This is, in fact, a press release for the stories of the Roman Ladies: Julia of the Roman Empire, Tanaquil of the Roman Monarchy, and Cartimandua of Roman Britain.
I waited far too long to meet with what we had decided to call "The Wine Klatch Group" My preoccupation with my own emotional state at dealing with my husband's leukemia immobilized me for a while. But it was my husband himself who told me to get off my duff and get to work, So I got off my duff. After I made the decision to call up my ladies, I worded and re-worded in my mind just how I would tell them. I had decided to live up their expectations that I would present them to the world. I wanted them to know their stories were available to the world via E-Book on Amazon.
We were barely assembled when all three were competing to talk first, all annoyed that I had been silent for so long. It was Julia, who tossing her head from one side to the other as only she could do, said, "We're acting like nothing but Harpies, with claws extended, grasping for the first attack. Disgraceful, Ladies."
Laughter erupted. It was good be back together. "Now," she continued, "I suggest we stop out clatter and let Jewellee tell us in her own way whatever it is she has to tell us. You're on Jewellee, make it good."
All eyes focused on me. How did I start? Would one or another or all three be offended with my first choice? After what seemed an oppressively long silence, in unison came, "Well?"
I looked from one to the other. "I have E-Books about all of you. I'm trying to decide how to go. I could go in chronological order, or alphabetical order, or in the order I wrote them."
"Or," Julia said with an impatience in her voice that surely must have shaken even her father, the Emperor Augustus, "you could stop stalling and just start."
"And remember," Tanaquil said, "we have no idea of what an E-Book is. We're in the scroll age. So go in any order you want. Just get on with it. The three of us are all ears."
"But there are four."
"Four and who pray is the fourth. God forbid it's Cleopatra. She's been done to death with press coverage. Since the day of her birth I should imagine"
"No," I said. "It's your -- I suppose the word is grandaughter. Anyway it's Tullia." Tanaquil stiffened. I continued, "I don't like her, and never enjoyed her company as her story took form. That is why I never invited her into our group. I will start with her and be done with it and with her. From Amazon Kindle Publishing you can find an E-Book by Jewellee Cardwell titled "FLIGHT OF VULTURES. it is the story of Tullia and her husband Tarquin II and their incredibly cruel seizure of power, which precipatated the fall of the Roman Monarchy and ushered in the Roman Republic, which stood for nearly 500 years until Julia's father upset it."
"Me first," Julia said, "or now I guess it's second.
"You Julia are presented to the world as the great lady you are, honest, smart, beautiful, ambitious-- and a little spoiled by your money and position."
"Do I want to know more? Will I like me?"
"Oh you will like you as you are presented in THE EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER."
And Tanaquil you will like you in WHEN EAGLES SOARED."
Tanaquil chuckled, "You did the story about the Eagle that snatched Lucumo's hat?"
"Indeed I did. After all it was you who said it was an omen that he was to rule Rome." Turning to Cartimandua I said, "And I told the world what your nickname is."
"Not Sleek Pony, you didn't."
"But I assure you you will like yourself in ROMAN CELTIC QUEEN".
Now I was smiling, happy in the pleased looks on their faces. "Yes LadiEs, I have immortalized you as I promised. The whole world can know you if the check out Jewellee Cardwell's account of you on Amazon Kindle Publishing."
