An Author’s Ego, Deflated – and Other Italian Stories

I think most of my author friends will relate to the fact that, usually, when something happens that puffs up our egos a little bit, it is inevitably followed up with another thing that pricks that ol’ balloon and brings the ego back to normal size. It’s just the Murphy’s Law of Authordom, I am sure of it.

The other day I was told by my wonderful Italian publisher that my second event (tomorrow) here at Festivaletturatura had to be moved to a bigger venue because it had sold out. SOLD OUT! In Italy! I was over the moon. “Wow,” I thought, “I must have a higher profile here than I knew!” Then, yesterday, at lunch in the canteen – they have a wonderful canteen at a nearby school where student chefs make delicious food for all the authors, publishers, journalists, translators and interviewers and volunteers who are here for the festival – I was speaking to a woman who told me, “Oh, yes, at your second event you are being interviewed by Leila Costa. She is a famous Italian actress. A lot of people will be going just to see her.”

Can you hear the sound of my ego deflating? 🙂 I love that story. And in all seriousness, I am thrilled that I’m going to be interviewed by a famous Italian actress – how cool is that? And if it brings more people to the event, that is great – because they will see me, too, whether they want to or not!

But back to this very special week. Yesterday started with cappuccinos and brioche at a cafe, then I went to the author welcome center to be interviewed for an online version of a big Italian paper, by this extremely handsome journalist named Alessandro. Of course he was Alessandro. He had a handsome name to go along with his handsome self. Paola, on the other side of me, is with Il Castoro, my Italian publisher.

Afterward we had free time so the posse and I hopped on our most awesome bikes and rode through Mantua to the series of manmade lakes (made in the 12th century I believe). It was so lovely to do that.

We rode for quite a while.

Then we headed to the canteen for lunch, where we met the young man we have formally designated our Favourite Volunteer, Massimiliano. What a sweet young man!

It was time to get back for my first event, at a small palazzo (all of the events are in a string of palazzos and theatres around Mantua. I had an interviewer and a translator. The interviewer would talk, the translator would whisper what she was saying, in English, in my ear, I would answer in English, and the translator would translate to Italian. Phew!

Vera Salton and Chiara were amazing. It was fascinating to watch Chiara’s translating at work. She did an incredible job translating me, with expressiveness and all. I would talk for quite a while, and this is what her notes would look like.

Seriously. She’d repeat what I said, based on the above. She was also very nice to share this with me because she says translators keep their secrets guarded jealously – but really, what could any of us make of the above? Oh and by the way, her “day job” is working for the EU in Brussels …

Anyhoo. The kids seemed very engaged, and afterward I signed a lot of books.

I then did another interview. This one I did in the press office, which was very interesting – it was furnished entirely with cardboard furniture brought in especially for the festival.

I confess I was so pooped after all of that, that all I could do was drag my posse and I to an outdoor cafe and have a spritz and watch the fashionable Italian world go by (my posse, by the way, did not come to see my event. Yes, you heard that correctly: They went to see Tracy Chevalier (“The Girl With the Pearl Earring) instead). 🙂 I’m teasing them – they went to Tracy with my blessing, I had wanted to see her too but our events were at exactly the same time. Posse will come to tomorrow’s event (you know – to see the famous Italian actress). We had dinner afterward, then made our way home.

Today I had another interview, then Posse and I went to Palazzo Te with the wonderful guide Floriana again. We rode our bikes there. This palazzo was built by one of the Gonzagas, I’ve already forgotten which, basically so he could house his mistress there and throw parties and have a lot of sex in the “grotto.” It is designed by Raphael’s number one student, Julio Romano (I am going to double check the name, I worry I’ve got it wrong) and it is full of unique imagery. For example:

Now, have a closer look: I’ve never seen genitalia from that angle before in a Renaissance painting. In another room, we had this: Whoa! It’s no wonder they refer to the palazzo as “erotic”.

Afterward the Posse and I had lunch at the canteen, then we saw Paula Hawkins (“The Girl on the Train”), which was quite interesting even if 2/3 is in Italian (interviewer/translator/Paula). I had another interview, which took us back to the author’s welcome center. Here, finally, is a photo of the woman who made it all happen for me, Marella.

Marella, I adore you! I also took a picture of the sign they made especially for me. Where they put their bitchy authors.

Okay, it means bike, but I giggled myself silly over this.

There’s also musical entertainment all over the town. I don’t know if it’s because of the festival – I suspect so. The town has suddenly doubled its numbers, people everywhere.

The ladies and I went off to a bar for our aperitif. This is a must every night. The weather has been perfect for this activity and it is so fun to watch the world go by. Tonight we found a place right behind a bunch of ancient buildings. Lastly, c’est moi in my new Persol sunglasses (courtesy of the festival) enjoying an Italian beer. We followed this up with dinner, then gelato … now, much needed rest. I have my second event tomorrow (with the famous Italian actress. More soon. Ciao! Okay, PS: I just looked up Leila Costa. You should, too. She is freaking gorgeous and young. Good god, what have I got myself into?? More tomorrow …