It’s no mystery why tickets are selling fast to Central Otago District Arts Trust (CODAT) inaugural Cover to Cover literary event, Talking with Fiona Sussman, author of The Doctor’s Wife.

Fiona Sussman, winner of the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel (for The Last Time We Spoke), is the trust’s first guest and will discuss the ins and outs of writing her new crime novel.

CODAT chair Jan Bean is keen for the community to see the “broad brush” the trust applies to representing the arts. 

“We are really thrilled to be able to finally present the first in a series of author talks after several false starts,” she said.

“This idea has been incubating for some time and we are confident that it will grow into not-to-be-missed and important events on the Central Otago literary calendar. 

“We aim to present authors young and old, masters and apprentices, poets, essayists, novelists and wordsmiths of all sorts.”

The Doctor’s Wife is a sharp-paced, character-driven story of an unexplained death – was it suicide or was there foul play?

Published in October this year, the novel has garnered praise, including from bestselling Irish crime writer Liz Nugent who called it “a superior psychological thriller”.

Originally trained as a doctor, Fiona’s love of the written word saw her change direction to become a full-time writer. Her father’s terminal illness drew her to medicine, but his work as a publisher, and her subsequent childhood full of books and visiting authors, saw Fiona pursue her other passion.

The Doctor’s Wife is the first of Fiona’s four novels to draw on her medical knowledge.

She has a close connection with Central Otago, enjoying many years visiting the family holiday home in Gibbston Valley.

“The warm embrace of the community, as well as the stunning Central Otago landscape, means we spend as much time as we can down there,” she said.

“My affection for Central even saw me set part of my previous novel, Addressed to Greta, against Gibbston's beautiful backdrop.” 

Fiona said she was thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Cover to Cover and was looking forward to sharing her writing journey with fellow book lovers.

‘Cover to Cover presents Talking with Fiona Sussman’ will take place at Oliver’s of Clyde on Friday December 2 at 6pm. Tickets are $35 (includes glass of bubbles and canapés), via [email protected].