And now here's Cathryn with some breathtaking photos that make me green with envy!!!
First off, I have to say congratulations, Christina, on the release of FORBIDDEN. I know you've worked very hard to reach this point and I wish you great success.
I was delighted when you invited me to post in celebration of FORBIDDEN's release because I adore Roman history. This will show my age, but I can still remember being captivated by the BBC series I, Claudius as a child. While it's easy to kid myself I was held in thrall by the political machinations and skulduggery, it's more likely I was simply dazzled by all those men in white togas. Whichever the reason, the show must have had an impact because I've been fascinated by Roman history ever since.
Over the years, I've devoured many books – fiction and non-fiction - on the era. Without doubt, my favourite is Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series but, among others, I also loved Robert Harris's and Allan Massie's Roman novels. However, my love affair with these intriguing people really cranked into overdrive when my husband and I were fortunate enough to live in Provence for an extended period. This area of France is rich with Roman history and ruins and I couldn't soak it up enough. We spent countless weekends touring the region, taking in all the sights, gazing in wonder at temples, arenas, triumphal arches, statues, monuments, and the many, many engineering marvels these infinitely clever people left behind.
One of our favourite treats for visitors was to drive them up the road to the Pont du Gard, a 2,000 year old aqueduct built between AD40 and 60 that took 15 years to construct. It was designed to carry water 50km from the springs at Uzès to the castellum in Nîmes, and at just short of 49 metres high, was the highest bridge the Romans built and a brilliant piece of engineering. The drop from one end to the other – a length of 350 metres – is a mere 10cm. In fact, over the aqueduct's entire 50km journey, the fall is an astonishing 25cm/km.
If visitors weren't impressed by that, then the amphitheatre at Nîmes usually did the trick. There's nothing quite like seeing this arena for the first time. It's so magnificent your mouth drops open in awe. Built at the end of the first century AD, it's described as the best preserved Roman arena in the world and is so atmospheric, when you walk the terraces, galleries and vomitoria (a wonderful term for the exit passages which people "vomit" out of) it's almost as though you can still hear the roar of the 24,000-strong crowds. Even more amazing, it's still in use, which just goes to demonstrate the skill of the Romans.
There were plenty of other sights nearby – the theatre at Orange, the arena at Arles, the amazing ruins at Vaison-la-Romaine, La Trophée des Alpes which marked the border of Italy and France and honoured Augustus's conquests, just to name a few. These, and all the other amazing sites I experienced of Rome's once massive empire, enhanced my admiration for the Romans no end. And it's a love I'll nurture forever.
To help celebrate Christina's release of Forbidden, I have a digital copy of my erotic romance Three Over Par up for grabs. Simply answer the question below and I'll put you in the draw.
What is Lucy's nickname for Robbie, her golf instructor?
Hint: You'll find the answer in the Three Over Par extract posted on my website. Click here for the link.
Thanks again, Christina, for letting me be a part of your FORBIDDEN celebrations.
Thanks Cathryn, for sharing these wonderful memories and I am still an unflattering shade of green here!! So to be in the running to win a copy of Cathryn's sizzling hot Three Over Par, what is Lucy's nickname for her golf instructor, Robbie? And what's the funniest/weirdest nickname you've ever had or given someone?
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