Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Book Tour for The Gladiator Prince by Minnette Meador (w/ a GIVEAWAY)


Before we get to a guest post by author Minnette Meador and a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card, I want to thank Goddess Fish Promotions for letting me be a part of this tour.  Thanks too to Minnette for taking time out of her busy schedule to visit my blog.  And now I hand the reins to Minnette to discuss sex and gladiators in ancient Rome (ooh la la)....

SEX IN ANCIENT ROME – THE GLADIATORS

Bahar dodged a quick swipe of Thane’s weapon and caught the blade before it could hit him in the rear again. He jumped back out of the way of another swing. “The fact that you are a slave does not preclude you from the desires of women, Your Highness. I have seen the lines to your chambers.”

Thane snorted and twisted his lips. “You exaggerate. Besides, it is not by my choosing… your father likes his purse full, and the women pay well for me.”--The Gladiator Prince, Chapter II

Interestingly enough, gladiators were treated extremely well, even if they were slaves. They were given the best food, the best wine, and the best women. Some were even allowed to marry and the wives would pay their husbands conjugal visits. In addition, the gladiator could pick from among the female (or male) slaves that belonged to the Lanista. In the case of many of the gladiators (especially those that pleased the crowds) high ranking women paid for the pleasure of lying with them. Gladiators were the celebrities of their day and to have lain with one (discretely of course) was considered by many women as a triumph (although they were usually careful not to let a husband know of their dalliance – a husband could kill the gladiatorial lover and have his wife severely fined for sleeping with a prostitute (yes there were plenty of male prostitutes), an actor, or a gladiator).

In a few moments and without a single word, she crawled off his lap, stumbled to her tunic, picked it up and slipped it over her head with her back to him. 

Taking a few deep breaths where she stood, the woman crossed to the entrance, almost turned her head back to him, but instead, lifted her chin and left the way she had come in.  As he watched her go, a pang of loss rushed through him. Was that all there was going to be? A parade of rich wenches who needed nothing more than the touch of his mouth and the lunge of his rod?--The Gladiator Prince, Chapter IV

In Gladiator Prince, Thane is sold to a woman for a night of enjoyment. She uses him for sex then leaves without so much as a glance. This was actually a true dichotomy in Rome during the first century. Although the gladiators were huge sex object and practically worshiped as celebrities, they were still slaves and considered beneath common society by both men and women. Basically, no better than animals in their view.

Gladiators, like Roman soldiers, practice a strict discipline of training for 8-10 hours every day, a deeply ingrained code of ethics and behavior, and a definite esprit de corps they shared with other gladiators. I was fortunate to have a very special martial artist choreograph my battle scenes in both Centurion and Edge of Honor. Gene was the head of The American Renaissance Martial Arts Association and his specialty was Roman fighting style. He told me once, that although his black belts were Special Forces, Navy seals, and the like, they couldn’t hold a candle to the common Roman soldiers or Gladiators of that era. Talk about hunks… Roman soldiers and gladiators were the originals… :o)

The Gladiator Prince:

Prince Thane is the last surviving royalty of the Trinovantes Tribe in Roman Britannia, having surrendered to the Romans after the Boudicca Revolt to save his two daughters, whose identities he sacrifices his freedom to protect. He is condemned by Nero himself to become a gladiator, to fight until he dies in the arena. When his two daughters are taken in a slaver's raid, Thane escapes, forcing the daughter of his master to take him to Rome to save his children. Little does he know that the beautiful Syrian woman holds not only the key to his passion, but a secret that triggers a disaster that ignites the world. Will this spoiled willful girl betray him in the end or sacrifice herself to save them all? Book III of the Centurion Series.

To Buy:

KINDLE:    http://www.amazon.com/Gladiator-Prince-Centurion-Three-ebook/dp/B005O1AITI/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316487178&sr=1-3

NOOK:     http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-gladiator-prince-historical-romance-centurion-series-minnette-meador/1033891034?ean=2940013390867&itm=1&usri=the%2bgladiator%2bprince


Author Bio: 

Somewhere between thirty and dust...red hair, blue eyes...six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time... wanttabe hippy... wanttheirmoney yuppie...pro musician and actress for 20 Years... native Oregonian... lover of music, beauty, and all things green. Willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

You can find Minette here:

www.minnettemeador.com
http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com
 

GIVEAWAY:

-This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL (for everyone) and is for a $25 Amazon gc to a random commenter from all the tour stops.  So the more blog stops you make a comment on, the greater your chances of winning.  A list of stops can be found here.
-Make sure to include your email along with your comment.
-Ends on October 4th at 11:59 pm.

19 comments:

  1. Sex and Gladiators in Ancient Rome: there is NOT one part of that sentence that I don't like.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  2. LOL, Marybelle! Me neither!

    Good morning all...

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  3. I have to say, I never thought I'd be intrigued by a gladiator, but I am. Love the trailer, the music sets the tone perfectly.
    Glad I stopped by. May the muse be with you.

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  4. I keep remembering the movie, and while I'm sure your book is much more indepth (as books generally are over movies), Gladiator gives me the visual. I can see the ethics & moral code these warriors must've had to put themselves in such barbaric situations & to face their deaths in such a public way. And how it spills over to their families ... What an intriguing story Minnette.

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  5. Well, with the title of the blog post, I HAD to come read it. LOL It's not something I've ever really thought of in relation to gladiators - you always told about the fighting side in other books and movies. Interesting to learn of this part of their lives actually.
    mmbourassa(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  6. well, just an edit to the above (should reread before hitting post) Not YOU always told, but should be YOU ARE always told (as the generic all of us you)

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  7. I have the first two books on my TBR list. I can't wait to read them and The Gladiator Prince.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

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  8. I love the premise for this books series. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I sure plan to now.

    miztik_rose@yahoo.com

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  9. Sex in the times of the Romans was certainly different from how we view it today. It seemed slaves, the gladiators were seen as lucky sex objects and even more it was the norm. Not like nowadays where a sex object from either gender is a no-no. It would be interesting to delve into the mindset of the gladiators. Good thing your book has this :)

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  10. Thanks, Adelle! I'm so glad you could come over!

    Thanks, Pamela! They were definitely unique in many, many ways.

    I thought so too, MM. Some of them even lived outside with their families and came everyday to fight like a job. :o)

    Thanks, Tracey... Oh, I hope you like them! :o)

    I hope you get a chance to, Mary.

    I tried, Na. They were very complex men and from every corner of the world, so they had their own habits, ethics, and diversity to mingle with the gladiator codes and conduct. I would LOVE to go back to this time to talk to one of them... :o)

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  11. Thanks so much for being here today Minnette. Ever since seeing Spartacus I've been obsessed with the life of Gladiators. Your books bring even more interesting aspects to their world and I hope everyone reads this series.

    Thanks too to everyone who came by to comment today and I hope you'll come back soon!

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  12. Anonymous said...Ahem!

    So, first thing... Adelle, really? Never intrigued by a Gladiator. I'm dumbstruck. LOL Have you never seen the Gladiator movie or watched the Gladiator series? Well, let me just tell you that I have a real soft, swollen, wet.... Woah, sorry, got carried away there.

    ***Give me a second *** {fanning self}

    So there is nothing about a Gladiator that I don't love. The rugged brute, the unfortunate slave, the battle trained slave - YUM! YUM! YUM! He doesn't even have to bathe after a good workout.

    This sounds amazing!
    Imma go grab my tunic, sandles, and lounge back with this one.

    Saewod
    saewod @ live . com

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  13. Thank you for inviting us today... This is an amazing blog! Everyone, you need to subscribe and come back often!

    Oh, Seawod... A woman after my own heart. I would have gone a little further, perhaps... Oh, I guess I did... In the book! Enjoy! :o)

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  14. Always love reading your interviews and books!

    Kirsten

    Cowgurlz_14@hotmail.com

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  15. Hi Minnette! Awesome post! So intriguing... Gladiators are so yummy! *sigh* And Seawod, you said it all! lol I want to go back in time just to stare and drool. lol Thanks for the post Minnette! Hope you having a great week!! :)
    shadowluvs2read(at)aol(dot)com

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  16. You and me both, Shadow! LOL

    Thanks, Bama!

    I want to thank Joder for inviting me over to her beautiful blog! What a great place!

    And the winner of the gladius keyring is...

    Adelle Laudan! Congratulations...

    Send your name and address to mmeador at minnettemeador dot com and I'll get it mailed to you.

    See everyone else at the next stop! :o)

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  17. Love your books! Great Blog! Following all your blogs now... :)

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  18. oops forgot my email! readingaddy at gmail dot come

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