Drawing on childhood memories: Gone author Glenna Thomson will speak at the Echuca Library on Thursday, March 21.
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Author Glenna Thomson will be at Echuca Library on Thursday, March 21, to discuss her latest novel.
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“I am an apple orchardist’s daughter, and the book I had recently published is situated in an apple orchard, drawing on some of my childhood memories,” Ms Thomson said.
“I am now living back in Melbourne after living in the country, on a cattle property and blueberry orchard, for over 20 years with my husband.
“But, of course, being a writer, it is in your blood and I write all the time, so it doesn’t matter where I am.
“The setting for all my books, the last book that has come out, Gone, is still based in north-east Victoria, where our farm was.”
In one word, Ms Thomson describes Gone as a mystery.
“And I say it is a mystery because it is a story of a younger sister trying to find out what happened to her sister,” Ms Thomson said.
“She was 14 years old when her sister went missing, and she was 53 when she discovered what happened.
“It is not a detective story, it is not that kind of crime novel, it is more about a family drama, where a family member has gone missing.”
Narrated by the youngest daughter, the tale unfolds as she delves into the mystery of her sister’s disappearance, weaving through family dynamics and social media sleuthing to uncover the truth, leading to a heart-stopping resolution.
Ms Thomson shocks readers with two unforeseen twists, the final one catching even her, the creator, off guard — a testament to the story’s unpredictable journey.
The richness of Ms Thomson’s unique experiences and desire to write and follow a creative pursuit led her to use the country setting in which she had lived.
“In relation to the book, Gone, about the missing sister, I used to go on walks by myself, and it is quite isolating in the country where you are out on roads by yourself,” Ms Thomson said.
Exploring vulnerabilities: Gone author Glenna Thomson will be speaking in Echuca.
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“And you can think, as a woman, I feel a bit vulnerable.
“Women shouldn’t feel like that, but I think they do.
“You have always got your radar up thinking what happens, what happens?
“And I suppose, being a writer, maybe I have an overactive imagination.
“I started to imagine if a girl went missing, and that was the basis for my decision to write a story about a missing girl.”
Gone is Ms Thomson’s third novel, having also published Blueberry and Stellar and Margie.
Glenna Thomson will be at the Echuca Library on Thursday, March 21, at 12.30pm.
Bookings are essential for this free event. Call 5481 2400.
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