Wings of Death follows an embittered woman who, after being gifted a scarab beetle broach, is inflicted with the curse of the pharaoh and must find a cure. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I’ve always loved mythology and ancient legends.

It was in my teens I first read of Howard Carter’s expedition in 1923 to find King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Funded by Lord Carnarvon, many of the artifacts found are on display at the present Earl’s home, which many people will know as the magnificent house used in Downton Abbey.

I was fascinated by the events that followed. Many of the people in the expedition took ill and died after either entering the tombs or handling the artifacts. This caused many people to jump to the conclusion that King Tutankhamun’s tomb was cursed.

However, this wasn’t a new idea. Many ghost stories about a mummy’s curse had been written as far back as the 17th Century.

This was the inspiration for my story.

I enjoyed the depth of the main character, Cassandra Bain. What was your process to bring that character to life?

Cassandra Bain was the most challenging character I’ve written. My idea was for Leigh to give her the scarab to replace her heart, the same as the Ancient Egyptians did when mummifying a body. The story revolved around her heartlessness and her disdain for everyone. She had to be heartless, otherwise, the main theme of the story didn’t work. However, she actually used her scorn as a shield. Her character is complex. Self-assured and disdainful to the world but, in private, crumbling inside. Her miscarriages and her failing marriage had destroyed her more than she was willing to admit.

What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

This book involved quite a lot of varied research, firstly on Howard Carter’s expedition in 1923 to find King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

Also on various poisons, bacteria, and mold.

Scarab beetles held as much importance in Egyptian religion as the cross is in Christianity. Researching this subject was vital. It was believed the scarab was born spontaneously and so became the representation of the sun. At death, when a body was mummified, the internal organs had to be removed. They were stored separately in jars, as the heart, in particular, had to be weighed by Osiris, the verdict recorded by Thoth on the Day of Judgement. In place of the heart in the mummified body, they placed a scarab.

The scarab Leigh gives Cassandra was supposed to come from the tomb of Imhotep, who was a great doctor and magician and revered as the god of healing. In the 3rd Dynasty, Imhotep was a sage to King Djoser, and a god of healing in his own lifetime. Educated by the Sumerians, he was a man of great medical knowledge and was thought to be a great magician.

Cassandra is a fashion designer, and I enjoyed researching the fashions of the 1950s. I also bring music and other factors such as movies, books, and flowers into my stories.

Wings of Death travels from Melbourne, Australia to London, Paris, Rome, and Cairo. Research had to be done about those cities in the 1950s.

What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?

My next book to be released on 10th September 2023 is another cosy ghost story. In fact, although the story has two ghosts in it, it isn’t scary. One ghost is a main character. It’s more of a mystery and a second-chance love story. It’s set in Australia, in Queensland, in the outback town of Charters Towers. Its title is The Cook, the Ghost, and Her Sister.

Following this, my first three books in The Thornton Mysteries are being re-released this year, all with new covers. Books four and five will follow early next year.

I have started research for another thriller, following Wings of Death. It will hopefully be ready for release in the latter half of 2024.

Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | Amazon | Linktree