Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a writer living in Tuscany. I will assure you that it’s far less pretentious than it sounds. I was born in Toronto, Canada. I am 39 years and 94 months old. In my quest for happiness, I followed Nora Ephron’s advice: “Secret to life, marry an Italian.” I love writing humorous stories and enjoy reading and cooking. I have written one book so far, however Italy continues to be a wonderful muse so a second book is in the making!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Zany Slice of Italy. Family and quirky events taking place daily were my greatest inspiration! One reviewer sums it up perfectly:
“Italy hands Mrs Di Felice some lemons so she makes lemonade and had enough left over for a big slice of lemon pie! So much better than what she was expecting, and good thing, for if she got what she expected, there would be no book to write or at least not such a jolly one!”
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Each afternoon I go for a walk in the lovely Tuscan countryside. I travel with a notepad in hand and much to the intrigue of the unofficial “Italian neighborhood watch program” I scribble down any funny thoughts that come to mind in regard to the events of the past day. The curiosity of the neighbors further motivates me to write about quirky characters! The following morning I make a large pot of coffee and based on the notes of the previous day I write a humorous (well I believe it to be so and so does my mom!) story. Each chapter of my book is a separate story that is an easy read.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Bill Bryson and Nora Ephron. I love their style of writing; not too “flowery” but written with honesty and wit.
What are you working on now?
My next book – basically part two of A Zany Slice of Italy.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find Kindle countdowns have worked for me. I am just starting to find new sites (like Awesomegang) to do some free and some paid promotions.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hire a professional editor. Yes, they are expensive but we owe it to the people buying our books and to other indie authors – we want to achieve a high level of quality with the books we publish so as to make a good name for ourselves.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My editor suggested a sample edit to ensure we were a “good fit.” I took her advice and sent one story from my book to five editors and requested a sample. I then compared all five edited versions and found the editor that best fit my style of writing and got my sense of humor. I was eager for her to edit as much as possible to make my book appeal to the masses but her advice to me was to keep my ‘unique humorous voice.’ She also advised ‘You can use passive voice and adverbs to good effect as long as you don’t overuse them. Especially in humorous writing, sometimes they help create your unique voice… But with humor, sometimes the wording and delivery are more important than any rule, and a sentence has to be like a joke’s punch line.’ She really was a terrific editor that helped me tremendously!
What are you reading now?
I am re-reading The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep writing, keep improving, and keep promoting! I especially would love for my book to take off with the children of Italian immigrants. I have dedicated the book to them and think they would be able to relate and get a real laugh out of it.
DEDICATION
I dedicate this story to all of you children of Italian immigrants—and this includes my husband, David. To you who dream about the grandeur of Florence, Venice, and Rome. Wine tastings in charming Tuscan hilltop towns. Sitting impeccably dressed in piazzas, watching the good-looking world go by.
The reality is that when you visit Italy, you’ll be hijacked by relatives of all sorts; the entire family tree is waiting to meet you. You will catch glimpses of world-renowned monuments, but only fleeting ones from the car window, en route to the cement suburbs. You will eventually get a tour of all that is considered impressive—namely, the vegetable garden with its prized tomatoes. You will have “romantic” dinners in Rome, but you’ll eat at boardroom-size tables with direct views of ramshackle sheds. You will return home with souvenirs from Italy: thick thighs and an extra roll around the middle.
Fear not, though—one day you’ll learn to escape. Many of your schemes will be thwarted, and it may take several trips, but with persistence you can make it happen. Then you’ll finally get to see the splendors of Venice and the beauty of Florence. You will sit in a piazza in a Tuscan hilltop town, though by that time you’ll probably be ten pounds heavier and wearing comfortable shoes. But for now, as you drink your uncle’s bad wine and listen to the sound of accordion music and roosters that never take a break, know that this book is dedicated to you.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
1. Desert Island Cuisine
2. 101 recipes using edible roots
3. Edible roots for Dummies
and the fourth book would Nora Ephron’s “I Remember Nothing.”
Author Websites and Profiles
Ivanka Di Felice Amazon Profile