Qa’a

With the sudden death of his father, 16-year old Qa'a is thrust onto the throne, unprepared for rule. He is at the mercy of the cunning Chief Priest of Horus and his evil disciple. Then a chance meeting with a successful trader creates a friendship that gives Qa'a a vision that could bring glory to the Two Lands. But Qa'a's missteps bring the newly unified country to war. Violent unrest follows as the underground leaders of Lower Kem foment a rebellion that challenges King Qa'a's rule. Will Qa'a recover from these setbacks and leave a legacy that future generations will praise? Or will his deep flaws tear The Two Lands apart once again? A new age waits for Ra's unerring light.

As a journalist, Les Picker has cruised on a nuclear attack submarine deep in the Pacific Ocean and has climbed the highest peak in the Pyrenes. He has withstood -50-degree Fahrenheit temperatures photographing in the Arctic and survived +120-degree Fahrenheit temperatures living with a Bedouin tribe in Egypt’s Eastern desert. He was nearly bitten by a sea lion in the Galapagos (never stand between a mother and her pup while photographing!) and was chased by a 16-foot alligator in South Africa. His tripod and camera were carried off into the Arctic tundra by a curious Grizzly. Les has more than 600 writing and photo credits in publications that include National Geographic publications, Better Homes & Gardens, Forbes, Time, Inc., Money, and dozens of others. In 2011 Les was named Best Travel Photographer in the prestigious Canada Northern Lights Award. While a well-known travel writer and photographer, Les is also passionate about his fiction writing. He has written two works of historical fiction and two of general fiction. The First Pharaoh is the lead book in The First Dynasty Series. It follows the life, loves and adventures of the first Pharaoh, King Narmer (also known as Menes), the man who unified Upper and Lower Egypt into one rule that lasted for 3,000 years. Anhotek, Narmer’s scribe, Vizier and personal shaman, protects Narmer throughout his early years, even from the destructive influence of Narmer’s own father, King Scorpion. Through loves, wars and palace intrigue, The First Pharaoh tells the story of a real-life king who created a dynasty that became perhaps the most admired civilization the world has ever known. In the second book in the series, The Dagger of Isis, we follow the young girl, Mery, as she matures, marries King Wadjet and births him a son and heir to the throne. After Wadjet’s tragic death, Mery is crowned King and becomes Meryt-Neith. Serving as her son’s regent for 17 years, Meryt-Neith must struggle against the wiles of her cousin who plots to place herself on the throne. She must also battle invading armies and keep her secret love affair from prying eyes. . In the final book of the series, we follow the reign of Qa’a, as he encounters evil forces pressing in from all quarters. Will Egypt survive this tumultuous transition or will Qa’a’s rule forever mark Egypt’s future? Les’ writing website is: www.lesterpicker.com. Les’ photography website is: w