Robin Ballard

Biography

Robin Ballard was born in Los Angeles, California. A graduate of The Cooper Union School of Art, she currently lives in Switzerland. She has written and illustrated many books for children including "Zeig mir ein Tier", her first picture book in German. After an inspiring trip to Egypt, she wrote "The Archivist", a young-adult novel set in ancient times. "The Sage" followed as did "The Singer", the final book in her Lost Spells of Egypt series.

Smashwords Interview

Who are your favorite authors?
I enjoy many of the series written for young-adults, but my favorite has to be Jonathan Stroud's "The Bartimaeus Trilogy". Given that my books take place in ancient Egypt I also have a few favorites including, "The Egyptologist" by Arthur Phillips, Naguib Mahfouz's "Thebes at War" and, the classic "The Egyptian" by Mika Waltari.
When did you first start writing?
While still in art school I published my first picture book with Harper Collins and I continued working in the field for another ten years. I even taught an extended studies class at the Cooper Union in NYC for people interested in writing and illustrating for children. My first attempt at writing a novel began in 2005 after an inspiring trip to Egypt. After countless drafts and several years later my first novel "The Archivist" was completed.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Robin Ballard online

Books

The Lost Spells of Egypt: The Complete Series
Series: The Lost Spells of Egypt. Price: $8.99 USD. Words: 176,330. Language: American English. Published: May 27, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » Ancient, Fiction » Adventure » General
From the Valley of the Kings, to the edge of the Delta, and the wilds of Canaan, this tale of crime, love and loyalty spans generations. Stories within stories intertwine and unravel, each character bound to the other through time, each touched by the mysteries and beliefs of ancient Egypt. Can Ahmose, a scribe-in-training, fulfill an archivist’s legacy? The fate of Egypt hangs in the balance.
The Singer
Series: The Lost Spells of Egypt, Book 3. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 54,640. Language: English. Published: March 21, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Historical » Ancient, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
Before Ahmose can complete the task once given to the archivist, the past returns with a vengeance. With a new conspirator on his side, it seems that the archivist’s enemy will indeed achieve his heart’s desire. In this last book in the trilogy of The Lost Spells of Egypt the destinies of Kai, Baal and beautiful Astarte converge in one gripping, and wholly satisfying finale.
The Scribe
Price: Free! Words: 11,990. Language: English. Published: June 26, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure
‘The Scribe’ is a collection of twelve letters included in ‘The Archivist’ and is part of 'The Lost Spells of Egypt' series. When a boy leaves for Thebes to begin his studies as a scribe, his mother writes to him about tragic events of the past, including the murder of her father, an archivist. Unwittingly, her letters send her son into danger.
The Sage
Series: The Lost Spells of Egypt, Book 2. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 51,330. Language: English. Published: June 26, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Adventure, Fiction » Historical » Ancient
In Book Two, Ahmose continues the archivist’s legacy. Egypt prepares for war. Strife with the Sand-Dwellers to the east threatens stability and even Ahmose and Kai’s friendship is put to the test. In the midst of conflict, the archivist’s murderer returns and he is looking for revenge. He would like nothing more than to silence Ahmose forever.
The Archivist
Series: The Lost Spells of Egypt, Book 1. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 70,500. Language: English. Published: October 14, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » Mystery & Detective, Fiction » Historical » Ancient
Egypt 1420 BC....The shadow of a dead man is summoned to the world of the living. On the moonlit banks of the Nile he watches as a boy is pursued by his own murderer. The boy is trapped, but soon all will be revealed –– who the archivist really was and the powerful, but all too dangerous document that some still seek today.

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