The “Little Apple” of Manhattan, Kansas and the Konza Prairie
Last summer, my younger son and I took a(n almost) cross-country trip from New York and Washington, DC to Kansas. While staying in Topeka, one of the spots we visited was the not-the-city-that-never-sleeps version of Manhattan: the one in Kansas. Otherwise known as “The Little Apple”. We got a kick out of this moniker. It…
Read MoreHappy One Year Book Birthday to Feisty Deeds
Okay, a pre-birthday celebration, since 8 June – Women’s Fiction Day – launches the actual date. One year ago, I joined twenty-two fellow authors to launch our new historical fiction anthology, Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women. This was such a labor of love. I worked alongside four fellow authors – Carolyn Korsmeyer, Christy…
Read MoreEnjoying a performance at Paris’ Opéra Bastille
I’ve already written about Paris’ stunning Opéra Garnier. But when I was in Paris earlier this year, I did attend an opera, but at Paris’ much larger, and more modern, opera house at the Bastille. Opéra Bastille is – not surprisingly – located on Place de la Bastille. It was commissioned in 1981 by then…
Read MoreLet the 2025 Beach Reading Season officially begin!
The season actually initiated a while ago – I’ve already been for two bouts of beach reading seaside. But the opening of beach reading season is always a cause for celebration. I kicked off my 2025 beach reading season with a day in my favorite beach day get-away, Sperlonga. While at this wonderful beach spot…
Read MoreSpring hiking in Abruzzo
I’ve written many times about how much I love Abruzzo. Abruzzo is the Italian region neighboring Lazio, where Rome is. This makes it the perfect weekend escape to nature from Italy’s capital. I’m a frequent visitor here, and my husband and I decided to enjoy a long weekend here over the 1 May holiday weekend.…
Read MoreEaster at The Three Coins Inn wins its fourth book award!
I’m pleased to announce my newest novel, Easter at The Three Coins Inn has just won its fourth book award. It placed as Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Award 2025, in the General Fiction category. Always a pleasure to get recognition for my novels, and it means a lot to me because this…
Read MoreL’Aquila’s reconstructed Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio
The Basilica di Santa Maria di Collemaggio is L’Aquila’s most important church. It was built in 1289 by the Celestines and is the final resting place of Pope Celestine V. With all of the Papal talk in these days, with the recent death of Pope Francis and the Conclave that elected Pope Leo, this is…
Read MoreOn tour for the launch of The Wedding Party by Lorna Dounaeva
Happy to be part of the Bookouture book tour for the launch of Lorna Dounaeva’s newest novel, The Wedding Party. Happy launch week! I enjoyed this twisty, fast-paced psychological thriller. You can find my review below, alongside the book blurb, author bio and buy links. My review: I’ve read a few recent claustrophobic psychological thrillers…
Read MoreThe glamour of Paris’ Opera Garnier
I was in Paris a few months ago, and I decided to stop off to visit the Opera Garnier – a place I hadn’t visited in years (decades?). Musical afficionados will know the Palais Garnier as the inspitration for The Phantom of The Opera. And the self-guided audiotour does speak about the tales of the…
Read MoreNew stash of books
Not living in an English-speaking country, I tend to get excited by book stores when I return home to the US or visit other English-speaking countries. Yes, we have English-language bookstores in Rome, but they tend to have narrow selections. And ordering online isn’t the same as browsing bookstores. I was only back in the…
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