Readers who go to one of author Fiona McIntosh’s Wollongong talks on Tuesday will get an extra treat – chocolate.
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The treat forms a link with Ms McIntosh’s 31st novel The Chocolate Tin, partly set in York, the UK’s home of chocolate.
“I’ve made a chocolate that goes with the story,” Ms McIntosh said.
“I’ve done that with one of the top chocolatiers in South Australia. So we’ll have those with us.”
As well as chocolate, fans will also get the chance to hear about Ms McIntosh’s new book and also ask questions.
But Ms McIntosh said she probably got more enjoyment out of these events than her fans because they offer quite a pleasant relief from the solitary months spent writing.
“I’m like an island for three months of the year when I’m writing but the rest of the time I’m researching, so I’m overseas in the bowels of museums working again in a very solitary situation,” she said.
“The time that you pinch yourself with wonder that your stories have emotionally touched hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people is when you get out and you see an audience saying ‘I couldn’t put it down’ or ‘I love your books’.
“I’m sure they are full of pleasure to meet you but they don’t really understand that the pleasure is truly mine to meet those who have been truly touched by the story.
“You write it in such isolation and to think that it has that sort of effect is wonderful.”
... the pleasure is truly mine to meet those who have been truly touched by the story.
- Fiona McIntosh
Ms McIntosh worked in the travel industry for 20 years before becoming a novelist, so it’s not surprising her books are set around the world.
“It just seemed an almost automatic response for me to draw on all those places I’d visited and learned about,” she said.
“I’m not going on holidays, I’m actually working – for me it’s all quite disciplined and quite professional in the way I approach it.”
Ms McIntosh is holding two author talks and signings on Tuesday.
She will be at Corrimal Library at 3pm and Wollongong Library at 6pm.
Both events are free but people need to register.
To reserve a spot at the Corrimal event call 4227 8179 and 4227 7417 for the Wollongong talk.