by Stacy Henrie
The need to procure a license to dig and the arrangements between archaeologists and the Antiquities Service in Egypt are both factual. However, for the sake of the story, the license Ethel is granted was for digging in a general area. In reality, a license to dig would have likely been confined to a more specific site or location—like the main site in the Valley of the Kings, which is the license Lord Carnarvon purchased from Davis in 1914, when Davis became ill. The story of the Abderrassul family who discovered a tomb on a slope near the Temple of Hatshepsut is also factual, as is the practice of dining inside tombs by visiting patrons.
The tomb of Nefertari, one of the wives of Ramesses the Second, was discovered by Ernesto Schiaparelli in 1904 in the Valley of the Queens. The walls of the tomb are covered with paintings.
River cruises up the Nile were a popular pastime for tourists for decades. And historically, visiting the temple of Karnak at night was a not-to-be-missed experience for those who came to Luxor.
Invaluable to my research of Egypt and the history of archaeology work there was the book Lifting the Veil: Two Centuries of Travellers, Traders and Tourists in Egypt by Anthony Sattin (first published in 1988). For more information on the history of Nile River cruises, I would highly recommend On the Nile: In the Golden Age of Travel by Andrew Humphreys (2015).
Having grown up watching movies about another fictional archaeologist who fearlessly traveled the world in search of lost artifacts—as long as it didn’t involve snakes—I thought it would be fun to also give a nod to his adventures through Syble’s story. I think there’s definitely something compelling and exciting about rediscovering history, and I hope readers enjoy Syble and Marcus’s own archaeological adventure.
From the 1870s through the end of the Edwardian Era, more than a hundred American heiresses traveled to England in search of husbands. These “dollar princesses” were searching for the two things they hadn’t been able to claim back home—a title and superior social status.
After reading about these American heiresses, I knew I wanted to write a story featuring heiresses of my own. I have thoroughly enjoyed creating the stories of my American heiresses Syble, Clare, and Gwen against the fascinating backdrop of the early twentieth century. I hope readers have enjoyed the chance to laugh, cry, and love alongside these three brave, compassionate women.
Click on the covers to read more romances in the American Heiress series:
A USA Today bestselling author, Stacy Henrie graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in public relations. Not long after, she switched from writing press releases and newsletters to writing inspirational historical romances. Born and raised in the West, where she currently resides with her family, she enjoys reading, road trips, interior decorating, chocolate, and most of all, laughing with her husband and kids. Her books include Hope at Dawn, a 2015 RITA Award finalist for excellence in romance. You can learn more about Stacy and her books by visiting her website, stacyhenrie.com.
