A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

"Italy was more than a subject, it was a tool of resurrection and empowerment" - Michelle Johnston

“Can a place be an archetype?  Or pertain mythical qualities?  Emily Dickinson never left her home in New England to travel, the Italy she wrote and dreamed of symbolised something else, joy, hope, freedom….  And ultimately, the most powerful of qualities, transformation.  Italy was more than a subject, it was a tool for resurrection and empowerment.  Hmmm, I recognise this…”

Today I go deep into the many layers of my life and the inspiration that has led to this point on the journey, and share what it is to “follow the charm” in life and in the quiet and beautiful epiphanies that happen along the way.

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michellejohnston.life

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© 2024  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2024

"You cannot lose what really belongs to you, even if you throw it away" -   I-Ching

Here I talk about the bitter sweet few months that have been, reflecting on life, books and events, and the books and writing adventures that happen along the way. 

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© 2024  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2024

"One will never forget the sudden transcendent quality of ordinary things, the glow of the fruit in its own leaves, the purple and green of artichokes with bushy tales, the delicacy of the sea creatures, silver, lilac - pale and coral red" - Winter in Venice, Pleasure and Landscapes by Sybille Bedford

Here is some light musing over books I have loved this year and my favourite Audible listens too....

Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg
A Place in the World: Finding the Meaning of Home by Frances Mayes
Serendipity: From Truffles and Champagne to Corn Flakes and Coffee: Stories of Accidental Success by Oscar Farinetti
Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Dooer
Pleasures and Landscapes: A Travellers Tales from Europe by Sybille Bedford 
Liguria in Cucina: The Flavours of Liguria by Enrica Monzani

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© 2024  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2024

"Some things are here for our souls, not our interests, and every land has its pockets of wild. Let us leave then there for the birds, for the night watch, for the person who needs and longs for a creeping into invisibility"

Welcome to Episode #86:

This year Allison published her third book,  'Allison Zurfluh and the Venice Lagoon'.  Here are pages of art and essays on her experiences living on the Venice lagoon.  

The book is an intimate look at the place that captured her heart and soul, the place that would initiate a 1000 questions and responses. 

There is a part that Allison conserves for family and her Swiss life, and there is a part she lives quite on the fringe of everything… In Italy, on the Venetian lagoon… Searching, exploring, painting, writing, documenting, playing and sharing, yet really going to the edge of what is possible, in her boat, in her art and in herself.  Nothing is taken for granted.  Not her environment, not her choices, not the people, not the place. Zurfluh recognises the plight of the Venetian lagoon, the wild beauty, the breathtaking moments, the natural world and at times, the painful truth of the tourist dollar.

We discuss so much.... Art and motherhood, the writing life, living on the island of Burano and protecting the fishing communities on the lagoon, going into the wilderness to be alone to find what matters, creativity and grit, and indeed many personal stories of our own reckoning with the parts of our lives that make us who we are as women and artists at this point in time.  We don't hold back and that is why I published this whole conversation in one beautiful thread.  Hopefully you are on one of those long walks you need over the festive season and you can enjoy this share ....

Here is a wild and beautiful conversation from one wild and beautiful woman to another.  Allison is not only happy to rock the boat, but paints from it too, sharing her gifts, lighting the way, protecting the sacred and reminding us, that we all make a difference in this wild and beautiful world we live in.  Enjoy 

To buy Allison’s Books and Fine Art Allison Zurfluh
On Instagram: Allison Zurfluh
Listen to my last conversation with Allison in 2022… Allison Zurfluh: Art and Conservation in the Venice Lagoon

Minutes and Moments in this Conversation:
14.00 - Motherhood and the Artist
31.40 - Women and Creativity
41.45 - How Allison nurtures her Art and Creativity as a portal to becoming
44.00 - The Venice Lagoon as a mirror
51.00 - Nature for pain relief
58.00 - How Allison discovered Burano and moved to the Lagoon
   1.07 - The Writers Journey
   1.08  - La Mia Arte & the Fisherman
   1.39  - Transcending the Mundane with Words  - "One true Sentence"

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

“Cucina Povera is not just a unique approach to cooking and ingredients; it’s the highest expression of the Italian arte delle arrangiarsi - the art of making do with what you have got" - Giulia Scarpaleggia, Cucina Povera

Welcome to Episode #85,

Today a wonderful conversation with Giulia Scarpaleggia about her recent cookbook Cucina Povera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients into Unforgettable Meals.

We talk about the book journey of creating Cucina Povera and that lovely panforte story I couldn't resist asking about, and the food writers that have inspired Giulia on her path from Blogger to Author to Podcast Host and Cooking Teacher.

Visit Giulia and Tommasso at  Jul's Kitchen
Receive Giulia’s Stories and Recipes - Letters from Tuscany
Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/julskitchen/

Find all Show Notes and details mentioned at:
michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"Much testing, much reflecting, much living must intervene before we can say 'My soul is my own'"  -  Madonna Kolbenschlag,  (from) The Spiritual Sampler by Sue Monk Kidd

Welcome to Episode #83,

While in the middle of a big year, I reflect on what has filled my cup this year and why it all matters.

On creating community, on inspired books, on writing, on keeping on with it, on the adventure, on gratitude, on the special conversations and holding the vision.

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michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"My grandmother always used to tell me your last name is going to bring you luck.  When people meet you it makes them happy and a little bit hungry too" - Luca Spaghetti, Un Amico Italiano -  Eat Pray Love in Rome

Welcome to  Episode #82:

Twenty years ago the writer Elizabeth Gilbert made the city of Rome her home for three months before visiting India and Bali.  While living in Rome one of Gilbert’s new friends was Roman born Luca Spaghetti.  Soon the memoir “Eat Pray Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything” became an International Best Seller.   Luca Spaghetti suddenly found himself as a character in the book and later in the film “Eat Pray Love”.  

Today is a special guest - Luca Spaghetti telling his story about this beautiful chapter in his life and the treasured friendship that endures.  We talk about the two books he wrote “Un Amico Italiano - Eat Pray Love in Rome” and “Anything Is Possible”.  They are two of my favourite books, and a real delight to read and discover. 
Enjoy this share, and thank you Luca for a beautiful conversation.

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"I just knew that I had to figure it out for myself, step by step" - Claire Hearn,  My Five Year Journey in Italy....

Welcome to Episode #81,

This week I share a conversation with Ms Britaly from Palermo in Sicily.  Five years ago, Claire Hearn made the decision to change her life and move in the direction of her dreams.  Claire landed in Salerno in Campania, on the Amalfi Coast and started a new life.  
Here is her story and the journey of life in Italy, moving to vibrant Palermo and writing her two books, self publishing and her discoveries and life adventures….

Enjoy,

Claire’s Links:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/MsBritaly 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/MsBritaly

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

“And we are of course, each one of us, the historians of our own lives” - Hisham Matar, A Month in Siena

Welcome to Episode #80;

In this episode I share pages from ‘Italian Hours’ a travel journal I am in the middle of creating.  I share my feelings about creativity and my artistic process on making pages happen!  I also give tips on stationary, art paper and how to build the momentum one page at a time and not get stuck in feeling overwhelm at the beginning. I talk about art journals and travel journals and at the end read from my art book ‘Italian Hours”…

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"I thought I had the perfect life in New York, but fate had something different in mind for me.  I've fallen in love with this place and what it has to offer"  -   Casalvento: House of the Wind by Gudrun Cuillo

Welcome to Episode #79:

About twenty five years ago, Bob and Gudrun Cuillo were looking for a place to buy in Capri Italy, not far from Benevento, near Naples where Bob had family ties to the region.   The Capri property fell through and next they found themselves in Tuscany talking to friends when they were introduced to an ancient Borgo in Radda, Chianti that might be up for sale.  A week later they were the owners of medieval Casalvento, a hamlet of land and historic buildings.  Bob And Gudrun didn’t even realise there was a vineyard, and on the ground were vines of Chianti Classico.   Bob and Gudrun’s fate was sealed and the next twenty years or so were spent restoring the vineyard, the olives and the Borgo, amongst other projects in their busy and creative lives. Later they purchased more land close by, a medieval hamlet called Livernano and onwards they went.  

Today I introduce to Gudrun Cuillo and her book of fiction Casalvento - House of the Wind.  If you love a book set in Italy, and heart thudding, more palpitations set in the beautiful hills of Tuscany, but not just Tuscany that Italian Ideal, the Italian beauty Chianti, one of the oldest settlements ancient Radda, and if you love a little romance and travel, and Italian history and a story that makes you want to jump on a plane, well as soon as possible,  well then Casalvento: House of the Wind is a book to escape with, wherever you are in the world.

Gudrun’s estate these days makes award winning wines, Chianti Classico, Chianti Riserva, those gorgeous Super Tuscans and much more.  You can also stay and sip at your own leisure, do cooking classes, and wine tours, but mostly if you are intrigued you can visit her website Livernano Winery and Resort and follow Gudrun on Instagram at livernano_casalvento_ ….

Or just listen along and enjoy Gudrun’s story about the vines, the wine making and the writing journey.  And the surprising and wonderful process of becoming a fiction author, something she turned to at a time of grief and loss.  You can find her book Casalvento:  House of the Wind at all the usual places. 

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michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"We will cook together, you’ll don an apron and get your hands dirty, learning about local traditions on the way.  We eat and drink together, tasting wines chosen by Marco. Afterwards, in the late afternoon and evenings, you are free to go and explore or rest or catch up with family....."

Welcome to the Episode #78:

In this bountiful share we talk about Emiko Davies and Marco Lami’s new Adventure, Enoteca Marilu in the village of San Miniato in Tuscany.  We talk Slow Food and Slow Travel and why they wanted to create their own Natural Wine Shop and Cooking School close to home.  

We discuss Emiko’s cookbooks and the next publication,  ‘Gohan: Everyday Japanese Cooking Memories and Stories from My Family Kitchen’ that is due out September 2023.   One cannot resist asking Emiko a 100 questions about her books and the food writing journey.  We discuss ‘food’ and the journey to creating her beautiful cookbooks.

Enjoy….

If you want to spend time at Emiko and Marco's Tuscan Table visit:  Enoteca Marilu

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michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"R is for Rome.  Roma is my Lupa, the She-Wolf.   She is mother and my muse" - Michelle Ciani, Letters from Rome

Welcome to Episode #77:  

Michelle Ciani lives in Rome, Italy.  Through her writing and journals, she explores place, home, identity and belonging.  Rome is the muse, the portal and the inspiration behind her words and letters.  Life is a quest.  Some of have a sense of belonging and some of us search for it.  Here we talk about living in Rome and searching for identity and place.  A place can mean many things, but what if a city takes you under their wing and points the way?  

R is for Rome, Michelle Ciani writes letters to her city and she mails them all around the world to people who want to connect and feel that Roman magic.  We speak of Michelle’s writing journey and daily journal writing as a tool for introspection and therapy.   We talk about writing memoir and her connection to the region of Basilicata. 

This is a great chat if you are interested in the writing journey and living the creative life.  And yes, all roads lead to Rome.

Visit Michelle Ciani:  Letters from Rome

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

“Far from a fleeting moment in history, or a stack of stones, the open museum of Sardinia recounted a story of foundations; a story of birth and rebirth, of endurance and resilience, and re-use, and a story of rituals and cross cultural ways that had made the island the staging ground of civilizations that not only shaped its own peoples, but the rest of the Mediterranean” - Jeff Biggers, In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey 

Welcome to Episode #76,

Today, I have a wonderful conversation with Jeff Biggers - Historian, Journalist, Author and Travel Writer about his new book: In Sardinia An Unexpected Journey In Italy.  

This is a rich and expensive conversation not only about the convoluted history of Sardinia and the culture, but illuminates a part of Italy that many are yet to discover…..Biggers excavates stone by stone, poet by poet and layer by layer and gives us a fresh perspective on the island and the Sardinian culture, and what’s more he is a wonderful storyteller.  

In the book and conversation you will discover: 

The Nuragic Civilisation, Neolithic Sites, The Blue Zones, Sardinian Food and Wine, the Artists and Writers (described as an island of narration) and much more....

Book Link:  In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey in Italy

Enjoy,

Find all Show Notes and details mentioned at:
michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

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"What if you could somehow create an expansive enough life that you could synchronize seemingly incongruous opposites into a world view that excludes nothing?” - Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

Can a book be mythical and kind of a life time journey.  Yes it can!  This a story about the book Eat Pray Love and the journey I have had with this book….

Episode #75

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

 “And I do believe that Italy really purifies and ennobles all who visit her. She is the school as well as the playground of the world.” – E. M. Forster

Welcome to Episode #74

Q..  Do you have a story you would like to share with me on Italy?

I am open to a personal letter or a Voice Message that I will share or read on a special Podcast Episode or 2 on your Italy!!

Possibilities…..

*️⃣ Moving to Italy

*️⃣ Starting a Business

*️⃣ Starting Again, Second Life!

*️⃣ Taking a Risk

*️⃣ Food, wine, Seasonal Splendour

*️⃣ Writing a Book

*️⃣ Family Heritage

*️⃣ Love Letter to Italy

*️⃣ A Book that changed you!

*️⃣ Inspired at home outside of Italy

Send letter, MP3, or Voice Message (I can edit/enhance audio) to:
⏩  23colours@gmail.com

Please give permission to use via email and add your Instagram or Business name or Website to Share with the Story

Audio/MP3- 20 minutes max!
Or send 2 separate emails (I will edit) Sent from my iPhone

Or join me on the Podcast - Submit your story to me via the Email! 

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michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

Welcome to Episode #73:

Italy seems to find its way into many people’s hearts whether it be through the world of books or the joy of a holiday experience.  It is always fun to have a conversation about favourite books and discovering how Italy has played a significant role in a travel journey or a writing project.  

Here is a fun chat with Laura Botten about her favourite books set in Italy and that special trip to Rome that led to her writing her first book!

Visit:  Laura Botten    

Follow Laura on Instragram:   @laura.botten

Book Quote shared in the Podcast: by Luca Spaghetti, Anything is Possible

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"The Black Madonna represents a time of direct connection.  She is the spiritual connector.  She is the energy behind creation. We are to bring our thinking into our heart and have this influence our deeds" - Stephanie Georgieff,  The Black Madonna: Mysterious Soul Companion

Stephanie Georgieff is the host of the Black Madonna Speaks Podcast.  We had a most marvellous and deep conversation about her work, books and her journey with the Black Madonna.   The questions and quotes from this episode are related to her book The Black Madonna: Mysterious Soul Companion if you are curious to know more.  

Black Madonnas are scattered all over the globe, yet Italy is one of the places they seem to proliferate (France and Spain too).  You can visit places like Venice, Positano, Loreto, Rome, Tropea, Naples and Sicily to see the shrines and sacred sites, if of course you haven’t already.  

There are Marian trails and pilgrimage routes all over Italy and a vast history that has many people exploring Europe and beyond to know more.  Stephanie’s devotion to uncovering the heart of the Black Madonna is quite a triumph.  She describes herself as a practical mystic and each week on her Podcast shares a unique story, of a unique Black Madonna, from a unique place at  The Black Madonna Speaks

You are welcome to email me at 23colours@gmail.com if you would like to share your story or experience of The Black Madonna….

Find all Show Notes and details mentioned at:
michellejohnston.life

Support Stephanie Georgieff via the Patreon Community

Listen to Stephanie's Podcast:  The Black Madonna Speaks

"It was only decades later, in my little house here in the shadow of the Apennines, that I was completely free to forge my own path"  Shadow of the Apennines, 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.

Visit for books, news, blog and travel news:     Kimberly Sullivan   &  @kimberlyinrome

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michellejohnston.life

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

"In writing about Peggy, it's important to listen to one's own instincts. Don't listen to critics.  What do they know? What one should say about Peggy is, simply, that she did it. That no matter what her motivations were, she did it"  - Lee Krasner

Welcome to Part 2 of my epic share on the 20th Century Art Collector and Art Patron Peggy Guggenheim...

Here is the story of Peggy's life in Venice..... and what happened next!
Enjoy

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© 2023  A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2023

* Note: The Picasso art mentioned in the podcast in the gallery detail (18.30min)  is - On the Beach, 1937....