30-something Travel

Interview with Award-Winning Author Paul Duffy

2022-12-14T11:30:00.006+00:00

Incredibly pleased to have the author of Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound and one of Ireland’s leading field archaeologists, Paul Duffy, on the blog today to answer a few question about the crossover between his work as an archaeologist and his writing of historical fiction.

Photo by Mario Gu00f3mez on Pexels.com

(Time) Travelling through Medieval Ireland

What came first for you - archaeology or writing? And how well do they compliment each other?

Hard to untangle that one...apart from the fact that archaeology, in essence, is storytelling, I wrote

my first, published short story while at college in Galway...studying archaeology. Stepping back

further, a childhood full of ruins and mounds was woven through with the books of Morgan Llywelyn

and Michael Scott, to the extent that I'm not quite sure where one starts and the other ends. In both

fiction and archaeology, there is a need to explore and communicate complexity in a way that can be

grasped and hopefully absorbed. In that sense, archaeology and literature are layers in the same

stratigraphic sequence...if you can forgive that analogy!

There is a lot of interest at the moment in the medieval period with TV shows such as the Last Kingdom and Vikings and films such as the Northman enjoying a moment. Where does your book fit with this trend?

As it happens, I live in the Wicklow Mountains amongst the places where much of Vikings is filmed.

Strangely though, in many ways, the story of medieval Ireland has yet to be told and Ireland rarely (if

ever) features in productions such as the ones you mention. I suppose the medieval world of

England and France is seen as more relatable or at least better understood by the general public.

Ireland during this period was a land of a very long and different tradition and it is perhaps too

daunting a prospect to try and present this on screen. I can’t think of many novels that have really

engaged with medieval Gaelic Ireland either (with the exception of a rich vein of Irish Language

writing from recent decades).

In a broader sense, I find there is a tendency to value violence over character, to focus on a proto-

patriotism that inspires heroic gests as opposed to dealing with day-to-day motivations and

grappling with more human stories. Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound, I hope, gets closer to

the lived reality of turbulent times in all of its action and drama, but also in the uncertainty, the quiet

between, the relationships formed in the margins and the fluidity of peoples and loyalties in a time

long before Nation States. Throughout this first novel, I have tried to create a sensory and, at times,

meditative experience rooted in the environment and languages of the time. That is not to say that

the book, set on the rails of historical incident with a clear destination in sight, is without pace, but I

hope that in its reading, there is an element of transportation at play, along with some reassurance

that all of the detail presented is based on a lifetime of reading, digging and touching the medieval.

Fun fact: The phrase "run with the hare, hunt with the hound" means to support both sides in an argument in order to make your own life easier.

For more information about Paul Duffy and a chance to win a copy of his latest book, visit Book Spotlight + Giveaway: Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound.

Blog Spotlight + Giveaway: Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound

2022-12-14T09:45:00.006+00:00

Book Details:

Book Title: Run with the Hare, Hunt with the Hound by Paul M. Duffy
Category:  Adult Fiction (18 +), 342 pages
Genre:  Medieval Historical Fiction
Publisher:  Cennan Books of Cynren Press
Release date: October 2022

Book Description:

On a remote Gaelic farmstead in medieval Ireland, word reaches Alberic of conquering Norman knights arriving from England. Oppressed by the social order that enslaved his Norman father, he yearns for the reckoning he believes the invaders will bring—but his world is about to burn. Captured by the Norman knight Hugo de Lacy and installed at Dublin Castle as a translator, Alberic’s confused loyalties are tested at every turn. When de Lacy marches inland, Alberic is set on a collision course with his former masters amidst rumours of a great Gaelic army rising in the west. Can Alberic navigate safely through revenge, lust and betrayal to find his place amidst the birth of a kingdom in a land of war?

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CYNREN BOOKS
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ANGUS ROBERTSON ~ SCRIBD ~ B&N ~ BAM
GOOGLE ~ INDIEBOUND ~ CHAPTERS
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Book Spotlight + Giveaway: Travels with Maurice

2022-04-29T11:56:00.000+01:00

Book Details:

Book Title: TRAVELS WITH MAURICE AN OUTRAGEOUS ADVENTURE IN EUROPE IN 1968 by Gary Orleck
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 250 pages
Genre: Travel Memoir
Publisher: TOUCHPOINT PRESS
Publication Date: April 5, 2022.
Tour dates: April 12 to May 2
Content Rating: G

"Travels with Maurice is a gem of a book that just sneaks up on you with its greatness. While the title makes you think it’s a travelogue or road trip book (and we’ve all read enough of these), Travels is so much more." - Michael Berman

Book Description:

“Every Woman Wanted to Be with Him, Every Man Wanted to Be Him.”― Gary Orleck

A simple “thank you” led to the trip of a lifetime, along with an unbreakable friendship of two opposites. See them come of age while rubbing elbows with the rich and famous like the Shah and Queen of Iran, The Who, Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, and even Shirley Temple Black. An unbelievable story, yet it’s true because nobody could make this story up. Find out things the rich and famous do not want you to know.

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Amazon
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Meet the Author:

I grew up in Lincoln, R.I. which is a blue-collar town, went To Babson University School of Business, and graduated with a BSBA in 1966. I worked my way around the USA for six months.

Two years later, I traveled with the son of the richest man in the world - covering 19,988 miles, twelve countries, and ten weeks.

Then, I went to work at Broadway Tire Inc. Twenty years later, I bought the business. I then owned and operated it for thirty more years before retiring in 2016!

In Between, I met and married my wife Ronna and had two beautiful children, and now I have five grandchildren!

The love of travel remained with me, and I've been fortunate enough to have visited 75 countries - each in a unique style - all my own way, using much of which I learned in my travels with Maurice in 1968.

Connect with the Author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule:

April 12 – Working Mommy Journal – book spotlight / giveaway
April 12 - Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
April 12 - The Official Blog of Amy Shannon - book spotlight
April 13 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 13 – Novels Alive – book spotlight / giveaway
April 14 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / giveaway
April 14 - Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 15 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / giveaway
April 18 - Kam's Place – book spotlight
April 19 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / giveaway
April 20 – Books are a Blessing – book spotlight / giveaway
April 20 - Sadie’s Spotlights - book spotlight / giveaway
April 21 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 22 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
April 25 – Mostly Mystery Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
April 26 – Captive Dreams Window – book spotlight / giveaway
April 27 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
April 28 – Books for Books – book spotlight
April 29 – 30-something Travel Blog – book spotlight / giveaway
May 2 - Pick A Good Book – book spotlight / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

TRAVELS WITH MAURICE Book Tour Giveaway

Book Review + Giveaway - Ponce: What Actually Happened at the Fountain of Youth

2021-11-19T12:30:00.001+00:00

Book Details:

Book Title: Ponce: What Actually Happened at the Fountain of Youth by Jim Halveron
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 164 pages
Genre: Satire / Historical Fiction
Publisher: Gail Force Publishing
Release Date: November 2021

Book Description: Two Florida State geology students found the pages written by Ponce de Leon’s chronicler in a dry limestone cave in the northwest panhandle. The original Spanish papers, five hundred years old, were found in relatively good shape, protected from time and moisture in a heavy triple-walled leather case. They chronicle Ponce de Leon’s second expedition to Florida in search of the fountain of youth.

My Thoughts: Based on incredible historic records, the story of Ponce de Leon and his search for the fountain of youth is retold for a contemporary audience. The one-time darling of the Spanish court and seducer of the Queen of Spain is sent to the New World to bring back gold. But there is something seemingly more alluring than money for Ponce. Is the Fountain of Youth his ticket to power?

From the glamour of elegant Spanish palaces to the stifling humidity of Florida swampland, Ponce whisks readers around the world on the tails of the infamous Ponce de Leon. Ponce and his entourage face an array of challenges as they try to trade with the locals for gold. Through (not-always-helpful) interactions with the native people of Florida, the Spanish soldiers stumble their way toward what they hope is the purest of waters. Erroneously believing the water can cure illness and save people from poisonous snake bites (thanks to tricks played on them by the tribe leader), Ponce is driven to find this Fountain of Youth by visions of grandeur. With modern language and contemporary dialogue, Ponce is a story from the past reimagined for today's generation of historical fiction fans.

BUY THE BOOK:
AMAZON

Meet the Author: Jim Halverson grew up in the rural, gold-mining town of Mokelumne Hill, CA and received his MBA from Golden Gate University. He spent part of his life on a ranch and is an avid student of psychology. He recognizes the struggles of all men and women seeking equality and respect. Jim and his wife, Gail, spend their time traveling from their small farm in Forestville, CA.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Nov 1 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Nov 2 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 4 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 4 - Westveil Publishing – book review / giveaway
Nov 5 – Kam's Place – book review
Nov 8 – Splashes of Joy – book review / giveaway
Nov 9 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 9 - Lisa's Reading – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 10 – Olio by Marilyn – book spotlight / author interview
Nov 10 – Olio by Marilyn – book review / giveaway
Nov 12 – The Lost Review Of Odd Books – book review / author interview
Nov 12 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 15 – Cheryl's Book Nook – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 15 - Books for Books – book review
Nov 16 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Nov 16 - She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 17 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 17 - Bigreadersite - book review / giveaway
Nov 17 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 18 – I'd Rather Be At The Beach – book review / guest post
Nov 19 – 30-something Travel – book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway: Click on the link below to enter the giveaway for a chance to WIN a signed copy of Ponce: What Actually Happened at the Fountain of Youth. Good luck!

PONCE Book Tour Giveaway

October of Books Giveaway Hop

2021-10-01T11:30:00.018+01:00

For something a bit different, I'm participating in the October of Books Giveaway Hop hosted by It Starts at Midnight and Shooting Stars Mag...with something travel-related, of course!

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to read and review a brand new picture book for children entitled, Amal the Thirsty Gamal: A Christmas Tale by Robert Schorr, illustrated by Kristina Koontz. And since it seems like the right time to start thinking of holiday gifts, I'm giving away a hardcover copy of this delightful book set in the Middle East.

Amal the Thirsty Gamal is for every young person who might be anxious about how they are viewed by those around them (and yes, camels care about that too!). For so long, our little hero has been hearing taunts and jeers and thinking negative things about himself, his looks, and especially his little hump. But—oh, brace yourselves! — because Wise Men are traveling with Amal’s special caravan, and when one of them speaks up around the campfire one night, everything changes for little Amal!

Enter a below for your chance to WIN a copy of Amal the Thirsty Gamal.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Then click the blue button below to visit all of the bloggers offering giveaways in the October of Books Giveaway Hop. Good luck!

Author Interview: Jim Halverson

2021-09-10T16:35:00.000+01:00

Author Jim Halverson shares insights about the setting, situation and psychology that an unlucky group of travelers find themselves dealing with in the adventure novel, Wilderness Spa.

In Wilderness Spa, you made some interesting observations of camp life in the Alaskan wilderness. Have you been there?

Yes, I have rafted on wilderness rivers in Alaska, hiked in Denali, and climbed glaciers.

Much of Wilderness Spa deals with the campers’ search for answers and logical methods used to divine the truth. Yet, when it was most critical, they failed. What is the reasoning error they failed to address correctly?

Much like the everyday lives we lead, the campers failed to consider all options and possible consequences when they were desperate. To succeed, all facts, options, and consequences must be honestly considered.

Roberta portrays a positive absolute agenda, demanding uncompromised thought and logic until the last thing we read are her innermost concerns about rebuilding her logical foundation. Did you frame her life as a failure?

Not at all. In fact, I consider her even stronger because she has the emotional strength required to rebuild her convictions.

What advice would you offer to campers stranded in the wilderness?

Never react in desperation and always follow a river downstream.

The cover of Wilderness Spa features a Grizzly bear. Have you ever seen one up close?

I photographed a mother and three cubs from about thirty yards. My most concerning encounter came while hiking by myself when two cubs followed me about a hundred yards away and I didn’t know where their mother was.

Have any of your fireside chats in the wilderness emulated what you wrote in Wilderness Spa?

Not specifically, but always in depth and noteworthy. Interesting people working together in a common cause create memorable conversations.

For more information about Jim Halverson and his book, visit my earlier post Book Review + Giveaway: Wilderness Spa and enter for a chance to win a signed copy of the book!

Book Spotlight + Giveaway: Wilderness Spa

2021-09-10T09:27:00.003+01:00

With a wild Alaskan setting, Wilderness Spa is an introspective adventure novel for anyone who enjoys exploring the great outdoors.

Book Details:

Title:  Wilderness Spa: Where Physical Survival Meets Psychological Survival by Jim Halverson
Category: Adult Fiction 18+, 212 pages
Genre:  Literary
Publisher:  Gail Force Publishing
Release date: June 2021
Content Rating: PG-13

Book Description:

When disaster strikes in the wilderness, survival requires understanding.

Tom, the backwoods expert who lost everything.

Eric and Connor, wealthy brothers on a hunting trip.

A group of tourists, stranded by the same earthquake.

The Wilderness Spa brings people from three quite different sources together to survive catastrophe in the Alaskan wilderness. They amaze themselves in their ability to coalesce and work cohesively in the face of hunger, injury, insecurity, and possible death. With that on their minds, they explore statistics, logic, social justice and challenges to philosophies and social norms.

After rocky starts when new members enter the group, they learn to find the best in their fellow travelers, how to help, follow, and lead when necessary. Nothing is ever easy.

Join the group as they make the best of what they have. Struggle along with them and reconcile your own philosophical belief systems with logic and science.

Buy the Book
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Book Depository
Books A Million ~ Indie Bound

Meet the Author:

Jim Halverson is the author of Trials & Trails (2019) and Ponce, What Actually Happened at the Fountain of Youth (upcoming, 2021). Jim grew up in the rural, gold-mining town of Mokelumne Hill, CA and received his MBA from Golden Gate University. He spent part of his life on a ranch and is an avid student of psychology. He recognizes the struggles of all men and women seeking equality and respect. Jim and his wife, Gail, spend their time traveling from their small farm in Forestville, CA.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Aug 23 - Cover Lover Book Review - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 24 - Jazzy Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Aug 25 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book review / giveaway
Aug 26 - Sadie's Spotlight - book spotlight / giveaway
Aug 27 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book review / guest post / giveaway
Aug 30 - Books for Books - book review
Aug 31 -Cheryl's Book Nook - book review / giveaway
Sep 1 - Pick a Good Book - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Sep 1 - Rajiv's Reviews - book review / giveaway
Sep 2 - The Adventures of a Traveler's Wife - book review / author interview / giveaway
Sep 3 - Literary Flits - book spotlight / giveaway
Sep 6 - Bigreadersite - book review / giveaway
Sep 7 - Book Corner News and Reviews - book review / giveaway
Sep 7 - Splashes of Joy - book review / author interview/ giveaway
Sep 8 - Sefina Hawke's Books - book spotlight
Sep 9 - Kam's Place - book review
Sep 10 - Books and Zebras - book review
Sep 10 - Working Mommy Journal - book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway: Click the link below to enter the Wilderness Spa giveaway for your chance to WIN a signed copy of the book. Good luck!

BOOK REVIEW: Walking Isabella

2021-02-26T12:00:00.091+00:00

Book Details:

Book Title: Waking Isabella—because beauty can't sleep forever by Melissa Muldoon
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 271 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction
Publisher: Matta Press
Release date: November 2018
Format available for review: ebook (mobi for Kindle, epub), and audiobook (audible download
Tour dates: Feb 1 to Feb 26, 2021
Content Rating: PG-13 + M. includes mature themes (suicide, adultery, sexual relations, murder)

Book Description:

Waking Isabella is a story about uncovering hidden beauty that, over time, has been lost, erased, or suppressed. It also weaves together several love stories as well as a few mysteries.

Nora, an assistant researcher, is a catalyst for resolving the puzzle of a painting that has been missing for decades. Set in Arezzo, a small Tuscan town, the plot unfolds against the backdrop of the city’s antique trade and the fanfare and pageantry of its medieval jousting festival.

While filming a documentary about Isabella de’ Medici—the Renaissance princess who was murdered by her husband—Nora begins to connect with the lives of two remarkable women from the past. Unraveling the stories of Isabella, the daughter of a fifteenth-century Tuscan duke, and Margherita, a young girl trying to survive the war in Nazi-occupied Italy, Nora begins to question the choices that have shaped her own life up to this point. As she does, hidden beauty is awakened deep inside of her, and she discovers the keys to her creativity and happiness. It is a story of love and deceit, forgeries and masterpieces—all held together by the allure and intrigue of a beautiful Tuscan ghost.

My Thoughts:

From the coast of California to the charm of Tuscany, Waking Isabella whisks readers into a web of intrigue, history and soul searching in a stunning setting. Nora is in a personal and professional crisis as her marriage ends and her career is at crossroads. So when an old friend pops up on social media, Nora takes a leap of faith and puts in motion a journey that ultimately connects her with a Medici princess. In a mix of old and new, past and present, Waking Isabella keeps a quick pace as it weaves together the history of the murder of a Isabella and the present day story of a modern woman searching for who she is and how she wants to spend her life. The story is layered with rich details about Renaissance Italy and gorgeous descriptions of the paintings, jewelry and traditions that capture the opulence of the time. While the contemporary scenes relay the pace, flavors and lifestyle of today's Italian villages. I enjoyed learning about this little-known piece of history and experiencing the dramatic story of Isabella through the eyes of a rebellious young woman. I also appreciated that the story was appropriately complex without easy answers to Nora's big questions. If you're lucky enough to find yourself in Tuscany in the near future, this is a great book to bring along.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
B&N ~ Bookshop ~ BookBub
Autographed from Author
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves.

Melissa is also the author of the Studentessa Matta website, where she promotes the study of Italian language and culture through her dual-language blog written in Italian and English (studentessamatta.com). Studentessa Matta means the “crazy linguist” and has grown to include a podcast, Tutti Matti per l’Italiano and the Studentessa Matta, YouTube channel, Facebook page and Instagram feed. Melissa also created Matta Italian Language Immersion Programs, which she co-leads with Italian schools in Italy to learn Italian in Italy.

Through her website, she also offers the opportunities to live and study in Italy through Homestay programs. Melissa has a B.A. in fine arts, art history, and European history from Knox College, a liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, as well as a master’s degree in art history from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She has also studied painting and art history in Florence. She is an artist, designer, and illustrated the cover art for all four of her books. Melissa is the managing director of Matta Press

Connect with the author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

Tour Schedule:

Feb 1 - The Pen and Muse Book Reviews - spotlight of all 3 books / giveaway
Feb 1 - Sefina Hawke's Books - spotlight of all 3 books
Feb 2 - Working Mommy Journal - review of Sofonisba / giveaway
Feb 2 - Books for Books - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 3 - Working Mommy Journal - review of Isabella / giveaway
Feb 3 - Books for Books - review of Isabella
Feb 4 - I'm All About Books - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 5 - History from a Woman’s Perspective - review of Sofonisba
Feb 8 - Olio by Marilyn - review of Sofonisba / author interview / giveaway
Feb 8 - Literary Flits - review of Sofonisba / giveaway
Feb 9 - History from a Woman’s Perspective - review of Artemisia
Feb 10 - Sadie's Spotlight - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 10 - Gwendalyn’s Books - review of Sofonisba / author interview / giveaway
Feb 11 - History from a Woman’s Perspective - review of Isabella
Feb 11 - Books for Books - review of Artemisia
Feb 12 - Book Corner News and Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 12 - Stephanie Jane - spotlight of all 3 books / giveaway
Feb 15 - Elizabeth McKenna - Author Blog - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 16 - Deborah-Zenha Adams - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 16 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Sofonisba / guest post / giveaway
Feb 17 - Gwendalyn’s Books - review of Isabella
Feb 17 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of Sofonisba / giveaway
Feb 17 - Splashes of Joy - spotlight of all 3 books / author interview / giveaway
Feb 18 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of Isabella / giveaway
Feb 18 - Books and Zebras @jypsylynn - review of Sofonisba / giveaway
Feb 19 - Locks, Hooks and Books - review of Artemisia / giveaway
Feb 19 - 30-something Travel - review of Sofonisba / guest post / giveaway
Feb 19 - Books Lattes & Tiaras - review of Sofonisba
Feb 22 - Books Lattes & Tiaras - review of Isabella
Feb 22 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Isabella / giveaway
Feb 23 - Rockin' Book Reviews - review of Artemisia / giveaway
Feb 23 - Jazzy Book Reviews - spotlight of all 3 books / giveaway
Feb 24 - Library of Clean Reads - review of Sofonisba / giveaway
Feb 25 - Olio by Marilyn - review of Artemisia / giveaway
Feb 26 - High Society Book Club & Reviews - review of Sofonisba + spotlight previous books / guest post / giveaway
Feb 26 - 30-something Travel - review of Isabella / giveaway
Feb 26 - Books Lattes & Tiaras - review of Artemisia

Enter the Giveaway: Click the link below for a chance to WIN a print copy of THE SECRET LIFE OF SOFONISBA ANGUISSOLA plus the audiobook edition. Good luck! Enter below. Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review + Giveaway: The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola

2021-02-19T14:40:00.000+00:00

Book Details:

Book Title: The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola - the most famous woman you've never heard of

Author: Melissa Muldoon
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 345 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction
Publisher: Matta Press
Release date: December 2020
Content Rating: PG-13 + M. includes mature themes (suicide, adultery, sexual relations, murder)

Book Description:

Set in the sixteenth-century, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola tells the story of a woman’s passion for painting and adventure. In a world where women painters had little to no acknowledgment, she was singled out by Michelangelo and Vasari who recognized and praised her talent. Gaining the Milanese elite’s acclaim, she went on to become court painter to Spanish King Philip II and taught his queen to paint.

One can’t live such an extraordinary life without having stories to tell, and tell them Sofonisba does to Sir Anthony Van Dyke, who comes to visit her toward the end of her life. During their meeting, she agrees to reveal her secrets but first challenges the younger painter to find the one lie hidden in her tale. In a saga filled with intrigue, jealousy, buried treasure, unrequited love, espionage, and murder, Sofonisba’s story is played out against the backdrop of Italy, Spain, and Sicily. Throughout her life, she encounters talented artists, authoritative dukes, mad princes, religious kings, spying queens, vivacious viscounts, and dashing sea captains—even a Barbary pirate. But of all the people who fell in love with Sofonisba, only one captured her heart. The painter may have many secrets but the truth of her life is crystal clear from the beginning.

Always a strong, passionate woman with a dream, she was an intelligent artist who knew her self-worth and in the end, as Michelangelo had done for her, Sofonisba passed her brush to a new generation.

My Thoughts:

The fascinating life of a little-known Renaissance painter is brought to life in Melissa Muldoon's latest book, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. The atmosphere is wonderfully described through the senses -- from the style of dress to the aromas of the streets and the glamor of royal life in sixteenth century Europe. Though women artists went largely unrecognized at the time, Sofonisba's father had faith in her talent and educated both his sons and daughters. As a result, Sofonisba arrives in Italy to study and, after a chance meeting in the Sistine Chapel, she is taught by Michelangelo. Her incredible talent is further and as Sofonisba develops her ability in portraiture, she finds herself teaching art to Queen Elizabeth in Spain and becoming the court painter. I really enjoyed the structure of the story. Taking a tiny piece of historical fact -- that Flemish painter Anthony van Dyck visited Sofonisba late in her life -- the story unfolds through the tale she tells to him. In this way, readers feel that Sofonisba is telling us her own story -- the way she wants it told. For anyone wanting to read about Italian painters on a visit to Italy or Spain, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola is a wonderful choice in historic fiction to bring along.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Bookshop
Autographed from Author
Add to Goodreads

Also by Melissa Muldoon:

Book Details:

Book Title: Eternally Artemisia—some loves, like some women, are timeless by Melissa Muldoon
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 305 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction
Publisher: Matta Press
Release date: March 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 + M. includes mature themes (suicide, adultery, sexual relations, murder)

Book Description:

They say some loves travel through time and are fated to meet over and over again. For Maddie, an art therapist, who wrestles with the “peculiar feeling” she has lived previous lives and is being called to Italy by voices that have left imprints on her soul, this idea is intriguing. Despite her best efforts, however, proof of this has always eluded her. That is, until one illuminating summer in Italy when Maddie’s previous existences start to bleed through into her current reality.

When she is introduced to the Crociani family—a noble clan with ties to the seventeenth-century Medici court that boasts of ancestors with colorful pasts—she finally meets the loves of her life. One is a romantic love, and another is a special kind of passion that only women share, strong amongst those who have suffered greatly yet have triumphed despite it. As Maddie's relationship develops with Artemisia Gentileschi—an artist who in a time when it was unheard of to denounce a man for the crime of rape, did just that—Maddie discovers a kindred spirit and a role model, and just what women are capable of when united together.

In a journey that arcs back to biblical days and moves forward in time, Maddie encounters artists, dukes, designers, and movie stars as well as baser and ignoble men. With Artemisia never far from her side, she proves that when we dare to take control of our lives and find the “thing” we are most passionate about, we are limitless and can touch the stars.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
B&N ~ Bookshop ~ BookBub
Autographed from Author
Add to Goodreads

Connect with the author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~Instagram ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads

Enter the Giveaway: Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to WIN a print copy of THE SECRET LIFE OF SOFONISBA ANGUISSOLA plus the audiobook edition. Good luck!

Guest Post by author Doreen M. Cumberford

2021-02-11T14:30:00.005+00:00

Next Time You Travel – Pack Your Invisible Suitcase

Much of the benefit of travel lies in the delight and stimulation we enjoy from visiting different geographical locations that offer lots of new experiences. As a lifelong traveler of over 40 years (shhhhh) my brain has constantly had to adjust to new smells, new languages, new tastes, new sights and new sensations.

An example, I vividly remember arriving in Istanbul to a fabulous loft suite in a hotel that was nestled amidst dozens of domes. When the prayer calls started, the sounds bounced off all these beautiful architectural wonders like invisible boomerangs to create the sensation of being inside a sound bowl stimulated from every direction.

That experience is one that I carry with me everywhere I go now, and at the drop of a hat, when precipitated by another magical experience involving sound, I can bring it back up to the desktop of my mind and revisit it. This is but one item in my invisible suitcase.

This invisible suitcase we pack and carry with us has no value if it is empty of life purpose and vision.

But what else might this invisible suitcase look like and what might it hold?

That suitcase is of course our mind. Now I am not talking about our physical brain, although neuroscience is demonstrating daily how our brain is physically and chemically changed by all the sensory experiences we have. I am referring to that part of our being which thinks, processes and dreams our physical lives into existence – our mind!

This invisible suitcase we pack and carry with us has no value if it is empty of life purpose and vision. The following is a partial list of the items you might want to consider packing before you take a trip, a cruise, a journey or a pilgrimage.

· Hopes and Dreams

· Life Purpose & Vision

· Habits

· Health & Well-Being

Here is an order for packing!

Hopes and Dreams

Without hopes and dreams there is little chance you will arrive at a new place or situation and be happy with it. Creating a working vision and having a life-purpose helps catapult these dreams into action.

Now these dreams should be carefully selected, mindfully packed and gently carried across the world.

Life Purpose and Vision

If we imagine our hopes and dreams to be like a loaf of bread, then our vision is the yeast or leavening agent. This helps to multiply and grow the results. Packing a sensory visual picture of what we would prefer, enjoy or absolutely love to have, be or do is foundational.

Connecting your life’s purpose to travel, rather than just traveling without purpose is the most joyful experience ever. Your journeys transform into pilgrimages or heroine’s journeys and simultaneously deepen and awaken us to what is possible, far more than staying home ever will.

Habits

Observing our daily habits is not exactly the most fun activity, for me personally. However. I have discovered along the way through living in eight countries that raising our awareness can identify habits that serve or hold us back.

Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure is a snapshot into a different lifestyle. I am pretty sure that many of the habits I had in the US, Cameroon, Japan, Dubai etc. are still with me today here in Mexico, but I have dropped some that were not serving me, and added new ones.

Travel and a change of environment can assist tremendously in creating new habits, and it also gives us the option to take a breather, sit down and evaluate what is working and what is not.

Health and Wellbeing

Remember the old saying “everywhere you go, there you are” (Jon Kabat-Zinn)? Well, everywhere we go our body is along for the ride. From the casual traveler who goes away for a weekend, to the tourist, to a global nomad working and moving from place to place, or a full-time expat planted overseas, everywhere we go our health and wellbeing go with us.

Wellbeing embraces everything from personal habits, mindset, physical exercise, nutritional choices and everything in between. Having consistent healthy and happy habits packed inside your invisible suitcase will guarantee you a much more satisfying journey.

The next time you are packing for a trip, give some attention to the invisible side of your nature, the part of you that you carry everywhere you go, but sometimes arrives disheveled and upset.

So next time you travel, take both your suitcases, the visible and the invisible!

For more information about Doreen M. Cumberford and a chance to win her latest book, Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure visit my earlier post, Spotlight + Giveaway: Life in the Camel Lane.

Book Spotlight + Giveaway: Life in the Camel Lane

2021-02-11T10:00:00.034+00:00

Ah, the expat life. It's a complicated thing, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. In Life in the Camel Lane, author Doreen M. Cumberford gives us a peek inside the adventures of expats living in Saudi Arabia.

Book Details:

Book Title: Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure

Author: Doreen M. Cumberford
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+), 288 pages
Genre: Memoir
Publisher: White Heather Press
Release date: April, 2020
Tour dates: Jan 25 to Feb 12, 2021
Content Rating: G. There are no offensive scenes or language

Book Description:

Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure is what Doreen Cumberford, a Scottish author, calls her learnoire! It is a combination of her story and the stories of other expats learned while living in Saudi Arabia for 15 years as expat employees or spouses.

The book takes the reader through the four stages of culture shock: arrival, honeymoon, frustration and adjustment stages to final acceptance followed by the return journey back to their home country – mostly the USA. From Saudi weddings, to falconry, to the inability of women to drive at that time, the book seeks to familiarize us with the Saudi culture, lifestyle, and deep traditions of hospitality, generosity and tolerance from an insider’s perspective. There are also chapters on the experiences of 9/11 in the terrorists’ home country and the “Terror Years” of internal terror tactics from inside Saudi Arabia designed to drive the expats out of the country and destroy the Saudi government.

Full of examples, stories and compelling honesty the author describes their most challenging journey and many of the lessons learned in the process together. Designed to provide useful insights and inspiration to anyone considering living abroad, Life in the Camel Lane shines the light on the subject of building a new identity and home while abroad, and the difficulties of the journey home.

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author

Doreen Cumberford is a Scottish expat author who has been global traveler for more than four decades. In her 20s Doreen left her home in Scotland and drove down to London to become a member of Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Her first posting was as the youngest and most junior British Embassy staffer in Cameroon, West Africa. Later she moved back to London and took a position with an American oil-field construction company based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

After moving to America, living in Louisiana then California, two extremely different cultures in the USofA, Doreen and family moved overseas to Japan then spent the following 15 years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With 13 major moves under her belt, she understands the value of moving, building a new life and handling inter-cultural hurdles. One constant has been her ability to explore through the lens of adventure. Her stories are full of multi-cultural intelligence, messy multilingual communications and multi-global perspectives.

Doreen is currently based on Denver, Colorado although spends most of the year living adventurously in the Housesitting Lane, which takes her around the globe. Currently she is doing her best to install Spanish in her brain which previously had French and smatterings of Japanese and Arabic. She is passionate about cultural intelligence, global heartedness and life on the road. Featured in the Anthology: Empowering Women, and a co-author in 2018 of Arriving Well: Stories About Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering Home After Living Abroad.

2020 sees the publication of Life in the Camel Lane: Embrace the Adventure. Honest, compassionate, full of wisdom and inspiration, Life in the Camel Lane comprises stories mostly from women and men who lived in Saudi Arabia from 1950s onward. This memoir contains expert advice sage wisdom and stories that all globally mobile families can use to navigate their international journey. The principles in this book will also encourage anyone who is embracing a more adventurous life, or considering taking the leap to move overseas.

Connect with the Author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Tour Schedule

Jan 25 - Cover Lover Book Review - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 25 - Working Mommy Journal - book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 26 - Splashes of Joy - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 27 - 100 Pages A Day - book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 28 - Lisa's Reading - book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 28 - Reading is My Passion - book spotlight
Jan 29 - Rockin' Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Jan 29 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 1 - Sefina Hawke's Books - book spotlight
Feb 2 - Book Corner News and Reviews - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 2 - Deborah-Zenha Adams - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 3 - Books Lattes & Tiaras - book spotlight / author interview
Feb 4 - Books for Books - book spotlight
Feb 4 - From the TBR Pile - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 5 - Jazzy Book Reviews - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 8 - Westveil Publishing - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 9 - Library of Clean Reads - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 10 - Stephanie Jane - book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 11 - 30-something Travel - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 11 - High Society Book Review & Club - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 12 - Laura's Interests - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 12 - Books and Zebras - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway

Enter for your chance to WIN 1 of 5 kindle copies of LIFE IN THE CAMEL LANE or $25 Amazon or Starbucks Gift Card. Good luck! Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway.

As seen on...

Guest Post by W. M. Raebeck

2020-10-16T14:00:00.004+01:00

As someone who finds myself in Hawaii often, it has occasionally been asked: Would you ever move there? So I can complete relate to today's guest post.

Moving to Hawai’i?

by W. M. Raebeck

(author of 'Silence of Islands—poems')

Though I’ll probably stay forever, and it remains something of a fantasy, there are tricky elements to Hawai’i life for newcomers from the Mainland.

Namely, the best thing about Hawai’i is also the worst: the remoteness. When you think of Hawai’i, you probably think of it as 'out there somewhere,' maybe near Fiji or Tahiti or Guam? Or perhaps it’s closer to New Zealand or the Philippines? Obviously, it’s far from the US mainland, but it’s near something else, right? Indonesia? The Cook Islands? Japan?

Wait a minute, where IS Hawai’i exactly?

Not until you live here a while does it sink in that you’re no longer near anything. Hawai’i’s closest landfall is California—2600 miles away. The Hawaiian Islands—totalling eight, and part of a larger (uninhabited) island chain called the Sandwich Islands—is the most remote archipelago on the planet!

Digesting that, your next adjustment is that you won’t be taking short trips anymore. Going away for the weekend, except to other Hawaiian islands, means flying all day Saturday to get there then all day Sunday to get home. Fun! Five and a half hours is our shortest plane ride to anywhere, and not including Honolulu stopovers. Plus the three- to six-hour time differential on the Mainland is another impediment. And, despite the challenges, when you finally do board a plane, it still feels like leaving your permanent vacation to take a temporary one. Ditching shangri-la to visit siblings in Syracuse isn’t everyone’s idea of a respite. But we miss those folks (and they rarely wash up on our shores).

Speaking of travel, let’s say you love road trips. Oops, three of our four main islands can be driven in half a day. Plus, your scenic byway will peeter out after fifty or sixty miles. So, all you can do is snap some pix then turn around and drive back—no charming B & B then resuming the road next morning. Nope, you’ll be back in your own bed in time for the evening news.

The tropics, indeed, are magical, the billowing tradewinds luxurious and romantic, the nights velvet and balmy. But the days can be bleedin’ hot. And we have to program our activities around that sizzle. In fact, most locals get up with or before the sun, since walking, running, gardening, or doing anything outdoors becomes unbearable by 9 a.m., and remains so ’til 5 p.m. You'll hear lawnmowers and weed-whackers are still going strong at 6 or 7 p.m.

Also, after a while, Hawai’i can seem something of a theme park. Though Covid has temporarily terminated tourism, normally luaus, hula dancers, surfboards, Hawaiian shirts, and ukuleles plaster the panorama. Hawaiian music pipes from commercial locales and Jeeps crammed with giddy visitors pile up at every scenic overlook, drive-up eatery, and tiki bar.

Or maybe you fancy cozying up to a fireplace on a wintry night with a snifter of brandy? We don’t have fireplaces—how 'bout a beach fire with some brewskis? Or you like going to Europe now and then? Europe’s a million miles from here. For us, the East Coast is the Far East. (And the actual Far East is almost as close as California.)

But we don’t mind the trade-offs. Remoteness is our saving grace—assuring genuine peace, clean air, and sparkling water. Our broiling tropics allow shorts and flip-flops year-round, a 12-month growing season, and fresh water falling from the sky. We swim all year in turquoise seas, gape at daily rainbows, and follow the phases of the moon. We greet each other with aloha and it’s not fake. Our towns are safe, neighborhoods friendly. We’re not 'poliitical' and we avoid disagreement. And though we're technically one of the United States, we perceive ourselves as separate.

So despite exhausting travel, no weekend getaways, scorching afternoons, and the commercial side of aloha, over here we have a saying that’s heard frequently and sincerely, "Lucky we live Hawai’i."

Author W. M. Raebeck

For more information about W. M. Raebeck, Silence of Islands and a chance to win a copy of the book, visit Blog Tour + Giveaway: Silence of Islands.

More posts about Hawai'i can be found here:

Guest Post: Honeymoon in Maui

Best Fish Tacos in Maui

Photo Journal of Maui: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3

Mahalo,

30-something Travel

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Silence of Islands

2020-10-16T09:42:00.021+01:00

With few opportunities to travel this year, it was an absolute joy to be whisked away to places like Zaxos, Venice and Kaua'i through W.M. Raebeck's vivid poetry in her latest book, Silence of Islands.

Title: Silence of Islands - Poems | Author: W.M. Raebeck | Genre: Poetry/Adult Non-Fiction Publisher: Hula Cat Press | Release date: July 2020

Book Description: Poetry for the summer day, poetry for the dark night. Poems that cut a walkable trail through the forest of life. Always with a nudge and a wink, “It’ll be okay.” This collection reflects a lifetime of nature, love, travel, death, joy, art, family, and the eternal questions. A potion of emotion to soothe and move you.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N ~BAM ~ KOBO
Add to Goodreads

My Thoughts: This year, as armchair travel replaced actual travel, I made a conscious effort to learn more about poetry. From studying poetry forms to trying my hand at writing my own poems, I discovered a world of imaginative, evocative writing that I had in some ways overlooked. Perhaps it's a fear of "not getting it" that kept me away. So I loved the description of Silence of Islands as a "potion of emotion" because I get that -- this collection of personal poems is exactly that, a combination of so many feelings from so many places experienced through a lifetime of observation, love and living.

Some of my favorite poems in this collection include "Close Friends" -- a hilarious web of people, interconnected through place, love and circumstance, "Boats" -- a bittersweet memory of life before tourists on an island in Greece and "Romance" -- a reminder of that wonderful feeling of new love. From love and loss to hope and happiness, this collection touches on so many emotions, both wonderful and difficult, that we experience in the moments in life.

The sense of place is especially powerful in these wonderful poems. Absorbed in the writing, it's a little surprise at the end where the author includes the date and place where the poem was written, to discover where you have just been. And it was a real joy to visit all of these amazing places, especially when I couldn't get there myself.

Meet the Author: W. M. Raebeck's trademarks are humorous candor, spiritual stretching, and frequent exits from the comfort zone. She lives in Hawaii, with regular Mainland visits. Her five books to date are true-life accounts, from the misadventures of a sugar-freak hippie chick ('I Did Inhale') to 20 stories about art, Hollywood, and spirits ('Stars in Our Eyes') to trekking through the Costa Rican rainforest ('Expedition Costa Rica') to teaching yoga in Santa Monica ('Some Swamis are Fat')* and now her poetry collection, 'Silence of Islands.' Before authoring, Raebeck was a film and television actress based in LA, London, and NYC. She went on to freelance journalism, contributing to the then-alternative world of green politics, environmental protection, U.S. involvement in Central American wars, socially conscious investing, and much more. Her articles were always accompanied by her own photography, including numerous cover stories for the LA Weekly and other papers like the East Hampton Star from her former hometown. In Raebeck's personal life, yoga and natural health (sugar notwithstanding) remain institutions. As is maintaining a zero-waste household. Animal rights and environmental activism are lifelong commitments, including all-too-frequent bird rescue. W. M. Raebeck's books are available in print and ebook worldwide, and can be ordered from any book store or library. Audio editions are in the works! For additional info, or to join the email list, visit WendyRaebeck.com. Her next book, 'Nicaragua Story—Back Roads of the Contra War,' takes a hard look at a people's war, and will be out in 2021. * 'Some Swamis are Fat' is under the pen-name Ava Greene.

Connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ goodreads

Enter the Giveaway: Click here to enter the giveaway for your chance to WIN 1 of 5 ebooks of SILENCE OF ISLANDS or a $25 Amazon Gift Card (6 winners)! Open to Amazon.com customers everywhere.

Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:
Oct 12 – Merlot Et Mots – book review / author interview
Oct 12 - Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Oct 13 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 14 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / author interview / giveaway
Oct 14 - Cover Lover Book Review - book review / giveaway
Oct 15 – Literary Flits – book review / giveaway
Oct 15 - Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review
Oct 15 - Pick a good book – book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 16 – 30-something Travel – book review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 16 - Chit Chat with Charity - book review / author interview
Oct 19 – Pen Possessed – book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 19 - Sefina Hawke's Books – book review
Oct 20 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / guest post / giveaway
Oct 20 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Oct 21 – Alexis Marie Chute – book review / author interview
Oct 21 - Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Oct 22 - Lisa's Reading - book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 23 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Oct 23 - Books for Books – book review

As seen on...

Marine Iguana Craft for Curious Kids

2020-09-08T11:03:00.014+01:00

Dreaming of your next vacation?

Take the kids to the Galapagos Islands with this Marine Iguana Craft

Marine Iguanas are fierce, fascinating reptiles unique to the Galapagos Islands. They have the unique ability to dive into the water and use their strong tail to glide through the water. Marine Iguanas are a common site on the islands of Isabela, Fernandina and Santa Cruz clinging to coastal rocks with their long claws or sunning themselves on the beach.

In this simple craft for kids, follow the step-by-step instructions with common household supplies – construction paper, scissors, glue and markers – and they will have their very own marine iguana in no time!

Click here for a full-color PDF with helpful step-by-step instructions: DIY Marine Iguana.

Read more about marine iguanas in the picture book, Wally the Warm-Weather Penguin, now available on Amazon in ebook format for only $.99!

Booking Around the World - King's Library Tower

2019-11-25T20:00:00.000+00:00

Whenever I'm in a new place, I seem to be looking for a bookstore (and a coffeeshop or restaurant and cute shops). I've found some amazing books in gorgeous stores and bought lots of children's books in languages I can't read. Booking Around the World highlights wonderful books, bookshops and bookish images that I have discovered on my travels.

The nearly impossible to photograph King's Library Tower.

Since I currently live in London, it's fitting to start with a classic image from the British Library. The King’s Library Tower sits smack in the middle of the British Library. It spans six stories and is covered with glass making for a stunning spectacle from any angle. The books contained inside are actually the collection of King George III and include over 65,000 bound copies.

I'd highly recommend popping in the British Library -- it's free -- for a peek of the King's Library Tower when in London.

British Library
96 Euston Road
London NW1 2DB
https://www.bl.uk/

Blog Tour + Giveaway - Made in Italy

2019-02-15T06:00:00.000+00:00

Title: Made in Italy | Author: Laura Morelli | Genre: Adult Non-fiction Publisher: Authentic Arts Publishing | Release date: January 2019

Description: Richly painted maiolica ceramics from Tuscany. Supple Florentine leather. The cameos of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Parmigiano-Reggiano, the king of cheeses. Jaw-dropping glass from the island of Murano.

Made in Italy takes you on a complete tour of the dazzling artisanal legacy of Italy, uncovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and one-of-a-kind, hidden workshops where everything from leather bags to gilded frames are turned out completely by hand, piece by piece.

This book includes instructions for getting a free copy of the companion guide, Artisans of Italy, with complete, continually updated listings of Laura's personally recommended shops and artisans across Italy.

Laura Morelli, art historian and trusted guide in the world of cultural travel and authentic shopping, leads you behind the tourist traps to discover some of Italy's most traditional arts.

Laura holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and shares how, what, and where to buy; hints on recognizing quality and authenticity; and tips for bringing home the artisanal treasures of Italy in your suitcase.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Author's Website

Add to Goodreads

About the Author

LAURA MORELLI holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, has taught college students in the U.S. and in Italy, and currently produces art history lessons for TED-Ed. She authored a column for National Geographic Traveler called “The Genuine Article” and has contributed pieces about art and authentic travel to CNN Radio, The Frommers Travel Show, and in USA TODAY, Departures, and other media.

Laura is the author of the Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes the popular book Made in Italy. Her fiction brings the stories of art history to life. Her debut novel, The Gondola Maker, won an IPPY for Best Historical Fiction and a Benjamin Franklin Award.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway! One winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Made in Italy by Laura Morelli. Open in the U.S. and Canada only. Ends March 15, 2019. Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

5 Great Travel Journals for Your Next Vacation

2019-01-31T19:17:00.000+00:00

My sister is traveling to Europe this summer with her family in tow. Three kids aged 8 - 18 will be experiencing new cultures for the first time and she wants them to remember it. What better way that journaling? Here are five great travel journal ideas for your next vacation...and they aren't just for kids.

The Family Adventure Journal (Coming Soon!) - Chronicle makes books worth waiting for. So if you aren't traveling until later this year, check out this gorgeous notebook when it's released in March. With prompts, pockets and lots of things to do as a family, this little journal is well-worth packing.

I Was Here: A Travel Journal for the Curious Minded ($13) - Colorful pages and super fun ways to track your favorites, makes journaling easy with this notebook. From reference information to spaces to draw or check off how you're feeling, there are creative ways to store memories and all for a very reasonable price.

Moleskine Voyageur Hard Cover Notebook ($20) - Moleskine could be considered the king of notebooks with beautiful leather-covered, hardback books. This purpose-made travel notebook is pocket-sized and more focused on planning the perfect trip but with plenty of pages for jotting down your favorite spots.

Rifle Paper Co. Passport Pocket Notebooks ($10 for 2 notebooks) - I can't pass up Rifle note cards as they are lovely quality and always beautiful designs. With these simple and inexpensive notebooks, you can't go wrong if all you need is some blank sheets to jot down your thoughts.

Momento (Free) - Techies rejoice, there's a journal app for you too. Designed as a daily diary, it can easily be used when traveling. Automatically save photos with comments, check-in at top places and save a list of your favorite things right on your phone. App available for free from the iTunes App Store.

When my family and I travel, I buy a postcard. During our trip, I fill it out with all the things we did, interesting food we ate or special memories. Then I post it back home and we have a lovely memento to save from every place we visit.

Happy Travels and Happy Journaling!
30-something Travel

Book Review: All the Way to Italy

2018-05-18T20:21:00.000+01:00

If this image looks familiar, it's because I posted a Spotlight of this book last week. But today I'm posting my review of this fabulous book about family, loss and finding out who you really are.

Title: All the Way to Italy: A modern tale of homecoming through generations past | Author: Flavia Brunetti | Genre: Adult Fiction/YA | Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni | Release date: April 21, 2018

My Thoughts: All the Way to Italy is quite simply a stunning book. Brunetti's writing is so beautiful that readers are pulled into Little's world spanning continents and eras with gorgeous prose and evocative scenery. She tugged at my heart strings when Little returned to Rome after her father's death and left me with tightened jaws after tense encounters with her estranged half-sister. She simply has a command of language in both English and the scattering of Italian she uses in just the right places that is absolutely absorbing.

My favorite part was reading about two cities I love -- San Francisco and Rome. Probably because I lived in San Fran for 10 years, it was wonderful to be there again through the eyes of a 20-something woman figuring out who she is. But Rome was wonderful too. From cobbled streets and Old World smells to crowded trams and determined shoppers, I was transported into the wonderful city that Brunetti describes as somehow both old and new at the same time.

The characters are also enchanting. Her warm, but mysterious, father holds a presence throughout the story even though it takes place after his death. Her aunt, the woman who raised her, is a typically stern but respected older woman who has secrets of her own. The untraditional family structure is a bit confusing to understand at first, but is a refreshingly unique premise for a family saga.

I'm a new fan of this talented writer and absolutely adore All the Way to Italy. It will be in my beach bag when I head to Italy this summer and I'd recommend it to visitors to Italy and armchair travelers alike.

To follow the tour and read all the reviews, visit Flavia Brunetti's page on Italy Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

Add to Goodreads

Connect with the author: Website ~ Blog on Rome ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

And don't forget...

Enter the Giveaway! 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. Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Blog Tour + Review + Giveaway - Sass, Smarts and Stilettos

2018-05-10T23:27:00.000+01:00

Title: Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos: How Italian Women Mae the Ordinary Extraordinary Author: Gariella Contestabile | Category: Women's Fiction | Genre: Travel, Arts, Fashion, Self-Help | Publisher: Sumisura Publications | Release date: November 2017

Description: Ah, that inimitable Italian style. It’s embedded in an Italian woman’s DNA. Fashion doesn’t define her. She defines herself. She knows an extraordinary life is not about status, money, or achievement. The only mastery it requires is one her heritage has given her, the irrepressible passion to make art of life itself.

Ask an Italian woman where she gets her sense of style and she will tell you it’s not about labels. It’s tethered to humble roots; humanity, community, conscious consumerism, and a profound appreciation for art in all its forms.

Sass, Smarts and Stilettos takes the reader on a journey from the humble hill towns of Abruzzo to the revered fashion capitals of Milan and Rome, into the artisan workshops of Florence, and the humanistic business practices of Luisa Spagnoli, Brunello Cuccinelli, and Alberta Ferretti, from the emergence of Italy’s fashion industry after WWII, to slow food and sustainable fashion initiatives taking root around the world.

Life lessons echo in the words of the author’s mother and grandmother, in the voices of Italian film divas, designers, tastemakers, writers, and artisans across generations, from the first Sala Bianca in Florence to the game-changing design ethic of Franca Sozzani, Miuccia Prada, and Donatella Versace.

Learn how to live fully within your own philosophy of living. Say goodbye to mindless consumerism, emotional clutter, and others’ expectations. Create a personal style that fits like a custom blazer by Ferrè and enchants like the colors of a Sicilian sunset. Then go on to craft an extraordinary and empowering life made-to-measure for you alone.

To read reviews, please visit Gabriella Contestabile's page on Italy Book Tours.

My Thoughts: Every so often a book comes along at just the right time with just the right message. As an Italian-American who just moved overseas (again), I was questioning the transient lifestyle my husband and I have created especially now that it affects our young son. Enter Sass, Smarts & Stilettos. Reading a book written by someone who experienced multiple international relocations as a child was uncanny as I struggle to figure out if/where we should settle down. Beyond that immediate connection, it spoke of home to me. Even though I grew up in America, so many of the traditions, foods and feelings expressed throughout this enchanting book were immediately familiar. I know, as I've always known, that the Italian in me is what makes me who I am. I recently met a lovely new (Italian) friend in London (my current home) and was struck by how easy it was to get along with her. Her warmth and zest for life was upfront and obvious from the moment she crossed the room to introduce herself. For me this book made me remember who I am. It also made me want to immediately take inventory of my closet and toss everything that doesn't make me feel good. I even took the author's advice and tried on my outfits for a weekend away -- which saved me from bringing too much and from bringing something that I didn't realize was stained beyond saving. Speaking of the author, she writes like we are her best friends or maybe her sisters as she passes on little lessons she's learned along the way. She's the smart, stylish friend you've always wanted or wanted to be. There is so much thoughtful, smart and compelling information wrapped into charming vignettes about life, love, food, fashion, family, art and history -- the Italian way. If you have even a drop of Italian in you (or know someone who does), you'll love Sass, Smarts & Stilettos. And if you don't, you'll enjoy a glimpse into the wonderful way that Italians live. Hmm, maybe we should make one more move...to Italy.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Chapters Indigo ~ Kobo

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Gabriella Contestabile is the author of the novel, The Artisan’s Star, and owner of Su Misura (Made to Measure) Journeys; a boutique travel concept for the female traveler who relishes off-the-beaten-track adventures that celebrate the Italian way of life.

The book/travel initiative has its roots in her pre-writer life as a foreign language teacher, later as Executive Director and Vice President of International Training in a number of global companies (including Estee Lauder, Shiseido, and Prada Beauty) where she would create immersive and unconventional learning experiences in unique settings around the world.

One of her favorite pastimes, wherever she is in the world, is to scout out the best, and most ‘Italian’ espresso in the hood. It requires multiple tastings, but that’s the idea. Gabriella was born in Italy, and raised in Ottawa and New York City, where she currently lives with her husband, her mother, and a furry Shih Tzu named Oreo.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ LinkedIn

Enter the Giveaway! Win a $15 Amazon gift card (open international / 2 winners total). Ends May 19, 2018. Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. Buona fortuna!

All the Way to Italy - Blog Tour + Giveaway!

2018-05-04T09:20:00.000+01:00

Title: All the Way to Italy: A modern tale of homecoming through generations past | Author: Flavia Brunetti | Genre: Adult Fiction/YA | Publisher: Ali Ribelli Edizioni | Release date: April 21, 2018

Description: 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 bel paese 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.

To follow the tour and read reviews, please visit Flavia Brunetti's page on Italy Book Tours.

Buy the Book:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

Add to Goodreads

About the Author:

Photo credit: Roberta Perrone

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. You can find her city blog on Rome at whichwaytorome.com and her portfolio of published writing at flaviinrome.com.

Connect with Flavia: Website ~ Blog on Rome ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram

Enter the Giveaway! 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. Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. Buona fortuna!

The Best Books about Galapagos to read while you're there - Guest Post on Think Galapagos

2018-05-01T10:56:00.000+01:00

I was thrilled to be a guest blogger recently at Think Galapagos, the fabulous UK-based tourism experts and specialist guides for the Galapagos Islands. Visit their site for the full post and see my list of recommended reading before visiting the Galapagos Islands.

The Best Books about Galapagos to read while you're there - Guest Blog by Stephanie Ward

"I love reading books about the place I'm visiting on vacation. And if you're heading to the Galapagos Islands, there is a vast array of things to read -- from non-fiction to natural history, sci-fi to fiction."

Blog Tour + Travel Photographer Interview + Giveaway: Walk With Me by Debra Schoenberger

2018-03-12T13:00:00.000+00:00

As a wannabe travel photographer, I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to highlight a fascinating collection of photos from Debra Schoenberger. She has even given us a sneak peak into the inspiration behind her work with an interview about the photographers that she admires. Read on to learn more about her latest release, Walk With Me.

Title: Walk With Me | Author: Debra Schoenberger | Genre: Adult non-fiction / Photography | Publisher: Blurb | Release date: December 26, 2017

Book Description:

Whenever I'm asked "which is the best camera?" I pretty much respond: "the one you have on you." In fact, most of the images in this book were taken with my cell phone simply because I always have it with me.

This is not only a book about street photography but a visual diary, or collection of quirky, unusual and sometimes just plain weird photos I've taken over the course of the last decade.

As a street photographer, I need to be an assiduous walker. My sneakers often take me to little known, hidden corners, seaweed strewn (and sometimes stinky) beaches and really cool back alleys of my rather small island city of Victoria, BC.

I've also included images of curiosities I've seen throughout my travels.

Everyone sees the world differently and this is my collection of the quirkiness that I call life.

To read reviews of Walk With Me, visit Debra Schoenberger's page on iRead Book Tours.

My Thoughts:

I've been lucky enough to have the chance to review three of Debra Schoenberger's photography books. Both India and To Be A Child are striking collections of photography from around the world, themed appropriately for each title. Walk With Me is yet another inspiring group of photos that Schoenberger has expertly collecting in a visually stunning book.

All encompassed under the theme "street photography", Walk With Me includes photos of people living their daily lives. From cats in windows to stolen moments at the hairdresser to a varied collection of shoe shots, we get a glimpse into the habits of everyday people.

My favourite layout commonly found in the book is four square photos on a page, all linked in some way and styled -- either by colouring or theme -- to evoke a common mood. I'm not sure how she does it sometimes because I don't immediately see the connections, but it works. It's compelling and draws you into the scene she's created. Her creative style and the photos she has chosen for this collection beg so many questions that I never tire of flipping through this (or any of her) books.

Buy the book:

Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Blurb

Add to Goodreads

About the Author / Photographer + Author Interview:

Debra Schoenberger aka #girlwithcamera

"My dad always carried a camera under the seat of his car and was constantly taking pictures. I think that his example, together with pouring over National Geographic magazines as a child fuelled my curiosity for the world around me.

I am a documentary photographer and street photography is my passion. Some of my images have been chosen by National Geographic as editor's favourites and are on display in the National Geographic museum in Washington, DC. I also have an off-kilter sense of humour so I'm always looking for the unusual.

Can you tell us about any female photographers that inspire you?

Dorothea Lange - Documentary photographer

Dorothea Lange was an American documentary photographer and photojournalist, best known for her Depression-era work for the Farm Security Administration (FSA). Lange's photographs humanized the consequences of the Great Depression and influenced the development of documentary photography.

During World War II, Lange photographed the evacuation and internment of Japanese Americans in camps. Her photos captured life in the internment camps and the often raw emotions displayed by the people who were uprooted from their homes and forced to live in the camps.

Desiree Dolron - Dutch photographer and filmmaker

Her oeuvre ranges from documentary photography and still lifes to portraiture and film.

Vivian Maier - street photographer

Vivian was a nanny for most of her life and on her days off she would walk around Chicago snapping shots of people and things of interest. She consistently took photos over the course of 50 years and put together one of the most fascinating collections of American life in the second half of the 20th century.

These women all have very unique styles. Studying their respective portfolios opens my eyes to new possibilities and ways of seeing the world. How I would have loved to been able to work side-by-side with them! Vivian Maier had a cheeky sense of humour and it shows through in her photographs.

Debra Schoenberger

#girlwithcamera - http://www.debraschoenberger.com
#redhead.with.book - http://www.redheadwithbook.com

Connect with the author:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

Other photo books from Debra Schoenberger that you may want to add to your collection:

Montreal by Debra Schoenberger

To Be A Child by Debra Schoenberger

India by Debra Schoenberger

Giveaway

Enter to WIN a $15 Amazon gift card. Five other winners will receive an ebook copy of Debra Schoenberger's latest photography book WALK WITH ME. (Open internationally.)

Click to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a PDF copy of Walk With Me! Ends March 31, 2018.

Blog Tour + Giveaway: Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani

2018-01-28T21:44:00.001+00:00

Title: Kiss Carlo by Adriana Trigiani | Category: Adult Fiction, 560 pages | Genre: Historical Fiction | Publisher: Harper Paperbacks | Release date: January 2018

Book Description:

From Adriana Trigiani, the beloved New York Times-bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife, comes an exhilarating epic novel of love, loyalty, and creativity-the story of an Italian-American family on the cusp of change.

It's 1949 and South Philadelphia bursts with opportunity during the post-war boom. The Palazzini Cab Company and Western Union Telegraph Office, owned and operated by Dominic Palazzini and his three sons, is flourishing: business is good, they're surrounded by sympathetic wives and daughters-in-law with grandchildren on the way. But a decades-long feud that split Dominic and his brother Mike and their once-close families sets the stage for a re-match.

Amidst the hoopla, the arrival of an urgent telegram from Italy upends the life of Nicky Castone (Dominic and his wife's orphaned nephew) who lives and works with his Uncle Dom and his family. Nicky decides, at 30, that he wants more-more than just a job driving Car #4 and more than his longtime fiancée Peachy DePino can offer. When he admits to his fiancée that he's been secretly moonlighting at the local Shakespeare theater company, Nicky finds himself drawn to the stage and to the determined Calla Borelli who inherited the enterprise from her father, Nicky must choose between the conventional life or new course and risk losing everything he has known.

From the dreamy mountaintop village of Roseto Valfortore in Italy, to the vibrant streets of South Philly, to the close-knit enclave of Roseto, Pennsylvania, to New York City during the birth of the golden age of television, Kiss Carlo is an absorbing, inter-generational story that celebrates the ties that bind, while staying true to oneself when all hope seems lost.

Told against the backdrop of some of Shakespeare's greatest comedies, this novel brims with romance as long buried secrets are revealed, mistaken identities are unmasked, scores are settled, broken hearts are mended and true love reigns. Trigiani's consummate storytelling skill and her trademark wit, along with a dazzling cast of characters will enthrall readers. Once again, the author has returned to her own family garden to create an unforgettable feast. Kiss Carlo is a jubilee, resplendent with hope, love, and the abiding power of la famiglia.

My Thoughts:

When I travel, I love to read a book based in the place where I'm going. I would have loved to have been in Valfortore, Italy, New York or even South Philly when I read Kiss Carlo. But since I couldn't be there, experiencing the trials of this wonderful Italian-American family, especially the charming but troubled Nicky, was a treat in itself. As an Italian-American myself, I can attest to the fact that the descriptions of the food, the family interactions and the personalities are so real you feel you know these people. I, for one, didn't want them to go on with their story without me when then book ended.

The best part about Trigiani's writing, imho, is her ability to create a vast array of characters with such deep emotions and quirky characteristics that you are completely drawn into their lives. From a mayor to a jilted girlfriend to a conflicted middle-aged man, Trigiani provides them all with pitch perfect personalities. They aren't stereotypes and they aren't so extreme that you can't reach them. They are just like you and me and they'll stick with you long after the end of the book. Kiss Carlo is another absorbing story from Trigiani about life, love and family...Italian style.

Buy the book:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ HarperCollins

Books-a-Million ~ Indiebound ~ iBooks

Add to Goodreads

Watch the book trailer:

Meet the Author:

Photo Credit: Tim Stephenson

Adriana Trigiani is the bestselling author of 17 books, which have been published in 36 countries around the world. She is a playwright, television writer/producer and filmmaker. She wrote and directed the film version of her novel Big Stone Gap, which was shot entirely on location in her Virginia hometown. She is co-founder of the Origin Project, an in-school writing program that serves more than a thousand students in Appalachia. She lives in Greenwich Village with her family.

Connect with the author: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Instagram

Giveaway! Ends Feb. 7th (US only)

CLICK HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway and one winner will receive a paperback copy of Kiss Carlo. Good luck!

As seen on...

Lonely Planet Kids: London City Trails

2018-01-24T11:52:00.002+00:00

Title: Lonely Planet Kids – London City Trails | Publication Date: June 2016 | Publisher: Lonely Planet Kids | Pages: 103 | Recommended Ages: 8 - 12 Description: Here's a book about London that's seriously streetwise! Let Marco and Amelia, our Lonely Planet explorers, take you off the tourist trail and guide you on a journey through London that you'll never forget. This book is perfect for anyone who has been to London, plans to go there or is just interested in finding out more about this amazing city!

My thoughts: After relocating to London with my husband and six-year-old, I quickly realized that this was not the city I remembered in my twenties. Late night curry and great cocktails weren't going to cut it with the little one. So when I stumbled upon Lonely Planet Kids: London City Trails, I knew that I would be seeing a different side of London as my son discovered it for the first time.

On top of lots of great insights on London's most famous attractions, here are just a few of the kid-friendly spots that are definitely off the beaten track:

The River Fleet - A hidden Thames tributary flowing under Blackfriars Bridge.
Kew Garden's Titum Arums - Use your nose to find the stinkiest flower in the world.
Spitalfields City Farm - Cheer on your favourite kid at the annual goat races.
London's Narrowest House - Don't blink or you might miss this 6 foot (1.8 metre) wide house on Shephard's Bush.

Check out this fun YouTube video showing highlights from London City Trails - https://youtu.be/MHxSq4c_E6g

I recommend this book for anyone traveling to London with children. Even if you can't make it too all of the spots, it's a fun vacation read and a wonderful souvenir.

Lonely Planet Kids aims to enhance learning, interaction and appreciation for the planet’s rich diversity of people, places and cultures. Immersive, engaging and educational, the new Lonely Planet Kids books continue to explore the world and inspire a whole new generation of travelers as only Lonely Planet can.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Introducing INDIA, a brand new photo book by Debra Schoenberger

2017-03-08T07:18:00.000+00:00

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to highlight the latest photo book by Debra Schoenberger on 30-something Travel. I had the opportunity to review her earlier book, "To Be a Child" on my writing blog and was blown away by the stunning photography. In "India", her latest book, she brings the same intimacy and style to readers and exposes us to one of the most colorful and intricate cultures in the world.

Title: INDIA | Author: Debra Schoenberger

Publication Date: January 3, 2017 | Publisher: Blurb

Book Description:

I have always been fascinated by the sheer beauty and diversity in Indian culture. "Sensory overload in a glance" is an apt description of a country that is always in movement. To be able to stand still in the middle of all that movement allows me to really "see" her people and absorb the flow of life from birth to death.

From learning how to make yellow ink from cow urine to watching funeral pyres burn in Varanasi, I realized that I would have to spend a lifetime here to grasp the immense value of her art, stunning architecture, fascinating food and love of all that is beautiful.

Buy the book: Amazon Blurb iTunes Website

Add the book: Goodreads

About the Author:

Debra Schoenberger aka #girlwithcamera

"My dad always carried a camera under the seat of his car and was constantly taking pictures. I think that his example, together with pouring over National Geographic magazines as a child fuelled my curiosity for the world around me.

I am a documentary photographer and street photography is my passion. Some of my images have been chosen by National Geographic as editor's favourites and are on display in the National Geographic museum in Washington, DC. I also have an off-kilter sense of humour so I'm always looking for the unusual.

Connect with the Author: Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Pinterest

Book Trailer:

GIVEAWAY! Win one $25 Amazon gift card (international) - 5 other winners will receive one copy of INDIA (choice ePUB or PDF). Ends April 1, 2017. Good luck!

Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

Disclosure: Thanks to the author for sending me a PDF of this book for review.