Welcome!
Hello and welcome! I am an author, poet, and writing teacher. My most recent publications are two poems posted at The Dirigible Balloon, a UK-based online magazine of poetry for children. Two of my humorous poems are also featured in Clara's Kooky Compendium of Thimblethoughts and Wonderfuzz edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong and illustrated by Frank Ramspott (Pomelo Books). And I have an essay in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas: 101 Stories of Holiday Joy, Love and Gratitude edited by Amy Newmark. You can read more about my published poems, articles, and essays on my published works page.
My latest novel is the award-winning young-adult historical, Playing by Heart (Vinspire Publishing), inspired by two amazing sisters who lived in 18th-century Milan. Learn more about the novel, read review excerpts, and download a Teacher's Guide or book group discussion questions on this page.
My first novel, Rosa, Sola, was a Booklist "Top Ten First Novel for Youth." The story was loosely based on events from my own childhood growing up in an Italian immigrant family. To learn more about Rosa, Sola and read review excerpts, see this page.
I'm also one of six TeachingAuthors who blog regularly about writing and teaching writing. Visit the TeachingAuthors site to read our posts.