Online FrankTALK: Stephanie Wood

Fake is a powerful, richly layered investigative story for our times, drawing on the personal stories of the author, Stephanie Wood, and other women who have been drawn into relationships based on duplicity and false hope.

Women the world over are brought up to hope, even expect, to find the man of their dreams and live happily ever after. When Stephanie meets a former architect turned farmer she embarks on an exhilarating romance with him. He seems compassionate, loving and truthful.

They talk about the future. She falls in love. She also becomes increasingly beset by anxiety at his frequent cancellations, no-shows and bizarre excuses. She starts to wonder, who is this man?

When she ends the relationship Stephanie reboots her journalism skills and embarks on a romantic investigation. She discovers a story of mind-boggling duplicity and manipulation. She learns that the man she thought she was in love with doesn’t exist.

She also finds she is not alone; that the world is full of smart people who have suffered at the hands of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies, people enormously skilled in the art of deception.

In this brilliantly acute and broad-ranging book, Stephanie Wood, an award-winning writer and journalist, has written a riveting, important account of contemporary love, and the resilience of those who have witnessed its darkest sides.

Grab some lunch and join us live with Stephanie Wood to talk all things dating, a bit of journalism and the importance of trusting your gut.

Bookings are essential for this FrankTALK with Stephanie Wood, by registering here or call the library team on 9784 1020.

Can’t make the live chat? Catch up later via our YouTube Channel https://bit.ly/2N0e1ws