VESTA’S ANCIENT FLAME. IMMERSIVE NOVELS. MODERN LIVING.
Welcome! I’m Debra May Macleod
I am the author of seven novels set in ancient Rome and featuring the Vestal Virgins. These were the esteemed priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the home and hearth fire, who were tasked with keeping Vesta’s eternal flame alight in her temple. My novels span the thousand-plus year history of the Vestal Order and have been translated into multiple languages. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English and Classics, and a Juris Doctor. With a commitment to immersive world-building, I have participated in research excursions at various historical sites and inform my writing with this invaluable perspective.
I am also an author with a true passion for my subject, as you’ll see if you spend some time on this site—something I sincerely hope you do.
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Vesta Today, and Where it Started for Me
It was over thirty years ago that I first heard the name “Vesta.” It was my first travel experience abroad, and while cluelessly roaming the Roman Forum, I met a woman burning a candle in front of a few standing columns. It was something that struck small-town me as an incomprehensibly exotic thing to do.
It was she who first told me about those columns—columns that once housed the sacred flame of Vesta in its hearth—and ignited a passion that would last a lifetime. She even gave me the old beeswax candle she was burning as the “best souvenir” of Italy. It was her way of spreading the story of this ancient flame, something I do via my novels and this site.
A “Vestal” Candle
This is the old milk-glass candle holder I received at the temple in 1989. I affectionately call it my Vestal candle, since the white glass drapes the flame like a Vestal’s stola draped a priestess.
You can experience the ancient flame too
On this site, you’ll find lots of fun and meaningful ways to incorporate ancient traditions into your modern life—because everything old is new again—as well as ancient history, videos, the Gallery and more.
You’ll also find my novels, below, so that you can immerse yourself in the world of ancient Rome, the sacred flame, and the thrilling lives of those who guarded it.
Epic Novels You Must Read by Candlelight
See the sacred flame burn in the temple… feel its heat, hear it roar… enter the world of ancient Rome and live with the Vestal Virgins by reading these action-packed, emotional historical fiction novels.
“A riveting imagined world ripped right from the pages of history, this smart repartee captivates in every way. - Steve Berry, New York Times Bestselling Author of The Devil’s Bible
The First Vestals of Rome trilogy: Rhea Silvia, Tarpeia and Amata
“Turns the myth of Romulus and Remus into a plausible and energetic history. A vibrant, enthralling tale.” - The Historical Novel Society
“If you love history, the Roman empire and the sex, fights and deception that allowed these privileged people to create one of the greatest cultures in the world, you will love this.” - Book Junkie Reviews
Set in the 8th century BCE, The First Vestals of Rome is an action-packed trilogy that dramatizes the sensational, often perilous lives of three legendary women who gave rise to Rome’s powerful order of Vestal Virgins.
Rhea Silvia, the mother of Rome.
Tarpeia, whose name gave rise to Rome’s most infamous execution site.
Amata, the first true Vestal Virgin of Rome, whose name and legacy would shape the Vestal order for centuries.
All of them central to the life of Romulus, Rome’s founder, these tectonic women were fated to shape the history of the Eternal City as much as any Caesar who came after them.
“In an age of ruthless politicians, the seemingly benign Vestals could hold the balance of power. Macleod has written a fascinating mystery set within the relentlessly masculine world of Roman power politics, but seen through the lens of a unique, all-female institution.” - John Maddox Roberts, SPQR Series
The Vesta Shadows trilogy: Brides of Rome, To Be Wolves and Empire of Iron
US & CANADA EDITION
REVISED EDITION - UK & EUROPE
The Vesta Shadows trilogy spans decades, from 45 BCE to 14 CE. It follows the life of the Vestal priestess Pomponia Occia, who is inspired by the real Vestal Occia who lived during this time, serving in the Temple of Vesta for more than fifty years. Set during the tumultuous years that saw the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under Augustus - and beyond - it dramatizes some of the major historical events that occurred during her lifetime while simultaneously bringing ancient Rome to life with fast-paced, engrossing and visceral storylines played out by a striking cast of characters.
Coelia Concordia: The Last Vestal Virgin of Rome
For over a thousand years, the esteemed priestesses of Vesta were tasked with keeping the goddess’s Eternal Flame burning in her temple. For as long as the fire was alive, the Eternal City would endure.
This is the story of Rome’s last Vestal Virgin—Coelia Concordia—and her battle to save the sacred flame from an encroaching darkness. It is also a story about a prophecy fulfilled, the fall of an empire, and the relentless suppression of the old gods as seen through the eyes of those lost everything, but never lost hope.
Based on real events and recommend by The Historical Novel Society.
Vesta Today | Modern Living, Ancient Rituals & Style
If looking into the flame of a candle brings you comfort or focus, you’re not alone. Many people use Vesta’s flame to bring meaning and peace to their life. If what you’ve read in my books or discovered elsewhere about the ancient flame has resonated with you on a deeper level, visit the Vesta Today page where you can explore some simple but special ways to incorporate this ancient tradition into your modern life. Because everything old is new again.
Visit The All Things Vesta Gallery
The Vestal Virgins have long been the subject of art. From ancient Roman coins to Renaissance paintings, visit the Visual Gallery to browse amazing images and artifacts of the Vestal Virgins, Vesta and the world of ancient Rome. It’s the Internet’s largest collection of Vesta and Vestal-related artwork.
Many of the images are interactive, so click / tap / learn!
Articles
Featured Videos
Rewind the centuries and bring some elements of the ancient Roman domus into your modern home. You don’t need to reproduce a museum display to make it happen. You just need to introduce a few deliberate Roman-inspired interior design elements to transform your home into a classical sanctuary. Your senses and your spirit will thank you.