Roma Victrix (59 page)

The beautiful models who took part in the photo-shoots for promotional material: Alexis Caley www.alexiscaley.com (the only person who could have brought life to Illeana); Paula Ciascai www.starnow.co.uk/paulaciascai (real-life Dacian Sorina who made fake-fur look really good; Kerry Davies (a wonderful Ankhsy and, even as a mum-to-be, unafraid to strap on the armour and swords); Suzy Deakin www.facebook.com/suzyCJsexy (who was Eirianwen, killed in
Gladiatrix
and had to endure so much fake blood!); Caroline Elman http://www.carolineroseelman.com (who showed us how little Varia grew up and made me sorely regret killing her off); Sarah Jackaman www.modelmayhem.com/1274513 (Hildreth from
Gladiatrix
, another victim – sorry, Sarah!); Keeley-Jo Jupp http://www.ukscreen.com/cast/juppk (A character in the next instalment and a marvellous actress in her own right); Kimberley Thompson http://www.kimber-leythomson.uk/ (who took out her lenses so we could capture Lysandra's ice-blue eyes); Bailey Porter www.modelmayhem.com/661071 (the amazing make-up artist who covered our girls with gore!) Anni DeVil, Bitchie Blackwhore, Hell'n Drums, Mary Death and Satanica. Hysterica www.hysterica.se – the Girls Made of Heavy Metal.

Thanks for the music, guys – you rule!

Robin Wade, agent, advisor, scholar and gentleman, and Ed Handyside, master of the dark art of editorial alchemy.

My wonderful daughter Samantha who brings such joy to my life: you make everything worthwhile.

And finally, Sally, who remained strong in the face of adversity.

None of this could have been done without your help, support and encouragement: you will always be first in my thoughts and in my heart.

‘A great debut that shines an entirely new light on the glory and the bloodshed of the Roman arena. Whitfield paints a vivid picture of the fights and the passions of women combatants. It's exciting stuff, with well rounded characters, nail-biting duels to the death and vividly depicted settings. Gladiatrix makes Gladiator look very tame indeed!'

Simon Scarrow, author of
Under the Eagle
and
Centurion

‘What a brilliant novel! Whitfield has taken one of history's curiosities – the role of the female gladiator – and woven from it a savage and splendid tale of the Roman arena . . . a tale that, once sampled, cannot be easily forgotten.'

Scott Oden, author of
Men of Bronze
and
Memnon

‘. . . brutal, fast paced . . . a great first novel.'

Gareth Wilson,
Falcata Times

PAPERBACK: ISBN 978-1-905802-098

E BOOK: ISBN 978-1-905802-48-7

Coming in 2012…

I M P E R AT R I X