Joanna Hill was born in Oxford and grew up in England before going to New York.  In New York she worked at the Institute of Fine Arts, a post graduate school of New York University for the History of Art and Archaeology. With the Institute she spent several seasons (May to the end of August)excavating in the delta of Egypt. 'Hot and mosquito ridden, it was one of the best times of my life!'  She was the author of two previous biographies before writing 'Wellington's Right Hand, Rowland Viscount Hill', the subject being her great, great, great uncle! This man has often been overlooked by historians of the Peninsular War thanks to his lack of greedy ambition but his successes were manifold and that he was clever and resourceful is without doubt.  He had a tough time as Commander in Chief of the Army from 1828....he had Reform and the mad Earl of Cardigan to deal with amongst his other problems!

Now living  back in England, Joanna has a tiny apartment in an Elizabethan mansion, Danny House, Hurstpierpoint, which was formerly, for 250 years, the home of her mother's family.  Joanna has turned her hand to novel writing and her third is due out on February 3rd, 2023. All three of these books are set in Egypt.  The  book out in February is ' Under the Desert Sands'.  It is set in the Western Desert of Egypt with its oases and the spectacular White Desert.