Off on the Island Getaway with Lucy Diamond
The Island Getaway with Lucy Diamond
You are set for a very nice sunny escape with this one! Set in Kefalonia with a brief diversion to Ithaca let’s go get some winter sun!
Location map of the Island Getaway
Lucy Diamond
Off to meet the Lucy Diamond for the onboarding. You coming with?
Location map of the Island Getaway
Why is the book set where it is, is it important to the story and/or author?
The Island Getaway is set largely at a luxury hotel on Kefalonia (with a brief diversion to Ithaca!). The setting really came first – I wanted to create a holiday experience for readers without them having to leave their own homes, and picked somewhere I really wanted to visit myself. Kefalonia has a bit of everything – white-sand beaches with rugged cliffs, picture-perfect villages, ancient ruins, wineries and of course incredible restaurants – so it seemed the ideal place, both for a holiday and a novel.
Asos Kefalonia (c) Wikipedia
Location map of the Island Getaway
Why did you want to tell the story you did?
In The Island Getaway, I tell the stories of several different characters who are holidaying at the hotel, as well as those of the staff members working there. Getting away from it all means different things to different people so I enjoyed exploring some ideas about escape. One character, Miranda, is an actress who has recently gone through a torrid time in the press and has come to Kefalonia to keep her head down (which doesn’t turn out to be all that easy). Another character, Claudia, who works at the hotel, is originally from Australia but fled to Kefalonia after a toxic marriage. I was interested in how the right place can really nourish a person in distress – how a holiday can lead you to change your life, even.
Location map of the Island Getaway
Did you go to the real place to research?
I certainly did! I spent a glorious ten days on Kefalonia and Ithaca – on holiday first and foremost, but my author brain was constantly looking for good places to set a scene, and noting down tiny details, like which trees and plants were growing, and what they looked and smelled like. There were also things I hadn’t thought about – for instance the number of stray cats that would patrol around the restaurants every night!
Location map of the Island Getaway
I’d written about half my first draft by the time I arrived, and it felt like a good moment to experience the island for myself. I already knew who my characters were, so I could make decisions about what would interest and delight them, and how they would react in certain situations. I really hope I have done the island justice in the book – it is such a beautiful place.
St.Gerasimos (c) Wikipedia
Location map of the Island Getaway
How else did you do your research into location and setting?
The wonders of StreetView! And a lot of googling of restaurants for menus, checking ferry times, figuring out a road trip route for two characters, and looking up snippets of Greek language too. That said, I was extremely grateful to the voiceover artist who read the audio book and was able to correct some of my mistakes on the latter!
Melissani Cave (c) Wikipedia
Location map of the Island Getaway
Can you tell us more about the setting/location in your book?
Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Sea, famous for its stunning beaches and the mysterious Melissani Cave. It’s also the setting of the book and film, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The capital is called Argostoli, from where you can take lots of boat trips as well as seeing sea-turtles feeding at the harbour in the early mornings. From Kefalonia, you can easily day trip a visit to Ithaca. This is where Odysseus set out on his voyage, according to the Greek myths. Ithaca is much smaller and wilder but also has gorgeous beaches to visit.
Myrtos Beach (c)n Wikipedia
Location map of the Island Getaway
Where in real life do you recommend readers travel to in order to ‘see’ your book?
All of the locations in the novel are real (aside from the hotel and some restaurants which I made up). You can rent a car or take a coach trip to the villages of Assos, Poros and Fiskardo, all of which are beautiful. The most famous beach is Myrtos Beach which is stunning with its white sands and towering cliffs. And the Melissani Cave is worth visiting too. Especially on a sunny day, when the water inside the cave is the most incredible blue.
The Island Getaway Lucy Diamond
Location map of the Island Getaway
What are the themes of your book?
I’ve already mentioned the idea of ‘escape’ and how, even on holiday, it can be quite hard to completely leave behind all your troubles. There is also a theme of friendship and solidarity between women. In particular, how friendship can be quite unexpected, especially if you have already made (wrong!) assumptions about the other person. I’m a strong believer in it being never too late for a second chance, if you are brave enough to try. This also comes through in a couple of storylines. It’s ultimately a big-hearted, uplifting book about the important things in life. These are: love, courage, redemption and being true to yourself.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Island Getaway
Facebook: @LucyDiamondAuthor
