BLAST, BLITZ, PROMOS, REVEALS, & TOURS . . . : TOUR w/EXCERPT - HISTORICAL

Dragon Lady

by Autumn Bardot

Publication Date: August 1st 2019

Flores Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction

BLURB
"Prostitution required the violation of my body. Piracy required my soul. The first enslaved me. The second set me free."

A young girl is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a floating brothel. Xianggu begins as a servant, but soon her virginity is bought by the highest bidder. Ambitious and determined, she learns the business in hopes of earning her freedom from the madam. Her dreams are washed away when a midnight pirate raid changes her life.

Kidnapped by the notorious Red Flag boss, Xianggu embarks on a journey that demands beauty, brains, and brawn. But Xianggu must do more than learn to wield a sword, sail a ship, and swim across the bay, she must become indispensable to the pirate boss if she hopes to survive. The winds, however, never blow in the same direction, and Xianggu must make a decision that requires her to battle jealous men, ancient prejudices, and her own heart.

The triumph of the notorious Zheng Yi Sao is a sexy, fierce, and unflinchingly realistic story of how a prostitute became the most powerful and successful pirate in the world.

In 18th century China, when men made and enforced the rules, the Dragon Lady lived by her own.

Available on Amazon

EXCERPT . . .

DRAGON LADY

Inconspicuousness was not a talent I possessed. Customers gawked. Flower girls demanded I make tea, bring rice, mend this, and wash that. Madam Xu summoned me hourly to scrub the floor, clean the cabin, wash her hair, rub her feet, show a customer in, lead a customer out.

I prepared meals, rowed the sampan when Madam Xu went ashore, hauled boxes, peeled oranges, shucked peanuts, chopped vegetables, polished wood, prepared meals, dried rain-drenched chairs…an endless list of chores. My days were tedious. Any dull-witted person could complete the tasks.

Evenings, however, filled my head and heart with happiness. I eavesdropped on wealthy customers’ conversations while serving tea. I dawdled while the eloquent literati, dressed in long Manchu robes and black hats, quoted poetry and discussed politics. I could have listened to those men all night long.

The flower girls’ gossip was equally enlightening. In a few short weeks I learned more about men’s appetites than I ever imagined possible. I paid rapt attention to their chatter, served them with a smile, and was rewarded for my charm, their once harsh commands became soft-spoken requests.

“I don’t understand why Madam Xu keeps you a slave.” Winter Plum patted my cheek. “You’re very pretty.” Her hand tugged at my sleeve. “This is new. Not suitable for a slave.”

“Madam Xu gave it to me.” I blushed. “I must wear it only in the evening.” The dress was skin-colored silk, embroidered with six cleverly located red lotuses. Though modest in comparison to the flower girls, the fleshy hue and lotus placement accentuated my budding form.

Winter Plum clicked her tongue with approval. “Madam Xu flaunts your wares in hopes of starting a bidding war.”

“There’s a reason why Madam Xu runs the most successful flower boat in Guangzhou.” Bright Pearl reached out and pinched my breast. “Still only buds. Your first blood is late in coming. The moment you begin to bloom, men will be bees for a taste of your nectar, and Madam Xu will demand a high price for the privilege.”

Making crude gestures, Bright Pearl and Winter Plum fell into fits of laughter.

I traipsed away on big feet hoping my next chore was challenging enough to keep my mind from worrying about my eventual deflowering. But thoughts were raindrops. You could not control when they fell, and that afternoon while stringing lanterns in the saloon I thought about my home.

I missed Mama. Not Father. I longed for solid ground under my feet and the fragrance of orange blossoms. I did not miss the mud and poverty. Or the village life where the only distractions were the same dull celebrations and tired people.

The flower boat was a hive of activity with interesting people buzzing about. As long as I did not anger the Queen Bee, I found a drop of honey in my servitude.

This life wasn’t so bad. I could have been sold to a brutal master who beat and raped me. Madam Xu was demanding and stern, but she was not cruel. Disobedience earned a slave a whack with a bamboo switch. Although once Madam Xu had yanked a handful of hair from Suyin’s scalp for smelling of garlic. I had received two blows so far. One for a stain on my new silk dress, the other for serving lukewarm tea to a guest.

I did not fault Madam Xu. I admired her. She was unlike any woman I had ever known. Her own woman. Servant to no man.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Review of . . . DRAGON LADY . . . From a life of filth, hunger, non-existence to be move in to another role of slave, prostitute, servant, to move further on to trades-woman to almost killed, to wife, to pirate, to the Dragon Lady. Xianggu works to become more than what her young life has taught her she should be. She knew there was more and did not completely give up on something more coming her way. She had a life in no way one would think or could think was easy, simple, or charmed. But she did what most would have just given up on. She survived. She became more. She spent her youthful life as nothing, but her ears and eyes were always open. She was like a sponge to her surroundings. She learned much.

There are many characters to relate to, to get to know, to not care for, to want some serious bodily harm to befall, but the stand out of them all was Xianggu. You find that her story touches you. It carries you through all she had ventured. The writing was a delicious blend of facts and fiction. The fictional world of Xianggu was real in a sense. It was someones life at some point during this time frame. The depths of knowledge that Autumn Bardot put in to this story was wonderful. It kept me hanging on as the turn of each page was made.

This Dragon Lady got much respect from me. The read was intense, sad, painful, rich, intriguing, alluring, changing and at times challenging. I found that the pacing of the story was just great. The scenes were vivid and rich. You could visualize them with each description of a new surrounding. Xianggu was what a strong, determined, headstrong, head-smart woman in a bad situation should strive to be if she has not accomplished it. She was a shero.

Author Info
Autumn Bardot writes historical fiction and erotica about sassy women and daring passions! Her erotic fiction includes Legends of Lust, Erotic Myths from around the World, published by Cleis Press. Confessions of a Sheba Queen (erotica) will be available Jan 2020. The Impaler's Wife is her debut historical fiction, released in April 2019. Autumn has a BA in English literature and a MaEd in curriculum and instruction. She’s been teaching literary analysis for fourteen years When Autumn’s not writing or working, you'll find her hanging out with her ever-growing family, spoiled husband, and pampered rescue pooch. Her favorite things include salty French fries, coffee, swimming, and a great book.

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Dragon Lady

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