Bookworm Press

I’m a writer but also an avid reader and I love to share books and authors I like. Murder in Tuscany (An Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery, Book 1) by T A Williams is a novel which I thoroughly enjoyed and which takes place in one of my favorite parts of the world. Tuscany is also the locale of my own series The Wine Lover’s Daughter.

Here is my review on Amazon:

Newly retired DCI Dan Armstrong was given a retirement present by his colleagues at the force in England—the opportunity to attend a writing retreat at a stunning villa in beautiful Tuscany. While he is grateful for their generosity and the opportunity to finish writing his novel and leave his personal problems, among them a failing marriage, as well as rainy England behind him for a while, he is less enthusiastic about the genre of the literature taught at the retreat—erotica of all things. The somewhat strait-laced former policeman decides, however, to make the best of his time and try to fit in with the group of the other probably crazy writers.

If Dan thinks he left police work behind, he has a rude awakening a few days into the retreat when one of the people is found dead and it looks very much like murder. Together with his friend, the Italian detective, and his sidekick, Oscar, the enthusiastic and exuberant Labrador pup of the owner of the villa, he tries to shed light on the happenings and begins to uncover some very dark secrets among the attendees of the retreat and the hosts.

This is a fun and suspenseful mystery with interesting and quirky characters and vivid descriptions of Florence and the Tuscan landscape, the excellent food and wines. It kept me engaged from beginning to end and I look forward to part two of the series. Highly recommended!

 

I began writing my latest novel, Letter from a Cave, back in 2019 before the pandemic. The action takes place in Italy and in Switzerland in an area near the Italian/Swiss border I was unfamiliar with and which I intended to visit. Well, Covid and the related travel restrictions upended those plans.

Fortunately, I have a good friend in Switzerland, Silvia Delorenzi, who was familiar with that part of the canton Grisons, the so-called Hinterrhein Valley. Thanks to her invaluable comments and corrections, I managed to finish the manuscript from afar.

In September 2022, together with Silvia and her husband, Curzio, I was finally able to visit the villages of Andeer and Splügen, the Splügenpass and the San Bernardino Pass. We spent some time walking through the quaint villages, exploring the beautiful landscape, and having a delicious lunch at the restaurant Weisses Kreuz (White Cross), which also appears in my novel. Our visit confirmed most of the information and fortunately, I had to make just a few adjustments. Thank you again, Silvia and Curzio, for your help!

Here are a few pictures and a blurb of Letter from a Cave:

Andreas, a Swiss sculptor and stonemason, lost his wife in an accident three years ago. Still grieving, he seeks solace on long hikes in the Swiss mountains. Overcome by a thunderstorm one evening, he takes shelter in a cave where he finds an old, abandoned backpack underneath rocks and stones. Hidden in it are an Italian passport, a photo of a young woman, an envelope with a letter inside dated December 1943, written by a Jewish refugee during the Second World War to his young, pregnant wife in Italy.

Overwhelmed and inspired by the longing and love expressed in the letter, Andreas is determined to find out what happened to the man, why he hadn’t sent the letter, and whether his wife, Bella, and her family in Italy are still alive after all these years. Together with Luisa, his friend and owner of a vineyard in Tuscany, he sets out on a quest through Italy to find any signs of Bella or her family. During their search, they meet both helpful people and those who try to prevent them, even by force, from digging into a past filled with heroism but also with cruelty and betrayal.

Will the quest to find Bella and her family bring closure for them as well as for Andreas, or will it cause more turmoil and heartache?

The village of Splügen and the surrounding area. Splügenpass is the name of the mountain and the road across it.

 

 

Typical houses of the area, lovingly decorated with art works and lots of flowers

 

History in action: Via Spluga, now a beloved hiking path, was the main link between the canton Grisons in Switzerland and towns and villages in Italy for many centuries. It was used by pack drivers and tradesmen who crossed the Alps to transport their goods (and ideas) from North to South. It begins in the town of Thusis and leads through the breathtaking Viamala Gorge, the Roffla Gorge, the villages of Andeer and Splügen among others all the way to the top of the Spügenpass and down to Isola and Chiavenna in Italy.

Via Spluga is also the favorite hiking path for Andreas, the protagonist in Letter from a Cave, where he finds the mysterious letter that changes his life.

And here we are in the village of Andeer, the residence of Andreas and Emilia, his youngest daughter, who is a veterinarian.

 

 

The decorations in the photo above and below are typical carvings on many of the houses in the canton Grisons (or Graubünden in German). The technique is called Sgraffito. The name comes from the Italian word sgraffiare or graffiare, meaning “scratch” or “scratching,” a form of decoration made by scratching through a surface to reveal a lower layer of a contrasting color. It’s typically done in plaster or stucco on walls or on ceramics before firing.

 

An old wooden bridge over the Rhein river; this part of the river is called the “Hinterrhein.”

 

Andeer is also home to a well-known mineral bath, a perfect place to soothe sore muscles after a long hike in the beautiful surrounding mountains.

Below is the restaurant Weisses Kreuz (White Cross), which also features in the novel. It’s a favorite hang-out for Andreas and his family.

 

And of course, my friends and I had to try their excellent cuisine and wines!

 

 

I ordered one of Andreas’ favorites–Cordon Bleu with French Fries and Salad.

 

It was excellent!

This journey through the landscape and villages featured in my new novel was both instructive and enjoyable. Thank you Silvia and Curzio for your support.

The novel just came back from my fabulous and meticulous editor, Linda Cassidy Lewis. That means back to work for me, so that Letter from a Cave can finally be finished and, eventually, published. I’ll keep you posted!

After enjoying the spectacular view of the Grand Canyon, it was time to head back on the train. On the way to the Grand Canyon the host in our car gave us a lot of interesting details about the history of the train. On the ride back, however, we got a touch of the old and wild West!

All of a sudden, our host told us that we were being attacked by train robbers. Sure enough, two men on horseback, shooting their pistols, overtook the train. You can spot one of them through the train window on the next picture!

 

 

And before we “terrified” passengers knew it, they were inside the train, “forcing” us to hand over one dollar or ??! Well, we didn’t wait for the “or.”

Here they are, those railway robbers!

 

 

 

 

Finally, the Sheriff shows up–too late as usual.

 

They escaped with our dollars–but the whole excitement was worth it.

Back in Williams, we admired one more time the loyal old train engine. It was a wonderful experience!

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This promises to be a jam-packed, exciting day for us. I visited the Grand Canyon in the seventies, but for Diane, it was a first. I remember, walking to the rim of this amazing gorge and stopping in awe, completely overwhelmed with what I saw.

The history of this natural wonder is described here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_National_Park

This time around, we decided to take the train, in other words, we returned to the “Old West via the Grand Canyon Railway.” It was a blast, a true time travel experience. If you ever decide to forego the car and parking problems and embark on a true adventure, here is the information:

https://www.thecanyon.com/grand-canyon-railway

We started the journey from the town of Williams in Arizona.

 

 

 

 

The ride to the Grand Canyon was an adventure in itself with all kinds of entertainment and interesting information about the history of the train.

 

After an almost three hour ride, we arrived at Grand Canyon Village where we hiked a small path to the rim of the canyon. I still remember the first impression of this miraculous gorge back in 1971. I was simply overwhelmed and couldn’t believe my eyes. When I saw it again on this trip, the breathtaking view was as powerful as the first time. The photos give an idea of the vastness and beauty of the canyon but they can’t convey the full impact of standing there in person.

 

 

 

For those interested in the formation and history of the Grand Canyon, this article about a new groundbreaking discovery by the geologist Allan Krill is fascinating. Enjoy the amazing photos:

A Big Boulder Holds a Grand Canyon Secret – Past Chronicles

Since we had to get up at the crack of dawn to catch the train, I was ready for a cup of coffee and so were a lot of other people, which meant standing in line for a while. We were lucky though to secure a pleasant spot in a restaurant for lunch. After walking along the rim, taking pictures, and browsing through the souvenir shops, it was time to catch the train back. We had three hours to explore this wonderful place. It would be great to spend the night in one of the few lodges and experience the rising and setting sun. Perhaps next time!

If the train ride to the Canyon had been interesting, the ride back was a  true “Wild West adventure”! Stay tuned for the next blog post!

If you want to stay in touch with me, sign up for my mailing list. I send out occasional emails about my writing and other fun stuff. Just click on the Monkey icon in the right panel and fill out a short form. Don’t worry, I won’t overwhelm you with mail. And you can always unsubscribe.

My friend Diane in Arizona had an important birthday coming up and so we decided to celebrate with a visit to the Chihuly in the Desert exhibition and a ride on the old train to the breathtaking Grand Canyon. Both were overwhelming experiences.

Chihuly in the Desert is an exhibition at the Desert Botanical Garden near Phoenix, Arizona. The exhibition combines native desert plants with art works by the artist Dale Patrick Chihuly. Dale Chihuly – Wikipedia

We got there just before the sun set and were able to see the great variety of desert plants and the sculptures by daylight. After sunset, the art works lit up and created a magical atmosphere. Here are a few pictures.

 

 

 

 

After sunset, the sculptures lit up and illuminated the desert plants.

 

 

When you drive through the desert in summer when it’s hot and dusty, you can barely imagine that there is anything else but flat, dried-out landscape. In Spring, however, after some rainfall (unfortunately rare these days of climate change), the desert can burst with color from a blanket of wildflowers. Even in the hot summer months, you can enjoy many desert plants, above all a great variety of cacti.

Walking through the desert garden after sunset, admiring the illuminated plants and works of glass art, we realized how magical the desert can be.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures on our train ride from Williams, Arizona, to the Great Canyon.

If you want to stay in touch with me, sign up for my mailing list. I send out occasional emails about my writing and other fun stuff. Just click on the Monkey icon in the right panel and fill out a short form. Don’t worry, I won’t overwhelm you with mail. And you can always unsubscribe.

Here is a book I really enjoyed and wanted to share with you:

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

 

One of the funniest books I have read in a while. It’s a special kind of humor that not everybody may like. I found it hilarious and while you laugh you get a great overview of world history and a tongue-in-cheek vivid portrayal of some of the world’s most famous politicians and rulers. There is an underlying roguish criticism of the weaknesses of social and political systems and their perpetrators.

I read the German version: Der Hundertjährige, der aus dem Fenster stieg und verschwand.

Happy Reading, my Fellow Bookworms!

 

 

About thirty years ago, four of us poets and artists, Gwynne Garfinkle, Mary Striegel, Ann Braeff and I, founded a group called Los Angeles Poetry Ensemble. We read our poems at different venues in the Los Angeles area and some of us traveled out of state to participate at readings and performances. We created a chapbook of our poems and art work, titled Under the Surface of Childhood.

It was an exciting, creative, and fun time.

After years of collaboration, we all went our own ways but kept in touch. Ann Braeff wrote poetry and taught school. Mary Striegel moved to Louisiana where she worked in different functions in her community and kept on writing and painting. Gwynne Garfinkle wrote and published poems and short stories and this year published her debut novel, Can’t Find My Way Home, through Aqueduct Press. I, myself, published poems in poetry magazines as well as a collection of poems, Path of Fire, through Finishing Line Press and then tried my hand at novels and wrote and published two trilogies, Family Portrait and The Wine Lover’s Daughter as an independent author.

At the reunion after ten years, it was exciting and inspiring to realize that all of us kept our creative dreams alive and made them reality. Unfortunately, Ann Braeff couldn’t meet with us this time, but I hope she’ll be ready to join us at our next get-together–and, hopefully, we won’t have to wait another ten years!

And the brunch was delicious!

Now, that my friend, Diane, and her five Chihuahuas are settled in their new home in Sun City, Arizona, it was time for another trip there. We had plans to celebrate my birthday in Sedona.

 

I’ve read and heard so much about this place, made famous by the New Age crowd and spiritual seekers in general that I wanted to experience it myself. Sedona is famous for its natural beauty, the amazing rock formations, and the vortexes of energy, one the main attractions during the sixties and seventies.

We started out on a sunny but slightly cool day. Sedona is higher than Sun City. The average altitude is around 5000 ft. or 1500 meters. We definitely felt our ears pop as we drove there. The first view of the rock foundations from the Ranger station at the beginning of the town was breathtaking and the closer we got, the more overwhelming it became. The best way to show this is through pictures, although the don’t full justice to the live experience. But here are a few.

 

 

Courthouse Butte

 

 

 

Bell Rock

 

I have to admit I forgot the names of some of the rocks. This was, however, an introductory exploration of this fascinating piece of earth. We’ll be back to explore it in more detail.

Wishing you all Happy Holidays. Stay safe, stay positive, and enjoy the small treasures of life!

 

After exploring the immediate neighborhood of Diane’s new home, we took a short trip to a neighboring town that was recommended to us: Scottsdale. This is a quaint place full of Native American art and arts and craft as well as Western folklore. Here are a few pictures.

 

This interesting and fun store sells and supports Native arts and crafts from artists in the area.

Check out the floor below!

It was fun–but HOT! It’s definitely the desert in summer. But look at the awesome sunsets! We are enjoying the evening at home.

 

 

The time has come for me to return to California and for Diane to get used to her new home. There will be plenty for her to do and she won’t get lonely with her five companions! I’ll miss our time together. During my next visit–when it’s a little cooler–we’ll explore Arizona some more. I look forward to visiting Sedona, which has been on my “bucket list” for a while.

Bye bye for now!

 

 

 

 

 

All right, we’re driving through New Mexico. I’ve been to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Taos many years ago and loved it. There wasn’t time during this trip for sightseeing but we’ll do that once Diane is settled. Right now, we’re eager to reach Arizona, her new home!

Getting closer!

And here we are! Sun City! Yay! Thank you, Mike, for your perfect transport!

 

Beautiful desert!

 

Of course, now the unpacking begins. Chaos once more for Diane, but we are here. We made it. While Diane is unpacking a few things for the first few days, the dogs are trying to get used to their new environment. I try to calm them down a little. I’m now officially Auntie Christa to 5 pups!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our first relaxing meal. Aida, Diane’s realtor who got her the house, not only made sure the electricity and the water were turned on and everything was in order but even got us a few bottles of wine and beer! What a kind woman!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day was mainly settling in. Now, that the pups had a place to stay, we took a short trip to one of the beautiful towns in the neighborhood. Stay tuned.