Living in the Past
After ten years of working at
Canada’s largest museum, I almost made a drastic career move into the world of fashion.
What was I thinking? Luckily, I ended up staying in the museum biz and I have never
had a moment of regret for the twenty plus years I spent working at the Royal
Ontario Museum in Toronto. It was thrilling, always changing, and it never
failed to feed my brain and soul. My work was a place always on the cusp of a
new discovery. Without these years, I could never have created such an
authentic backdrop for my first novel, Theft
By Chocolate, a sassy museum mystery about a woman of a certain age looking
for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places.
Despite having a graduate degree in
history, my entry into the museum had less to do with my academic
qualifications and more to do with previous work experience in bookkeeping. I
landed a job in the museum’s Education Department, maintaining financial records.
Yawn. But in less than two years I
was working in what had morphed into an internationally recognized Programs
Department serving up courses, workshops, film series, field trips and special
events.
It
didn’t take long for me to discover the building I worked in was not only
filled with such magnificent treasures, most of which were behind closed doors
and would never be seen by the general public, but the place was also brimming
with an intelligentsia whose specialties
of study were fascinating and sometimes most bizarre. And, in due time, I
recognized that a high percentage of these characters were exactly
that—characters. Some possessed diva personalities or were frail beings on the
edge of a nervous breakdown. Working with such brilliant people was undeniably
engrossing, and had its challenges. Yet, what a gold mine for a writer! I could
not have asked for more rich experiences to inform the plot lines and characters
created in Theft By Chocolate.
In
one scene, the main protagonist, Kalena Boyko discusses the desensitization
that can occur when one is constantly surrounded by incredible artifacts and
stunning works of art. Oh, just another Tyrannosaurus Rex or medieval suit of
armour. But it never failed that some kind of incident, i.e. a special
exhibition that might raise awareness or a curator passionately waxing on about
an object, would revive one’s sense of awe or appreciation of the magical
qualities of the museum in which I worked. Ironically, I became more aware and
appreciative of my surroundings the longer I was employed there.
I realized no workplace would ever
be as special as that of an institution responsible for the guardianship of so
many of the world’s cultural and scientific assets. And I was very aware that
working with such an intriguing, imaginative, and clever group of people was an
extraordinary opportunity that would never be replicated in any other setting. But
there was a moment after twenty plus years at the museum when I recognized it
was time to leave. It was critical for me to depart on a high note and that’s
exactly what I did. My last position was in the project office that managed a
multi-million dollar renovation that changed the landscape of the city and
initiated a widespread architectural renaissance in Toronto. But the museum is
so much a part of my being and will always remain so.
And,
for that reason, I am most grateful to be able to pay homage to it and to
recreate some of its enchantment in Theft
By Chocolate.
About the Book
Theft By Chocolate: a sassy museum mystery about a capricious woman of a certain age looking for chocolate, love and an international art thief in all the wrong places.
Chocolate addict Kalena Boyko wasn’t prepared for this. Heading to work at Canada’s largest museum as an administrator, she hoped for quiet and uninterrupted access to her secret chocolate stash. Instead she’s assigned to manage the high-profile Treasures of the Maya exhibition with her loathed former boss, Richard Pritchard.
With no warning, her life is capsized and propelled into warp speed as she stumbles across an insider plot that could jeopardize the exhibit and the reputation of the museum.
After hearing about a recent botched theft at the museum and an unsolved jewel heist in the past from security guard and amateur sleuth Marco Zeffirelli, Kalena becomes suspicious of Richard and is convinced he’s planning to sabotage the Treasures of the Maya exhibition.
Her suspicions, and the appearance of the mysterious but charming Geoffrey Ogden from the London office, don’t help her concentration. The Treasures of the Maya seems cursed as problem after problem arises, including the disappearance of the world’s oldest piece of chocolate, the signature object in the exhibit.
Theft By Chocolate is inspired by a real-life and never-solved heist at a Canadian museum in the 1980s.
Here are some additional links for Luba Lesychyn:
ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY
Theft By Chocolate Giveaway at Every Blog Stop
What is your dream job? Please leave your comment below with your email address to be entered to win an ebook copy of Theft By Chocolate, the new release by Luba Lesychyn. In five days, a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Available in any ebook format. Remember to write your email address in the comments so that you can be contacted if you win!
$150 Gift Certificate Giveaway of Grand Prize on July 31st
Do you love chocolate as much as Kelana, the heroine in Theft By Chocolate? Here’s your chance to indulge in $150 US worth! The Giveaway Grand Prize is a gift certificate to a delectable chocolate online retailer. Winner chooses from one of three sites: http://www.chocosphere.com/,http://www.hotelchocolat.co.uk/ , or http://www.dlea.com.au/
To be eligible for the Grand Prize, enter the Rafflecopter below. Remember to sign up for Luba’s email announcements (worth five entries). On occasion she’ll send out exclusive announcements for special events, blog posts, giveaways and free swag! On July 31st, the winner will be chosen at random and notified via email.
My dream job is to work in a zoo as a zookeeper. I volunteered one summer at the Oakland zoo, working with the giraffes. It was an amazing experience! Unfortunately, zookeepers don't get paid enough to support a household.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad because of the work they have to do is hazardous I would think! !!
ReplyDeleteYes, it can be--plus the zookeepers are completely responsible for the lives of the animals in their care. It's definitely a calling rather than just a job.
ReplyDeleteMy dream job would be to travel the world visiting all of the places mentioned in my favorite literature. I would go to Transylvania, to Canterbury, to the moors, etc. I would write a travelogue or make a documentary about my adventures. Then I would read more books and do it all again.
ReplyDeleteSounds fun SP!!!
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm too late for the prize, I do want to say I thoroughly enjoyed your museum which I visited in the 90s sometime.
ReplyDeleteI'm moving toward my dream job -- writing and quilting. The title of your book sounds wonderful! Good luck!