Despite our modern sensibilities, marriage is still the ultimate goal for the vast majority of those who fall in love around the world. At the end of my new romantic suspense novel, The Lair, which takes place in Verona, Italy, two characters get married (not going to tell you which two, you’ll just have to read the book to find out!). To research that scene and the brief lead-in to it, I read up on what makes Italian weddings, well … Italian. I found many traditions that Italians ... VIEW POST
What Does A Veronese Eat?
I love food (too much, it turns out). And one of my favorite cuisines is Italian. So when writing a novel based in Verona, Italy, of course I had to include some dining scenes with characters enjoying dishes that were at least Italian, if not precisely from Verona. I had to do a bit of research about what a Veronese (a person from Verona) eats. I had some fun with it. My main character, Dani Dunn, who is originally from Verona, runs an inn and restaurant in the bayside village of Little Eden ... VIEW POST
The Many Challenges of Writing The Lair
My latest contemporary romantic suspense novel, The Lair, now available for pre-order, stands on its own, which means you don’t have to have read my other books to immerse yourself in the story. However, the main characters and part of the plot are connected to the other volumes in my far-reaching “Sinner’s Grove” series. Writing a multi-faceted, even genre-crossing story whose books are independent yet interwoven, poses a whole host of challenges, but for The Lair, that was only the ... VIEW POST
When in Italy, Drink Like an Italian
My soon-to-be-released romantic suspense novel, The Lair, takes place in Verona, Italy. Since I’m not Italian (except in my heart), I knew I had to bone up on all things Veronese, including the city itself (which I was fortunate enough to visit), the culture, the language, and of course, the food and drink. So imagine my horror when I checked my manuscript one more time before sending it off to be edited and came across the following sentence: “Dante suggested they meet for a cappuccino around ... VIEW POST
How to Immerse Readers in a Foreign Language ….
... even if they don't understand a word of it on page one. Adoro l’Italia. I love the food, the people, the architecture, the sound of the language—you name it. So I set my latest romantic suspense novel, The Lair, in Verona, a beautiful, historic city located on the Adige River in the Veneto region of Italy. La campagna intorno a Verona è molto bella! There are hundreds of gorgeous locales in Italy, but you can’t go wrong with the area around Verona; it’s very beautiful.. There, in the ... VIEW POST
Hibernating On Juliet’s Balcony In Chinese Silks … and a Quick And Dirty Lesson on Bears
Is it spring yet? Like those playful (but in reality dangerous) black bears, it seems like I’ve been in my den all winter, sleeping as the world goes by. At least that’s what you’d think by seeing my lack of presence on social media. But, unlike the slumbering orsi, I’ve been working my butt off writing the next two installments of my series “Sinner’s Grove.” I’m happy to say I’m thrilled with the results! The Lair The Lair follows on the heels of Sinner’s Grove, my contemporary suspense ... VIEW POST
