Five minutes with author Toni Jordan

Posted on 3 April, 2019

The Fragments is a superbly crafted and captivating literary mystery about a lost book and a secret love, set in 1930s New York and 1980s Brisbane, from the talented and genre-hopping writer Toni Jordan.

We caught up with her about the writing life, an unusual new hobby and her book recommendation of the moment ahead of a writing workshop on plot with ACT Writers Centre this Saturday and an in conversation at Muse this Sunday.

The Fragments deals with a literary intrigue. What intrigues you about literary stories?

I’ve always loved literary mysteries—of course, the gold standard is AS Byatt’s magnificent Possession. I’ve dreamed about that book for years; it made such an impression on me when I first read it. And I’ve always been obsessed with books.

I still read two books a week, at least. I have no other life, to be honest. It’s quite difficult to write about something you love without making it seem mawkish—I wanted The Fragments to be earnest without being too sentimental.

80s Brisbane features very fully in The Fragments – did you enjoy writing about your home town?

There are some very special parts to Brisbane. The University of Queensland is, for my money, the most beautiful campus in the country. And I’ve always lived close to the river; for me, it’s an irreplaceable part of living in Brisbane. I wanted to create an atmosphere of nostalgia, and I ended up feeling quite nostalgic myself.

By contrast, how was it writing about somewhere else and in another time – New York 1930s?

I’ve never been to America so this was a bit of an experiment! Imagining another place is a very fun part of writing.

The book features three rather brilliant women – all unique and separated by decades, class and occupation – what did you want to explore with this trio?

They’re very different, and they’re all special—but they’re also all products of their times. That’s the hard part, I think: trying to create women with energy and vitality, but without a modern sensibility.

Speaking of punchy heroines, I hear you’ve started kickboxing. What prompted this and is it part of your writer’s toolkit?

Learning how to kick people properly has been one of the joys of my middle age. The older I get, the more furious I become. I’ve never been a very physical person–never exercised or played sport—and this new-found discovery of the limitations of my body has been so much fun.

I spend so much of my day sitting on my arse; I think a bit of movement is a good thing.

What considerations were there in writing a mystery? Was there more planning required than your other books?

It was so much fun! I’d originally thought it was all beyond me, because it looks so tricky in other people’s books. But of course, you have months/years to get it right. It’s a very slow process, working out where the clues go. But no planning, definitely not. I’m fundamentally opposed to planning.

Your writing is so varied from book to book. Does the subject matter drive this or do you like to set yourself a writerly challenge?

I wish it was part of a very strategic career plan—but it’s not. I just have so few ideas. I’ve got no idea for a novel right now, I’m just staring at the flashing cursor. Ideas are such rare and precious things. If I’m lucky enough to get one, I don’t stop and ask it whether it fits in with any pre-conceived idea of my career.

What’s on your TBR pile or what’s a recent read you’re raving about at the moment?

My top read of this year has been Carrie Tiffany’s Exploded View. What a masterpiece.

the essentials 

What: Toni Jordan in conversation with George Dunford
When: Sunday 7 April from 3 – 4 pm
Where: Muse, inside East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Kingston
Tickets: $15 – includes a glass of house wine or juice
More information: musecanberra.com.au

Want more? You can also learn directly from Toni at her ACT Writers Centre workshop this Saturday 6 April. Click here for more information. 

Photography: James Penlidis