Pascale Bellamy
The Hidden Temple of Zerzura, or the Epic of the Stone of Amun, is my first novel. I grew up in La Rochelle, the daughter of two avid readers who instilled in me a love of books. My university studies took me to Poitiers and then Paris, culminating in a doctorate in robotics. This opened doors to the industrial world, where I worked for 30 years. My adventure in Siwa, Egypt, began in 2012. This beautiful oasis and the surrounding desert are so fascinating for their history and mysteries that I wanted to share this little-known treasure I discovered over the years through fiction. The Black Lions Library mentioned in the novel is a real place; I helped my partner establish it in 2020.
In the heart of the Egyptian Western Desert, Queen Nefret, who reigns over the oasis of Zerzura, hides a stone sent by the god Amun. But King Cambyses II, determined to destroy the powerful Oracle of the Siwa Oasis, will change the destiny of Nefret and her people. However, the stone's story will endure through the years thanks to the guardians of a book. Thus, Eleanor, Leonardo, and Aida will draw upon the expeditions of Prince Kemal el-Din, Laszlo of Almasy, and many other explorers, all searching for the mythical city of Zerzura. By following the adventures of Nefret and her descendants, the reader will discover the history and legends of this desert and its oases.
