‘Aida felt a familiar thrill of anticipation as she crossed the wide veranda and went through those hospitable doors; she’d enjoyed many happy times in this old hotel. Shepheard’s was an institution, holding its own unique place in the affections of all who knew and loved Egypt…’
‘I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.’ So declares the heroine of my favourite work of English literature. Jane Eyre was published in the 1840s, yet a century later still a woman has to assert her right to independence in a man’s world…
It’s publication day for my new novel, Song of the Nile,, in ebook format! The book will whisk you away from this long winter to the sultry heat of Egypt…
Egypt is synonymous with vast sand-strewn landscapes beneath vivid skies. Here, in the driest and sunniest country in the world, most of the land is desert – and such beautiful desert.
The beautiful landscapes of Upper Egypt, where I grew up, are so vividly etched into my memory. The Nile, of course, is at the heart of the landscapes, and one of the most romantic views is of traditional felucca sailboats gliding on these timeless waters.
A passion for my home country of Egypt – its history, people and culture – is at the heart of my novel Song of the Nile. Of course, the ancient history of this land is particularly fascinating, and ‘Egyptology’ has wide appeal.
When we think of Ancient Egypt, we think of pharaohs and pyramids – and, of course, a large pantheon of gods and goddesses.
My new novel, Song of the Nile, opens with the heroine returning to her home in Luxor after an eight-year absence. For Aida, the homecoming is at once wonderful and painful.
Song of the Nile, my new novel, is set in Upper Egypt, where the River Nile is a timeless part of the landscape and a crucial part of history and culture.
My new novel, Song of the Nile, is a passionate love story set in the sultry heat of Egypt. Allow me to introduce you to the protagonist, Aida, and the hero, Phares…
The new Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a treasure of my birthplace: Alexandria, Egypt. Not only is it beautiful and significant in and of itself, but it commemorates the Great Library of Alexandria built in the 200s BC, one of the most important libraries of all time. How could I fail to be inspired by such devotion to books?
I am delighted to share with you today the cover of my brand-new book, which will be published next month. Song of the Nile is my eighth novel, and is so close to my heart, for it is set in my homeland, Egypt.
When the nights are long and the days short, when sadness beckons and hope is hard to grasp, when spring seems a long time away… there’s always solace to be found in music.
In this long winter, we must contend with isolation, loneliness, feeling cutting off from community and friends. Could the answer be a book club?
It’s cold outside. Time to curl up and lose yourself in a good book – but where is your cosy corner?
New Year’s Eve is a cause for celebration in many cultures: the end of the old and the start of the new; a clean slate; a time of hope. What traditions do you follow?
Christmastime, for me, will always be inextricably linked with ballet. It was at this time of the year that my parents took my sister and me to our first ballet production: The Nutcracker.
Happy Christmas, dear reader! Wherever you are today, whatever you are doing, whoever you are spending time with – or missing – you are in my thoughts. I have made a Christmas wish for you.
Did you know that many of our Christmas traditions, and indeed the very spirit of the holiday, have their roots in a little novella published in 1843?
‘I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library,’ wrote Jorge Luis Borges. But, as John Lennon suggested, imagine that there is no heaven, no Paradise – no library…
Here’s the dilemma: You’ve written a smouldering, passionate romance novel. It’s set in 1970. Is it a historical romance novel, or is it too recent? Is it contemporary romance novel, or is it too much in the past?
‘I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know,’ sang Bing Crosby. But just why do we associate Christmas with snow, and how likely is snow on 25th December?
For me, Christmas is synonymous with a trip to the theatre – to watch a ballet, a play or a fun pantomime with the children. This year, sadly, the theatres are closed. But you can still see a wonderful London show…
What better Christmas gift than a book? Well, perhaps one that is also an object of beauty, an intricate and marvellously clever work of art…
It’s the first day of winter – the season of sparkling frosts and crystal skies and perfectly white snow. A time to find beauty and solace in nature.
I don’t think I ever set out to ‘be a writer’; I just knew from an early age that I wanted to create stories and write them down.
The Ancient Greeks defined ‘passion’ as ‘to be acted on’. Should we follow our passions, act on them – or should we tame them?
This ancient palace, which features in my novel Indiscretion, transports you to a time gone by…
Music has such power to express romantic feelings: as the French novelist Victor Hugo wrote, ‘Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.’ Here are my top five romantic pieces of classical music – inspiration for my latest novel, Concerto, the love story of a pianist composer and a music therapist.
My love for travel shines through in my novels, which are set in countries I have loved exploring. Here I take you on a little tour of some of the wonderful historic architecture that features in my books.
Once upon a time, a fairy-tale book made the perfect Christmas gift…
Christmas is just around the corner! I’d love to treat you to a gift…
If, like me, you’re fascinated by the Ancient Egyptian civilisation, you’ll find the items in these museums absolute wonders.
Happy Thanksgiving to my readers in the US. What better day for us all to practise gratitude?
Should an author write the book they think they ought to write, or write the book their heart aches to write?
Pharaoh, pyramid, mummy, desert – which modern English words can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptian language?
‘Beauty sleeps on the calm dreamy bosom of the ocean, or lives in the dance of its wild waves.’ – Thomas Clark Henley, ‘Beauty’, 1851
‘In Flanders Fields, the poppies grow / Between the crosses, row on row…’
The colours, the air, the ‘mellow fruitfulness’ – autumn is a rich source of inspiration for artists.
The Eye of Horus was a symbol of great power in Ancient Egypt, used for protection, wellbeing and healing.
The desert – wild, beautiful and timeless – is an evocative backdrop in my novel Song of the Nile.
One of the most influential, and thus valuable, books ever published…
By no means a humble house pet, the cat of Ancient Egypt was deeply symbolic and revered.
Is life too short… or should we give each book a fair chance?
Ten years, many hundreds of blogs exploring my novels. Here are my favourites…
From grapes to figs, bread to beer, what was on the menu for the Ancient Egyptians?
‘If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.’ – Oscar Wilde
The Egyptians took their religion very seriously, and so too their temples.
On choosing unique items of fashion that tell their own story…
I’m delighted to announce that my latest novel has won another award…
This site in Egypt continues to be a source of remarkable finds from the time of the pharaohs.
What will become of the dictionary, the atlas?
A place of great natural beauty that is famous for its golden mummies…
How does facing the world alone, without her parents, shape the heroine of my latest novel?
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