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Fiona Ingram

Goodreads Author

Born

Durban, South Africa

Website

http://www.fionaingram.com

Genre

Children's Books, Literature & Fiction, History

Influences

My interest in ancient history, children's classics, and authors such ...more

Member Since

September 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/Fiona_Ingram

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I can’t remember NOT having a book in my hand. My schoolmates called me a bookworm, and nothing’s changed since then. I was brought up on the children’s classics because my parents are also avid readers. My earliest story-telling talents came to the fore when, from the age of ten, I entertained my three younger brothers and their friends with serialized tales of children undertaking dangerous and exciting exploits, which they survived through courage and ingenuity (of course!). Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and skeletons leaping out of coffins were hot favourites in the cast of characters that populated “Gruesome Gables” where all these adventures were played out. We also acted out the stories for my long-suffering parents, whom I see now w I can’t remember NOT having a book in my hand. My schoolmates called me a bookworm, and nothing’s changed since then. I was brought up on the children’s classics because my parents are also avid readers. My earliest story-telling talents came to the fore when, from the age of ten, I entertained my three younger brothers and their friends with serialized tales of children undertaking dangerous and exciting exploits, which they survived through courage and ingenuity (of course!). Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and skeletons leaping out of coffins were hot favourites in the cast of characters that populated “Gruesome Gables” where all these adventures were played out. We also acted out the stories for my long-suffering parents, whom I see now were remarkably tolerant of my budding thespian and script-writing talents!
I graduated from the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa, with a double first in my B.A. (French & Drama). After completing my Honors in Drama at Natal, I then went to the University of the Witwatersrand to do my Masters degree in French-African literature. I also studied drama at The Drama Studio in London and mime at L’Ecole Jacques le Coq in Paris. Upon my return to South Africa, I immersed myself in teaching drama at community centres, and became involved in producing community and grassroots theatre with local playwrights and performers in Natal for several years.
A move to Johannesburg took me in a new direction—that of journalism. I have written freelance for the last fifteen years on everything from serial killers to relationship advice (making me a popular dinner guest to revive any flagging conversations). Writing a children’s book—The Secret of the Sacred Scarab—was an unexpected step, inspired by a recent trip to Egypt. The tale of the sacred scarab began life as a little anecdotal tale for my 2 nephews (then 10 and 12), who had accompanied me on the Egyptian trip. We had a marvellous time and it truly was the catalyst in changing my career. This short story grew into a children’s book, the first in the adventure series, Chronicles of the Stone. After the usual spate of rejections from snobby (British) agents, which I believe it every writer’s baptism of fire, I discovered America and made the decision to be published there. The book has done well there, even though the young heroes are South African, and has already garnered two impressive fiction nominations.
I’m already immersed in the next book in the series—The Search for the Stone of Excalibur—a huge treat for young King Arthur fans (and older ones as well). Although I do not have children of my own, I have an adopted teenage foster child, from an underprivileged background who is just discovering the joys of reading for pleasure. My interests include literature, art, theatre, collecting antiques, animals, music, movies, and wondering when I am going to be the next J.K. Rowling.
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Fiona Ingram’s books

Average rating: 4.51 · 142 ratings · 90 reviews · 8 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Secret of the Sacred Scarab (The Chronicles of the Stone Book 1) 4.44 avg rating — 77 ratings — published 2008 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Search for the Stone of Excalibur: Book Two - The Chronicles of the Stone 4.58 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Champ: My Story of Survival it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper (The Chronicles of the Stone, #3) 4.88 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Poppy Project: How Fiji's Most Famous Dog Got Saved! 4.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Young Explorer’s Companion to The Secret of the Sacred Scarab it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	This Enchanted Land: The Saga of Dane Wulfdin by William P. Robertson, Fiona Ingram (Goodreads Author) , David Cox (Illustrator) 4.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2010 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	BookElves Anthology, Volume 1 by Jemima Pett (Goodreads Author), Rebecca M. Douglass (Goodreads Author) , Fiona Ingram (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Fiona Ingram's Blog

Book Review: Queen Mary's Daughter

Do you know your history? Do you know your Scottish and English history, to be exact? In a story that starts in 2016, and jumps back in time to 1567, the reader is taken along with Mary Elizabeth Stuart as she discovers her heritage, meets her true mother, has to make decisions that could change the course of history… and finds out why her grandmother insisted she make a trip from Toronto to K... Read more of this blog post »

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Fiona’s Writing

The Secret of the Sacred Scarab (Children's Books)

1 chapters — updated Nov 21, 2009 03:58AM

Description: A thrilling adventure for two young boys, whose fun trip to Egypt turns into a dangerously exciting quest to uncover an ancient and mysterious secret. A 5000-year-old mystery comes to life when a scruffy peddler gives Adam and Justin Sinclair an old Egyptian scarab on their very first day in Egypt. Justin and Adam embark upon the adventure of a lifetime, taking them down the Nile and across the harsh desert in their search for the legendary tomb of the Scarab King, an ancient Egyptian ruler. With just their wits, courage, and each other, the boys manage to survive … only to find that the end of one journey is the beginning of another!

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Fiona Ingram is now friends with Patrick McCuen
Jun 18, 2018 11:59AM · like
Fiona Ingram is finished with Worth Dying For: Not worth it unless you are already a fan. Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher, #15) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author) progress:	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 01, 2018 03:44AM · 1 like · like · see status
Fiona Ingram finished reading Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher, #15) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 01, 2018 03:42AM · like
Fiona Ingram and 27 other people liked Jennifer's review of Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher, #15): "I have mixed feelings upon finishing this latest Lee Child novel. Slipping into the world of Jack Reacher (lots of violence and very little angst) is comforting and familiar. Child has a formula going in many of his books and for the most part, it..." Read more of this review »
Mar 31, 2018 03:51AM · see review
Fiona Ingram rated a book liked it Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher, #15) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I won't say it was abysmal, although the author broke every rule - show, don't tell, use of dialogue, characterisation etc. - in that often pages started at the top left hand and ended at the bottom right hand of a page with hardly a paragraph break ...more
Mar 31, 2018 03:35AM · like · see review
Fiona Ingram rated a book it was amazing Queen Mary's Daughter by Emily-Jane Hills Orford (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Do you know your history? Do you know your Scottish and English history, to be exact? In a story that starts in 2016, and jumps back in time to 1567, the reader is taken along with Mary Elizabeth Stuart as she discovers her heritage, meets her true m ...more
Mar 19, 2018 09:43AM · like · see review
Fiona Ingram is currently reading Worth Dying For (Jack Reacher, #15) by Lee Child (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 19, 2018 09:03AM · like
Fiona Ingram liked Peggy McAloon's review of The Temple of the Crystal Timekeeper (The Chronicles of the Stone Book 3): "Four souls are aboard a small plane that crashes in the Mexican jungle. Cousins Adam and Justin have taken a quick tour of the rainforest, accompanied by Kim (the foster daughter of their Aunt Isabel Sinclair) and anthropologist James, who pilots..." Read more of this review »
Mar 04, 2018 01:47AM · see review
Fiona Ingram rated a book it was amazing Lucy's First Christmas (Lucy's Tale #3) by Rolynda Tassan (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Lucy’s First Christmas is the third book in the Lucy Tales series, written by Rolynda Tassan and illustrated by Ruby Wheeler. Lucy is a rescue cat who now lives with a lovely family, comprising Mom, Dad, youngster Ben and other animals, Sissy, Addy, ...more
Mar 03, 2018 07:39AM · like · see review
Fiona Ingram finished reading Under a Pole Star by Stef Penney	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 17, 2018 05:38AM · like

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
South African Boo...: The Secret of the Sacred Scarab	1	9	Nov 21, 2009 05:27AM
Great Middle Grad...: #MGBookElves Giveaway by the 12 Authors of Christmas - COMPLETE	9	23	Dec 10, 2013 05:46PM
Great Middle Grad...: Goodreads Giveaway for the BookElves Anthology volume 1 - ends 31st Oct	1	8	Oct 01, 2016 01:38PM
What's the Name o...: YA/teen novel, pre-2005 - A group of travelers in Egypt are involved in a search for a jewel - a Ruby - and/or a Raven	5	42	Apr 26, 2018 12:32PM

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Fiona’s Quotes

“The end of man is knowledge, but there is one thing he can't know. He can't know whether knowledge will save him or kill him. He will be killed, all right, but he can't know whether he is killed because of the knowledge which he has got or because of the knowledge which he hasn't got and which if he had it, would save him.”
― Robert Penn Warren, All the King's Men

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