Giveaway! Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Michelle Moran

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution

by Michelle Moran

And the Winner is... Cheryl (CherylS22)! Congrats!

Thank you to EVERYONE who entered, tweeted, and blogged about this great giveaway!

The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire…but who was this woman and how did she become one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous story comes to life as only Michelle Moran could tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin…

Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American Ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, and when word arrives that the royals themselves are coming to see their

likenesses, Marie never dreams that the king’s sister will request her presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. Yet when a letter with a gold seal is delivered to her home, Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie becomes acquainted with her pupil, Princess Élisabeth, she is taken to meet both Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen, to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into to a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution…Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more importantly, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.

Courtesy of author Michelle Moran, and Crown Publishing, I have a SIGNED COPY of Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution to GIVE AWAY! PLUS, Michelle is including a pair of Marie Antoinette cupcake earrings to the lucky winner!

This giveaway is open Worldwide! Michelle will send the lucky winner their book ANYWHERE in the world! (Hey, Michelle's a world traveler, why would she mind her book traveling a little too!) Contest ends 11:59pm EST on February 22nd, 2011. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! Good Luck!

**Now, I'm trying out a NEW form for the giveaways (OK, new to me...). So, to enter the giveaway, you need to click on the link below. It will take you to a form, for my eyes only... that means no one will see your email or any of your information but me, and you don't have to have a google account to enter either.

*For this giveaway, Get an extra entry for following my blog! There's a place on the form to let me know! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! ) You'll also get an extra entry for blogging or tweeting about the giveaway, and there's a place on the form for that too! OK, ready?! ...

Enter the Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution by Clicking Here!

Author Michelle Moran visits Chick with Books Today with a Guest Post!

Best selling author, Michelle Moran, whose three previous books Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen & Cleopatra's Daughter have made her a favorite of historical fiction fans, is up to her old tricks again! She's coming out with another great book about another important lady from the history books - this time Madame Tussaud! Yes, we all know about the famous wax museums in her name, but there is so much more rich history behind Madame Tussaud that you may not know...

Today, Michelle is going to share a little behind the scenes history with us with her guest post about Madame Tussaud: The Woman. Join me in a warm welcome for Michelle!

MADAME TUSSAUD: The Woman

When most people hear the name Madame Tussaud, the first thing that comes to mind are the eerily lifelike waxworks which crowd her museums throughout the world. But who was the woman behind the name, and what was she like in the flesh?

Madame Tussaud’s story actually began in 18th century Paris. While most people know her from her famous museum in London, it was in France, on the humble Boulevard du Temple, where Marie first got her start as an apprentice in her uncle’s wax museum, the Salon de Cire. At the time, the Boulevard du Temple was crowded with exhibits of every kind. For just a few sous a passerby might attend the opera, watch a puppet show, or visit Henri Charles’ mystifying exhibition The Invisible Girl. The Boulevard was a difficult place to distinguish yourself as an artist, but as Marie’s talent grew for both sculpting and public relations, the Salon de Cire became one of the most popular attractions around. Suddenly, no one could compete with Marie or her uncle for ingenious publicity stunts, and when the royal family supposedly visited their museum, this only solidified what most showmen in Paris already knew — the Salon was an exhibition to watch out for.

But as the Salon’s popularity grew, so did the unusual requests. Noblemen came asking for wax sculptures of their mistresses, women wanted models of their newborn infants, and – most importantly – the king’s sister herself wanted Marie to come to Versailles to be her wax tutor. While this was, in many ways, a dream come true for Marie, it was also a dangerous time to be associated with the royal family. Men like Robespierre, Marat, and Desmoulins were meeting at Marie’s house to discuss the future of the monarchy, and when the Revolution began, Marie found herself in a precarious position. Ultimately, she was given a choice by France’s new leaders: to preserve the famous victims of Madame Guillotine in wax, or be guillotined herself.

Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution is the story of Marie’s life during one of the most tumultuous times in human history. Her survival was nothing less than astonishing, and how she survived makes for what I hope is a compelling read.

*Thanks Michelle for stopping by Chick with Books and giving us a glimpse into the life of Madame Tussaud! Michelle Moran's book, Madame Tussaud: A Novel of the French Revolution will be released Feb. 15th! AND to celebrate, on the release date (Feb.15th), Chick with Books is going to host a GIVEAWAY for a signed copy of Madame Tussaud by Michelle! (plus a little something extra from Michelle). Stop by Feb. 15th for all the details!

Author Michelle Moran visits Chick with Books Today with a Guest Post!

The very talented and beautiful author of Nefertiti, The Heretic Queen & Cleopatra's Daughter, Michelle Moran stops by Chick with Books today to share a little of herself & her inspirations when it comes to her writing. Join me in welcoming Michelle here today!

Michelle's Guest Post...

For every novel I have written, I can look back and say that there has been a very specific moment of inspiration - usually in some exotic locale or inside a museum - where I’ve said, “Aha! That’s going to be the subject of my next novel.” I never began my writing career with the intention to write books about three different princesses in Egypt. In fact, I had no intention of writing about ancient Egypt at all until I participated in my first archaeological dig.

During my sophomore year in college, I found myself sitting in Anthropology 101, and when the professor mentioned that she was looking for volunteers who would like to join a dig in Israel, I was one of the first students to sign up. When I got to Israel, however, all of my archaeological dreams were dashed (probably because they centered around Indiana Jones). There were no fedora wearing men, no cities carved into rock, and certainly no Ark of the Covenant. I was very disappointed. Not only would a fedora have seemed out of place, but I couldn’t even use the tiny brushes I had packed. Apparently, archaeology is more about digging big ditches with pickaxes rather than dusting off artifacts. And it had never occurred to me until then that in order to get to those artifacts, one had to dig deep into the earth. Volunteering on an archaeological dig was hot, it was sweaty, it was incredibly dirty, and when I look back on the experience through the rose-tinged glasses of time, I think, Wow, was it fantastic! Especially when our team discovered an Egyptian scarab that proved the ancient Israelites had once traded with the Egyptians. Looking at that scarab in the dirt, I began to wonder who had owned it, and what had possessed them to undertake the long journey from their homeland to the fledgling country of Israel.

On my flight back to America I stopped in Berlin, and with a newfound appreciation for Egyptology, I visited the museum where Nefertiti’s limestone bust was being housed. The graceful curve of Nefertiti’s neck, her arched brows, and the faintest hint of a smile were captivating to me. Who was this woman with her self-possessed gaze and stunning features? I wanted to know more about Nefertiti’s story, but when I began the research into her life, it proved incredibly difficult. She’d been a woman who’d inspired powerful emotions when she lived over three thousand years ago, and those who had despised her had attempted to erase her name from history. Yet even in the face of such ancient vengeance, some clues remained.

As a young girl Nefertiti had married a Pharaoh who was determined to erase the gods of Egypt and replace them with a sun-god he called Aten. It seemed that Nefertiti’s family allowed her to marry this impetuous king in the hopes that she would tame his wild ambitions. What happened instead, however, was that Nefertiti joined him in building his own capital of Amarna where they ruled together as god and goddess. But the alluring Nefertiti had a sister who seemed to keep her grounded, and in an image of her found in Amarna, the sister is standing off to one side, her arms down while everyone else is enthusiastically praising the royal couple. From this image, and a wealth of other evidence, I tried to recreate the epic life of an Egyptian queen whose husband was to become known as the Heretic King.

Each novel I’ve written has had a similar moment of inspiration for me. In many ways, my second book, The Heretic Queen is a natural progression from Nefertiti. The narrator is orphaned Nefertari, who suffers terribly because of her relationship to the reviled "Heretic Queen". Despite the Heretic Queen's death a generation prior, Nefertari is still tainted by her relationship to Nefertiti, and when young Ramesses falls in love and wishes to marry her, it is a struggle not just against an angry court, but against the wishes of a rebellious people.

But perhaps I would never have chosen to write on Nefertari at all if I hadn't seen her magnificent tomb. At one time, visiting her tomb was practically free, but today, a trip underground to see one of the most magnificent places on earth can cost upwards of five thousand dollars (yes, you read that right). If you want to share the cost and go with a group, the cost lowers to the bargain-basement price of about three thousand. As a guide told us of the phenomenal price, I looked at my husband, and he looked at me. We had flown more than seven thousand miles, suffered the indignities of having to wear the same clothes for three days because of lost luggage… and really, what were the possibilities of our ever returning to Egypt again? There was only one choice. We paid the outrageous price, and I have never forgotten the experience.

While breathing in some of the most expensive air in the world, I saw a tomb that wasn't just fit for a queen, but a goddess. In fact, Nefertari was only one of two (possibly three) queens ever deified in her lifetime, and as I gazed at the vibrant images on her tomb - jackals and bulls, cobras and gods - I knew that this wasn't just any woman, but a woman who had been loved fiercely when she was alive. Because I am a sucker for romances, particularly if those romances actually happened, I immediately wanted to know more about Nefertari and Ramesses the Great. So my next stop was the Hall of Mummies at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. There, resting beneath a heavy arc of glass, was the great Pharaoh himself. For a ninety-something year old man, he didn't look too bad. His short red hair was combed back neatly and his face seemed strangely peaceful in its three thousand year repose. I tried to imagine him as he'd been when he was young - strong, athletic, frighteningly rash and incredibly romantic. Buildings and poetry remain today as testaments to Ramesses's softer side, and in one of Ramesses's more famous poems he calls Nefertari "the one for whom the sun shines." His poetry to her can be found from Luxor to Abu Simbel, and it was my visit to Abu Simbel (where Ramesses built a temple for Nefertari) where I finally decided that I had to tell their story.

It’s the moments like this that an historical fiction author lives for. And it probably wouldn’t surprise you to learn that my decision to write Cleopatra’s Daughter came on an underwater dive to see the submerged city of ancient Alexandria. Traveling has been enormously important in my career. My adventures end up inspiring not only what I’m currently writing, but what I’m going to write about in the future.

Thanks Michelle for the wonderful guest post! And thanks also for your generosity! When I reviewed Michelle's book, Cleopatra's Daughter, a few weeks ago, Michelle nicely offered a signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter and a signed copy of The Heretic Queen to the readers of Chick with Books! But there are only a few days left for this giveaway (ends Sept. 26th)! Here's the link to the giveaway details and the review!

Happy reading... Suzanne

Giveaway: Cleopatra's Daughter AND The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

Walk the streets of Rome with Selene... Cleopatra's Daughter

Congrats to the Winners Heidi & Hayden! Heidi won the signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter! Hayden won the signed copy of The Heretic Queen! And a Thank you to EVERYone who joined in on the fun!

One of the most passionate and tragic love stories of all time is that of Antony & Cleopatra! As Egypt was being conquered by Octavian's Roman armies the lovers committed suicide and became immortalized for all eternity. They also left their children orphaned and in the hands of their enemy....

Michelle Moran writes Cleopatra's Daughter in the voice of Selene, the 10 year old daughter of Antony & Cleopatra. Selene is a keen observer as we are swept up in the Roman triumph over Egypt and the story of Selene and her twin brother Alexander becoming the prisoners and responsibilities of their captors, who take them back to Rome...

"Three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, but only two—the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander—survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts"

It is a story written in such wonderful rich detail that you feel as though you are walking beside Selene as she observes her new surroundings..."Is this Rome? Selena asked. There was no Museion gleaming in the afternoon light, and the villas that hugged the vast stretches of shore were plain, without columns or ornamentation. There was nothing to distinguish one squat white building from the next except the colors of their wind-beaten shutters." Meet the historical cast of characters from the era including Octavian, the emperor of Rome, his sister Octavia, who was once married to Antony (before he left her for Cleopatra), and the poet Vergil, and even experience the building of the Pantheon. Michelle's background in archaelogy and her love of history is apparent in her writing -making Cleopatra's Daughter not a dry retelling of Egyptian/Roman history. I love historical fiction and was captivated by this book. Writing the story with Selene as narrator, gives the story an interesting viewpoint, as we get to see the wonders and horrors of this era thru the eyes of a young girl- something us girls can relate to!

"Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place —the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her

unique interests and talents... Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of Imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of history, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart."

About Michelle...

Michelle majored in English at Pomona College. Following a summer in Israel where she worked as a volunteer archaeologist, she earned an MA from the Claremont Graduate University. Michelle has traveled around the world, from Zimbabwe to India, and her experiences at archaeological sites were what inspired her to write historical fiction. A public high school teacher for six years,

Michelle Moran is currently a full-time writer living in California with her husband. She is the author of the bestselling historical fiction Nefertiti and its stand alone sequel, The Heretic Queen.

A few insights into Michelle...

How long did it take you to get published?

My first attempt at getting published was in seventh grade, when I was twelve. So I guess I can say it took me fifteen years. I had written a full length book that was probably pathetic but everyone praised it and my father hailed it as the Next Great American Novel.

Where are some of your favorite places to travel?

France tops my list, and I mean anywhere in France. Paris, the Riviera, Normandy, Saint Symphorien, the Languedoc region. Then Italy, particularly Venice, and finally Vienna in Austria. I could live in any of those places easily, and someday probably will.

If you weren't a writer what would you want to be?

A teacher. I taught in a public high school for six years and nothing could be more rewarding than exposing young adults to historical fiction and many other kinds of reading and writing. Many people talk about teaching with an abundance of clichés. You can change lives, you can open doors, you can etc etc. But for me, those clichés were all true.

If you love historical fiction, do not miss reading Cleopatra's Daughter! Or Michelle's other books, Nefertiti, The sweeping story of a powerful Egyptian family telling the tale of two sisters, the first of whom is destined to rule as one of history’s most fascinating queens, and The Heretic Queen, In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past, and remake history. Want to learn more about Michelle and her books? Here's the LINK to her website! Cleopatra's Daughter will be released on Sept.15th! You can become a Literary Archaeologist that day and search the shelves of some independent bookstores for some prizes! Find out how at Michelle's website HERE!

But wait! Not only is Michelle a wonderful writer, she's also a generous one! She is going to

give away a signed hardcover copy of Cleopatra's Daughter to a lucky reader of Chick with Books! AND a signed paperback copy of The Heretic Queen to another lucky reader! The book will come directly from Michelle and she say's she'll ship it ANYwhere in the world! So that means all you international readers of Chick with Books can join in on the fun too!

Here's the Giveaway Details...

Since we are giving away a copy of Cleopatra's Daughter AND a copy of The Heretic Queen, I'm going to randomly pick TWO names for this giveaway!

First name picked will receive the signed copy of Cleopatra's Daughter in hardcover, second name picked will receive the signed copy of The Heretic Queen in paperback!

To Enter this Giveaway..

*For one entry leave me a comment with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting me know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button! Just let me know you became a new follower!)

*For another entry Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to EVERYONE! As long as Michelle can send a book to you - you can join in on the fun! Contest ends 11:59 pm EST on Sept. 26th. I'll randomly pick the winners the next day and email the winners. Please check your email... winners must reply to me within 3 days...

Thank you so much Michelle for sending me the review copy of Cleopatra's Daughter! And for the wonderful giveaway to the Chick with Books readers!

Good luck everyone!