel.  He has been to all 48 continental US states, Canada, Mexico, Alaska, and Copenhagen.

Other writing credits include a small booklet, available on Amazon, on healing dental caries by nutritional means.

About Laura Vosika

Laura Vosika is a writer, poet, and musician. Her time travel series, The Blue Bells Chronicles, set in modern and medieval Scotland, has garnered praise and comparisons to writers as diverse as Diana Gabaldon and Dostoevsky. Her poetry has been published in The Moccasin and The Martin Lake Journal 2017.

She has been featured in newspapers, on radio, and TV, has spoken for regional book events, and hosted the radio program Books and Brews. She currently teaches writing at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

As a musician, Laura has performed as on trombone, flute, and harp, in orchestras, and big bands. She lives in Brooklyn Park with 5 of her 9 children, 3 cats, and an Irish Wolfhound.

Website: www.bluebellschronicles.com
Blog: http://bluebellstrilogy.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauravosika

Buy 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura Vosika

Amazon
Kindle
Barnesandnoble
Indiebound
BookDepository

Giveaway 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura Vosika

This giveaway is for 3 winners choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends November 30, 2018, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter onlly.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow 221 BC: Scroll 1 of Narmer War by Kendall Price and Laura Vosika Tour

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 2 Kickoff

Lisa Book Reviews Oct 3 Review & Excerpt

Dawn Bound 2 Escape Oct 5 Excerpt

Dawn Bound 4 Escape Oct 9 Guest Review

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Oct 12 Review

Yari Yaris-Book-World Amazon Oct 15 Review

Indie Review Behind the Scenes Oct 16 Video Interview 1 pm est (will be posted later in the week)

Carole Rae’s Random Rambling Nov 2 Review

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 5 Review

Amber Imaginative Dreams Nov 20 Review & Excerpt

Mindy Room Without Books is Empty Nov 27 Review

This schedule is subject to change.