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13 Random Thoughts From This Morning

30/9/2010

Wow. What a morning! I got up earlier than usual in order to watch the UCI Men's Elite Time Trial competition live from Geelong, Australia.

Oh, it was sooooo worth it.

My feller - and current Muse - Fabian Cancellara put a total of one minute, two seconds between himself and his nearest competitor, thus winning his fourth gold medal in the Time Trial discipline. He covered 45.8 kilometers in just 58 minutes and nine seconds.

I couldn't be happier, or be thinking less clearly, as a result.

So this week, I'll have to present to you:

13 Random Thoughts
From This Morning

1) I can't believe the cat let me sleep this late. (3:00 a.m.)

2) I can't believe the cat won't let me sleep, now. (3:45 a.m.)

3) I have the best hubby in the world. (He got out of bed - even though he's sick - to quiet the cat at 4:00 a.m.)

4) OH, CRAP!!! WHAT TIME IS IT???
(5:00 a.m. - The time the internet broadcasts of the race were supposed to start.)

5) Whew! Nothing's on yet. I should check the start times, though, to be sure when to tune in. (5:01 a.m.)

6) Ah, Fabian's not going to ride until 8:18 this morning. I can get some more sleep in a bit. (5:03 a.m.)

7) Dang, he's purty. (5:04 a.m.)

8) Oh, heck. I'll go check Twitter and see if anyone's saying anything about the warm-ups, etc. (5:05 a.m.)

9) WHAAAAA??? Alberto Contador tested positive for Clenbuterol??? No way!
(5:06 a.m.)

10) I'm going back to bed. I don't wanna think about this right now. (5:10 a.m.)

11) Crud. Now I can't sleep. Plot-bunny-plot-bunny-plot-bunny... (5:30 a.m.)

Photo from UCI Worlds Time Trial Competition in 2009.

12) Woot! It's time! I wish Alle could stay home and watch this with me. Oh well... GO, SPARTACUS!!!!
(8:18 a.m.)

13) THAT'S RIGHT, BABY!!! WOO-HOOOOOO!!! NUMBER FOUR!!! COUNT 'EM, Y'ALL!!! HEEEEEHEEEEEE!!!! (9:16 a.m.)

And now I gotta calm down.

Gotta knuckle down and get to writing.

Gotta quit writing "gotta".

And, of course...

I gotta make with the eye candy.

one for y'all...

and one for me (Fabian, post Paris-Roubaix, earlier this year).

Ciao for now! :)

12 Comments

13 Things I Like About My Novel: Ask Me if I'm Happy

23/9/2010

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Several months ago, I did a post called Thirteen Things I Like About My Current WIP: 27 Stages. Well, this week, I thought I'd do another post in a similar vein, to celebrate the upcoming November release of Ask Me if I'm Happy. So, please allow me to present

13 Things I Like About My Novel:
Ask Me if I'm Happy

Neptune atop his fountain in Bologna.

1) The setting: Bologna, Italy. While there are scenes set elsewhere (Venice, Milano and even Ypsilanti, Michigan!), the heart of the story is in Bologna. This is one of my favorite places in Italy - if not the world - and I hope I've been able to show what a beautiful place it is.

2) The female lead: Emily Miller. I wanted to write a female MC who was realistic on every level. She's not a stunning beauty who makes every man's head turn, but she's not homely, either. She's approaching forty, fuller-figured, and still has an air of innocence and openness about her (even if she doesn't want to). Her sense of humor is slightly sardonic, and tends to emerge at the most inopportune times. And like many women, she unknowingly holds herself back because of troubling events in her past.
In short, she's someone a lot of women can identify with, I think.

3) The male lead: Davide Magnani. Again, I wanted to write a male MC who would be realistic enough for readers to identify with. He's also nearly forty years old, and a professor at the University of Bologna. He's not devastatingly handsome (except in Emily's eyes, perhaps?), but he is attractive. By Italian standards, however, he's slightly out of the norm. He doesn't care about fashion, and the latest trends in anything aren't of interest to him, but he takes pride in his appearance and takes care of his health. Something of a romantic, all he wants is to live a good and honest life, and to find someone who will love him the way he wishes to love her in return.

4) The "supporting cast": Michele "Miki" Lippi. There are a few minor characters on the sidelines, of course, and this one in particular stands out for me. Miki is that one embarrassing friend everyone seems to have - that friend with the tendency to say the most politically incorrect, inappropriate comment at the worst possible time. Like many of those friends, Miki has a sharp intuition and a big heart, and so is Davide's best friend in the world - as improbable as that would initially seem.

5) The Exes: Jacopo and Letizia. It's really hard to write an "ex" in a story. Trying to show why they're an "ex" - and yet show why the MC would have been interested in them in the first place - is always a challenge.

Jacopo and Emily's history was originally explored at length in "Ask Me..." but it presented a problem: Since he was pursuing Emily, he was on his best behavior, and therefore was too appealing to the audience. Not to mention that the ten years between their first meeting and the start of the "Connections" section of the story was too much to put in the novel. So, I had to cut the original first section (called "Alternate Rialto") and trim the rest of the work down a bit. (I plan on polishing that section and adding a bit more to make it a proper novella on its own - hopefully soon.) In the end, I think Jacopo isn't entirely undeserving of sympathy from the reader, but only a little, little bit.

Letizia and Davide's story was a more prickly matter, in truth. She ran the risk of being little more than an attractive, empty shell because the reader gets most of their story from Davide, who is still suffering in a lot of ways. He's not exactly an impartial source, if you get me. While I don't want her to get too much sympathy or empathy from the audience, I wanted the reader to see why Davide would have been so hung up on her. In the end, it's actually more his issue than hers - and I think she does garner a tiny bit of sympathy once we get to know her a little better.

6) The "Other Potential Romantic Interests": Paul and Elena.
Bless 'em - they never really stand a chance, but I genuinely like them both. They only have the briefest of appearances in the story, but I hope they make a positive impression.

A snowfall in Italy.

7) The season: Winter. There are scenes set in different seasons, but the majority of the story takes place in the winter of two different years. For these characters, it just seemed right to have them bundled up against the cold weather and sharing the warmth of their growing relationship. I suppose it could be argued that there is some symbolism inherent throughout the story, relating to warming up, opening up, covering up to hide, etc, etc. Funny thing - I'm only seeing that now!

8) The chance to write about the Italy I know. While Ask Me if I'm Happy is fiction, I will admit that I drew some elements from my own life to write it. Not in the "names have been changed to protect the innocent" sense, but in the "This is the Italy I know and love" sense. It's my deepest hope that this will come across and the reader will come away feeling as though they know a little more about this place, as a result.

9) Mixing reality and fantasy. As I showed in my post last week, I name a few real places in Bologna in the story. It was a lot of fun to give those little "shout-outs" to a number of spots which mean something to me, and to see them for the first time (again) through Emily's eyes.

This is Trenitalia green, by the way.

10) The little in-jokes scattered throughout. If you've lived or traveled extensively in Italy or speak some Italian, there are lots of little in-jokes in the novel. Some things are just references to everyday Italian life ("Trenitalia green", for example), others - such as the things Miki says - are a bit more specific.

11) The title. For those of you who haven't read past posts of mine referring to this fact, the title "Ask Me if I'm Happy" translates as "Chiedimi se sono felice" in Italian. This was the title of both a film (by Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo) and a song (by Samuele Bersani). The story has nothing to do with either of these things, although I confess: the song lyrics are quite fitting, in some parts.

Needless to say, my students are amused that I adopted this title for my novel. If it sells well enough to merit a translation into Italian, however, it's doubtful I'll call it "Chiedimi se sono felice". I'll probably go with "Coincidenze" - the Italian word for "Connections".

12) It's a love story for both genders. Seriously. When I posted the "Connections" section on Authonomy.com a couple of years ago, the feedback I got from men was as positive (if not more so) as it was from women. While I'm sure there will be a natural tendency for the marketing to lean toward women, this is a novel I think men will appreciate too, if those initial reactions were anything to go by.

13) My publisher. I'm really glad of the fact that this book has been published by Diiarts, for a number of reasons. One reason is that they are so enthusiastic about the story. Another is that they didn't push for me to add any "typically Italian" elements to it (which is to say, the stereotypes which plague the genre) to make it more commercial. As a result, I really do feel that the story I wanted to tell, the story I felt so compelled to share, will be out there for the public to read and (hopefully) enjoy.

And there you go.

And here we go.

As ever, I know why you're here.

And here you go:

Italian actor and sometime inspiration for Davide: Luca Argentero

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13 Photos of Real Places in Ask Me if I'm Happy

16/9/2010

12 Comments

Okay, here we go: Since there's probably no such thing as too much promotion, this week, I thought I'd share something tied to my novel,
Ask Me if I'm Happy (coming out this November from Diiarts Publishing)!

So, please, allow me to present:

13 Photos of Real Places In
Ask Me if I'm Happy

A typical scene inside the station.

Bologna Centrale Train Station. This is the area where Emily and Davide first speak to one another - and the exchange is anything but friendly on her part. For the uninitiated, those machines by the doorways are ticket machines.

The waiting room of Bologna Centrale. The jagged window on the left is a crack left by the bombing in 1980. The door in the middle is where Emily sees Davide come in.

It doesn't look like much, but this crosswalk is directly in front of the station and gets two mentions in the story.

Porta Galliera - one of Bologna's ancient doorways.

Porta Galliera. Emily's tour of Bologna starts here, or rather, it starts alongside it.

Unremarkable, isn't it? No, it's worth a mention...

This is actually a part of the ancient wall - even older than Porta Galliera! The archway here was once part of the entry into the city itself, before a prosperous period led to expanding the city outward.

Davide brings Emily here after they visit his office in the morning.

La Finestrella.

La Finestrella - a tiny window onto one of Bologna's lesser-known features. Davide brings Emily here after she tells him she lived in Venice for a while.

La Finestrella.

This is what they see. In mid-summer, the water is usually quite high, and is deep enough to navigate by kayak. Tours of the canals are available in season.

A typical Bolognese street.

Via Francesco Rizzoli with Le Torri in the background.

This shot is just off Piazza del Nettuno, with Le Due Torri (the Two Towers) of Bologna in the background. Davide teaches Emily how to navigate her way around town by using the towers as a reference point, should she get lost.

Typical Bolognese porticos.

Much of the time Emily and Davide spend in Bologna is passed while walking along the famous porticos of Bologna. Very few streets are without these covered walkways.

Late afternoon by the fountain.

La Fontana del Nettuno - the Neptune Fountain for which Piazza del Nettuno is named - with the Basilica di San Petronio in the background. The fountain is where Emily first comes clean about her recent past, and Davide makes a confession of his own.

One of my favorite shots - this is the sort of place I had in mind when describing Davide's neighborhood in the city center.

Another favorite place in Bologna: Pizzeria Pino! Davide takes Emily here after she returns from the States, and they have a nice meal and a rather disjointed conversation.

And there you go: Thirteen Photos of Real Places In Ask Me if I'm Happy!

I'm sorry, what?

Oh, you want...?

But of course!

I've got a slightly different sort of eyecandy this week.

Remember, this November, when you're sitting with a nice beverage, enjoying your copy of Ask Me if I'm Happy...

Enjoy a little pampering, too!

Ciao!

12 Comments

Thirteen Books I Bought This Summer

9/9/2010

12 Comments

Hello, everyone! Ciao a tutti! It's good to be back, although I am still bit a jetlagged. Bleah.

In what is becoming something of a habit, now, I spent the summer months in the US while my handsome hubby stayed behind in Italy to work. While this isn't exactly optimal, it has to suffice until I become a multi-million-selling writer and he can retire early to ride his bike and become my full-time toy-boy.

In light of this fact, I needed alternatives to pass my time when I wasn't doing the final, final, OHMYGODI'MSOGLADIFINISHEDTHESETHINGS!!!! edits, or when I wasn't actively watching Le Tour de France on Versus (and silently screaming every time they mentioned that this was Lance's final Tour - we knew, guys, WE KNEW, ALREADY!!!).

In other words, I needed something to do when it wasn't July.

Anyway, this week, to ease myself back into the groove, I've decided to share

13 Books I Bought This Summer

I bought a lot of books for my mom, who, like me, doesn't read books, but eats them. I decided to turn her on to a couple of authors I admire, and she really enjoyed the selections I made. But I purchased the following titles on her behalf.

I started off with a bang - or four, actually - all of which were by my Critique Partner, the lovely and talented Nell Dixon:

1) Animal Instincts

2) Blue Remembered Heels

3) Crystal Clear

4) Just Look at Me Now (this was my first project with Nell, and I'm soooo proud of how well it turned out!)

5) Last Night in Twisted River (Actually, this was *my* copy, but Mom read it before I left the US to come home. It took her a few days.)

6) The World According to Garp (I couldn't let Mom go another day without reading this one! I couldn't believe she hadn't read it already.)

7) Whom Must I Kill to Get Published? (Another title by a friend, which I purchased for Mom. She really enjoyed it, too!)

The book-buying frenzy continued, of course. I need more books just for myself! And so, I purchased these titles:

8) Son of a Witch (The sequel to an old favorite of mine, Wicked - which I discovered by chance in 2001.)

9) A Lion Among Men (The second sequel to Wicked - I haven't read it yet, but I have high hopes for it.)

10) That Summer in Sicily (I haven't read this one, yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Marlena De Blasi writes with a wonderful balance between the bitter and the sweet when it comes to recounting her Italian life. I'm hoping it holds true here, where she's writing about someone else.)

11) Tulagi Hotel (Yet another book by a friend, I have already read this one, and I haven't. I got to read an early draft in book form, before it was heavily edited and had some revisions done. I think it'll be great.)

12) Die a Dry Death (Another Diiarts friend wrote this, and I'm looking forward to reading all the grisly and well-researched details of this novel. I read chunks of this in a preliminary draft and was captivated. I reckon I will enjoy the final product even more.)

And, finally, a two-fer! I was doing "research" by watching the Tour de France in July, and thought I'd like to have something besides my own notes to refer to when it was over. Luckily for me, I found two great titles for that purpose.

13a) Tour de France for Dummies (Yes, I qualify. I understand the sport, but this book - although a tad outdated - had tons of inside info I can use in 27 Stages!)

13b) Roadie - the Misunderstood world of a Bike Racer (I loved this one! It brought back so many memories of tagging along with my cousin when he raced amateur races in the US when we were teenagers. It's both informative and hilarious, full of great details about life in the amateur or semi-pro peloton, and breaks all the info down so even absolute beginners can understand what this crazy sport is really all about.)

So, there you go! 13 Books I Bought This Summer!

Yes, I know...

Not even a long break from routine can make me forget!

So, here you go:

And hey, he fits the theme! :)

Ciao for now!

12 Comments

13 Random Thoughts From This Morning

13 Random Thoughts
From This Morning

13 Things I Like About My Novel: Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Things I Like About My Novel:
Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Photos of Real Places in Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Photos of Real Places In
Ask Me if I'm Happy

Thirteen Books I Bought This Summer

13 Books I Bought This Summer

Kimberly Menozzi

Please note: Thanks to an increase in spam comments, I'll be approving the comments before they post. Sorry!

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Categories

13 Random Thoughts From This Morning

13 Random ThoughtsFrom This Morning

13 Things I Like About My Novel: Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Things I Like About My Novel: Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Photos of Real Places in Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Photos of Real Places In Ask Me if I'm Happy

Thirteen Books I Bought This Summer

13 Books I Bought This Summer

Kimberly Menozzi

Please note: Thanks to an increase in spam comments, I'll be approving the comments before they post. Sorry!

Archives

Categories

13 Random Thoughts
From This Morning

13 Things I Like About My Novel:
Ask Me if I'm Happy

13 Photos of Real Places In
Ask Me if I'm Happy