Posts Tagged ‘abruzzo’
Novel locations for In The Shadow of The Apennines
I don’t need much of an excuse to get out to the mountains near Rome. Years ago, I got a small place out in the mountains of Abruzzo, in the town of Ovindoli, and this is a place I enjoy escaping to for relaxing weekends out in the fresh mountain air. I love it so…
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 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 More110 years ago today – the devastating Pescina, Abruzzo earthquake
Today marks a very sad anniversary – the commemoration of the Pescina Earthquake that struck the region 110 years ago – in the early morning hours of 13 January 1915. Pescina is a small town in Abruzzo, and it was close to the epicenter. The little town of 6000 people lost an unbelieveable 5000 residents.…
Read MoreEscaping the heat in the mountains of Abruzzo
After a fairly mild spring and summer, the heat has set in in Rome. So I was happy my younger son suggested a weekend escape to our favorite mountain hideaway, and we left for a weeekend in Ovindoli in Italy’s Abruzzo region. It’s an easy hour and a half trip from Rome, but its slower…
Read MoreReal life locations of my short stories
I love anything associated with travel, so it’s not a surprise that a strong sense of place is important to me as a reader and writer. My latest short story collection, “Drink Wine and Be Beautiful”, is largely set in Italy. I thought I would share some of the locations that play a role in…
Read MoreWeekend bliss in the mountains of Abruzzo
I always love trips out to the mountains, but this year, I was having a tough time managing a weekend mountain escape. But the first weekend of July, I did manage to hop out for a short visit in Italy’s Apennine mountains, and it was glorious. I often go out to Italy’s Abruzzo region, to…
Read MoreShiny new badge for my In the Shadow of The Apennines
Excited for my newest, pretty badge for my latest novel, In The Shadow of The Apennines. It’s been five months since my novel was released – but pleased to still be gathering reviews and comments from readers. Thanks so much for reading! If you read and enjoyed my novel – please, please do leave a…
Read MoreTaking my novel, In The Shadow of The Apennines, out to meet its setting
My newest novel, In The Shadow of The Apennines, is set in modern days – in the Abruzzo mountain town of Marsicano, and in the nearby town of Pescina at the eve of WWI. While Pescina is very real, Marsicano is an invented Italian mountain town. However, it bears a striking resemblance to the real…
Read MoreAbruzzo’s WWI Memorial soldiers in In The Shadow of The Apennines
An important symbol in my newly released novel, In The Shadow of The Apennines, is the memorial soldier statue found at the high peak of the Italian mountain town that serves as the setting of my story. My novel’s protagonist, Samantha, is an American who moves to the tiny Abruzzo mountain town of Marsicano, hoping…
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