Barbara Mertz received her doctorate in Egyptology from the Oriental
Institute of the University of Chicago at the age of 23. Since then,
she has written more than 60 novels of mystery and suspense and three
works of nonfiction. Her books about Egypt--Temples, Tombs, and
Hieroglyphs and Red Land, Black Land--have
been in print for 30 years
and are considered basic works for beginning students. Completely
revised and updated editions are being published by Morrow. Mertz is
better known in some circles as Elizabeth
Peters, author of more than 30 mystery novels, many of which make use
of her academic training. As Barbara Michaels, Mertz is the author of
more than two dozen novels of romantic suspense, several of which have
been
New York Times bestsellers.
She lives in an old farmhouse in the Maryland countryside, and her two
children are grown and married, with children of their own. In her
spare time, she collects vintage clothing, cats in all forms and a
variety of other objects. Her hobbies include gardening, reading,
music, embroidery and long conversations with fellow mystery writers.
On your nightstand now:
Law in Action by Macauley, Friedman, & Mertz (Okay, I'm reading it
because my daughter is one of the editors); The Bronte Encyclopedia by
Louise and Robert Barnard; Lord Peter by Dorothy Sayers; and The Wind
in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.
Favorite book when you were a child:
Probably Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Your top seven authors:
Dickens, Austen, Twain, Renault, Isak Dinesen, Tolkien, Loren Eiseley
Book you've faked reading:
Mark Twain by Ron Powers. I love Twain and it's a great book, but for some reason I ran out of steam about halfway through.
Book you are an evangelist for:
Anything by Terry Pratchett
Book you've bought for the cover:
None. What am I, illiterate?
Book that changed your life:
Three. History of Egypt by J. H. Breasted pulled me into Egyptology, which has been a life-long obsession; The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan; and Dracula by Bram Stoker (I didn't realize until years later that it was the godfather of Barbara Michaels).
Favorite line from a book:
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."--The Book of Matthew
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque