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My thanks go to Professor Harry Norris and Dr Michael Brett of the School of Oriental and African Studies for their wonderful books on Berbers, Tuaregs and this era as well as their helpful information and encouragement. All mistakes are of course mine. Thank you to my brother Ben, whose different way of sensing illness is both fascinating and strange to me. It gave me the inspiration for some of Hela’s skills, although I think he is a great deal wiser. Huge gratitude to the University of Surrey for giving me funding for my PhD in Creative Writing, allowing me freedom and valuable writing time for multiple projects over three years. And especially to Dr Paul Vlitos, who has already improved my writing craft with his knowledge and encouragement. To my beta readers for this book: Camilla, Elisa, Etain and Helen, thank you so much for all your insights and questions as well as your demands for the next book! You make each book better. And always, my thanks to Ryan, who makes all things possible and to Seth and Isabelle for putting up with Mamma having her head in the clouds.
China, 1700s. Lady Qing has spent the past seven years languishing inside the high red walls of the Forbidden City. Classed as an Honoured Lady, a lowly-ranked concubine, Qing is neglected by the Emperor, passed over for more ambitious women. But when a new concubine, Lady Ying, arrives, Qing's world is turned upside down. As the highest position at court becomes available and every woman fights for status, Qing finds love for the first time in her life... if Lady Ula Nara, the most ambitious woman at court, will allow her a taste of happiness.
Winner Novel London Award 2019 18th Century China. In a devastating breach of etiquette, the Empress of China cuts off her hair and is exiled by a furious Emperor to 'the cold palace'. Historians still do not know what caused her to take this step. Ula Nara is a happy sixteen-year-old, in love and betrothed. But before she can be married, she must attend the Imperial Daughters' Draft. When she is chosen as a bride to the heir to the throne, her beloved vows to become a monk, while Ula Nara must face a lifetime of regret. Determined to make her pain worth something, she aims for the pinnacle of success: to become Empress. But perhaps being an Empress is not worth as much as she thought and happiness may lie in the simpler things. The final book in the Forbidden City series, this is a chance to understand Ula Nara, a terrifying and powerful rival to the other ladies of the court.
Chosen for imperial service, some concubines rise to power. Others fall to madness. 18th century China. All girls aged thirteen to sixteen must attend the Imperial Daughters' Draft, so that the Emperor can have the first choice of every woman in his empire as a possible concubine. Once chosen, some rise to power. Some even forge friendships. But for some concubines, there are whispers of forbidden loves, dangerous secrets and even madness. Four women's lives intertwine as their destinies unfold within the high red walls of the Forbidden City. Lady Qing has been forgotten by the Emperor, but dares to make one last bid for love. Lady He finds herself out of her depth as secrets pile up around ...
China, 1760. The Emperor conquers Altishahr, a Muslim country to the west of his empire and summons a local woman from his new dominion to come to the Forbidden City as his concubine. Meanwhile in the market of Kashgar a girl named Hidligh is kidnapped by Iparhan, a woman scarred by the Emperor's conquest of her homeland and bent on vengeance. Iparhan offers her a deal: Hidligh will become the Emperor's concubine, living a life of luxury. In return she will act as Iparhan's spy. But when Hidligh arrives in the Forbidden City, she enters a frightening new world. Every word she utters may expose her as an imposter. Iparhan is watching from the shadows, waiting to exact her revenge on the Emper...
Why did a Muslim emperor pick the son of a Christian slave as his heir? 11th century Morocco and Spain. A vast Muslim empire is rising as the lives of four women weave together to tell a story of war and love, magic and faith. Hela was born with the gift of healing, but is now bound by an impossible vow. Berber woman Kella is searching for adventure, but growing fearful for the safety for her baby son. Zaynab has risen to power as the queen of Morocco but is warped by a dark jealousy. Spanish nun Isabella is struggling to learn the lesson of love while holding onto her faith and vows. Based on the rise of Morocco's Almoravid dynasty, which created a North African and Spanish empire and defeated El Cid, this is historical fiction at its most enthralling, both intriguing and emotional. Set out on an epic journey of complex choices and opposing faiths told by the voices of forgotten women. Buy the complete Moroccan Empire series today. Please note that the paperback copy comes as one single large volume.
A Spanish nun. A Muslim warlord. The destiny of an empire held between them. 11th century Northern Spain. Isabella has been a nun in the Christian kingdom of Galicia since she was a child, a gifted herbalist leading a quiet and spiritual life, devoted to God. But on a rare journey outside of the convent, she is taken by Viking raiders and sold to Morocco as a slave. Cruelly treated by her first owner, salvation comes from an unlikely source: Yusuf bin Tashfin, leader of a vast Muslim army intent on conquering North Africa and Spain. Isabella must struggle not only to survive her new life but to hold true to her faith, which is tested by great dangers... and by love. Can Isabella keep to her holy vows? Will her actions alter the destiny of a rising empire? And when North Africa goes to war with Spain, where will her loyalties lie? Do Not Awaken Love is the moving finale to the Moroccan Empire historical fiction series. If you enjoy exploring complex emotions and conflicting cultures, then you'll find yourself immersed in the tenderness and difficulties of Melissa Addey's captivating novel. Set out on a stirring journey of love and faith. Buy Do Not Awaken Love today.
Rome, 80AD. A gigantic new amphitheatre is being built. The Emperor has plans for gladiatorial Games on a scale no-one has ever seen before. But the Games don't just happen. They must be made. And Marcus, the man in charge of creating them, has just lost everything he held dear when Pompeii disappeared under the searing wrath of Vesuvius. Now it will fall to Althea, the slave woman who serves as his scribe, to ensure the Colosseum is inaugurated on time - and that Marcus makes his way out of the darkness that calls to him. Large print edition.
Creating your own merchandise can bring in income and engage your readers as well as giving you the creative edge at literary events and festivals. Bands and film-makers always create merchandise for their creative works, now it's time for authors to use merchandise to market their works too. In this book you'll find: 5 things merchandise should do for you 6 steps of new product development (NPD) How to think beyond bookmarks and coffee mugs Case studies and interviews with real authors to inspire you Details of good suppliers to get you started "Merchandise for Authors is a really valuable resource. Melissa has clearly used the time she spent with the British Library to good effect, giving excellent advice to the many writers with whom she worked - and has now generously shared her thoughts in a format that means a much wider audience can benefit. I advise you to take her advice." Dr Alison Baverstock, Associate Professor of Publishing at Kingston University, author of How to Market Books
"Picking up where A Story Lately Told leaves off, when Anjelica Huston is 22 years old, [this book] is a chronicle of her glamorous and eventful Hollywood years. She writes about falling in love with Jack Nicholson and her adventurous, turbulent, high-profile, spirited 17-year relationship with him and his intoxicating circle of friends. She writes about learning how to act, about her Academy Award-winning portrayal of Maerose Prizzi in Prizzi's Honor, [and] about her collaborations with many of the greatest directors in Hollywood, including Wes Anderson, Richard Condon, Bob Rafelson, Mike Nichols, and Stephen Frears"--