All good roads lead back to Canada

How and why Canada plays a role in many of my stories

There is no doubt in my mind that Canada is the best country in the world and I feel incredibly lucky to live here. My husband and I have travelled far and wide, enjoying the countries I have featured in my novels — Egypt, Italy, Morocco, Chile — and many others. But we are always so happy to come home.

The characters in my stories come from many different parts of the world and have a wide range of nationalities – Canadian, British, Swiss, Egyptian, Moroccan, Italian, French. Some have a mix of two or more of these. To me, this diversity of backgrounds and cultures sparks my imagination and helps me to develop interesting and often complex characters, and the stunning landscapes of faraway places inspire the settings of many different scenes. But the central story is rooted in Canada and the key characters always have very good reasons to return.

In The Way Things Fall, the Canadian painter, Steven, goes to Italy to escape the demons that are plaguing him at home and to develop his artistic skills. During his time in Tuscany, he gains confidence and his work improves dramatically. But his heart belongs elsewhere and this part of his story ends with the uplifting and liberating decision to return to Canada. Canada is home. In the third novel, Steven's nephew’s experience abroad echoes this, and his return to Toronto sparks a critical first step in a new relationship, a new life.

In the end, all good roads lead back to Canada.