The author

1. Why did you get into writing? How long have you been writing? Is this your first book?

I've been writing since I was young, and won a Young Playwright Award (awarded by the SWY Theatre Company) while I was at the University of Western Australia. The play was put on in Fremantle and Perth. I've also won a few short story competitions, and had short stories published (eg 'The Journal' Australian-Irish Heritage Association).

I had my first book, a collection of short stories, published a few years ago 'Night Flight from Marabar'. The anthology sold well across Australia in bookstores and through online sites. It gained positive reviews (eg Ben Zipper's article in the 'Australian Book Review').

2. What inspired you to write this book?

I love to travel, and flying from Vienna to Moscow a few years ago I developed a bug, on reaching the hotel in Moscow I was in bed for about 36 hours. I awoke in the early hours of Boxing Day and went to the window, it was still dark outside. Down in the snow in the car park between the hotel and River Moskva a man had got out of his car, taken off his hat and coat and lay down in the snow. He looked as though he had simply gone to sleep, curled on his side. The police came, took notes, and left the body under a piece of matting.

Some time later I boarded the trans-Siberian train for Siberia and China, but I couldn't get the image of the man in the snow out of my mind. Why would a person do such a thing? He would have known that taking off his warm clothes and lying down in the snow in such ferociously low temperatures would mean certain death. Oddly enough, he looked quite peaceful and resigned to his action.

'The Avenue of Eternal Tranquillity' is a fictional history leading up to that moment. An attempt at an explanation as to why someone would choose to die and why, perhaps, they would seem so comfortable in making such a choice.

I know it sounds a bit depressing, but it's actually a very uplifting story!

The intertwining story involves a couple travelling the trans-Siberian from Beijing to Moscow in the present day.

3. What do you love most about what you do?

I love the places that writing takes you to, other worlds, other experiences - all of which can enhance the world you actually live in.

I really love to communicate with people, especially in a way that means they can listen when they want to, and rest when they want to. We spend so much time with TVs shouting at us, loudspeakers bellowing at us - with a book you effectively hold the on/off button, you hold the volume switch - it's brilliant!

Biography

People’s motivations and their interior life are at the core of Karen Overman-Edmiston’s writing. In addition, impressions and experiences gained while travelling are strong contributors to her work. Both of these factors are strongly evident in the recently published novel, The Avenue of Eternal Tranquillity, as well as in the earlier publication, Night Flight from Marabar, a collection of short stories.

Karen Overman-Edmiston was born in the United Kingdom. Educated in England and Ireland, she finished her studies in Australia, gaining a Master of Arts at the University of Western Australia.

Karen has written for the stage and has had competition-winning plays performed in Perth and Fremantle. She is also a prize-winning short story writer who has had several stories published.

Night Flight from Marabar was reviewed in the Australian Book Review in September 1999. In his review, Ben Zipper commented that the writer’s work ‘emerges with a strong coherence and singularity of tone.’ and that the author ‘uses location to wise advantage, as a tool of explaining and exploring human experience.’ Zipper concluded his review with the comment, ‘This collection clearly shows promise of more to come.’ Copies of the anthology have sold well across Australia in bookstores and through online sites.

Having previously worked for the West Australian government, Karen runs her own consultancy business as well as continuing her writing.