MUSE MONDAY
Please welcome back Joanne Guidoccio to Discover... She is always welcome and has a great Muse Monday for us today.
Having lived and taught in different cities
throughout the province of Ontario, I have felt free to “borrow”
characteristics from friends, former colleagues, and students to create
composite characters in my novels.
That was the modus operandi for the first five
novels I wrote: Between Land and Sea, The Coming of Arabella, A
Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, and A
Different Kind of Reunion.
While writing No More Secrets, I followed a slightly different path.
Angelica Delfino, the protagonist, is also a
composite character. But this time, I borrowed from the Italian women of my
mother’s generation. And, yes, I did include bits of my mother’s life. Before
she died, Mama read an early draft and commented, “I can see myself here, as
well as…” and then she mentioned several relatives and close friends.
The three nieces—Velia, Nora, and Teresa—belong to
Generation Y. While sketching their characters, I considered former students
but also thought back to my own experiences.
Growing up, I was surrounded by several friends and
relatives who resembled Velia, the quintessential good Italian girl who
followed the script. While I demonstrated some of her self-discipline and
motivation for academic achievement, I didn’t marry at an early age, nor did I
choose to stay home and raise a family.
Nora, Velia’s polar opposite, is considered the
black sheep of the clan. Impulsive and carefree (at times reckless), Nora has
taken many risks in her personal and work lives. Her disastrous marriage barely
lasted one year. Often described as a Career ADDer, she experimented with
several careers before finding her niche as an interior designer. In my late
twenties and early thirties, I did go through a brief period of job-hopping.
Like Teresa, the youngest niece, I settled in
Guelph, a mid-sized city in south-central Ontario. We are both introverts and
teachers at Catholic school boards, but the resemblance ends there. A theology
department head, Teresa is more spiritually inclined. Early in the novel, she
speaks wistfully about her missionary work–something I admire but could never
do.
Bellastrega, aka Lynn Miller, started off as a minor character. Initially, I intended to have Angelica’s psychic companion appear briefly in the first chapter. All that changed after she started invading my dreams. She ended up with her own POV and full control of the epilogue. Her character was inspired by a psychic in Northern Ontario. While I don’t possess psychic abilities, I do share a common interest with Bellastrega. When I retired twelve years ago, I made wellness a priority in my life. Many of Bellastrega’s comments and suggestions could easily have come from me.
Blurb
Angelica
Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she
affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring
a troubling, possibly even toxic secret, Angelica decides to share her
secrets—secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, the nieces
listen as Angelica travels back six decades to reveal an incredulous tale of
forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention. It is the classic immigrant story
upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of
circumstances.
Inspired
by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems
and, in the process, set themselves free.
But one
heartbreaking secret remains untold...
Excerpt
“Go,”
Kelly said. “Your aunt is dying, and this could be your last opportunity to
spend some quality time together.”
“Her
oncologist shared good news last week,” Nora said. “Her blood counts have
improved, and the cancer hadn’t spread since her last visit. He mumbled
something about a miracle.”
“A
miracle?” Kelly’s eyes widened. “Has your aunt been seeing a healer?”
“You could
say that,” Nora said as her eyes twinkled. “Right after Christmas, she hired a
companion who’s been able to transform her life. I don’t know her real name. My
mother calls her Bellastrega—beautiful witch.” All recent conversations with Ma
had focused on Bellastrega. Relieved not to have to share her own problems,
Nora had encouraged her mother to talk about the beautiful witch who had turned
all their lives upside down. Nora enjoyed the weekly updates that sounded like
soap operas.
“Is she a
beautiful witch?”
Nora
shrugged. “My mother mentioned her dyed-blonde hair, too-skinny body, and
watery eyes. She’s put Zia on a vegan diet and an exercise regimen. At
Christmas, Zia needed a walker to get around, but now she’s walking freely. My
mother and aunt are convinced that Bellastrega is a witch who’ll end up robbing
Angelica and leaving.” Nora had tried to point out that if Bellastrega’s
intention was to steal, it would make more sense to let Angelica get weaker.
“She
sounds intriguing,” Kelly said. “I’d go just to meet this woman.”
“Hmm. I
guess.” Nora was curious and wouldn’t mind sitting and chatting with the woman
about wellness. But from Zia Angelica’s email, it sounded like Bellastrega
would leave soon after everyone arrived.
“Think of it as an adventure. How many beautiful witches have you met in this lifetime?”
Book
Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo5ozMtcz2U
Purchase
Links
Amazon (US) - https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX
Amazon (Canada) - https://www.amazon.ca/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX
Amazon (UK) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX
Amazon (Australia) - https://www.amazon.com.au/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX/
Author Bio
A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and
Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Joanne writes paranormal romances, cozy
mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.
Website – https://joanneguidoccio.com
Thanks for hosting me, Brenda :)
ReplyDeleteYou're always a welcomed guest, Joanne.
DeleteI always love Muse Mondays. Thank you Brenda and Congratulations Joanne! "No More Secrets" sounds like a riveting read!
DeleteThanks, Vali. I kind of like them too!
DeleteGood to see you here, Vali. I also enjoy the Muse Monday posts.
ReplyDelete