Tag: writing

Disco Fries and Scenic Drives!

by midgeguerrera, posted in Finding My Family - Genealogy, Travel Comments 
What? Has she gone mad? Disco Fries in Italy? Where? When?
A MYSTERIOUS BOX ARRIVED IN EWING, NJ

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.

Do we look drunk? I think I got drunk – drunk with joy!

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.)

Sam and Adam, I hope it was OK for me to snap a photo of this page. Sorry.

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

Midge

Writers’ Refuge in the Sannio Hills

by midgeguerrera, posted in Nonna's Trips & Events

I can’t believe our first playwright’s retreat has just ended and I am about to blab on about 2025. How could I not?! The playwrights who just left after their ten day writing adventure were effusive in their praise. (When I get their video done, I will write about their catalysts for creativity – like my falling in a deep hole during their ruzzolo, cheese rolling game.) Back to 2025!

Literally Italy (that’s my new moniker) and Scott Editorial put their heads together and came up with a writer’s retreat with a few twists.  2025 Writers’ Refuge in the Sannio Hills takes its name from the rifugi, mountain huts that provided a haven for shepherds.  Dear writers, imagine a nurturing sanctuary that provides the time and place to work on your creative projects. In addition to time for your own daily writing, workshops, group feedback, and one-on-one critique sessions will support your work. The best part is, you are able to write in a villa, in a bar, outdoors and wherever your muse takes you. The June 21 to June 28 retreat is only open to eight writers.

The “Write Where Your Are” 2024 Playwrights enjoyed writing through out two villages.

Participants in the 2025 Writers’ Refuge in Sannio Hills will share large, double rooms with ensuite bathrooms in La Locanda della Presuntuosa, a unique villa built into a mountain on acres of land. The villa includes a swimming pool, tennis court, washing machine, and park like grounds that are minutes from Pontelandolfo and Morcone village life. Savory meals are cooked by an Italian chef using local produce.  Our chef spoiled the playwrights with homemade pasta, interesting sides and succulent roasted meats. The Tiramisu was incredible! Nothing came in a box or wrapped in plastic. This is Southern Italian farm to table home cooking. She will spoil those who come to the Refuge too.

The Italian landscape and village life are inspirational.  For additional character studies, shuttles will bring you and your computer to Pontelandolfo’s Piazza Roma caffès or the bars a bit further out of town. Imagine sitting in a sunny piazza, sipping Prosecco and finishing that novel, short story or memoir. Or imagine wending your way up the hill to Morcone’s historic center and sharing work in this cool bar.

Amy Scott, the founder of Scott Editorial, will lead the writers’ retreat. Amy is a PhD candidate with a Master’s in Creative & Critical Writing and a BA in English Literature. With 20 years’ experience editing fiction and non-fiction, she has gained extensive knowledge of both the self-publishing and traditional sectors of the industry. For the last four years, she has been running writers’ retreats in Italy and the UK and is a guest lecturer on undergraduate and postgraduate courses, teaching the importance of editing. This year, Scott Editorial has joined forces with the University of Gloucestershire, where, along with a selection of creative writing professors, Amy is delivering workshops to help new authors develop their craft.

Literally Italy is the American company founded by Midge Guerrera – that’s me.  You all know that I’m a published author of numerous books and plays. The retreat gives me time to work on that next epic. Our team knows how to produce a retreat. Remember along with Rossella and Annarita Mancini, I’m the founder of the award-winning program, Cooking in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo.  That local team will be the on-site organizers for the retreat.

Here is what you get for one fee:

  • Round Trip Transportation from the Benevento Train Station.
  • 7 nights in shared, large double rooms with unique, architecturally-appointed ensuite bathrooms in La Locanda della Presuntuosa. Enjoy the swimming pool, tennis court and trails. (There is also an optional 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom village apartment for 2 to 3 participants in the historic village center.)
  • All meals cooked by an Italian chef. Vegetarians can be accommodated.
  • Four morning workshop sessions, including “Location as a Character” that will be held at the Altilia Saepinum Archeological site.
  • Daily group critique sessions
  • 1-to-1 personal critique sessions – on your schedule.
  • Welcoming “Bar Crawl” –  Drinks and local snacks included. Discover off-site places to write while absorbing local Italian culture. Transportation to bars provided daily.

We are organizing cultural add ons too. I can tell the interested writers all about those. For now, shoot me an email at info@nonnasmulberrytree.com for more information. Remember this is limited to only EIGHT WRITERS.

Ci Vediamo.

Midge

Playwrights Come to Pontelandolfo

by midgeguerrera, posted in Any Day in Pontelandolfo

Write Where You Are, a non profit committed to providing playwrights with a variety of opportunities, is sponsoring its first Playwright’s Retreat! Administrative Director, Jonathan Samarro, has been working with a group of Pontelandolfese – gulp, that includes me – on creating the perfect October 14th to the 23rd, 2025 experience.

Write Where You Are 2024: Pontelandolfo offers playwrights the space, time, and community needed to move forward in their work.  The Italian landscape and village life are a great catalyst for creativity.  In addition to providing time for ones own daily writing, they’ll offer activities to inspire you, from master classes in playwriting, to a stimulating array of cultural events and opportunities to socialize with fellow writers as well as local people.   This is your time to nurture your work.

Write Where You Are – Pontelandolfo participants will share large double rooms in La Locanda della Presuntuosa, a large villa on acres of land.

Pontelandolfo’s cobblestone streets take you to a castle tower, cafés, ancient Roman churches and miniature works of art hidden within an area steeped in history and culture where the main plaza is still the center of town life and lore.

The retreat is only open to eight people. ONE SPOT REMAINS! Playwrights who participate in other Write Where You Are experiences signed up quickly. Interested in that one last spot? Contact Jonathan for more information – jonathanjsamarro@gmail.com.

INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS: October 14 – 23, 2024

  • Transportation from the Benevento Train Station to Pontelandolfo
  • 10 nights a villa near the historic center of Pontelandolfo. 
  • Most meals are included, either out or cooked by our host/cook. Vegetarians can be accommodated.
  • Arrival Day Bar Crawl will help you know the town and for them to meet you.
  • Local Sourced Food Lunch at Agriturismo Borgo Cerquelle
  • Master Classes with Rosemary McLaughlin, director of the Playwriting Program at Drew University.
  • English Speaking Translator for all Italian centered events.
  • Daily opportunity for participants to share work.
  • Opportunity to meet and talk to Italian theater professionals. (https://solot.it/chi-siamo/)
  • Wine and artesian food tasting at a local vintner.
  • Excursion to Altilia Roman Ruins
  • Traditions of Historical Pontelandolfo – hunt for family crests and learn to roll cheese, la ruzzola. Cheese rolling is a sport that is now recognized and goes back centuries.
  • Excursion to Benevento – museum, Teatro Romano, Hortus Conclusus and explore historic center.
  • Optional Excursion to Reggio Caserta. Tickets are currently €15.
  • Wood-fired pizza made high in the Sannio hills in a centuries old oven.
  • Transportation to all workshops and events.

Ci vediam a presto!

Midge

Longing for a trip to Italy but are doing a staycation? Sip a Prosecco and read my humorous travel memoir, Cars, Castles, Cows and Chaos. Published by Read Furiously.

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