She’s gone.  Our beloved mother and nona, Babe, passed away two weeks ago, and we’re still in a resigned state of shock.  For those of you who knew Babe through “Bianca’s Vineyard,” you know that she was a unique woman with an amazing family history.  Violenza Bertozzi didn’t let her mother’s mental instability or […]

Armida Sigali Bertozzi was known to be a great cook.  Recently, Babe discovered one of her mother’s recipes, given to her years ago by Julia Barghini, one of Armida’s few friends in America.  If you make it, let me know how it turns out for you! ARMIDA”S RAVIOLI Dough (better to make a day in […]

Those who have read Bianca’s Vineyard may want to know more about Armida’s real-life employer, Junio Valerio Borghese (aka “The Black Prince”). There is a wealth of information on-line about Borghese, but a short article in The Florentine, a publication of Florence, Italy, encapsulates his controversial life quite well.  Do read it here. Several years […]

  Happy Birthday Violenza! We celebrated Babe’s 94th birthday yesterday. Four generations all together in one house! What a wonderful, memorable time we had with her, as she entertained us on the piano and told stories. I made her a coconut-raspberry cake and since I didn’t have the numerals 9 and 4 for candles, I […]

I’m, quite literally, in Nana Heaven.  My daughter Rachel, and her husband Isaac, gave us the greatest gift when she delivered a beautiful baby boy three weeks ago.  He is my first granchild, and I’m still pinching myself to be sure it’s all real. Liam’s early arrival came as a shock to all of us.  […]

On Sunday, February 20, I was honored to speak at the Tuscan Association of Oregon at the St. Philip Neri Church in Portland.  Carlo Stellati, our cousin’s husband in Italy, had contacted me shortly after the publication of Bianca’s Vineyard to tell me that I absolutely must get in touch with Joe Cavalli, the president […]

You know how much I love Italy – and Italians — and I know I’m not alone!  Oregon has a thriving Italian-American community and the Tuscan Association of Oregon has invited me to share about Bianca’s Vineyard on Sunday, February 20.  I will be speaking in Calvin Hall at St. Phillip Neri Church on SE 16th and Division in Portland.  […]

How to Speak (Sort of) Like an Italian Some readers have said that they wish they could correctly pronounce the names of some of the people in Bianca’s Vineyard.  I’m not fluent in Italian by any means, but it’s amazing how helpful it is to at least know how to look at a word and […]

Here’s hoping you and your loved ones had a wonderful Christmas and that the coming year will be full of peace, good-health, and prosperity for all! My husband gave me a new camera this Christmas, but I’m still learning how to use it and upload pictures on my website with it, so the only family picture I could post with this is a couple of years old and minus our new son-in-law, Alex. …

As my wonder-working web maestro, Jeff Koerner, works to get my website up and running, I want to thank all my fans in advance for buying Bianca’s Vineyard.  I’m thrilled that the story is finally in print and anxious to hear back from many of you.  Did you relate to the characters?  Did you learn […]