Having worked as a journalist for more than 20 years, Jill Worrall decided in 2004 to become a freelance writer specialising in travel writing. She has a special love for the Islamic world and anywhere out of the ordinary, and has visited and led tour parties to such countries as Bhutan, India, Uzbekistan, Libya, Syria and Jordan. She has visited Iran about six times, and to research this book she travelled over 8000km on one trip alone. She has won several awards for her travel writing.