Greetings From Florence

Annamaria on Monday

I hope 2025 has been kind to you and yours. In some ways it was a lovely year for me. But, I cannot say that it has been all wonderful. As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the usefulness of writing and reading historical fiction in these daunting times. For me, both those activities are helpful.

Writing may be a solitary act, but storytelling is never lonely. For me, it feels as if the characters are walking around inside my head, telling me the story. And I am writing it down so that I can tell it to you. Learning what it was like to live in times passed shows me the troubles people then were facing. I admit that I am hard wired to look at the positive side. What I see, when I put my characters up against the troubled years of 1650, 1887,1945, and 1914, is that humans have always dealt with difficulties-often dreadful challenges, and yet our species thrives.

For all of us, whether we are writing or reading, the time we spend in the story is at the very least a distraction from whatever is going on in the here and now. At best it allows us to slow down, reflect, and see how people in the past survived, and so we can too.

The holidays have a way of gently reminding us of what truly matters. They invite us to share love with family, with friends. Love is the answer! May this holiday season bring you warmth, reflection, and meaningful connections. May 2026 be a year filled with inspiration, growth, and good stories, lots of good stories!

Here is a song to inspire you.

  And it's Beautiful!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MAY 2026 BRING YOUR MANY JOYS!