Book Title: All the Way to Italy: A modern tale of homecoming through generations past
Author: Flavia Brunetti
Category: Adult Fiction, 222 pages
Genre: Women’s Fiction (can fit into YA Fiction as well)
Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni
Release date: April 21, 2018

Synopsis

Until her dad died, Little considered herself a Californian. Now, thanks to half a letter, a symbol she can’t quite remember, and writer’s block, she finds herself back in Italy, the country of her birth. In a headlong rush to return to her beloved San Francisco, Little will journey throughout Italy, hoping to find the answers she needs to move on with her life so she need never look back. She’ll enlist the help of the woman who raised her, Sira, her father’s sister; but Sira has secrets she’s kept for decades, and Little underestimates the power of the country she fled years before.

In this powerful story of mixed cultures in a world trying to globalize, one girl’s struggle to leave her home behind will lead her back to the women in her family and the memories each of them has safeguarded through the generations. From war-torn Italy to the belpaese of today, All the Way to Italy is a tale for those in search of a balance between wanderlust and the necessity to come home, a reminder that although we may be fragments, we are never a lost cause.

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Guest Post

Overcoming writer’s block: the Rome edition

I want to tell you that I never have writer’s block; that while I wrote All the Way to Italy I simply flitted from chapter to chapter, full of words and ideas and the ability to merge those two until I had a book.

The truth is quite different (as it often is). It involved a lot of pacing the hallway, re-reading the same sentence over and over, and staring at myself in the mirror repeating mantras like, “now you will sit down and write something,” and “get it together. You love. Editing. You. Love. Editing.” I thought it might be helpful to share some of the things that helped me deal with not just writer’s block, but writer’s frustration. And since All the Way to Italy is set largely in Rome, I’m including a few local tips!

1. Walk it out

There will come a point when you’ll have been staring at the same spot on the page for forty-five minutes (no? Just me?), or even worse, when you’re rewriting, you’ll reach that moment where suddenly the entire paragraph, chapter, nay, half the book, must immediately be deleted. Do not do this. Get up and walk it out. Fresh air is always a good thing (good general life advice), and if you’re in a suggestive city like Rome, just having a stroll is an inspiration. Stop thinking and walk/jog/run. Bring your notebook, ‘cause inspiration always strikes when you’re all the way out in Appia Antica, nowhere near any writing materials, and you will end up trying to write your idea down using pebbles from the side of the road. Hypothetically.

Rome edition: the Pantheon, Colosseo, Appia Antica.

2. Pick up the phone and call someone you trust

Sure, we can do things on our own. But, in my experience, really great results come from outside input, from calling up that friend you trust wholeheartedly and saying, what do you think of this? We all bring our individual skillsets to the table, and it makes us, and our writing, richer. Tip: pay it forward! The next time a fellow writer or friend needs your input, be on the listening side, and then give encouraging guidance, as only you can (see point 4!).

3. Park it

This is similar to number 1, except we’re doing more lolling. Grab a picnic and a book, find a nice park, and give your mind a break.

Rome edition: Villa Borghese, the Orange Garden, Villa Pamphilj, Villa Torlonia.

4. Have a talk with yourself

Most of the time, we’re our own biggest critics. No matter how much we do, it’s very rarely enough. Take a moment to look yourself in the eye and remind yourself that you’re following a dream, a commendable endeavor in itself, and that you are fantastic and driven. Do a little dance. Acknowledge yourself!

As frustrating as the writing process can be, we all know it’s worth it, that there’s nothing quite like finally getting that short story exactly how you envisioned it (or even better, the surprise when it becomes an entirely new thing that you didn’t know you wanted), or that moment when you’re first holding your novel in your hands, or even when you’ve written a blog post you’re really happy with.

And so, happy writing (and reading!), my friends. I wish you nothing but the best of luck with all of your endeavors!

About the Author

Born just outside of Rome, Flavia Brunetti grew up bouncing back and forth between Italy and California, eventually moving back to the Eternal City and confirming her lifelong commitment to real gelato. Flavia holds a Master of Arts degree in Government and Politics from St. John’s University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from John Cabot University. Today she travels the world working for an international humanitarian organization and spends her free time writing and wandering around her beloved Roma in constant search of bookstores and the perfect espresso.

Website ~ Blog on Rome ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Giveaway

Prizes: Two winners will get an ebook copy of All the Way to Italy plus a $20 Amazon.com gift card and one winner will get an ebook copy of All the way to Italy plus a $30 Amazon.com GC (open internationally to wherever Amazon delivers – 3 winners total)

(ends May 26, 2018)

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