5 minutes with... FIONA MCINTOSH
Used to travelling the globe for her stories, the bestselling author reveals what it was like writing her first novel set in Australia.
This is your first book to be set entirely in Australia. What prompted you to set The Orphans at home?
COVID trapped me! I spent a lifetime in the travel industry exploring the world and when I became a full-time novelist, I used all that experience to continue travelling for books. And then it all stopped suddenly. I had no choice but to look over my shoulder at my own state and consider how to pull together an epic tale that would satisfy my audience, set in South Australia. They say need is the mother of invention. The Orphans is the result.
Your novels often centre around strong female characters who break the mould. Is it important to you that we see more characters like this in historical fiction?
I think fiction is a fabulous way to convey situations, dilemmas, social injustice and social problems, and I certainly believe that historical fiction can carry a social element rather brilliantly because it is a mirror on society from a bygone age. I think it’s important to appreciate what the women in history have
achieved with their courage in terms of the freedoms a lot of us enjoy today but I also think there are areas I touch on in storytelling that show us we may still have a way to go in changing attitudes.
You now run masterclasses of your own. What would you say to anyone wanting to start out writing?
I would reinforce that they should always finish what they begin but also to commit to their storytelling. It only happens through application and hard work. Books won’t write themselves, so no excuses – get on with it! I’m never too tired, too ill, too stressed, too busy, too committed to terrible reality shows, to write. Aspiring writers can often make excuses for themselves – the ones who keep winning new contracts are the ones who don’t.
What is your writing routine?
I write five days per week these days because I am now juggling two books per year and researching another two per year so that’s a heavy workload. But when I say four to five days, I mean four to five writing sessions. I do not write all day, I never pull all-nighters. I’m super disciplined and after walking the dogs, showering, dressing and enjoying breakfast with my husband, I’m at my desk from around 8.30 to noon. It leaves me the rest of the day to focus on research, editing and masterclasses.
Your DCI Jack Hawksworth crime series has been optioned for film! Who might you cast in the lead role?
The part of Jack was originally written with Hugh Jackman as my role model. He had everything in terms of looks and stature that I wanted for Jack. I would never say no to casting Hugh in the role but if we’re now looking for someone in their late 30s/early 40s, I’d probably enjoy someone like Rupert Friend. And of course if Chris Hemsworth put his hand up, who am I to say no?
You’ve published 39 books including fantasy, crime, historical fiction and kids’ books. What’s next for you?
Coming up in January is the new Jack Hawksworth novel, Dead Tide. After that I’ll be working on the edit for a new historical for 2023 called The Sugar Palace, which is set in Sydney during the Roaring Twenties. I’ve also begun writing a new crime series featuring a female detective!