I’ve been in Matera, Italy for three days, participating in the Women’s Fiction Festival.
I’ve conducted two workshops on Making the Mundane Erotic - what a fantastic experience to have my words translated real-time to Italians and get such fabulous feedback!
I also participated an author’s panel, where agent Maria Paola Romeo interviewed Tiziana Merani, Mary Leo, and I, while the wonderful Teresa translated. It was exciting — and nerve-racking — to have residents of Matera attend this event.
Rumor has it that I appeared on local television in the audience of the conference, as well as a participant at the Museo della Scultura Contemporanea (MUSMA), where a couple of us were blindfolded (including agent Deb Werksmann of SourceBooks and her hubby, Jeff) as we ran our hands along the sculptures and described what we were feeling.
Off to pitch my books to publishers looking to buy foreign rights. Wish me luck … Oh, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter. Everyone who does will be entered in a drawing for a gift from Italy. Photo coming soon.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:56 am
Love the pictures. Can’t wait to see more. Welcome back!!
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:05 am
Wonderful pictures! I absolutely love Matera. I was fortunate enough to spend five weeks in Gravina in Puglia a year ago for an archaeology dig, which is only about a 20 minute train ride from Matera. The terrain, caves, ravines, environment is breathtaking in that area. I want to go back!
October 2nd, 2009 at 8:25 am
Kari, it feels a bit surreal to be back to “reality.” Glad you enjoyed the pics. Now to sift through all the video and make something short, yet interesting…
Lisa, oooooh, I am sooooo jealous. FIVE WEEKS?! That’s fantastic. What an awesome (and unique) trip you had. Are you an archaeologist?
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 am
Working on being one
I work in PR at a university and get a great discount on tuition, so I’ve been working on a second bachelor’s in anthropology. Planning a career change to archaeology. I was with a team that excavated a Roman cemetery. It was so incredible to hold bones and grave goods 2,000 years old!!
October 4th, 2009 at 7:45 am
That’s fantastic, Lisa. Congratulations! I have to admit, the thought of being an archaeologist flashed through my mind when I visited Pompeii. So, now I have another reason to be jealous.
What an exciting change! All the best to you…
October 5th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Thanks, Rachelle! All the best to you too