I was born in Italy and have been a US resident since 1988. I wrote two (published) novels, THE SCENT OF ROSA'S OIL (translated in three foreign languages), and THE HOUSE OF SERENADES (publication date: June 4th, 2012).Both novels are set in my Italian hometown, Genoa, a port city with a fascinating history. I am also the author of SOFIA'S RAINBOW, an illustrated children's book that donates to children's literacy. I live in Southern California with my two cocker spaniels, Biscuit and Simon. I'm hard at work on my third novel, THE CABINET SPELL.  I write fiction because I love all aspects of it:  inventing stories, bringing characters to life, manipulating their destinies. My inspiration is  Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Other authors I like (and read): Isabel Allende, Margaret Atwood, Umberto Eco, Salman Rushdie, Paul Auster, T.C. Boyle. I am also an artist and a photographer. I have no free time, and I like it.