About
Isabella
For
one half of the year I guide small groups who tour Italy with me
experiencing the culture and lifestyle at a perceptive level. Talking
about ancient history, art treasures, historic personalities, food and
wine and Italy’s tribulations over the last 150 years are the starting
point for each tour. The rest of the year, the cosy winter months, I
devote to writing.
I
was born in Uddingston, Scotland. My parents migrated to Australia, taking
me and my sisters and brother to live in a new country. If you have read
Vanilla Beans & Brodo, you already know that I have one child, a
daughter, Rebecca, who lives in Perth, Western Australia. A career in
Interior Design fostered my interest in art and history but living
in Italy I am continually learning and absorbing the past and the present.
Vanilla
Beans & Brodo skims lightly over the twists and turns in my life. I
set out to write this story without using my life as a focal point. I
wanted the people in Montalcino to be the stars and to tell their story,
not mine. It is an enchanting story and all the situations and characters
in the book are real, many are my personal friends living in Montalcino
today – although sad to say some of my dearest elderly friends have now
passed on.
Bel
Vino is not a sequel, but after writing Vanilla Beans I knew there was
another side to the story of Montalcino and the people which I had not
touched upon in the first book. Besides, more years had passed and my
involved life in the village enabled me to delve with discretion into odd
comments and happenings which, years before, I did not have the insight to
understand, nor the language skills to question.
I
send my best wishes, trust you enjoy and learn much about Montalcino and
Italy from Vanilla Beans and Bel Vino. I look forward to having you
vacation in one of our apartments in Montalcino, or to meeting you on one
of my Italian Journey tour programs which you can see at Italy tour with
Isabella and Luigi, or at www.tourstravelitaly.com
Ciao a presto ..... Isabella e Luigi
