Hannah Tunnicliffe is a passionate food enthusiast. Her love of cooking and eating comes through on every page of her latest novel.
Frankie Caputo is just weeks away from marrying her childhood sweetheart when he’s killed in a surfing accident. Overcome with grief, she flees her overbearing family to go to a remote cabin, which was Alex’s favourite place to be. Her aunts reluctantly leave her alone – their way of showing love has been to load up the afflicted with restorative, delicious comfort food.
While Frankie finds their love a little suffocating, it is at least better than the bitterness displayed by Alex’s parents. As Frankie comes to terms with her loss, she learns that Alex is not the man she thought he was. And when her estranged sister Bella turns up, Frankie has to rethink everything she thought she knew.
It’s a wonderful novel, full of terrific characters and delicious recipes that are testimony to the belief that food is love.
As Hannah herself says, “Food is a communication of love, a comfort and a necessary pleasure. I think it’s impossible to disentangle food and love.”
Hannah researched Sicilian food while she was writing the novel. She even consulted the head chef at one of Auckland’s top Italian restaurants. You’ll find those recipes helpfully included in the book.
Hannah worked for many years in corporate roles before becoming a writer. She previously headed up human resources for a business in China. After two years in the position, she was burnt out. “I was convinced there must be more meaningful work for me out there. Thankfully, I’d completed a qualification in career counselling, which I put into use on myself!”
Hannah is now the author of two novels, with the promise of plenty more to come. “I have so many ideas, characters and stories requiring writing that I’m in a constant rush to get the words down.” Great news for her growing legion of fans!
