Mara: Hello, Ankhesenamun! Thank you for giving me the time to interview you. First, why don't you tell us what your name means and how it was chosen?
Ankhe: My name at birth was Ankhespaaten, which means, Living for Aten. After my father passed and the religion moved back to the old ways, Both Tut and myself changed our names to reflect Amun. So now my name means Living for Amun.
Mara: You've grown up in palaces under different rule. What can you tell us about what life was like with your father as Pharaoh?
Ankhe: MY father was a wonderful man; tender, loving, affectionate. He had a keen mind for the most part, and it saddened me when he crept into madness. He was truly inspired and I will never forget him. My childhood were times of light and warmth in his presence.
Mara: Your mother Nefertiti had a reputation both for being beloved by the people and for her political scheming. What are some important lessons you learned from her?
Ankhe: To keep my senses piqued at all times. Being royal means everyone is trying to destroy or use you for their own advantage, so she taught me how to watch for traitors and those who would harm me. My father taught me how to trust.
Mara: Nefertiti made no effort to hide her disdain for Kiya, yet you appeared to have a certain admiration for her. What drew you to Kiya despite your mother's feelings?
Ankhe: Why must we talk about my mother? Please, she and my grandfather are the reason my father died with a broken heart. Kiya was different. My father admired her, making my mother fiercely jealous. At first I reflected my mother's feelings, wondering why my father would choose her of all people, but then I saw her courage and her loyalty to my father. That courage and loyalty drew my father to her, and I could not hate someone who made him happy.
But then, she spent so much time with that bully Mordad, and the Commander I held onto my reservations, just observing her rather than interacting.
Mara: You recently married Tut and have shown yourself to be very loyal to him, some have even said you are protective of him. What do you see in Tut? What do you hope he sees in you?
Ankhe: Tut reflects my father in many ways. I see my father's gentle spirit in him, and the playfulness I believe my father had in him--if only he wasn't so limited. Tut is charming and sweet, and I believe he will grow into a fine young man.
What I hope he sees in me is that he can love me as much as he does his mother. I hope he sees how dedicated and loyal to him I am.
Mara: What kind of ruler has Tut shown himself to be so far?
Ankhe: Compassionate, but firm. Actually, most of what I see is Horemheb's hand. My grandfather does not approve.
Mara: What do you hope to see for the future, for yourself, Egypt, and your Pharaoh?
Ankhe: To live a long life with my Tut, having many children together, and living blissfully through a golden age under Tut's reign. If anyone can do it, it is Tut, and I am honored to be at his side.
Pick up your copy of the Kiya series today! The final book is out, and I cannot wait to see how it ends!
Author: Katie Hamstead
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Genre: New Adult Historical Romance
Release Date: February 25th, 2014
Blurb:
Tut has grown into his position as Pharaoh, but he is a wild young man. Naomi fears for him, not only because of his recklessness, but because he has put his trust in Ay–the man determined to destroy Naomi—despite her and Horemheb advising against it.
Meanwhile, death and slavery hang over Naomi and her family. With fear of the booming Hebrew numbers causing talk of enslaving them, conscription is reinstated and Naomi fears for the lives of her other children. Especially since Ay's children are now adults, and just as dangerous as their father. They threaten to take Itani, conspire against Tut, and pushing for power.
But Tut is in trouble. While Ay's daughter draws Horemheb's attention, and Naomi deals with the struggles of her family, everyone's distraction could spell death for the young Pharaoh.
About the Author:
Born and raised in Australia, Katie’s early years of day dreaming in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing.
After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog.
She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing. She is currently at school studying English and Creative Writing.
Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports and be a good wife and mother. She now works as a Clerk with a lien company in Arizona to help support her family and her schooling. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.
