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Meet Paul Salsini Author of The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany,Sparrow’s Revenge: A Novel of Postwar Tuscany, Dino’s Story: A Novel of 1960s Tuscany, and The Temptation of Father Lorenzo
http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/4907/1/Meet-Paul-Salsini-Author-of-The-Cielo-A-Novel-of-Wartime-TuscanySparrows-Revenge-A-Novel-of-Postwar-Tuscany-Dinos-Story-A-Novel-of-1960s-Tuscany-and-The-Temptation-of-Father-Lorenzo/Page1.html
Joseph Valentinetti

Reviewer Joseph Valentinetti: Joseph was born in New York City and lives in California. He is a writer, poet, interviewer & reviewer. He also produces Video Book Trailers and contributes various items to several online sources and forums. His dog will vouch for him, if needed.

 
By Joseph Valentinetti
Published on May 15, 2012
 


Joseph Valentinetti, one of bookpleasures' reviewers interviews author Paul Salsini.


Today, Joseph Valentinetti, one of bookpleasures' reviewers is talking with author Paul Salsini. Paul is a veteran journalist, having worked 37 years at The Milwaukee Journal. He now teaches writing courses at Marquette University and began writing fiction eight years ago. Here, in a synopsis, he describes his novel.  It’s an engrossing read about people with strengths—women taking care of a demented neighbor, for example—and weaknesses—a priest tempted by a beautiful woman. In other words, people just like us.

Joseph:

What is the most overrated virtue?

Paul:

Patience

Joseph:

What is the one thing other people always seem to get wrong about you?

Paul:

That I know more than I do.

Joseph:

If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

Paul:

Stop the fighting—nations, politicians, people.

Joseph:

What pet peeve do you have about other people?

Paul:

They aren’t willing to stand up for what is right.

Joseph:

Is there any occasion when it’s OK to lie?

Paul:

Probably.

Joseph:

What is your philosophy of writing?

Paul:

I like to tell stories with interesting people. They may be ordinary people, but they are caught up in adventures that captivate me, and, I hope, readers.

Joseph:

Is your writing an art or craft or some combination of both?

Paul:

As a journalist, I can’t qualify as an artist. I am used to getting information and writing it. That’s what I try to do in my stories. I love doing research for my stories—that’s the journalistic part—but I also love creating characters and a narrative—that’s the fiction writing part. The fascinating problem is that these characters take on a life of their own and I can’t get rid of them. That’s why I keep writing about them.

Joseph:

If you could go back ten years and give yourself one piece of advice what would that advice be?

Paul:

Enjoy the moment.

Joseph:

What’s the name and genre of you book and who is the audience for this book?

Paul:

The Temptation of Father Lorenzo: Ten Stories of 1970s Tuscany.  I would like to say anyone who loves a good story, but I suppose people with knowledge and love of Italy will be especially engrossed.

Joseph:

Is this book part of a series? If so is it a sequel or a prequel? Name the other already published books?

Paul:

Yes, it is the fourth book in my series set in Tuscany. The first three form A Tuscan Trilogy. The first was The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany, set in the 1940s. The second was Sparrow’s Revenge: A Novel of Postwar Tuscany, set in the 1950s. The third was Dino’s Story: A Novel of 1960s Tuscany, set during the devastating flood of Florence in 1966. The Temptation of Father Lorenzo brings the characters in the first three novels into the 1970s.

Joseph:

Describe your protagonist and describe the challenges the protagonist needs to overcome and the motivation for overcoming them.

Paul:

There are many characters in each of the books, but I suppose that Rosa is the thread through them all. She is a strong-willed woman, if opinionated and nosy, who has suffered much in life but is kind and generous. She endured the Nazi occupation during World War II, took care of a dying husband and then found happiness with a new love.

Joseph:

Describe your antagonist and talk about motivation.

Paul:

In “The Cielo” there are two young German soldiers caught up in the passion of the Nazi command. One is deluded into thinking that the Nazi efforts will be victorious and would do anything for the cause. The other comes to realize the futility of their efforts. These were characters that were difficult to create but I think are realistic.

Joseph:

Please quote a passage from your book that you love.

Paul:

This is early in the story about Father Lorenzo.

He was sure of one thing now, though. As he prepared for Mass in the Rinuccini Chapel, he knew exactly what he was doing.

I’m going to go there and tell her it was all a mistake. I’m sorry if I misled her. I don’t know why I did that. It was stupid. I’m a priest. I can’t get involved with women. I’ve taken a vow of chastity. And I’ve got responsibilities in Florence. I’ve got to run the soup kitchen. She should know the truth. I’m forty-three years old. I’m not a seventeen-year-old kid . I’m a priest. Nothing is going to come of this. Even if she is so beautiful and nice.”

Joseph:

Elaborate on the meaning of the passage.

Paul:

Father Lorenzo, long a priest and celibate, is captivated by the beautiful woman he has just met. He uses an excuse to go to Rimini to see her and finally tell her that he’s a priest, but in reality he wants to see her again and dares not think of what might happen.

Joseph:

What surprising things did you learn while writing this book?

Paul:

That these characters do some surprising things, things I didn’t even know about.

Joseph:

How has your upbringing influenced you writing?

Paul:

I was brought up in an Italian American household and have long appreciated everything Italian. It was natural to set the stories in Tuscany, where my father and my mother’s parents were born.

Joseph:

Where do you live and how does that influence your writing?

Paul:

It’s not where I live, an urban community, but my trips to Tuscany that have inspired me. The people are so generous, the countryside so beautiful.

Joseph:

If you have a career outside of writing how does it fit into your life as a writer?

Paul:

I teach journalistic writing at Marquette University, so that keeps me in touch with my journalistic roots.

Joseph:

Do you have a special routine you go through before you begin writing?

Paul:

I wish I did. When the characters tell me what they’re doing, I sit down and write.

 

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