Though I started Daughter of Isis only two years ago, at the end of 2011, a part of me feels the seed for the concept was planted back in 2007, when my Reading Shakespeare professor told us the legend of Isis and Osiris. I don’t remember why she told us this story or even how it related to our course, but I’m grateful she did. The legend has stuck with me all these years, and combined with a dream I had two years ago, a wondrous adventure sprouted from the depths of my mind.
Not being a degreed Egyptologist, I had to dig into plenty of information when I first started, especially related to the retelling of Isis and Osiris’s story and the creation of the temple and rituals for the Sons of Set. The following books were invaluable in my research: Ancient Egypt: An Illustrated Reference to the Myths, Religions, Pyramids, and Temples of the Land of the Pharaohs by Lorna Oakes and Lucia Gahlin, Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead translated by Raymond O. Faulkner, An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary by Sir Ernest A. Wallis Budge, Dictionaries of Civilization: Egypt by Alessia Fassone and Enrico Ferraris, Egyptian Hieroglyphic Grammar by Gunther Roeder, Eyewitness Travel: Egypt by Jane Dunford, Religion and Magic in Ancient Egypt by Rosalie David, The Egyptian Book of Living and Dying by Joann Fletcher, and The Grammar of the Ancient World by Dominic Rathbone. I would also like to thank the History Channel, National Geographic, and Discovery Channel for all their wonderful documentaries on Ancient Egypt. I watched so many; I can’t list them all!
I also appreciate all the support and help from my critique partners and beta readers: Sophi Frost, Lisa Rivero, Magan Vernon, and Trisha Wolfe. Their comments and praise have given me the confidence to pursue publishing and sharing this story with the world. Also, thank you so much to Magan Vernon and Trisha Wolfe for all their help with the self-publishing process. I would have been lost without you guys.
Daughter of Isis had been out to agents and small publishers for a year before I realized self-publishing was the best path for the novel, so I would like to take the time and thank you all who considered it, especially Sue Winegardner at Entangled Publishing. I appreciate the time she took to review my manuscript and provide actual feedback that made Daughter of Isis a better novel. Also, a special shout-out to my awesome editor, Marcie Turner at Looking Glass Editing, who took on the project of cleaning Daughter of Isis up and getting it ready for publishing. She is so fantastic! I admire her extensive knowledge of grammar and word usage, and her edits, comments, and questions helped to improve my debut novel. Additionally, Marcie is extremely supportive and whenever I needed her, whether it be to look over a new passage or answering a question, she made herself available to me. I heart you!
To Steven Novak, Daughter of Isis’s cover designer—OMG! I truly appreciate his work on the cover design. I started off having no clue what I would even want, except for a possible model, and he came up with the perfect cover! Thank you!
Next, I like to thank the people in my life who encouraged me to write. People like my high school English teachers, Mrs. Beverage and Mr. Johnson, and my friend Roxanna. Also, a special thank you to my mother. I know it was not easy living with me since I babble about my fictional worlds 70% of the time. But I appreciate the fact that she listened to me, was my sounding board for any new ideas and scenes, and that she put up with piles of journals and sticky notes that I remember being all over the house and my room.
And finally, thank you to all the readers out there who have read or just purchased my novel. I hope you enjoy!
During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate. Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.
For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.