It’s launch party for Alisha Sevigny’s The Oracle of Avaris and I have the honor to host Alisha and learn more about the series! The Oracle of Avaris is the third book in the Secrets of the Sands series and in this post, we will talk about ancient Egypt, writing, character development and much more! If you are fascinated by Egypt as much as I am, this Middle Grade series is one to add to your TBR. Let’s get started.
The Oracle of Avaris
by Alisha Sevigny
A search for answers from a mysterious Oracle has Sesha and her friends navigating intrigue and danger in this thrilling conclusion to the Secrets of the Sands series.
Leaving the oasis, Sesha and her friends set sail for Avaris, intent on stopping the Hyksos Chieftain from claiming the throne and declaring war on Thebes. On the journey, Sesha learns that she and the scroll are at the centre of a pair of prophecies made by a famed Oracle — prophecies with staggering implications for both her and the Hyksos people. But when the crew arrives in the bustling port city, they are stunned to learn the Oracle is missing. With the prophecies now in doubt and their lives in danger, Sesha, Paser, and Reb must race to find a mysterious Priestess sect and witness the third and final prophecy before the upcoming lunar eclipse.
As the young scribes seek answers, Sesha must untangle her past and future while keeping war from erupting in the present. For there is one person she cannot bear to face across the Hyksos battlefield: her brother.
Be sure to read Sesha’s earlier adventures, The Lost Scroll of the Physician and The Desert Prince.
Hi Alisha! Welcome to Armed with A Book! It is an honour to host you on my blog. Please tell me and my readers about yourself.
Thank-you so much for having me! I’m an award-nominated author of historical adventure books (the Secrets of the Sands Series) and young adult contemporary romance books (Summer Constellations, Kissing Frogs), with my first baby board book (Give Me a Snickle!) coming out in April! I’m a former literary agent and current freelance editor/writing coach who loves writing for all ages. I’m inspired by nature and lush settings, as well as by people and events from our past, which I think we can learn so much from!
I was fascinated with Egypt as a child and had many books, fiction and non-fiction about the pyramids, the pharaohs, hieroglyphics and much more. Why did you choose to write a series set in Egypt?
I, too, have always been fascinated by Ancient Egypt! I received the Comparative Civilizations award in high school and just devoured everything I could get my hands on about this era – perhaps I lived in Ancient Egypt in another lifetime! 😉 I was also inspired by a real-life ancient artifact, The Edwin Smith Medical Papyrus, which is the document that is featured in the first book in the series, The Lost Scroll of the Physician. When I found out that this scroll was written during the Second Intermediate Period, a mysterious era we’re only starting to learn a bit more about, which then led to the Hyksos people, I had my story.
Have you ever been to Egypt?
I was scheduled to go April 2020 but unfortunately had to cancel due to Covid. I am still aiming to go as soon as this virus sorts itself out and travel opens up again.
How has Sasha evolved from Book 1 of the series, The Lost Scroll of the Physician, to Book 3, The Oracle of Avaris?
Great question! I think she’s learned to rely a bit more on her friends and not try to take on everything herself, and to trust that other people have her back. She’s also developed a bit of a sense of humour about her pride, which the other characters call her on, and has really come into who she is as a healer, scribe, (and spy!).
What is the most challenging part of writing a series set so long ago in history?
The research aspect was fairly challenging. I do love research but fact-checking every little thing was time-consuming and could often be contradictory. The materials are limited when writing about thousands of years ago. There are some things we know, but many more we can only guess at. I wanted to make sure I was as historically accurate as possible when writing this series but had to make my best guess when there was no hard data to go on.
I also was writing a fast-paced adventure, so balancing all those delicious details with plot and action was another lovely dance.
Is there another ancient civilization that you might explore in your future books?
So many! I’m currently living in the Cayman Islands, so visions of Caribbean pirates in the 1700s are swashbuckling through my head…
If you could go back in time, is there a particular Egyptian pharaoh or renowned figure that you would like to meet?
Also, so many! I would love to meet Hatsheput, one of Ancient Egypt’s female pharaohs, as well as Cleopatra of course, though she’s quite modern compared to when my book was set. A High Priestess, like the ones featured in The Oracle of Avaris, would also be very cool to chat with.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
All of it! Haha. I love the scene where she’s allowed to participate in a mysterious and sacred Priestess ceremony, in which an Oracle is called forth to answer some questions. There’s also a great scene where Sesha heals a patient with gemstones and by laying hands on him (I’m into reiki, crystals, and tarot, so these scenes were particularly fun to write 😉). And then the climax scene before the big battle is about to erupt… well, I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s pretty epic!
Is there any piece of advice that you would give to writers wanting to pursue publishing Middle Grade books based on your experiences with this series?
Don’t give up. Keep writing. Take a class or find a writing group. Read a lot of great middle grade fiction and spend time with kids of that age. Repeat!
Thank you so much for taking out time for me and my readers today! 🙂
Thank-you so much for having me! I hope you and your readers enjoy the series and allow yourselves to get swept away by Secrets of the Sands!
If you are interested to start with the first book, here’s what it is about:
The Lost Scroll of the Physician
In her search for answers, Sesha must find a priceless scroll for the pharaoh.
Sesha and Ky, children of the pharaoh’s royal physician, are left charming snakes and stealing food to survive after a brutal fire takes their parents and their home.
Unsure of whom to trust, the pair are found and brought back to the palace, despite misgivings that the royals are somehow involved in their parents’ deaths. Sesha is tasked with finding the rare and valuable medical document her father was transcribing for the pharaoh, who needs it urgently for his upcoming campaign.
Befriended by another scribe and a young princess, Sesha must navigate palace intrigue and temple treachery while desperately seeking the priceless scroll that not only has the power to reveal the circumstances around her parents’ death and mitigate any casualties of battle, but may also be the only thing that can save her brother’s life.
Thank you for hanging out with Alisha and me today! You can connect with Alisha on Twitter, Instagram and her website.
Many thanks to Dundurn Press for providing me a review copy of this book and the opportunity to connect with Alisha!
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