Thank you for having me. I'm originally from Figline Valdarno, a town close to Florence. My story is a common one, , I think – we all have dreams, no matter how old we are. There was a moment when my hometown felt too limiting. My parents' divorce actually pushed me to seek something different, a life I built for myself, away from everyone else's expectations. It's funny, but I immediately felt at home in New York City. I arrived with just a suitcase full of dreams, five hundred dollars, and no English. Since then, the city has been my teacher and my friend. Despite many challenges and failures, I never gave up, and I achieved what, for me, was the American dream.
Life is not something that happens for us, but through us.Recently, life took an unexpected turn when an illness brought me back to Florence, right back to where everything started. Ironically, this unexpected event has given me the opportunity to reconnect with my roots and truly appreciate my homeland.As I go through this change, I'm still trying to understand what it all means. What I've learned so far is that every new beginning always comes from an ending.
This is a story for everyone, especially young readers! Each chapter shares an important message about family, friendship, kindness, loyalty, and commitment. Paul lives in Pittsburgh and is about to embark on a great adventure with his wise monkey friend, Ercolino. Thanks to Ercolino, he'll learn what it truly means to be a hero: whether it's helping the elderly or standing up to bullies at school, heroes can be found anywhere. Paul and Ercolino will take us on an exciting journey from Pittsburgh to New York in a heartwarming tale that will inspire you to find the hero inside yourself.
It all started as a birthday gift for my husband, Paul. He's from Pittsburgh and the youngest of six, and the book is actually inspired by him. The story celebrates the values Paul holds dear, especially the power of education. Although we don't have children of our own, Paul passionately supports young students, believing it's crucial to share values, knowledge, and skills from a young age. Paul has called "Paul & Ercolino: You Can Be Anything You Want" the best gift he's ever received, and I hope it brings joy and inspiration to readers of all ages. It's a touching tale that reminds us that the simple values we often take for granted are what truly make us special.
In truth, dealing with sickness and pain, and rediscovering my inner strength, made me realize how therapeutic writing could be. It was a real comfort and support as I recovered.I remember being scared on the day of my surgery. . Then a message arrived: "Sometimes we look for heroes everywhere, but the real heroes are inside us." Those words moved me to tears. They came at the perfect moment, and after that, the writing just poured out of me.
I chose to explore themes of family, friendship, and diversity because they are treasures to cherish. Diversity isn't a weakness; it's a strength. And each of us has the power to become whoever we want to be.
I want to share this passage: "You can do it, Paul! Remember, even superheroes face challenges, but they never give up. They try and try again until they succeed."
This holds a universal message: life throws difficulties our way, but what truly matters is never surrendering, to keep trying until we reach our goals. Doubts and insecurities are natural, we're only human, but perseverance is key – never stop fighting..
Yes, I'm currently working on something new. Not writing is no longer an option for me; it's become one of the reasons I happily wake up each morning. I'm now heading back to New York, with plans to release my second book in June.
