A Rome day trip: The beach at Sabaudia
A little over an hour’s drive south of Rome, along the Tyrrhenian coast, is a lovely stretch of beach – Sabaudia. This is a popular destination during the summer months, since the sea is so much more beautiful than the water closer to Rome. I think it’s also a nice place to go without the…
Read MoreEven author JK Rowling is a victim of the slushpile
To all you authors querying your work and trying to bounce back after rejections – take heart! The slushpile is a place aspiring authors know all too well, but British author JK Rowling, of Harry Potter fame, hasn’t had to face rejection in a long time. Until now, that is. An article in The Telegraph…
Read MoreThe Gargano peninsula’s coastlines and beaches
You’ll want a car to explore the southern Italian region of the Gargano, in Puglia. The Gargano peninsula is the ‘spur’ in the heel of the Italian boot. The drives along its dramatic coasts are lovely. The road is high up and curving, but road conditions are pretty good. There are places to stop and…
Read MoreAuthor interview with Breaking the Rules’ Melinda Dozier
What a pleasure to have a return visit from talented – and prolific – romance author, Melinda Dozier. Full disclosure: Melinda just happens to be one of my fantastic critique partners, too. If you missed my author interview with Melinda on her first novel, Time Changes Everything, you can see it here. 2013 has been…
Read MorePeace and tranquility on Lake Trasimeno’s Isola Maggiore
The central Italian region of Umbria is a wonderful place to explore, with its medieval hilltowns, picturesque stone homes shaded by cypresses, stunning art, and excellent food and wine. Umbria also boasts Italy’s fourth-largest lake (shared with Tuscany) – Lake Trasimeno (Lago Trasimeno). On your visit, it’s worth visiting Isola Maggiore, one of the three…
Read MoreDreaming of a writing get-away
I’ve already written about how I sometimes dream, when I travel, of a room with a view where I can take a little writing retreat. When I visit these idyllic places, I am generally exploring with family or friends, and I don’t have the time – or desire – to seek out the solitude needed…
Read MoreThe beauty of France’s rugged Gorges du Verdon
Until my family and I visited Provence’s Gorges du Verdon (Verdon Canyons), we had no idea that these were the largest gorges in Europe. We associated Provence’s interior with idyllic hilltowns, rolling landscapes and beautiful coastlines, but we knew nothing about this stunning, rugged landscape to be found right in central Provence. Since we wanted a…
Read MoreAuthor Jhumpa Lahiri reading in the Roman Forum
Last week, I went to see an author whose work I admire read in the Roman Forum. The American author Jhumpa Lahiri is in Rome as the 2013 Writer in Residence at John Cabot University. I saw her introduce the reading with Italian author Francesca Marciano, where she she spoke about her love of Rome and the…
Read MoreEnjoy traditional Bulgarian food at the Pod Lipite restaurant in Sofia
We loved this traditional country tavern, just on the edge of the Borisova Gradina Park, while we were visiting Bulgaria’s capital. Pod Lipite, which means ‘under the linden trees’ opened as a pub in the 1920s. The cozy, casual environment, with its wood and stone interiors and long tables, is a great place to enjoy…
Read MoreA conversation with writer Francesca Marciano
An English-language university here in Rome hosts author nights, open to the public. Last year, I wrote about the fabulous Conversation with Joyce Carol Oates I attended. This year, I decided to attend a conversation and reading with the Italian author, Francesca Marciano. Ms Marciano was introduced by John Cabot University’s Writer in Residence, Jhumpa…
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