A fledgeling Kleopatra struggles to shed her childhood and gain her father's approval amidst family betrayal and the turbulent politics of Alexandria and Rome in 58 B.C. After following her father into exile, she would do anything to see him restored to the Alexandrian throne; her older sister Berenike will do anything to prevent his return. The independence of Egypt hangs in the balance, as Kleopatra seps forward to claim her place inn history.
Second Assignment: Anatagonist Sketch.
As the eldest daughter, Berenike has been raised with the expectation that she will one day be queen. However, tradition dictates that she be required to marry one of her half-brothers, when they come of age. She realizes that by then she will be at the end of her childbearing years and thus her legacy will die. She interprets her father’s reluctance to name her as co-ruler as evidence that he plans to bypass her. She is contemptuous of many of her father’s policies (particularly his seeming pacifism and his alliance with Rome) and feels she would do better. She fails to see that surrounding herself with individuals who openly oppose her father may contribute to his lack of confidence in her. These individuals flatter her and feed her vanity which inflates her ego further. Her arrogance masks an inner feeling of inadequacy. Fear of losing her place in history drives her actions and reactions. She berates Kleopatra for her blind loyalty to their father and overall naivety. Secretly, she fears her younger sister may steal her place, unaware that she is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. She is determined not to allow opportunity to pass her by. She will take any action required to gain and maintain her power.
Third Assignment: Breakout Title.
Glory of Her Father
Second Daughter
The Light of Pharos
A Tale of Two Sisters
Fourth Assignment: Genre and Comparables.
Genre is Historical Fiction
Comp # 1 - Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory (2017) - "The little known story of three Tudor women who are united in sisterhood and yet compelled to be rivals when they fulfill their destinies as queens.." "As sisters they share an everlasting bond; as queens they can break each other's hearts..."
This title directly parallels my story of Kleopatra and her inevitable rivalry with her sister Berenike.
Comp #2 - Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn (2011) - "The Roman Empire is up for the taking. With bloodshed spilling out of the palace and into the streets of Rome, chaos has become the status quo..." "When a bloody coup turns their world upside down, Cornelia and Marcella-- along with their cousins--must maneuver just to stay alive."
This title takes place in ancient Rome in the century just following my own setting. It outlines the disparate goals of two sisters and theiur cousins as they adapt to a volatile Roman political climate.
Fifth Assignment: Primary Conflict and Core Wound - Logline
When Alexandria revolts against her father, Kleopatra will be thrown into opposition with her older sister Berenike, and Egypt will become the prize in the volatile political games that ensue.
Sixth Assignmenty: Other conflicts
Primary Conflict (Physical) -Kleopatra wants to return to Alexandria with her father restored as king. Primary Antagonist is her sister, Berenike, who seizes the throne in her father’s absence. Secondary antagonistic forces include anti-roman sentiments in Alexandria, and Roman political factions which oppose Pompey who is her father’s ally.
Inner conflict (Emotional)- Kleopatra wants to be seen as an adult, particularly by her father. Antagonistic force is within Kleopatra, as she continues to act in childish ways. And also, her sister Berenike who as the oldest gets all the attention and has been groomed to be queen. When Berenike begins to behave badly, Kleopatra believes it makes her father trust her even less.
Secondary conflict (Social)- Kleopatra has a rather naïve view of her world. She must discover that Alexandria has fallen far from its glory days, and that her father does not have unlimited power. She will learn to love both anyway and vow to restore Alexandria, and her father’s image.
Romantic tension - Kleopatra will discover that her friend, a young acolyte from the Temple at Memphis has stronger feelings for her. She will resolve that they must just remain friends as her destiny lies elsewhere. She develops a teenage crush on Marcus Antonius when she meets him. He is the cavalry commander in the Roman army which restores her father to the throne. He is also quite taken with her, and will never forget her.
Seventh Assignment: Settings
Prologue – 67 B.C., Island of Cyprus. Palace gardens. Kleopatra’s Uncle, King of Cyprus and his treasurer.
Act I- 58 B.C.- Alexandria, Egypt.
Library of Alexandria, Kleopatra. Kleopatra’s sister Berenike. Guards.
Palace Kitchens- Kleopatra’s Eunuch, Protarchos. His friend (the kitchen overseer) Milta.
Gynaikon (Women’s quarters), room of former Queen Tryphaena (Berenike’s mother.) Berenike and Tryphaena. Female slave.
Library of Alexandria/Streets of Alexandria- Kleopatra. Palace guard Hierax. Personal bodyguard Rufus. Rioters.
Gynaikon (Women’s Quarters), Kleopatra. Her younger sister Arsinoe.
Throne Room. Kleopatra’s father, King Ptolemy. Alexandrian nobles. Kleopatra. Berenike. Tryphaena. Protarchos. Psheren-Ptah (High Priest.) Psheren-Amun (his nephew and acolyte.)
Private meeting room of the king.King Ptolemy. Protarchos. Hephastion (vizier.)
Act Two: Traveling, Rhodes, Athens, Rome.
King’s ship. Harbor of Alexandria. Pharos Lighthouse. Statues. Kleopatra. King Ptolemy. Protarchos.Philostratos (Stoic Philosopher, Kleopatra’s tutor, king’s advisor)
Island of Rhodes. King Ptolemy’s Residence. Kleopatra. Personal bodyguard Rufus.
Island of Rhodes. Residence of Cato. Cato. King Ptolemy. Protarchos. Philostratos.
Island of Cyprus. King of Cyprus. Treasurer.
Athens. Kleopatra. King Ptolemy. Protarchos.
Rome. Outside gates of Rome. Magistrate. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra. Protarchos. Pompey’s freedman.
Temple of Ephesus. Reception Area. High Priestess. Kleopatra.
Temple of Ephesus. Novice quarters. Kleopatra. Other novices.
Syria. Military camp of Gabinius and Antonius.
Temple of Ephesus. Ceremony for achieving womanhood. Kleopatra. Other attendees. High Priestess.
Agora (Marketplace) in town of Ephesus. Kleopatra. Other novices. Hierax.
Temple of Ephesus courtyard. Protarchos. Rufus. Novice.
Merchant’s tent near docks. Kleopatra. Hierax. Rufus. Other bodyguards.
King Ptolemy’s Quarters. Kleopatra. Protarchos. King Ptolemy.
Healer’s temple. Rufus. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra.
Act Five. 55 B.C. Return to Egypt:
Syria. Traveling on horseback. Kleopatra. Marcus Antonius. King Ptolemy.
Pelusium. Battle lines. King Ptolemy’s Chariot. Addressing troops before battle. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra. Roman troops.
Pelusium. King Ptolemy’s tent overlooking battle. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra.
Pelusium. Battlefield littered with bodies. Aftermath of battle. Kleopatra. Marcus Antonius. King Ptolemy.
Temple of Memphis. Psheren-Amun. Kleopatra.
Alexandria. Gates of Alexandria. King Ptolemy’s Chariot.
Alexandria. Throne Room. Berenike. Hierax. Timogenes. Palace guards. Roman soldiers.
Alexandria. Dungeon. Kleopatra. Berenike. Marcus Antonius.
Alexandria. Ceremony. Presentation of the Siblings. Giving of gifts. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra’s baby brothers (2) and their nurses, Arsinoe, Kleopatra. Gabinious, Marcus Antonius.
Algonkian Retreats and Workshops 2023 - Assignments
in Algonkian Writer Conferences - Events, FAQ, Contracts
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First Assignment: Create your story statement.
A fledgeling Kleopatra struggles to shed her childhood and gain her father's approval amidst family betrayal and the turbulent politics of Alexandria and Rome in 58 B.C. After following her father into exile, she would do anything to see him restored to the Alexandrian throne; her older sister Berenike will do anything to prevent his return. The independence of Egypt hangs in the balance, as Kleopatra seps forward to claim her place inn history.
Second Assignment: Anatagonist Sketch.
As the eldest daughter, Berenike has been raised with the expectation that she will one day be queen. However, tradition dictates that she be required to marry one of her half-brothers, when they come of age. She realizes that by then she will be at the end of her childbearing years and thus her legacy will die. She interprets her father’s reluctance to name her as co-ruler as evidence that he plans to bypass her. She is contemptuous of many of her father’s policies (particularly his seeming pacifism and his alliance with Rome) and feels she would do better. She fails to see that surrounding herself with individuals who openly oppose her father may contribute to his lack of confidence in her. These individuals flatter her and feed her vanity which inflates her ego further. Her arrogance masks an inner feeling of inadequacy. Fear of losing her place in history drives her actions and reactions. She berates Kleopatra for her blind loyalty to their father and overall naivety. Secretly, she fears her younger sister may steal her place, unaware that she is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. She is determined not to allow opportunity to pass her by. She will take any action required to gain and maintain her power.
Third Assignment: Breakout Title.
Glory of Her Father
Second Daughter
The Light of Pharos
A Tale of Two Sisters
Fourth Assignment: Genre and Comparables.
Genre is Historical Fiction
Comp # 1 - Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory (2017) - "The little known story of three Tudor women who are united in sisterhood and yet compelled to be rivals when they fulfill their destinies as queens.." "As sisters they share an everlasting bond; as queens they can break each other's hearts..."
This title directly parallels my story of Kleopatra and her inevitable rivalry with her sister Berenike.
Comp #2 - Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn (2011) - "The Roman Empire is up for the taking. With bloodshed spilling out of the palace and into the streets of Rome, chaos has become the status quo..." "When a bloody coup turns their world upside down, Cornelia and Marcella-- along with their cousins--must maneuver just to stay alive."
This title takes place in ancient Rome in the century just following my own setting. It outlines the disparate goals of two sisters and theiur cousins as they adapt to a volatile Roman political climate.
Fifth Assignment: Primary Conflict and Core Wound - Logline
When Alexandria revolts against her father, Kleopatra will be thrown into opposition with her older sister Berenike, and Egypt will become the prize in the volatile political games that ensue.
Sixth Assignmenty: Other conflicts
Primary Conflict (Physical) -Kleopatra wants to return to Alexandria with her father restored as king. Primary Antagonist is her sister, Berenike, who seizes the throne in her father’s absence. Secondary antagonistic forces include anti-roman sentiments in Alexandria, and Roman political factions which oppose Pompey who is her father’s ally.
Inner conflict (Emotional)- Kleopatra wants to be seen as an adult, particularly by her father. Antagonistic force is within Kleopatra, as she continues to act in childish ways. And also, her sister Berenike who as the oldest gets all the attention and has been groomed to be queen. When Berenike begins to behave badly, Kleopatra believes it makes her father trust her even less.
Secondary conflict (Social)- Kleopatra has a rather naïve view of her world. She must discover that Alexandria has fallen far from its glory days, and that her father does not have unlimited power. She will learn to love both anyway and vow to restore Alexandria, and her father’s image.
Romantic tension - Kleopatra will discover that her friend, a young acolyte from the Temple at Memphis has stronger feelings for her. She will resolve that they must just remain friends as her destiny lies elsewhere. She develops a teenage crush on Marcus Antonius when she meets him. He is the cavalry commander in the Roman army which restores her father to the throne. He is also quite taken with her, and will never forget her.
Seventh Assignment: Settings
Prologue – 67 B.C., Island of Cyprus. Palace gardens. Kleopatra’s Uncle, King of Cyprus and his treasurer.
Act I- 58 B.C.- Alexandria, Egypt.
Library of Alexandria, Kleopatra. Kleopatra’s sister Berenike. Guards.
Palace Kitchens- Kleopatra’s Eunuch, Protarchos. His friend (the kitchen overseer) Milta.
Gynaikon (Women’s quarters), room of former Queen Tryphaena (Berenike’s mother.) Berenike and Tryphaena. Female slave.
Library of Alexandria/Streets of Alexandria- Kleopatra. Palace guard Hierax. Personal bodyguard Rufus. Rioters.
Gynaikon (Women’s Quarters), Kleopatra. Her younger sister Arsinoe.
Throne Room. Kleopatra’s father, King Ptolemy. Alexandrian nobles. Kleopatra. Berenike. Tryphaena. Protarchos. Psheren-Ptah (High Priest.) Psheren-Amun (his nephew and acolyte.)
Private meeting room of the king. King Ptolemy. Protarchos. Hephastion (vizier.)
Act Two: Traveling, Rhodes, Athens, Rome.
King’s ship. Harbor of Alexandria. Pharos Lighthouse. Statues. Kleopatra. King Ptolemy. Protarchos. Philostratos (Stoic Philosopher, Kleopatra’s tutor, king’s advisor)
Island of Rhodes. King Ptolemy’s Residence. Kleopatra. Personal bodyguard Rufus.
Island of Rhodes. Residence of Cato. Cato. King Ptolemy. Protarchos. Philostratos.
Island of Cyprus. King of Cyprus. Treasurer.
Athens. Kleopatra. King Ptolemy. Protarchos.
Rome. Outside gates of Rome. Magistrate. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra. Protarchos. Pompey’s freedman.
Act Three: Rome: Pompey’s villa
Atrium. Julia, Pompey, King Ptolemy, Kleopatra.
Pompey’s Library/Study. Kleopatra. Theophanes. Phiulostratos.
Symposium. Roman politicians. Pompey. King Ptolemy. Julia. Kleopatra. Protarchos.
Kleopatra’s guestroom. Kleopatra. Maid.
Kitchen. Protarchos. Kitchen slaves.
Hallway. Kleopatra. Roman politicians (2.) Julia. Protarchos.
Dining area. Julia. Kleopatra. Protarchos.
Atrium of Pompey’s villa. Julia’s weaving loom. Kleopatra. Julia. Politicians’ wives.
Act Four: Ephesus. 57-56 B.C.
Temple of Ephesus. Reception Area. High Priestess. Kleopatra.
Temple of Ephesus. Novice quarters. Kleopatra. Other novices.
Syria. Military camp of Gabinius and Antonius.
Temple of Ephesus. Ceremony for achieving womanhood. Kleopatra. Other attendees. High Priestess.
Agora (Marketplace) in town of Ephesus. Kleopatra. Other novices. Hierax.
Temple of Ephesus courtyard. Protarchos. Rufus. Novice.
Merchant’s tent near docks. Kleopatra. Hierax. Rufus. Other bodyguards.
King Ptolemy’s Quarters. Kleopatra. Protarchos. King Ptolemy.
Healer’s temple. Rufus. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra.
Act Five. 55 B.C. Return to Egypt:
Syria. Traveling on horseback. Kleopatra. Marcus Antonius. King Ptolemy.
Pelusium. Battle lines. King Ptolemy’s Chariot. Addressing troops before battle. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra. Roman troops.
Pelusium. King Ptolemy’s tent overlooking battle. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra.
Pelusium. Battlefield littered with bodies. Aftermath of battle. Kleopatra. Marcus Antonius. King Ptolemy.
Temple of Memphis. Psheren-Amun. Kleopatra.
Alexandria. Gates of Alexandria. King Ptolemy’s Chariot.
Alexandria. Throne Room. Berenike. Hierax. Timogenes. Palace guards. Roman soldiers.
Alexandria. Dungeon. Kleopatra. Berenike. Marcus Antonius.
Alexandria. Ceremony. Presentation of the Siblings. Giving of gifts. King Ptolemy. Kleopatra’s baby brothers (2) and their nurses, Arsinoe, Kleopatra. Gabinious, Marcus Antonius.
Epilogue: Alexandria. 54 B.C.
Library of Alexandria. Kleopatra. Philostratos