​Egypt is a great country steeped in thousands of years of history and culture. It’s a place that not only fascinates me but also inspires me. So much so, I chose to set my book Wind Across the Nile there. I’ve been lucky to visit the country on many occasions, and those trips are in my top five favourite places to visit. Leaving Egypt has always been hard for me, there’s something about the country that gets under my skin, stays with me, and makes me leave a small piece of my heart behind.
 
I’m often asked what my favourite thing about Egypt is, and it’s a tough choice. There’s so much to see. In Cairo, there’s the vast Egyptian Museum, the Giza Plateau with its awe-inspiring pyramids, and The Citadel. In Luxor, there’s the Valley of the Kings, the incredible Luxor and Karnak Temples, and the Luxor and Mummification Museums. In Aswan, there’s the Temple of Philae, on Philae Island, the Monastery of St Simeon, and Elephantine Island. Further afield for those who enjoy travelling, there’s Abu Simbel, Alexandria, Sharm El Sheik, and Abydos. 
 
It’s a country that has history dotted along the entire length of the Nile, from the Delta to Sudan. From the most famous sites, through the less visited, there is so much to see and do and one trip just isn’t enough. If I had to choose a favourite thing to do in Egypt, it would be a trip along the Nile on a felucca. As much as I love exploring the tombs and temples, it’s wonderful being out on the water watching the many sights of Egyptian life pass by. Sunset is the most magical time to be out on a felucca. As day turns to night and the colours of the day bleed across the sky giving way to inky skies filled with stars, you feel like you’re the only person on earth.

Wind Across the Nile is a historical suspense set in Egypt.

Chrissie Parker is an English author of 8 published works, including novels, shorts stories and poetry. 
To learn more, explore her website and learn more about her love of writing, the inspiration for her books and the country's she's visited on her travels! ​https://www.chrissieparker.com

I love the world and all it contains. A large planetary mass of land and sea, which holds wondrous beauty, incredible cultures, and thousands of years of history. From the lush green forests of the Amazon to the sweeping sands of the Sahara Desert. The world is a haven of mystery waiting to be explored.
 
I’ve always been fascinated with history, travel, and archaeology. Why our ancestors did what they did. The inventions they created. The battles they fought. The clues to ancient life they left behind. I’ve been lucky to travel to some amazing places. I've seen the Pyramids of Giza, walked through the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, and toured the caldera of Crater Lake in Oregon, USA. Each held a unique fascination and made me eager to learn more about this great world of ours.
 
My interest in history began when I was young. I don't remember the exact moment, but I do know that history was something I’ve always loved and wanted to learn more about. I used to go on day trips with my family to visit ruinous castles, old archaeological sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury, and old country houses. In the UK we’re incredibly lucky. The country has a unique and lengthy history, and it was exciting learning about it; King Arthur, the Romans, the Tudors, to name but a few. 
 
For me, though it was the pull of foreign lands. At school, we did a project on Egypt, and I was hooked. I loved everything about it, the pyramids, the temples, the strange gods and goddesses, and it made me want to learn more. I wanted to be an archaeologist, but unfortunately, life took me in a different direction, but that love of all things historical has remained with me and continued to grow. So much so, that coupled with my interest in travel, I’ve found the perfect combination for writing material.

Among the Olive Groves is a good example of that. The dream getaway destination of Zakynthos in Greece merges with the history of World War two to make a unique story. It was also the location for the short story An Ionian Dream Wedding.
 
Wind Across the Nile allowed me to create an exciting story in a country I love, melding the plots with history and sites that I truly love.
 
I left my heart in Petra allowed me to revel in the beauty of the inspiring country of Jordan and its world-famous site of Petra. 
 
Crater Lake in Oregon was the inspiration for the location setting of both books Integrate and Temperance from the Moon Series. It’s a truly stunning place!
 
My combined love of history and travel means that I’ve many ideas for books. I'm looking forward to one day being able to write about all the places I’ve visited and love. For me, it truly is a passion, and I hope that passion will shine through in my work and make people want to share my love of these incredible places; so much so that they will want to visit them too.