A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life

"Time in Italy seemed less linear than it was at home, more of a space waiting to be filled with whatever delights the day might bring – exquisite miniature pastries behind the etched glass of an art nouveau window, a sliver of cantaloupe on a market-stall holder’s knife, amber and pink spritzes on a waiter’s tray, a flirty glance, a raised eyebrow, a tanned ankle in a tasselled loafer" ...

"Perfection is static, and I am in full progress" - Anais Nin Welcome to Episode #95: Today I go on a whimsical journey through my process! Reading and working on my book. The book is done!  Yet, I am most keen to record an audiobook first - so here I go. It’s a journey of ruminating over recent books I have read and what is happening IRL and certainly what is on my mind! There are quote...

"Be kind to yourself and just get going, because even if you are just writing a little bit, for a few hours a week - it adds up" - Kimberly Sullivan Welcome to Episode #94: Today I have a conversation with fiction writer Kimberly Sullivan and her recent novel Rome’s Last Noble Palace .  Kimberly loves to weave a story that includes a contemporary and a historical perspective, in this cas...

"One's destination is never a place but a new way of looking at things" - Henry Miller Welcome to Episode #93: Today a share a meander through the creative landscape of writing and my process and the discoveries on the creative journey.... Shownotes include a list of books and memoirs that have inspired me along the creative journey plus extra details from the end of the share if yo...

"Ligurian cuisine is often defined as a "poor" cuisine, of humble, rough origins because it was born in the homes of fisherman and farmers who had only simple, seasonal and low-value ingredients available. Yet, it is also sophisticated due to the expert use and skilful transformation of those few ingredients"..... Enrica Monzani Join me for a conversation about the beauty of Li...

"You have not a right, but a duty to be happy" -  Roberta Mussato Welcome to Episode #91:   What a privilege it is to talk to women and share their stories. Women lead such fascinating lives. I continually notice this, the fact they continue to expand themselves, push their limits and boundaries, to grow, and not except contraction as the norm, but lean into expansion rather, living and...

"We travel, initially to lose ourselves, and we travel, next to find ourselves" - Pico Iyer Welcome to Episode #90: Today I have a special conversation with Nadia Fragnito from The Vegan Italian Kitchen. Nadia is here to talk about her solo travel experience and the journey of returning to Italy to research her next cookbook due out later this year.  We discuss the triumphs and the pain...

"Italy was more than a subject, it was a tool of resurrection and empowerment" - Michelle Johnston “Can a place be an archetype?  Or pertain mythical qualities?  Emily Dickinson never left her home in New England to travel, the Italy she wrote and dreamed of symbolised something else, joy, hope, freedom….  And ultimately, the most powerful of qualities, transformation.  Italy was more th...

"You cannot lose what really belongs to you, even if you throw it away" -   I-Ching Here I talk about the bitter sweet few months that have been, reflecting on life, books and events, and the books and writing adventures that happen along the way.  Find all Show Notes and details mentioned at: michellejohnston.life You can now Support the Podcast and send your encouragement. © 2024  A Wr...

"One will never forget the sudden transcendent quality of ordinary things, the glow of the fruit in its own leaves, the purple and green of artichokes with bushy tales, the delicacy of the sea creatures, silver, lilac - pale and coral red" - Winter in Venice, Pleasure and Landscapes by Sybille Bedford Here is some light musing over books I have loved this year and my favourite Audible li...

"Some things are here for our souls, not our interests, and every land has its pockets of wild. Let us leave then there for the birds, for the night watch, for the person who needs and longs for a creeping into invisibility" Welcome to Episode #86: This year Allison published her third book,  'Allison Zurfluh and the Venice Lagoon'.  Here are pages of art and essays on her expe...

“Cucina Povera is not just a unique approach to cooking and ingredients; it’s the highest expression of the Italian arte delle arrangiarsi - the art of making do with what you have got" - Giulia Scarpaleggia, Cucina Povera Welcome to Episode #85, Today a wonderful conversation with Giulia Scarpaleggia about her recent cookbook Cucina Povera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients...

"I travel and collect things that I love.  Memories, tastes, colours and stories. I bring them home and make the beautiful meals I had, so we can live them all over again" - Tessa Kiros, Now & Then:  A collection of recipes for always Welcome to Episode #84: Tessa Kiros is here today, her most recent book is 'Now & Then:  A collection of recipes for always'.   This is T...

"Much testing, much reflecting, much living must intervene before we can say 'My soul is my own'"  -  Madonna Kolbenschlag,  (from) The Spiritual Sampler by Sue Monk Kidd Welcome to Episode #83, While in the middle of a big year, I reflect on what has filled my cup this year and why it all matters. On creating community, on inspired books, on writing, on keeping on with it, on...

"My grandmother always used to tell me your last name is going to bring you luck.  When people meet you it makes them happy and a little bit hungry too" - Luca Spaghetti, Un Amico Italiano -  Eat Pray Love in Rome Welcome to  Episode #82: Twenty years ago the writer Elizabeth Gilbert made the city of Rome her home for three months before visiting India and Bali.  While living in Rome one...

"I just knew that I had to figure it out for myself, step by step" - Claire Hearn,  My Five Year Journey in Italy.... Welcome to Episode #81, This week I share a conversation with Ms Britaly from Palermo in Sicily.  Five years ago, Claire Hearn made the decision to change her life and move in the direction of her dreams.  Claire landed in Salerno in Campania, on the Amalfi Coast and star...

“And we are of course, each one of us, the historians of our own lives” - Hisham Matar, A Month in Siena Welcome to Episode #80; In this episode I share pages from ‘Italian Hours’ a travel journal I am in the middle of creating.  I share my feelings about creativity and my artistic process on making pages happen!  I also give tips on stationary, art paper and how to build the momentum one page at...

"I thought I had the perfect life in New York, but fate had something different in mind for me.  I've fallen in love with this place and what it has to offer"  -   Casalvento: House of the Wind by Gudrun Cuillo Welcome to Episode #79: About twenty five years ago, Bob and Gudrun Cuillo were looking for a place to buy in Capri Italy, not far from Benevento, near Naples where Bob had f...

"We will cook together, you’ll don an apron and get your hands dirty, learning about local traditions on the way.  We eat and drink together, tasting wines chosen by Marco. Afterwards, in the late afternoon and evenings, you are free to go and explore or rest or catch up with family....." Welcome to the Episode #78: In this bountiful share we talk about Emiko Davies and Marco Lami’s new...

"R is for Rome.  Roma is my Lupa, the She-Wolf.   She is mother and my muse" - Michelle Ciani, Letters from Rome Welcome to Episode #77:   Michelle Ciani lives in Rome, Italy.  Through her writing and journals, she explores place, home, identity and belonging.  Rome is the muse, the portal and the inspiration behind her words and letters.  Life is a quest.  Some of have a sense of belong...

“Far from a fleeting moment in history, or a stack of stones, the open museum of Sardinia recounted a story of foundations; a story of birth and rebirth, of endurance and resilience, and re-use, and a story of rituals and cross cultural ways that had made the island the staging ground of civilizations that not only shaped its own peoples, but the rest of the Mediterranean” - Jeff Biggers, In Sardi...

"What if you could somehow create an expansive enough life that you could synchronize seemingly incongruous opposites into a world view that excludes nothing?” - Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love Can a book be mythical and kind of a life time journey.  Yes it can!  This a story about the book Eat Pray Love and the journey I have had with this book…. Welcome to Episode #75 Find all Show Notes a...

 “And I do believe that Italy really purifies and ennobles all who visit her. She is the school as well as the playground of the world.” – E. M. Forster Welcome to Episode #74 Q..  Do you have a story you would like to share with me on Italy? I am open to a personal letter or a Voice Message that I will share or read on a special Podcast Episode or 2 on your Italy!! Possibilities….. *️⃣ Moving to...

"The Thing about Rome is that it always manages to give you something special" - Luca Spaghetti, Un Amico Italiano - Eat Pray Love in Rome Welcome to Episode #73: Italy seems to find its way into many people’s hearts whether it be through the world of books or the joy of a holiday experience.  It is always fun to have a conversation about favourite books and discovering how Italy has pla...

"The Black Madonna represents a time of direct connection.  She is the spiritual connector.  She is the energy behind creation. We are to bring our thinking into our heart and have this influence our deeds" - Stephanie Georgieff,  The Black Madonna: Mysterious Soul Companion Welcome to Episode #72: Stephanie Georgieff is the host of the Black Madonna Speaks Podcast.  We had a most marvel...