MC Travel Special | 2022 Booker longlisted author Audrey Magee's next big trip is to... Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore

Opening ceremony of the 2021 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival. (Photo by Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati via Wikimedia Commons 4.0; Copyright © Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2021)

Ireland-born writer Audrey Magee lives on an island in the country. But before she decided on a writers’ quiet life, she worked as a journalist and wrote for, among others, The Times, The Irish Times, The Observer and The Guardian.

Magee studied German, French and Journalism at universities in Ireland before taking up writing full time.

Moneycontrol spoke to her about her travel plans, among other things:

Any travels planned this year?

Yes! In October The Colony and I are going on a trip to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. I will attending the Ubud Literary Festival (October 26-31) in Bali and the Singapore Writers' Festival (November 4-20), as well as doing some events in universities in the different countries. I am really excited to discuss The Colony in Asia.

The first thing you pack?

Increasingly, my yoga mat!

Reading list for the trip?

I haven't decided my English reading yet, though my French reading will be Leïla Slimani's Regardez nous dancer.

What will you be listening to?

I love radio; I can tune in anywhere to feel the pulse of a place.

Any podcast recommendations?

Not really a big thing for me.

What food do you look forward to eating?

Anything with rice and Asian spices. I went to Sri Lanka while writing The Colony as it was emerging from colonisation and civil war just as Ireland did 100 years ago. I adored the food there, that blend of Indian and South-East Asian cuisine. Huge fan.

And drink?

Sancerre

Any Mediterranean recommendations?

I live on a rock in the Atlantic Ocean. It's pretty far from things Mediterranean.