Tell us a little about yourself and your background?
I’m not a small town girl. Before I turned 18, I had live in the lands of the Samurais; I’d stood atop the frozen fjords of Norway, performed in a marching band in Sweden, learned Capoiera in New York, met the man of my dreams at New Jersey High School, and basked in the immortal beauty that is Egypt; my home.

I am the daughter of a retired diplomat. In my life, I have dined with dignitaries and princes, but I wasn’t a spoiled child. My father taught me, well, the meaning of hard work.

What were you like at school? 
Hahahahah!! I’m laughing because I’ve been a teacher for 18 years, now. I’m also an academic dean and a university professor. You wanna know what I was like in school. Okay. My Kindergarten teachers told my parents that I had “a mind like a diamond”. In my fourth grade report card, it read, “…Amira is like a bull through a China shop”. In high school, my English teacher used to address me as “flower child” in the halls, and “Ms. Awaad” in the classroom.

I can, safely, say I was a dreamer.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Oh my! Would you like a modest answer or an honest answer? Honesty and integrity are a cornerstone of my moral code, so let’s take that route: I want to write all day and all night! Weaving tales for people to read makes me feel whole. Sadly, time has always been my nemesis on Earth. I have very little time, so I grab what I can; even if it’s 2 o’clock in the morning.

I’m still a dreamer… and I dream of a day when the beautiful and diverse people of the world can share a glimpse of it through my eyes.

Which writers inspire you? 
Tolkien! Shakespeare! Jane Austin! Ooooohhhh… Edgar Allan Poe. Seriously, if Poe was alive, I would be his wife.

So, what have you written?
(*Include books, novellas, short stories, poems, blogs, awards or anything of interest.)

Everything. Hahahah!
There’s a difference, I suppose, between what I’ve written and what I’ve published. I’ve written… everything.

I remember the first time I picked up a pen(cil) and started writing the voice of my own mind in a small, beat-up journal. I was 10… and I was an 80s cartoon fanatic! “Jem” wasn’t my favorite 80s show, that would be “ThunderCats”, but I absolutely adored her songs. So, one day, I picked up a pencil, I opened the journal and began to compose. I never stopped.

I’ve written novellas, short stories, a ton of poetry, magazine articles, newsletter articles, blogs…. and yes, many songs that I was going to pitch to the producers of “Jem”, but I couldn’t find their phone numbers.

What genre are your books?
Fantasy Fiction/Legends and Mythology/Poetry

What draws you to this genre?
The possibilities! The adventure! The endless wonder that feeds my imagination and lets me live a thousand and one lives.

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
My most recent published books is Red Marks the Child, The Ankhs (Book #1). The lead character is Hathor who is a cursed by an ancient prophecy. I think Kristen Ritter.

I’m about a month away from finishing Fire Bird, The Ankhs (Book #2), for that, the lead character is Bastet who is quite the powerful warrior. I’m dead-set on her being played by Judi Shekoni!

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
A few years ago, I was working a full-time job and studying for my Master’s. I was also single Mom. For a period of time, I kept dreaming about ancient Egypt. The images were fascinating! and they kept coming back. All I had was 1 and 2 o’clock in the morning, but I felt compelled to tell the story.

What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?
Characters are very real to the writers that pen them.

For years, they’ve lived in and out of me. They whisper in my mind. They walk through my kitchen door and laugh with me about the latest “character” gossip! We’re losing a very strong and dear character in this book, and you’ll never see it coming… but, yes, it’s difficult and painful for me. So, I end up walking away from the laptop just to delay, and then do other things.

What is the easiest thing about writing?
For me, it’s the conversations. I know exactly how my characters think, feel, and talk. So, creating conversations between them comes very naturally.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Tweet me @llacroie or come by my page on Facebook. Oh! Don’t be shy! I love getting to know people but I’m also rather introverted, so the best way I communicate is through writing. Drop me a line, even if it’s just to say “hello”.

I’m, also, part of the Wattpad community because I love the thought of being able to actively support writers of all ages really develop their voice. Reach me there @PharaohsMuse and you can also find me on Goodreads.

If you ever do thirst for a little ancient wonder and warm desert sands, look me up on Amazon.

Happy Reading!