How the novel was born

The first time I traveled to Morocco, where my partner Leslie was doing her PhD research, she suggested that we meet my two adult children in Marrakech to spend Christmas. My kids, already intrepid travelers from our Monkey Dancing travels and more, readily agreed. I sent them a text saying that they should arrange to fly to Casablanca, then catch a train to Marrakech, where I’d make sure somebody was there to guide them to our riad, or traditional hotel in the old medina.

My daughter responded: “Best. Text. Ever.”

So my Moroccan adventures began here, near the Jemaa el-Fnaa, which ultimately became the scene of a pivotal chapter in Never Lost. It took a few years…