Don't Smile in a Sandstorm... Unless You Want Sand in Your Teeth

And what would a Springtime trip to Cairo be without the grand sandstorm that makes everyone want to stay indoors for the entire day? This is the storm that ruined many a football game that day. You could barely see across the River Nile during that storm... the camera was able to find a little more contrast than our eyes could.

And By Day....

The River Nile, shot from the "26th of July Bridge" into Zamalek neighborhood

The River Nile.... At Night

I still can't believe that my hotel room in Cairo overlooks the stunning River Nile. There is nothing in the world quite like it. There is something magical about this river at night... the way the city lights play off the water's surface... it just comes alive.

Cairo, Up Close

* remember to click on the images to make them bigger. some of the best details can only be seen when you enlarge the image.

Fathi Salama!

So far, the city of Cairo has been even more wonderful that I had remembered it. On Saturday I was invited by my new friend Shymaa to the Cairo Opera House on Gezira Island to watch Fathi Salama and his band, Sharkiat. What an amazing experience. Fathi Salama is a famous pianist and Egyptian composer (a musical genius and jazz prodigy, really!) and the music was incredible. The entire theater was filled with his loyal fans from all over the world, thanks in part to his recent European and Japanese tours. And I can certainly see why! His music really captures the mysterious essence that infuses all of Egypt, while blending it together with French jazz, American blues and even Oriental sounds. The effect is mesmerizing and highly entertaining. You may just look like you are sitting in your seat, but simultaneously elegant and primitive sounds carry you far, far away.

I absolutely loved it.

..............KFJC Interview Update...............

My interview with Ann Arbor on KFJC in the SF Bay Area, California will now be next week at

Wednesday, April 9th, 7:45am

She will do a second reading of Dear Isabelle right before the interview.

I'm so glad I'm able to listen to KFJC online even though I'm in Egypt. Ann did a such great job with the reading today! It was the first time I had ever heard someone's voice other than my own read my book. I loved her British accent for James!!!

A very, very special thank-you to Ian Whitaker for his beautiful music he played on the piano. It created such a mysterious, wonderful background for Ann's reading of D.I.! It really made the story come alive. I was really touched. And Ann was quite right about the story of the piano. Ian's father, Bruce, bought that piano from me right before I left for London. I loved that piano and was so sad to part with it! It was a mahogany Hamilton Upright Grand that dated back to 1900. And it was utterly gorgeous!

But it also weighed a zillion tons and my husband said, "There's no way we're taking that monster to England." He must have remembered the agony and uncertainty when we first moved it in to our Belmont apartment! Four strong boys came out bruised and nearly destroyed that day, vowing "Never again!" along with, "You better play this thing every day after what we went through." I contend it was worth it. It gave such a rich, almost haunting tone when played... no other piano has ever sounded quite like it. But David was right. There was no way we could take it to our tiny London flat (3rd floor with nothing but narrow, winded stairs leading to our door.... ouch!)

And so, we put in an ad on Craigslist and was hoping for a nice family to come and love it, despite it's missing key faces here and there and all the scratches and bruises it had earned over the years.

Lo and behold, just a week before we left for England, Mr. Whitaker and his wife come in through the door telling me they want to give their talented son a surprise for Christmas: the piano that he always asked for. Upon leaving, Mrs. Whitaker kindly tells me that her husband Bruce (AKA "Skokiaan Guy" knows someone who might just like to read Dear Isabelle... Ann Arbor on KFJC.
And now it's five months later and I heard my beloved piano on the radio, accompanying the reading of my first novel. Thank-you, Ian!

And what time is that in Egypt?

Big news! I will be on the wonderful Ann Arbor Show on KFJC (out of Los Altos Hills, CA) on Wednesday, April 3rd, bright and early at 7:45 am PST. After the interview, Ann will be giving 4 twenty-minute readings of Dear Isabelle on air.

I will actually be in Cairo, Egypt from March 30th until April 10th, so I will be calling in from my hotel in Zamalek!

If you're not in the San Francisco Bay Area, then check out KFJC over the web:
http://www.kfjc.org/netcast/index.php

Because Every Crime Should Have Cheesecake

Just a super quick but very important update: I will be doing another reading/signing for Dear Isabelle right before the Borders date.

The address: Cheesecake & Crime (Mystery Book Shop & Cheesecake Joint), 10545 S Eastern Avenue, #100, Henderson, NV

The date/time: Friday, May 9 at 5 p.m.

I absolutely adore bookshops devoted to mystery - and homemade cheesecake makes it all the more delicious! Such a clever idea. I can't wait to check it out.

Does the Borders in Vegas have a casino?

I'll be back in the States for a couple weeks in May to visit family and friends who are constantly wondering if I will return with a fake British accent a la Madonna. No worries - I still sound American as ever. My accent definitely doesn't pass for a local here either. Words like "totally" and "awesome" are dead giveaways for Yanks here... which I never really said much before coming to England. It's almost as if I've become more American once I left America.

Or maybe I'm just homesick.


Either way, another signing is on the way!

I will be doing a reading of Dear Isabelle on May 10th at the huge Borders in Las Vegas, Nevada, located on W. Charleston. This will be my first signing ever in Vegas!

After that, I'm renting a car and driving that long 4-hour drive to Bakersfield for a few days to reassure my family that I'm still alive and kicking. Can't wait to see my nephews and nieces and I'm desperately hoping they aren't taller than me yet.

Going back to Cairo

I'm very, VERY excited because I just learned that my husband and I will be returning to Cairo, Egypt in a few weeks. I first traveled to Egypt year and I had such an amazing experience that I couldn't wait to go back. Whenever I visit a new country, I always try to always read a novel that is set there. During my travels to Cairo and Alexandria, I had such a great time reading Naguib Mahfouz. The people of Cairo absolutely adore him and now I can really see why. His writing captures the city of Cairo with such honesty and dignity -- an unusual combination -- that you can't help fall in love with Egypt as you turn the pages. I recommend The Thief and the Dogs - a quick, but very rewarding read, for anyone traveling to Egypt. I also recommend Children of the Alley as well-- a longer read more suitable for long bouts of time such as waiting in Cairo's insanely chaotic airport for your flight.

p.s. I almost forgot! An indispensable guide for getting around Egypt was The Rough Guide to Egypt 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) by Dan Richardson. The author gives quite an honest look at what to love about Egypt and what to really keep your distance from (I'm looking at you, scamming touts, in front of the Egyptian Museum!). This guide really prepares you for the trip and helps you experience far more than what the typical tourist sees. I also used this guide when I took the train into Alexandria-- again very helpful, especially with cafe and restaurant recommendations.