Her forthcoming dual-timeline novel, The Stolen Queen, transports readers to 1978 New York and 1936 Egypt to uncover a mysterious stolen artifact. Here, we have an exclusive preview of Davis' new book. Pick up the next issue of FIRST (on sale Dec. 20) for part 2 of this captivating read!
A COMPELLING PAGE-TURNER
Preorder The Stolen Queen to read the whole story. Available now for pre-order at Amazon.com. On sale January 7!
CHAPTER 1/ NEW YORK CITY, 1978
The staff meeting of the Metropolitan Museum's Department of Egyptian Art was supposed to start at 10, which meant associate curator Charlotte Cross arrived at 9 to prepare her colleagues for battle.
The Met was closed on Mondays, but only to visitors. For the employees, much of the behind-the-scenes work was accomplished on the first day of the workweek: Handlers rearranged paintings, technicians performed condition checks of antiquities, while lampers wandered from gallery to gallery, necks craned, searching for blown-out lightbulbs. Monday was Charlotte's favorite day, when the museum felt like a private playground.
She started in the gallery that housed the 10-foot-high, 4,000-year-old Colossal Seated Statue of a Pharaoh. The figure depicted was all muscle and power, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He looked as if he were about to declare something important: an act of war, or maybe a death sentence.
A group of handlers were already gathered around the statue. The team's leader, Joseph, looked up expectantly as Charlotte approached. "Morning, boss."
Charlotte nodded. "I wanted to give you the heads-up that Frederick is considering moving this piece to the Temple of Dendur gallery."
They all moaned in unison. "This old guy's been in the same spot since the 1930s," said Joseph. "He's way too fragile."
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 16, 2024-Ausgabe von First for Women.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 16, 2024-Ausgabe von First for Women.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
FIONA DAVIS' The Stolen Queen
Known for her glamorous historical fiction novels featuring iconic New York City landmarks like The New York Public Library and Radio City Music Hall, Fiona Davis has sold more than a million books and counting!
Deck the Halls on a Dime
Americans spend hundreds of dollars on holiday decorations each year. To the rescue: FIRST polled decorating pros on how to make your home merry and bright for less!
FAITH & LAUGHTER
GIVE ME STRENGTH AS A SANDWICH GENERATION’ CAREGIVER
CHRISTMAS TREES GIVE HOPE TO MILITARY FAMILIES
For many soldiers and their loved ones, the holidays can be difficult, both emotionally and financially. But thanks to the Trees for Troops program, hundreds of their homes and hearts are filled with Christmas cheer every year
MARTHA STEWART'S NEW Cookbook
Step into Martha Stewart's kitchen with a collection of timeless recipes sure to elevate your everyday meals and make holiday celebrations extra special
CONFIDENCE, TRADITIONS & ALL THE Good Things
FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, Martha Stewart has been a lifestyle icon.
POWER UP YOUR PROTEIN WITH CREATINE
There are some stories-like How the Grinch Stole Christmas-that we know by heart. Another tale that may be all too familiar to many of us: How we try to slim, only to regain more weight than we lost.
FOUND: HELP FOR HOLIDAY SLEEP LOSS
If you're tossing and turning a lot more this time of year, you're not alone: New research shows Americans lose nearly 40 minutes of sleep each night over the hectic holiday season. To the rescue: Experts share simple tips to transform sleepless nights into sweet, sugarplum dreams, including the strategy that works for 9 in 10 people
5 WAYS TO SICKPROOF YOUR HOLIDAYS
Stay healthy all season with these clever-and easy-strategies
Radiant in Red
3 steps to wearing the bold hue at any age
