Young adult author Amr Saleh chats with me today about his debut YA fantasy, Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe.
Bio:
Amr Saleh is an Egyptian-German author based in the vibrant city of Munich, Germany. He was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt, a city teeming with tales of ancient wonders. He has always had a passion for storytelling, and this passion is fuelled by his hobbies, which include writing, diving into captivating stories in all their forms, traveling, and learning about geography and history. Saleh’s Debut YA fantasy novel, Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe, will be released October 1st, 2024.
Welcome, Amr. Please tell us about your current release.
My debut novel, Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe, is set in ancient Egypt during the reign of King Ramesses II and follows Nefiri Minu, a sixteen-year-old girl who is desperate to find a cure for her diabetic younger brother. Nefiri’s desperation drives her to seek Khafset, a young thief from the persecuted Hyksos who claims to have access to a secret cure. But Khafset’s help comes at a steep price: Nefiri must help him steal a divine spear from Ra’s temple. However, by touching the spear, Nefiri unwittingly unleashes Set, the shackled God of Destruction, and starts a chain of events that threatens to plunge Egypt into chaos. To avert disaster, Nefiri and Khafset are forced to navigate the realm of the gods and the dead, and face off against mythological creatures in a dangerous adventure Khafset insists on calling “The Grand Heist.” Can this unlikely pair learn to trust each other? Will that trust turn their forced partnership into something more? On an adventure packed with secrets, hidden agendas, not to mention Gods and monsters, will Nefiri and Khafset succeed in their mission to save Egypt or will the very prejudices that have shaped their world threaten to tear them apart?
What inspired you to write this book?
My fascination with Egyptian mythology and history, particularly with the New Kingdom era, has always been a significant part of my life. As an Egyptian and a fan of the fantasy genre, I’ve often felt disappointed by the scarcity of ancient Egypt’s representation within this genre. This gap between my cultural heritage and my favorite literary genre inspired me to write the YA fantasy story set in ancient Egypt that I always wanted to read growing up. I aimed to create a story that reflects the Egypt I know. While I appreciate the efforts of authors who explore Egyptian history, I wanted to offer my voice, hoping it would provide a unique representation of ancient Egypt.
Furthermore, I sought to diverge from the conventional focus on gods and pharaohs often found in historical fiction about ancient Egypt. Instead, I chose to center the story on ordinary people. The narrative focuses on two teenagers, Nefiri and Khafset, who are, much like most people their age, trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world.
The tale of the Hyksos, who ruled Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period before their eventual defeat, has always intrigued me. The question of what happened to the Hyksos under Egyptian rule sparked my imagination, leading to the creation of Nefiri and Khafset—characters from opposing backgrounds, an Egyptian and a Hyksos, living 300 years after the Egyptian victory over the Hyksos. This story aims to explore the prejudices passed down from one generation to the next and how our protagonists, taught to view each other as enemies, came to see each other as humans.
The reason I chose to make this a fantasy story, rather than simply historical fiction, is that I wanted to introduce the Egyptian gods as symbols of Egyptian ideals and philosophy. This approach allows the protagonists to critically think about the world around them and, based on their decisions, determine the outcome of their quest to save the home they have to share.
Excerpt from Treasures of Egypt: The Spear & the Scythe:
Introduction
The world has one unchanging constant: Ramesses the Great lives while we die, and our souls pass from Huat to Duat to be guided by Anubis, judged by Maat, guarded by Osiris, and embraced by Isis. I’ve encountered many gods in my life. Fought the wicked and befriended the noble. I know our deities in all their forms, and Ramesses isn’t one. He’s very close, though.
I’m aware the chances are slim that you will read our story. It had originally been my intention to document our adventures once our king joined his ancestors in the Field of Reeds. But, since I’ll soon be reunited with my dear. beloved in the afterlife and our pharaoh is determined to outlive his subjects, I will share with you a story your generation will never find in its history books.
If, by a miracle, one of the few copies that escape Ramesses’ grip lands in your hands, wherever you may live in this vast world we inhabit, I ask you to keep an open mind and imagine the worlds only a handful of living humans have ever seen, where I’ve traveled between the realms of the living and the dead, in search of the treasures of Egypt.
—Nefiri Minu, the Treasure Hunter
Chapter One
Comrades in Crime
Egypt, 1274 BC
The Egyptian sun scorched the town of Avaris, burning the sand on the path as we hurried to get my little brother’s medicine. His small hand shook in my grip whenever he glanced at the hostile Hyksos who inhabited the city. Their bloodthirsty stares followed us through the lines of Egyptian
soldiers guarding the main road to Set’s temple. Our brave warriors tapped their spears on the ground to greet us on our way to the temple. They crossed their weapons before the unpleasant sight of the dirty Hyksos. My brother looked up at me, his eyes full of pride when the soldiers
announced my arrival.
“Lady Nefiri Minu, grand vizier’s apprentice, warden of Avaris, and future grand vizier of the Egyptian Empire.”
They forgot to add: poorest government official because of a stupid cap on the earnings of an apprentice.
Oh, knowledge was the ultimate payment, my master said. A bright future full of wealth awaited me, explained the scribes in the royal palace. I was only sixteen and should be patient, advised my aunt. Yeah, right. Maybe they should walk in my too-small sandals all day.
We reached the temple of the god of destruction and were immediately greeted by its majesty. The bronze gates of this colossal building exuded the grandeur of the deity. Purple and black writings decorated its red walls, symbolizing the colors of the scarlet desert, Set’s kingdom in Duat—the realm of the gods and the dead. My brother and I stepped closer, following the aroma of irises that escaped the temple’s entrance and mixed with the stench of nearby garbage mounds.]
What exciting project are you working on next?
I am working on a fantasy story about a grieving widower who goes on a family trip with his kids to Deathland to meet Death. Yes, it is as absurd as it sounds. Actually, I show the progress of my work on my website and share excerpts of my drafts in my newsletter in case anyone would like to keep up with my upcoming projects.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Oh, it’s a bit difficult to say. I have stories that I’ve written as far back as 4th grade. But I guess the moment I made a conscious decision to seriously pursue writing was during the lockdown. I had just finished reading The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and was so inspired that I thought, “I want to give this a try myself.”
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am a college student and also work part-time. I write for at least one hour every day, but I also write whenever I have the chance. If you see me typing on my phone on the bus, I am probably working on my WIP.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have a statue of Thoth, the Egyptian god of knowledge, wisdom, and writing, on my desk. I give him very passive-aggressive remarks whenever I hit writer’s block.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A Hunter. Fans of the anime, Hunter X Hunter will understand.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I hope you enjoy the book!
Links:
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