Front Page About the Author Order Page
Prologue Historical Background
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It’s the 1940’s, and the desert sun is setting on Cairo. Layla, a beautiful young girl forced into prostitution at age 12 by her mother, dreams of freedom in Europe. However, with no money and fewer options, Layla dives into a treacherous world few ever escape. Little does she know that she will not only survive the life of a call girl, but also rise to become mistress to the most powerful man in Egypt—King Farouk. (read more)
Mona Fuad was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and was educated in Catholic schools in Cairo. At 16, she won the nation’s beauty contest and once crowned Miss Egypt, Mona secured her first movie contract by winning a Jennifer Jones lookalike contest. After being chosen for the lead in the Egyptian version of “Duel in the Sun”, Mona appeared in many Egyptian films and such American films as The Ten Commandments and I Spy. (read more)