What? Has she gone mad? Disco Fries in Italy? Where? When?
What: A book – a box of books with my name in the table of contents. Where: Disco Fries can be found in Italy or England or Flagtown, NJ or Wherever Books are Sold. When: the anthology of New Jersey based stories, essays, comics, poetry and photographs was launched on October 21st.
I know, I know this blog is all about my escapades in Italy. What do “escapades in Italy” have to do with a book all about New Jersey, USA called Disco Fries & Scenic Drives: Life in the Garden State?
A lot! Those of you who followed our crossing the Atlantic to get to Italy this year know I used the Queen Mary 2 as my personal writer’s retreat. Since I had been comparing our transatlantic adventure with my families journey to America in steerage, the muses compelled me to write about my Aunt Catherine’s journey from Italy to becoming a female postmaster. You know where this is going don’t you? When I got to Italy, I tweaked my tale and sent Postmarked Flagtown NJ 08821 off to independent publisher, Read Furiously.
On August 1, 2025 I got an email from Sam and Adam, the brilliant creative team behind Read Furiously. As I read the email, shrieks bellowed across the Sannio Hills and my neighbors ran over to see what happened.
What happened, I gulped between shouts, What happened? My story about my Aunt Cat was accepted by Read Furiously and would be included in the last book ” of the Life in the Garden State trilogy” about ” the wonderful and interesting moments that make up the New Jersey mythos.”
Then, I told Jack to put his shoes on and off we raced to celebrate in a very unique Italian way – sipping a basil martini at Morcone’s Riohana. A really cool bar with views of the mountain.
As an author, I join twenty-one other contributors to the anthology. Many of the other authors I recognized as folks whose books I’ve read and who also have had works previously published by Read Furiously. We all created tales about different aspects, places and people that make the Garden State a rollicking place to visit and live in.
It is the perfect gift for anyone who lives in New Jersey, is from New Jersey or is an armchair traveler who enjoys experiencing other places while sipping an adult beverage. Each work is a gem unto itself. Being a Jersey Girl, I appreciated each creator’s take on a specific location and point in time. Since the book is a series of shorter works, it is a great book to pop in a purse or briefcase – does any one still have a briefcase – to pick up while waiting for that car, doctor, or meeting.
Jersey maps are embedded in the book as a reference point and the title page for each story. Flagtown was my home town. Seeing that point on the map made my participation in this collection even more special. (Gulp, when I saw the map, I actually got a bit teary eyed and felt my heart chakra blossom.)
Pick up a copy of Disco Fries & Scenic Drives: Life in the Garden State. It is available wherever books are sold – Barnes and Noble, Amazon and of course directly from the publisher Read Furiously! If you purchase a copy from the link to Read Furiously, I got super brownie points from the company. One never knows when they could come in handy.
Speaking of blatant promotion, while you are on the Read Furiously website or visiting your favorite book vender, why not pick up a copy or three of Cars, Castles, Cows and Chaos. My fun filled travel memoir of life in Southern Italy. A cool stocking stuffer for any arm chair traveller.
Have a great week, wherever you are! Happy reading.
Ci Vediamo
Nonna's Mulberry Tree 
Good for you. My (2) Short Plays to Long Remember appeared in this anthology as well,
Daniel P Quinn.
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