A little about me:
I first started writing when I was ten and in the fifth grade, encouraged by my teacher, Mr. Murphy at P.S. 48 in Brooklyn. The truth was, I had stories in my head long before that. From as far back as I can remember, there were always ongoing stories while I daydreamed in class. It was Mr. Murphy who helped me see the fun in putting these stories on paper and who enjoyed reading my creations. At that point, there was no going back.
My first article was published in October 1992 in The Annals of Saint Anne de Beaupre. In the years that followed, while raising my kids, teaching myself how to program, and freelancing in web design, I had numerous articles published in Catholic publications and humor pieces in the now-defunct Glen Oaks Ledger, which I contributed to until its closure in 2006.
My children and grandchildren are the greatest joys in my life, and watching them grow has reinforced the importance of our past and our connection to previous generations. With only one living relative from the generation before mine, I regret not having asked more questions when I could. My recently completed novel chronicles the remaining stories of these generations, aiming to preserve our family’s history for my grandchildren and my cousins’ children. It’s a tale of struggles, hardships, but also of great faith and joy. While personal, I believe it will resonate with descendants of immigrants who came to America seeking a better life for their families. I hope it encourages others to explore and share their own roots with their grandchildren.
My debut novel, Emerging From Etna’s Shadow: A Sicilian Family’s Story of Faith and Hope can be found on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.