Elizabeth, a moderator with the Facebook group We Love Memoirs, writes under the pen name EJ Bauer, and is here with me now. Great to have you here, Elizabeth!
THE QUESTIONS
1. Focus on your books!
There are three books at this point. They form my “Someday Travels” series.
Book One is “From Moulin Rouge to Gaudi’s City” and tells of my travel adventures, after a cancer diagnosis, to Paris and onto Barcelona. I travel with my sister and a friend for my first time in Europe. From the chaos of an errant taxi booking to a broken train, we sample the delights of the two countries, the sights, the history, food and wine.
Book Two is titled “From Gaudi’s City to Granada’s Red Palace”. Here my sister and I resume our travels from the year before, with yet another friend and navigate the beauties of Spain and Portugal, embracing the incredible history, customs, local wines and regional foods. Yes, there is a touch of chaos (of course) and much humour as we travel the Iberian Peninsula.
Book Three, “From an Umbrian Kitchen to Como’s Quiet Shores” heads across to Italy. My brother and I decide a week’s cooking adventure is in order. After a brilliant foray into Umbria’s provincial cuisine, I travel alone to Rome to meet my sister and proceed to uncover a generous helping of Italian history, lifestyle and a bucket list of famous landmarks. Oh and some humorous escapades.
2. Fine art: The craft of writing!
I am often asked how I go about writing my travel memoirs. I must have kept a diary, surely. If I had to rely on writing in a daily journal as my reference, there would be no books. I take copious pictures, earlier on with a small Nikon camera and more recently with my phone. I find that referencing my images unlocks memories and sequences of events that I could never recall simply by relying on my brain. My pictures provide a reliable timeline and I am often surprised with what I rediscover.
3. Fascinating you: What would locals in a foreign country first notice about you?
My accent. I’m often asked if I’m from England. When I reply that I’m Australian, the immediate response is, “Ah, Australia. Too far”, but at least most Europeans do know it’s not ‘Austria’. The best part of having an Aussie accent is when you are in France. “Not English? Ah.” Australia is obviously preferable.
4. Following: Which authors, fiction or non-fiction do you admire?
Oh goodness. So many. My newly found Australian author is Trent Dalton, author of, “Boy Swallows Universe”. I also love the writing of Aussie, Richard Fidler, who produces massive tomes on Middle Eastern history, Prague and also Iceland. I do enjoy memoirs and eagerly devour the books written by so many We Love Memoirs authors, too many for me to list. It’s an amazing little corner of the literary world.
5. Fame: What’s your claim to fame?
I taught myself to read at the tender age of 4 and I can mirror write.
[Editor: this is my favourite!]
6. Fortune: Have you ever made any money? Won a bet, a round of poker? Or been the beneficiary from a long-forgotten distant Aunt?
I did win a tent in the shape of a VW Combi van. Does that count? My real fortune is my family, especially my 5 grandchildren. Who could resist a 4 year old who announced that he loved the word ‘beautiful’ because he liked the way it felt in his mouth? Or Master 6 who asked about the word ‘brunch’. After my careful explanation, his response? “So they just squished two words together!”
7. Fool: Just for fun: tell me about the time you made a silly mistake or found yourself the unwitting centre of attention?
Before I figured out the crazy workings of FaceBook, I planned an entire surprise baby shower for my daughter, believing my posts could not be seen by her. She saw every post, but sportingly played along and acted suitably surprised.
8. Frippery: how do you make your mark?
I looked up the word just to be totally sure. I tend not to be ‘showy’ but these days, I favour kaftans in summer and enjoy wafting down to the local supermarket at least 10 degrees cooler than everyone else.
9. Favourite books?
My very favourite book is “The Go-Between” by LP Hartley, closely followed by “Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch.
10. Forgiveness – Is it better to ask for forgiveness or permission?
l always fly by the seat of my pants so I will always plunge in regardless and make amends where necessary!
Stephen Malins, Author & Photographer 