Gill Harvey's books and travels
Welcome. I'm a novelist, travel writer and photographer based in the UK and West Africa. Most of my fiction is for children, so I regularly visit schools, festivals and libraries in the UK. My travel writing is generally for adults; my focus is Africa.
LATEST NEWS
The Sacred Scarab, the third in the Egyptian Chronicles series has WON the primary section of the 2011 Historical Association's Young Quills Award for historical fiction. What's great about this award is that the shortlist is chosen by children themselves.
Hurrah and thank you!
The final decision was made by judges from the Historical Association, who described the book as '...an intriguing and very believable story... [The] characters are well rounded, three dimensional figures with strengths and weaknesses... The setting of Ancient Egypt is superbly realised with the physical and cultural landscape unobtrusively sketched out.'
Many thanks to all involved!
For more about this book and the others in the series, click here.
LIFE IN GUINEA-BISSAU
The cultures of Guinea-Bissau form the backdrop to my latest novel, The Last Hyena, finished at last and currently in the capable hands of my agent Jodie. The last few months have created some amazing opportunities to witness festivals and rituals, most notably fanado (initiation) and kusunde (a dance competition) as practised by the Balanta people. Truly extraordinary. For more pics, go to the photo gallery.
LATEST PUBLICATION
Malaria, a mugging, endless exhausting hours on motorbikes -- that's the untold story behind my latest publication, which you wouldn't even recognise as mine until you open the cover. Such is the fate of travel guide updaters: I'm responsible for the 2nd edition of the Bradt guide to Burkina Faso, which hit the shelves in October 2011.
Despite the rigours of doing the update, Burkina became one of my favourite African countries. Unsurpassed welcome, fabulous food and the best chance of seeing elephants
in the whole region. Great mud architecture too.
A kusunde is a heartstopping show
of machismo, in which rival groups
of dancers perform their hearts out.
The group that attracts the biggest audience wins.
Awesome.
A fanado initation ceremony involves
sacred horns being paraded around
the village. Initiates eventually troop
into the sacred wood, where no one else may follow.
Spooky...
Welcome. I'm a novelist, travel writer and photographer based in the UK and West Africa. Most of my fiction is for children, so I regularly visit schools, festivals and libraries in the UK. My travel writing is generally for adults; my focus is Africa.
LATEST NEWS
The Sacred Scarab, the third in the Egyptian Chronicles series has WON the primary section of the 2011 Historical Association's Young Quills Award for historical fiction. What's great about this award is that the shortlist is chosen by children themselves.
Hurrah and thank you!
The final decision was made by judges from the Historical Association, who described the book as '...an intriguing and very believable story... [The] characters are well rounded, three dimensional figures with strengths and weaknesses... The setting of Ancient Egypt is superbly realised with the physical and cultural landscape unobtrusively sketched out.'
Many thanks to all involved!
For more about this book and the others in the series, click here.
LIFE IN GUINEA-BISSAU
The cultures of Guinea-Bissau form the backdrop to my latest novel, The Last Hyena, finished at last and currently in the capable hands of my agent Jodie. The last few months have created some amazing opportunities to witness festivals and rituals, most notably fanado (initiation) and kusunde (a dance competition) as practised by the Balanta people. Truly extraordinary. For more pics, go to the photo gallery.
LATEST PUBLICATION
Malaria, a mugging, endless exhausting hours on motorbikes -- that's the untold story behind my latest publication, which you wouldn't even recognise as mine until you open the cover. Such is the fate of travel guide updaters: I'm responsible for the 2nd edition of the Bradt guide to Burkina Faso, which hit the shelves in October 2011.
Despite the rigours of doing the update, Burkina became one of my favourite African countries. Unsurpassed welcome, fabulous food and the best chance of seeing elephants
in the whole region. Great mud architecture too.
A kusunde is a heartstopping show
of machismo, in which rival groups
of dancers perform their hearts out.
The group that attracts the biggest audience wins.
Awesome.
A fanado initation ceremony involves
sacred horns being paraded around
the village. Initiates eventually troop
into the sacred wood, where no one else may follow.
Spooky...