Marc Llewellyn is the President of the Australian Society of Travel Writers.

Throwing caution to the wind Marc decided to abandon city life and move to an isolated island off the coast of Sicily with his partner, newborn baby and dog.

He writes about his incredible experience in his new book, Finding Nino (HarperCollins) which is published this May.

Was moving to the other side of the world a quick or calculated decision?

It was a process spanning around two and a half years. We first visited Lipari on holiday, partly to visit a friend.

She’d married a local fisherman. One night the fisherman asked us why we didn’t move to Lipari.

He offered to help out by letting me come fishing. He’d pay me in seafood. Back home the idea grew on us.

But then we found out that we were expecting a baby. Plans were put on hold, but soon after the birth we headed off with the baby and the dog.

Did you write your book while you were in Italy or when you arrived back in Sydney?

I took lots of notes on the island, but the real work started when I was back in Australia. It was a long and difficult process, with lots of emotional upheavals – writing can be like that.

It took around five years to write in all, working part time. Often, just when I thought a section was perfect, I’d read it again the next morning and find it was horrible.

I must have done fifty drafts at least.

What was one of the biggest challenges you faced while in Italy?

The biggest challenge was bringing up baby and trying to survive as a new dad in a dramatically changed relationship.

When my partner was pregnant I felt so close to her, and then – bang – suddenly her whole world revolved around our baby.

It was only to be expected, I suppose, but at times I felt very alone. Sleep deprivation didn’t help much either.

What was one of greatest surprises you experienced?

The fact that being away for a year or so can make such a profound difference to your life.

Nothing seemed to be happening mentally to change my life when I was there, but as soon as I came back to Sydney I seemed to rocket ahead, with ideas spilling out everywhere.

I’m sure that if I’d stayed at home I would have just remained the same old person.

Do you have plans for your next book?

I’m currently thinking hard about a children’s book. A short one, with lots of pictures and a rather dubious theme which I can’t reveal.

I’ll be taking a chance with that one. I’m also researching my next travelogue, which will be based in America.