The Golden Age of Hollywood
January 31, 2022
On taking inspiration from the era of classic movies…
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My latest blog posts
A dynastic timeline of Ancient Egypt
January 27, 2022
What were the dynasties of Ancient Egypt?
The ‘false’ doors of Ancient Egyptian tombs and temples
January 24, 2022
What was the symbolism of doors that led nowhere?
Agatha Christie: Taking inspiration from the Nile
January 20, 2022
A passion for Egypt inspired this prolific English novelist to write one of her most famous crime stories…
Does a woman need a ‘room of her own’ to write?
January 17, 2022
On claiming a space for your writing…
Lessons from great philosophers
January 13, 2022
Born in every generation are the wise people, the thinkers, the guiding lights who can show us the path ahead…
Why did Egyptian pharaohs build pyramids – and why did they stop?
January 10, 2022
Pyramids are emblematic of Ancient Egypt. But what was their purpose, and why did the kings stop building them?
Why are we so fascinated by history?
January 6, 2022
What draws us to the stories and experiences of those who came before us?
The curse of the pharaohs
January 3, 2022
Are those who disturb the tombs of the ancient pharaohs destined for misfortune?
Literary tourism: The best places to visit in England
December 30, 2021
If you love English literature, then these places belong on your ‘visit someday’ list…
The Temple of Hathor at Dendera
December 27, 2021
What better place for romance in my novel Song of the Nile than the Temple of Hathor, devoted to the goddess of love, beauty and fertility…
Christmas carols to stir your soul
December 23, 2021
Black skies, a dusting of snow, the smell of mulled wine, the flicker of candlelight – and, to complete the scene, voices raised in harmony singing traditional carols…
Giving: the true meaning of Christmas… and beyond
December 20, 2021
‘It is in giving that we receive…’ – St. Francis of Assisi
Warm up your winter with one of my novels
December 16, 2021
Is Jack Frost making you shiver? Why not escape the winter chills with a little literary sunshine…
Traditional Christmas treats from around the world
December 13, 2021
Christmas: a time to give, to spend time with loved ones – and to feast!
The sacred city of Abydos
December 9, 2021
For the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, Abydos was an important centre for religion, and today it is a very precious archaeological site.
Beautiful fairy-tale books to give as gifts
December 6, 2021
Once upon a time, a fairy-tale book made the perfect Christmas gift…
WIN lovely prizes in my Christmas giveaway
December 1, 2021
Christmas is just around the corner! I’d love to treat you to a gift…
Top museums worldwide for Ancient Egyptian artefacts
November 29, 2021
If, like me, you’re fascinated by the Ancient Egyptian civilisation, you’ll find the items in these museums absolute wonders.
Today, let’s be thankful
November 25, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving to my readers in the US. What better day for us all to practise gratitude?
Writing from the heart
November 22, 2021
Should an author write the book they think they ought to write, or write the book their heart aches to write?
Modern English words derived from Ancient Egyptian
November 18, 2021
Pharaoh, pyramid, mummy, desert – which modern English words can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptian language?
Views of the water to soothe and stir the soul
November 15, 2021
‘Beauty sleeps on the calm dreamy bosom of the ocean, or lives in the dance of its wild waves.’ – Thomas Clark Henley, ‘Beauty’, 1851
Remembering the fallen on Poppy Day
November 11, 2021
‘In Flanders Fields, the poppies grow / Between the crosses, row on row…’
Beautiful paintings inspired by autumn
November 8, 2021
The colours, the air, the ‘mellow fruitfulness’ – autumn is a rich source of inspiration for artists.
Protection from evil: The Eye of Horus
November 4, 2021
The Eye of Horus was a symbol of great power in Ancient Egypt, used for protection, wellbeing and healing.
Silent, mysterious, illimitable: The Egyptian desert
November 1, 2021
The desert – wild, beautiful and timeless – is an evocative backdrop in my novel Song of the Nile.
Shakespeare’s First Folio
October 28, 2021
One of the most influential, and thus valuable, books ever published…
Cats in Ancient Egypt
October 25, 2021
By no means a humble house pet, the cat of Ancient Egypt was deeply symbolic and revered.
Should we always finish reading a novel?
October 21, 2021
Is life too short… or should we give each book a fair chance?
My latest blog posts
Timeless views from the River Nile
March 24, 2022
Drifting serenely along the waterway that is the source of life – the perfect way to see the age-old beauty of Egypt.
Papyrus: the ‘paper’ of Ancient Egypt
March 21, 2022
The Nile was the source of life in Egypt – and of the all-important papyrus plant.
Floriography and the symbolic meaning of flowers
March 17, 2022
Throughout history, people have seen flowers as not only beautiful but also symbolic.
The origins of English words
March 14, 2022
Have you ever wondered why we use the words we use today?
Springtime captured in poetry
March 10, 2022
Spring: beautiful, hopeful and a great source of inspiration for poets…
Do you read classic literature?
March 7, 2022
On why we may not read classic literature – and how we may do so.
The lost pleasure of handwriting
March 3, 2022
‘I have found that when I am writing something emotional, I must write it the first time directly with hand on paper. Handwriting is more connected to the movement of the heart.’ So wrote Natalie Goldberg in Writing Down the Bones, and I quite agree. For me, handwriting has such soul.
The Temple of Isis, Philae
February 28, 2022
This ancient temple, devoted to the mother goddess, is a uniquely precious site in Egypt.
Comparing Egyptian, Roman and Greek gods
February 24, 2022
Did the ancient civilisations have similar deities?
A legendary love story: Tristan and Isolde
February 17, 2022
So many of our modern-day love stories are inspired by legends, stories that have been passed down from generation to generation, and so it is with the tale of Tristan and Isolde.
7 things you may not know about Cleopatra
February 14, 2022
Who exactly was Ancient Egypt’s famous queen?
‘Dressing’ my heroines
February 10, 2022
The women in my novels are strong and independent, so why not stylish as well?
Romance novels – the ideal bedtime read
February 7, 2022
Sweet dreams follow a romantic read…
Colour symbolism in Ancient Egypt
February 3, 2022
What did the colours used in Ancient Egyptian art mean to the people of this civilisation?
The Golden Age of Hollywood
January 31, 2022
On taking inspiration from the era of classic movies…
A dynastic timeline of Ancient Egypt
January 27, 2022
What were the dynasties of Ancient Egypt?
My latest blog posts
The Mena House Hotel, Cairo, Egypt
April 28, 2022
The perfect setting for a glamourous party and an inspiring view…
The Festival of the Blooming Rose, Venice, Italy
April 25, 2022
Today, on St Mark’s Day in Venice, it’s traditional for men to give women a single red rose to symbolise their love.
Sobek, the Egyptian god of the Nile
April 14, 2022
This ancient god, inspired by the fearsome crocodile of the Nile, was worshipped for thousands of years.
A legendary love story: Abelard and Héloïse
April 11, 2022
Let me take you back in time, to the 12th century, and tell you a story that has become legend. This is a true story, and it has inspired many stories since.
The exquisite sculptures of Antonio Canova
April 7, 2022
Two hundred years after his death, the works of this Italian sculptor continue to awe and inspire.
‘Dreams are necessary to life’: Anaïs Nin
April 4, 2022
Taking inspiration from an insightful writer…
Spring blossoms
March 31, 2022
As the poet Emily Dickinson wrote, ‘A light exists in spring.’
To sleep, perchance to dream
March 28, 2022
Where does a dream end and reality begin? Can a dream not only come true but be true?