Episode 71: Drink Wine and Be Beautiful with Kimberly Sullivan
Welcome to Episode 71:
Kimberly Sullivan works in International Development by day and moonlights as a fiction writer by night. Kimberly has written three books that she has Independently Published, and her fourth book is due out very soon Drink Wine and Be Beautiful. Kimberly lives in Rome Italy, and is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society. Her books trace themes of identity and women’s lives.
This is a fun chat about Italy, books, self publishing, writing resources and of course the writing process (the fun part!) And any time great authors like Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, EM Forster, Lord Byron and Henry James come up in a conversation well, all is well in my world. Enjoy.
Shownotes:
Kimberly Sullivan’s Books:
Three Coins, Dark Blue Waves, In the Shadow of the Apennines…
To be Released - Drink Wine and Be Beautiful: Short Stories
Visit for books, news, blog and travel news: Kimberly Sullivan & @kimberlyinrome
Film: Three Coins in the Fountain (1954)
Net Galley for Writers - NetGalley
E.M Forster - Where Angels Fear to Tread - “drink wine and be beautiful” quote….
Henry James: Italian Hours
Authors mentioned: Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, Lord Byron, EM Forster
Check out: Baedekers Guidebooks
Synopsis
An American divorcée. An Italian shepherdess.
Separated by a century, united by common dreams
The sleepy little Abruzzo mountain town of Marsicano seems about as far as Samantha can flee from her failed marriage and disastrous university career. Eager for a fresh start, Samantha begins to set down roots in her Italian mountain hideaway.
At first, the mountain retreat appears idyllic, but an outsider’s clumsy attempts at breaking into the closed mountain community are quickly thwarted when the residents discover Samantha’s snarky blog ridiculing the town and its inhabitants.
Increasingly isolated in her mountain cottage, Samantha discovers the letters and diaries of Elena, a past tenant and a survivor of the 1915 Pescina earthquake. Despite the century that separates the two women, Samantha feels increasingly drawn into Elena’s life, and discovers startling parallels with her own.
Kimberly in Ovindoli, L'Aquila Abruzzo in Italy with her paperback novel - In the Shadow of the ApenninesPlaces in Italy to visit suggested by Kimberly in the Podcast - Puglia - Lecce, Matera -Basilicata, Salento… I’m Inspired!
Kimberly lives in historic Rome and enjoys writing tales about women’s inner journeys and weaving historical fiction and research on her adopted homeland - Italy