A long time ago, I received an email asking me if I would like to contribute to a book on Venice. Since the canal city is one my favourite places on earth, I agreed to contribute. I submitted a brief piece to go with one of the beautiful Venice photos. That was it.
It was a book I forgot about for a while, to be honest. It was something I forgot about for a while because I was so busy with other things. However, JoAnn Locktov, my editor, was lovingly nurturing the book and I am happy to report that it has finally come to an end. The release date for Dream of Venice is fast approaching. JoAnn sent me a PDF copy of the entire thing so that I could see it in action. This made me even more excited to get my hands on a copy. It’s an honor to have my words in this book, which also includes odes to Venice by Woody Allen and Julie Christie, Marcella Hayzan, Linus Roache, Erica Jong, and Frances Mayes.
(I said “humbled” but I also felt a bit of fangirl glee when seeing the names on the list. You’ll agree that it’s a pretty impressive company.
Charles Christopher’s exquisite photography is what binds everything together. Every piece of text is paired up with a photograph. JoAnn asked me to participate in the project. The first two photos I selected were already chosen by other authors. I was surprised that I didn’t have the same taste as Julie Christie and Marcella Hazan. The image that I paired with my words is what I love, for both the ghost-like character walking down the street, and the building in terra cotta.
You can pre-order the book on Amazon right now. It will be officially released next month on December 5th. Stay tuned, people, because I might just have something for you readers. In which one of YOU could win your copy of Dream of Venice? Details will be available to subscribers to Italy Explained’s newsletter. Scroll up and check the right-hand column.
JoAnn, thank you for inviting me to participate in this project and for allowing me to share Charles’ beautiful Venice photo here. Below is the text that I contributed to this book. This is just the tip of the iceberg, I promise. This book is for those who love Venice.
Venice, a famously romantic city is also known for being difficult to love. Despite being a romantic city, complaints about expensive hotels and crowds of cruise-ship passengers, as well as bad food and smelly canals, are not unfounded. Venice is still captivating – she is the vixen perched on another man’s shoulder, winking at him from across the room. She’s the word at your tongue that you don’t quite remember.
You’ll find narrow alleyways that are only a few inches wider than your arms, which can simultaneously thrill and terrorize. A darkened alley is filled with danger and sexual energy, and suddenly you feel at home in it. Your increased heart rate is something you blame on grappa. But, you know better.
Venice cannot be trusted with fidelity so it’s not worth crying when you aren’t loved back. If you require that type of validation, stick with the Positanos and Sienas of the world. You won’t be disappointed if you expect Venice to give more than she is willing to provide.