A beautiful country: Egypt in turmoil

While Egypt is facing its worst crisis in the last two-hundred years, I want to remember the wonderful time I had last year, while cruising the Nile River, relaxing on the gorgeous beach of Sharm El Sheikh or strolling through the streets of Heliopolis.

In addition to the Great Pyramids, Egypt's most famous landmark, the country offered innumerable treasures and places worth visiting.

The Temple of Hatshepsout, the most powerful queen to ever rule Egypt. She killed her brother and sat on the throne for twenty years. The Colossuses of Memnon in an oasis in the desert. It is said they were erected by a pharaos to honor the queen he loved.

An obelisk in the Temple of Karnak.

A statue of Ramses II in the Temple of Karnak. Notice the statue of his wife at his feet.

Sculptures of the god Seth and the goddess Isis in the temple of Kom Ombo, Seth's temple.

The magestic Nile River is the largest and longest river in the world. It originates in the Lake Victoria in Rwanda and the Lake Tana in Ethiopia.

Povery is staggering in the Egyptian villages along the Nile River. Villagers wash and bathe with their animals in the Nile River while they drink its water and the parasites causing the endemique Bilharsia disease.

Going in carriage through the city of Edfou.

The Temple of Edfou.

The beautiful Temple of Isis in the Island of Philea. I set part of my paranormal story in Philae.

Aswan, the largest city in Upper Egypt, where the Big Dam was built forty years ago across the Nile River.

The fabulous temple of Abou Simbel that European archeologists saved from drowning in the Nile River and moved to its present location in Abou Simbel.

The Sinai Desert that separates Egypt from Israel, and harbors the Convent of St. Catherine.

The beautiful beach of Sharm El Sheikh crowded with foreign tourists.

The Al-Ahram Street (Pyramids Street) with my grandfather's building on the right. My old aunt still lives on the second floor. The street is now patroled by army tanks as the presidential palace is five minutes away.

The little Greek Church where I was married many years ago hasn't changed at all.

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN winner of 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors and winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite.
Rx FOR TRUST, winner of 2010 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite and 2011 EPICON.
http://www.monarisk.com/

What I love and What I hate

I love the ocean and the beach, but I hate the mountain.
I can swim for hours but I am afraid of height.
I love traveling but I prefer staying home.

I love reading historical novels and love writing romantic suspense and contemporary romances, but I hate long series where the end is never the end, and all the books seem to have the same plot.
I love writing a book, but I prefer finishing a book.

I am shy around people but I love to socialize.
I have a lot of friends around me but I have even more friends on the Internet.

I love making resolutions but I wish I could keep them.
I hate revolts and revolutions but how do you get freedom without them?
I love cats, accept dogs, but I am afraid of horses.

I love nice dresses but I wear pants all the time.
I love nice dresses but I can't fit in them anymore.
I can eat chocolate but I prefer almond and pistachio.

So what about you? What do you love the most (other than family and friends)
And what do you hate?

If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy my international romances. I will take you around the world through stories that simmer with emotion and sizzle with heat.

BABIES IN THE BARGAIN winner of 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors and winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite.
Rx FOR TRUST, winner of 2010 Best Contemporary Romance at Readers Favorite and 2011 EPICON.
http://www.monarisk.com/

2011 FRW Cruise with your Muse Conference: Day 3

The morning of Day 3 was a sreious day with more workshops.

Panel of editors taking questions from the audience:

Erica Tsang (Avon), Eric Raab (Tor), Wanda Ottwell (HQ), Adam Wilson (Mira)
Listening to Sally Schoenmeweiss talk aboutsuccessful promotion for our books
At lunch Mona with Donna Liebermann, Lisa, Eric Raab, Linda Conrad and her husband, and Karen Kendall.
At lunch: Mary Ricksen, Heather Graham, Tracy Hall and husband, Wanda Ottwell, Heidi Cote.


Traci Hall, Wanda Ottwell,Heidi Cote, Pearl Wolfe, Mary Ricksen

Ona Busto, Tina Stitzer, Debbie Andrews, Sandi, Heather McLachlan, Agent Lucienne Diver, Sharon Heartley.

Adam Wilson surrounded by several writers.

Kritin Wallace (FRW President), Sally Schoeneweiss, Kim Gonzales and her husband, Agent Lucy Childs.

Katy Pickering with Eric Raab (Tor) and Lisa.

Finally arriving in Cozumel at 2:00 pm. We needed a break after a morning of hard work.

The infamous Three Amigos restaurant

Cozumel shopping center
A street in Cozumel

A drink at Three Amigos with the FRW gang

Having fun Kristin and Traci?

Waiting for the sunset.

It's almost sunset. Make a wish.

Another FRW Cruise Conference next year?

2011 FRW Cruise with your Muse Conference: Day 2

Our first full day with FRW conference started with a long break at Key West. Don't you like conferences that gives you a day of fun before forcing you into hard labor?
My husband and I walked through the streets of Key West, a quaint town that reminds you of last century.

This is how we can stay slim!!!
After a good lunch aboard the ship it was time to work. Heather Graham separated us in 5 groups. Each group received a few words and had to come up with a blurb for an interesting story. My group included Senior Editor Eric Raab from Tor, and our words were: actress, roto-rooter, ugly, basement... We brainstormed our blurb and then read out loud with everyone. Quite hilarious. This workshop was followed by an open discussion with Agents Lucy Childs and Lucienne Diver: How can an agent help writers achieve their goals?

For the next two hours we enjoyed the Floridian Idol. Heather Graham, Traci Hall, Kathy Pickering and Aleka Nakis read the first two pages submitted anonymously by more than thirty writers. Each submission received a thorough critique by the agents and editors. And finally we gathered at dinner for our formal night.

Mona Risk and husband who was volunteered as FRW photographer!

Nancy Cohen and husband

Ashley Chase and husband

Kathy Pickering with Editors Eric Raab (Tor) and Adam Wilson (Mira)

FRW efficient treasurer Sandy, Ona Busto and Sharon Heartly.

HQ Editor Wanda Ottwell and Agent Lucienne Diver.

Agent Lucienne Diver, a writer who flew all the way from California and Heather McLachlan

Karen Kendall, Donna Lieberman, her friend Lisa and Aleka Nakis

Sharon Heartley, Debbie Andrews, Pearl Wolfe.

Traci Hall and husband.

Heather Graham having a good time!!