KNYSNA NEWS - The author of Recipes for Love and Murder, Sally Andrew, shared some of her recipes with a very receptive audience during the Knysna Literary Festival on Saturday 10 March. Afterwards, all her books at the festival talk were sold out.
During her talk, she introduced the book's main character Tannie Maria, who works as a food writer for the Klein Karoo Gazette with her friends Harriet and Jessie.
Hattie asks her to add to her food column also advice to people who are looking for help in love and relationships, but Tannie Maria does not know much about this as her late husband was abusive and she was terrified of him.
She does, however, know about food and can always try to give the advice she can along with a good recipe.
Murder and mayhem
When Tannie Maria gets a help letter from Martine, who has an abusive husband, she feels that she has to help as much as she can, but Martine ends up dead. Maria’s life takes a sinister turn as she becomes entangled in the investigation – to the intense irritation of a local policeman.
The book is about a murder mystery with a dash of romance, sadness, love, food, beautiful nature and friendships, and about a woman who has a recipe for everything under the sun – even murder.
Sally Andrew talking about love, murder, magic and more. Photo: www.ellephoto.co.za
Audience enthralled
As Andrew went on to talk about the book, her wit and sense of humour had her audience wrapped around her little finger, glued to their seats and longing for more way after she was done talking about the book – so much so that she ended up reading to them some of her material and they still asked for more.
After the talk the author, who said writing this book saved her life, shared that if there’s anything she hopes people can take from the talk or her books then it would have to be,
“Be open-hearted, and my advice for any writer would be, evoke emotions, rather than force things down your readers' throats.”
'Heart-warming response'
How does she feel knowing that her books at the talk sold out and that some attendees had to walk away empty-handed, she said, “I wish they ordered more books, the response has been fantastic, a very heart-warming response.”
Andrew shared some her recipe for "good magic" with the audience, but had this to say about "bad magic": "I don't believe bad magic has any significant power; with bad magic you can only sabotage or destroy yourself.
"This is because bad magic requires a closed and darkened heart, so it bounces back in on yourself. With good magic you can change the world."
Recipe for good magic
- Be in the present.
- Appreciate a sense of the sacred.
- Be clear about your intention (doesn't have to be detailed, but clarity is important).
- Have a clear image that goes with it.
- Have strong positive intentions, and follow through.
- Allow an open heart.
- Fill your intention with energy and joy as it is real/is happening.
- Give yourself to life. Fall into it.
- When something happens, follow through. Act. Then act some more.
- Feel and show gratitude.
- Authenticity and integrity.
Andrew, who said her recipe for her success is prayer, in conclusion shared this gem: “Magic happens strongest when you are in a flow of your life – when you have fallen into your own river and you are swimming and when you accept and allow both love and death. Love is about letting things in and death is about letting things go.”
Read a previous article: Author Sally Andrews shares about her book
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