The Cairo Bridal Shop | Tess Woods in Conversation
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Nestled at the bustling foot of the pyramids lies the iconic Albi Bridal Shop, where three sisters are about to break the shackles of tradition to fight for their futures.
When Mariam Albi was tragically killed, the responsibility of running the business was thrust upon eldest daughter, Sarah. Bound to the dress shop and to the demands of her husband and his spiteful mother, Sarah finds herself trapped with nowhere to turn.
Political journalist Aya is writing the story of her career while on the cusp of a thrilling new relationship with Australian-raised journalist, Gamal. When Gamal is arrested on suspicion of treason, Aya risks her life to follow her heart.
University student Lola, the youngest of the Albi girls, is finding her place in the world while masking her true identity. But her secret is exposed, putting her life in grave danger as she faces losing everything and everyone she loves.
Inspired by the stories of the ancient pharaoh queens before them, the Albi sisters must harness their inner strength to survive – for in Egypt, history runs deep but blood runs deeper.
Tess Woods once had a simple life until her compulsion to write made-up stories complicated everything. She’s now an award-winning and Australian Top 10 bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Tess also works as a physiotherapist in private practice, and she shares a clinic and a home on the stunning Western Australian coast with her husband. She’s the mother of two brilliant grown-up children who she loves to travel with, and a fluffy cat who keeps her company while she writes. Tess was born in Alexandria to an Egyptian family and has drawn from her heritage to write The Cairo Bridal Shop, the book of her heart.
Tess Will be in conversation with Meg Bignell. Meg was a nurse and a weather presenter on the telly before she surrendered to a persistent desire to write. She is the author of four novels and one non-fiction book. Her third novel, The Angry Women’s Choir, won the People’s Choice Award for fiction at the 2025 Tasmanian Literary Awards. She has written and performed in short films, cabaret shows and a musical. She lives on the east coast of Tasmania with her husband, three children, one dog and about a thousand cows.
Join Tess and Meg at the Afterword Cafe.