The magic of Egypt

​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.

I chose to set my novel Wind Across the Nile in Egypt because the country  inspires me so much. I love the history of Ancient Egypt and I wanted to immerse myself in that history whilst writing a story about a subject that’s quite important to me, family ties and the illegal theft of historical artefacts. Researching Wind Across the Nile was a lot of fun. As well as fact-checking from my extensive collection of books about Egypt, I was able to use much of what I learned from my Egyptology courses, as well as trips to the country with my husband, and regular visits to the British Museum, Petrie Museum, and other museums housing Egyptian artefacts.
 
I’d recommend visiting Egypt. Until you’ve stood on the Giza plateau awestruck at the sight of the pyramids, sailed the Nile on a felucca, explored the Egyptian Museum learning more about the country’s ancient rulers, or walked through a ruinous temple complex marvelling at the incredible architecture, you can’t even begin to comprehend what Egypt’s like. It's, without doubt, the most historically amazing place 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