Welcome, readers and writers both, to the Italian Blog!
I write as Josie Riviera. My three Historical Romance manuscripts have won numerous RWA contests.
Tuesday, December 11th, and SEEKING CATHERINE, my Tudor novella, is being featured on
Awesome Romance Novels today. Check it out and please leave a comment.
Thursday, December 6th, and I’m being interviewed on Victoria Pitts-Caine blog today. Check it out and leave a comment.
Monday, November 19th, and I’m being interviewed on the lovely Beth Trissel’s blog today. Pop in when you have a moment at: http://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/
It’s Thursday, November 15, 2012, and my Regency Inspy novel, Seeking Patience, is now live on Amazon!
Monday, October 15th, 2012, and my first indie novella is now available on Amazon–Seeking Catherine, a “sweet” Tudor Novella http://tinyurl.com/9cka84m
May 2nd begins bestselling author Brenda Novak’s diabetes auction. Please check out the Inspired Romance authors (including moi) donation on a $25.00 gift card for Ruby Tuesdays and bid, bid, bid. 
Please join me at the Pink Fuzzy slipper blog for my interview with debut inspy author Naomi Rawlings.
I’m pleased to announce that Seeking Patience, my regency inspirational, won the grand prize at Inspired Romance Novels, Writing for the Soul contest. I’ve won a sign-on bonus and a writing contract. Stay tuned!
A wonderful early Christmas gift was announced this AM, as my tudor historical, Fatal Fascination, is a finalist in the 2011 Wallflower contest.
On October 3rd, the first line of my manuscript, Fatal Fortune, was a finalist in the Ruby Sisterhood Make it Golden contest.
On October 10th, I was thrilled to learn that my manuscript, Fatal Fascination, a funny, warm-hearted story set in Tudor England, won first place in the RWA Heart of the Rockies contest. Final judge was Sara Megibow of the Nelson Literary Agency.
On October 18th I learned that SEEKING PATIENCE, my inspirational Regency, is a finalist in the Show Me the Spark contest. Final judge is editor David Long at Bethany House.
http://www.heartlandromanceauthors.com/?page_id=60
On October 28th, I was again thrilled to learn that my 6 line pitch at the Seekerville blog won! The first 3 chapters of my inspirational Regency historical, SEEKING PATIENCE, is on its way to Emily Rodmill, Associate editor at Love Inspired historical for Harlequin in NY for a critique.
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/
This manuscript features a courtesan-to-be heroine and a Gypsy Robin Hood hero.
I hope you enjoy my writing adventures as they continue to unfold.
Oh, and what does this all have to do with Italy? Well, absolutely nothing for now. But stay tuned!
In the meantime, enjoy the Italian recipes,travel, couponing, and writing advice. Hey, writers are people, too, and everyone loves all things Italian.
Daily writing quote:
” One nice thing about putting the thing away for a couple of months before looking at it (again) is that you start to appreciate your own wit. Of course, this can be carried too far. But it’s kind of cool when you crack up (over) a piece of writing and then realize you wrote it. I recommend this feeling.” –Steven Brost
Absolutely beautiful blog. Makes me want to go back and redo mine in happier colors.
Thank you, Regina! I’ll be checking out your blog, too, and leaving a comment.
It’s gorgeous! And very serene. I can use a dose of serene about now. :~)
LOL, Barbara. Can’t we all?
Just imagine enjoying the beautiful city of Venice.
Nice, Josie! Love the picture…and your romantic suspense sounds like a lot of fun!
Thank you, Judy! It’s fun writing it.
My maiden name was Mongiello so I just adore this blog!!
Hey Paison!!! Mangia! and enjoy the view too!
Mary,
I didn’t know you were Italian! Thanks for stopping by!
Josie, what a great blog! I can’t wait to check Ferdy’s daily deals (love the name, BTW). I may not be heading to Italy this year, but the pics give me something to dream about.
I wonder if it’s possible to introduce us to an Italian word of the day, sort of like an Italian word ala mode?
Hi Jeanette,
What a wonderful idea about the Italian word for the day. I’ll check with one of my sons about adding another heading. In the meantime, enjoy the Italian newspaper on the blog.
Yeah, Josie. Welcome to the happy and crazy world of bloggers. May I say, it’s about time.LOL
Hi Mona,
So good to see you here. I’d love to host you on your next blogging tour.
That is a lovely pic. Remind me of an Italian ristorante I went to in California. It was surrounded by water and you had to enter over a tiny bridge. I immediately thought of Venice.
Toni,
Venice is such a beautiful city. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel there some years back and plan to return someday.
If only someday I could see Italy. I still have relatives there that I will never know!
Great blog Josie! I love the look of it and the Italian theme!
Thanks, Mary. Where are your relatives in Italy? Perhaps you can try to find them someday.
You have been sandbagging your talents, girlfriend! I LOVE this blog! We need to make better use of you at the Pink Fuzzies. Mama Mary
MM,
Believe me, it took a lot of handholding from Cynthia Alba and my poor, patient tecchie son.
I love the picture. I so wish I could visit someday. Blog more. Tell me more. I can live through you.
Thanks, Autumn. If you have the chance, check out the Travel section of the blog today. The Hotel Danieli was featured in the movie, “The Tourist”. It’s gorgeous, especially the grand staircase as you enter.
I agree with everyone else. Great blog. I mentioned the bologna pie and he’s all for it. We have an old fashioned meat grinder I can use or set him to doing. I wonder if you could do it in a food processor? Have you ever done it that way?
Thanks, Paisley!
I’ve never ground the bologna in a food processor, as it might be too thin. My Mom has mentioned that when you can’t get any of the deli managers in your local supermarkets to grind the bologna, you can cut the bologna in chunks. You have an old-fashioned meat grinder, though, (we’ve used that, too) so you should be all set.
Glad you’re enjoying the blog.
Josie, you have a nice blog! Your WIP sounds like a fun read! Can’t wait until you have it completed
Thanks, Jan. As as fellow FTH’er, you’ll be one of the first to know.
Topnotch blog site, Josie. I’m very impressed. I spent a summer vacation as a child on the Italian Riviera. Magnifico!
Ana,
I’ve never visited the Italian Riviera. If you decide to go again, let us know, and take lots of pictures.
Nice blog, Josie. I plan to try a couple of your recipes. Oh yeah, and your book sounds like a hoot.
Dawn,
As I mentioned to a fellow FTH’er, Jan, you’ll be one of the first to know when the book comes out.
For recipes—try the Bologna pie. It’s a lot of work, but worth it.
Awesome blog. It brings back a lot of very good memories.
Thanks, Kim. Glad you enjoyed it.
How exciting and to think you were my close neighbor. Happy journeys. Proud of you and expect to read a novel soon. Angela P. soon to be Angela Lord on Nov. 9th.