Happy New Year! I am very proud to be part of the “Our Morocco” anthology, alongside friends and fellow marocophiles including Tahir Shah, Amanada Moutakki and Saeida Rouass, to name but a few.

“Our Morocco” is a compilation of essays about life in Morocco – on the Mediterranean as well as the Atlantic, from the heart of the Fez medina to the High Atlas Mountains. It has been compiled by my former clients at Journey Beyond Travel to raise funds for the Morocco Library Project.

The Morocco Library project was set up to develop libraries across Morocco, but especially in rural areas, in collaboration with English teachers, to encourage literacy among children. In some cases, the kids using these libraries go on to be the first in their family or their village to study at university, acting as a role model for generations to come. 

My contribution to “Our Morocco” is a chapter about Essaouira (of course). I seek to give a voice to a few of the many people I met in Essaouira, many of whom have become good friends. It’s called “Gratitude from the Windy City of Essaouira” and tells the story of my arrival in former Mogador, as well as those of local Souiris (Essaouirans).

All proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Morocco Library Project. It is available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats.