Strange 16th century creatures and demons at Bomarzo’s Monster Park
The Parco dei mostri (Monster Park) of Bomarzo, in northern Lazio, makes a great day trip from Rome. The whimsical park is almost five hundred years old. In 1552, following the death of his wife, a grieving Prince Pier Francesco Orsini oversaw the construction of a park filled with sculptures of ogres, snakes, dragons and…
Read MoreGreetings from the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival!
I’m writing this in advance, as I’ll have my hands full attending the annual Matera Women’s Fiction Festival when this is posted. This is my third year attending, so I know what an (enjoyable) hectic pace it is. Here’s what I’ll be doing when this goes on-line: First, I’ll be busy eating and drinking well.…
Read MoreWhere to stay in Matera, Italy?
Okay, this the transparent attempt of a traveller – to start dreaming about a place before an upcoming trip by imagining the place, digging thorough old photos, etc. Tomorrow, I’m off to Matera for my annual mecca to the Women’s Fiction Festival, and I’m anxious to be back to this beautiful southern Italian town. Over…
Read MoreAuthor Kathryn Maeglin tackles serious topics with humor in her novel A Hunka Hunka Nursing Love
I’m pleased to introduce Kathryn Maeglin’s book and to chat with her about her writing. Kathryn and I ‘met’ virtually through the wonderful, new Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association. If you’re a women’s fiction writer and haven’t run across this group yet, take a look at its new web site here. Kathryn, an American midwest-based former…
Read MoreVisiting Telluride, Colorado: Wish all public transport were like this!
Most urban planners the world over suffer the same dilemma: how to decrease car traffic and pollution. The idyllic Rocky Mountain ski resort/summer hiking resort/site of the famous film festival, Telluride, was once no exception. But some years ago, Telluride came up with an ingenious solution for connecting the town of Telluride, the major ski…
Read MoreToday’s the book launch of Catherine McNamara’s Pelt and Other Stories
I am very excited to announce today’s launch of a short story collection spanning continents, Pelt and Other Stories, by my friend, the author Catherine McNamara. I’ve already had Catherine on this blog when her novel The Divorced Lady’s Companion to Living in Italy came out. In an author interview, Catherine shared information and advice…
Read MoreAsian island hopping: Taiwan and Bali
I had a fabulous summer holiday this year. I spent three weeks in August with my young sons visiting two wonderful islands – Taiwan and Bali, Indonesia. I’ve travelled quite a bit in Asia, but this was my first visit to both countries, and I wouldn’t hesitate a moment to pack my bags and return…
Read MoreMy story, Amica del cuore, will be published in the Far Flung and Foreign anthology
Recently I got the news that my short story, Amica del cuore, will be published in the annual anthology of Writers Abroad. I wrote about the call for contributions in an earlier post. The title of this year’s anthology is Far Flung and Foreign, and contributors to this year’s anthology were asked to contribute a…
Read MoreGaeta: A Bay of Naples in miniature
About half-way between Rome and Naples, just at the edge of the Italian region of Lazio, lies the seaside city of Gaeta. Gaeta is situated in a dramatic bay, reminding visitors of a miniature Bay of Naples. The Orlando Mountain rises just behind it. An important seaport, Gaeta has a long and rich history, spanning…
Read MoreLess than a month to go to the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival!
Women’s fiction writers … and female authors of romances, thrillers, mysteries, fantasy, young adult and just about any other genre out there, you have less than a month ’til the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival, so be sure to sign up. I already wrote about this year’s festival in an earlier post . There are lots of…
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