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Elisabeth Storrs
ALLi Author Member
Location: Australia & New Zealand
Genres: Commercial Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Womens Fiction
Skills: Press/Media Interview, Reading/Literary Event, Self-publishing Workshop/Training, Speaking Engagement/Lecture
Elisabeth Storrs has long had a passion for the history, myths and legends of the ancient world. She graduated from University of Sydney in Arts Law, having studied Classics. Her curiosity piqued by an ancient sarcophagus depicting a couple embracing for eternity, she discovered the little known story of the struggle between Etruscan Veii and Republican Rome and the inspiration to write her series, Tales of Ancient Rome. Her first book, The Wedding Shroud, was judged runner-up in the 2012 international Sharp Writ Book Awards for general fiction. The sequel, The Golden Dice, is now available.
Elisabeth Storrs' books
The Wedding Shroud: A Tale of Ancient Rome
“All the drama and sensuality expected of an historical romance, plus a sensitivity to the realities of life in a very different time and world...” Ursula Le Guin
In 406 BC, to seal a tenuous truce, the young Roman Caecilia is wedded to Vel Mastarna, an Etruscan nobleman from the city of Veii. The fledgling Republic lies only twelve miles across the Tiber from its neighbor, but the cities are from opposing worlds so different are their customs and beliefs. Leaving behind a righteous Rome, Caecilia is determined to remain true to Roman virtues while living among the sinful Etruscans. Instead she finds herself tempted by a hedonistic culture which offers pleasure and independence to women as well as an ancient religion that gives her a chance to delay her destiny. Yet Mastarna and his people also hold dark secrets and, as war looms, Caecilia discovers that Fate is not so easy to control and that she must finally choose where her allegiance lies.
Exploring themes of sexuality, destiny versus self-determination, and tolerance versus prejudice, THE WEDDING SHROUD is historical fiction at its best which vividly brings Ancient Rome and Etruria to life while accenting the lives of women in ancient history. It is the first book in the TALES OF ANCIENT ROME series and was judged runner-up in the 2012 Sharp Writ Books Award for general fiction. It was also a finalist in the 2013 KINDLE BOOK REVIEW Best Indie Book Awards in literary fiction. The second book in the series, THE GOLDEN DICE, is now available.
The Golden Dice: A Tale of Ancient Rome
“Skillfully plotted and with vividly drawn characters, THE GOLDEN DICE is a suspenseful, romantic, exciting drama…” Sherry Jones, Author FOUR SISTERS, ALL QUEENS
During a ten year siege between two age-old enemies, three women follow very different paths to survive:
Caecilia, a young Roman woman, forsakes her city by marrying the Etruscan Vel Mastarna, exposing herself to the enmity of his people and the hatred of the Romans who consider her a traitoress…
Semni, a reckless Etruscan girl, becomes a servant in the House of Mastarna, embroiling herself in schemes that threaten Caecilia's children and her own chance for romance…
Pinna, a tomb whore, uses coercion to escape her grim life and gain the attention of Rome's greatest general, choosing between her love for him and her loyalty to another…
Historical Fiction at its best, this second volume in the TALES OF ANCIENT ROME series explores the lives of women in war while giving a glimpse into the sexuality, religion, and politics of Roman and Etruscan cultures, two great civilizations in ancient history.
THE GOLDEN DICE was judged runner-up in the 2013 Sharp Writ Book Awards, and was named as one of the top memorable reads of 2013 by Sarah Johnson, the reviews editor for HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW. The first book in the series, THE WEDDING SHROUD, was judged runner-up in the 2012 Sharp Writ Book Awards for general fiction.