Writing a book is a bit like a pilgrimage—especially when you do it together. Lots of discussion about what is important—and letting go of what is not. Of course, there was a real chemin to walk first, while we were still grappling with what shape the story might take.
The Chemin d’Assise and Via Francigena provided that shape for us. When we were soaked in the sad, lonely but beautiful towns of Liguria, we knew this had to be where Zoe and Martin would reach their lowest point. And reaching the beauty—and better weather—of Tuscany helped shape the final act.
We were especially lucky that we were well south of Lombardy as we walked, in February 2020, when the papers were starting to fill with stories of the virus that was to dominate the year. We got out of Rome in early March and just missed having to be quarantined on our return to Australia. The lockdown gave us the time to write—and relive the walk as we did.
As always we are indebted to the feedback from our early readers: Robert Eames, Sue Hughes, Rod Miller, Robert Sachs and Dominique Simsion, who helped us refine our characters and story, and the team at Text, especially our editor David Winter, and publisher Michael Heyward.
Many of our readers are walkers, or at least armchair travellers. To all of you: bon courage.