Read Marsha Burdick

This week Milan has enjoyed a series of interesting events about all sorts of topics. The magazine Panorama  (sorry, no English page here) is organizing a tour of Italy and it was our turn. I signed up to hear Ken Follett speak and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Here's a pic I took at the event. It's important for writers to hear other writers speak. We can learn a lot. However, that's not really the reason to go. We need to remember that we are in the world and we have to stay connected. I don't write only for myself - I write for my readers. Now, I have a very small fraction of the readership that an author like Mr. Follett has (thanks to all 5 of you), but I am interested in hearing what you would like to read. This is why I put an email list sign up on the page. You can type in your address now and be notified when I post. In the comments today, let me know what you're interested in finding when you come by to see me.

Don't you love yard sales? All those things priced so conveniently. All those treasures changing houses. It's a lovely tradition that not all countries share. Italy, for example, does not do yard sales. So I guess you can imagine that I don't go all that often. For those of you who have never heard of a yard sale, these are sales that people hold privately to sell their own belongings at a 90% markdown. Some people set their stuff up in the garage, and call them garage sales. The unofficial verb would be "to go garage sale-ing". You don't need a permit or other type of authorisation. Outside the US, I'm sure you have second hand shops, or maybe you just donate your used items in good condition to charities. Maybe you could find a bookcrossing  point to get something to read free. I've been to several sales already this year, and here are a few of titles I picked up. Mad Merlin: garage sale. When I started it, I thought it was just another tak...

I like to read different types of media, and I love to try out different platforms. So I have accounts on both Wattpad and Goodreads. For those who don't know, Wattpad is a platform for writers to share what they've written and create content for their readers. I posted the Italian version of the Coma short story I wrote two years ago because it is no longer available on the Giallo Milanese website. You can find the English version here on my blog. I'm working on a new story and today I wrote 640 words. Goodreads , on the other hand, lets you write reviews about books that you've read, and you can keep track of what you are reading - and what you would like to read in the future. As usual, I'm currently reading three different books: two paper books and a digital version on my phone. I also have another ebook on my tablet that I have barely started. Here they are: The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane This year, I've read quite a bit on Chri...

It's absolutely crazy at work! Every business in Milan is preparing for either (or both!) the EXPO or the  Salone del Mobile - which is only the biggest international furniture fair in Europe. My translation business is involved in the preparation for these events, so I'm doing lots of furniture or tourism related text. It's interesting to get to know the history of a thriving company, and the passion that helped it get where it is now. At this difficult time for the economy, companies are looking to attract customers and, naturally, sell their products. The buzzwords? Natural , environmentally friendly , innovation , convenience , comfort, timeless beauty , durability , and my personal pet peeve for this year: avant-garde . Why o why has every copywriter starting using that word? Anyway, have you read any good business books lately? Business books are filled with marketing tips and encouragement, and they don't beat around the bush. It's as plain as da...

What are you reading now? Do you read on the bus, at the mall, or anywhere people can see what you're reading? On my commutes to and from work, I like to take a paperback or read from my cell phone e-reader, but sometimes I do stick a hardback in my briefcase just because I'm on the last chapter. (The issue with that is weight, not subject matter. My briefcase is heavy sometimes.) Here are a few of the books I have read on the bus. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Six Other Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald Indescribable by Louie Giglio and Matt Redman The Ultimate Prescription: What the Medical Profession Isn't Telling You by James L. Marcum God on the Streets of Gotham by Paul Assay Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt  by Christi Paul Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching by Diane Larsen-Freeman ... and finally, a book that you should all read because it's fun ... Night of the Living Dead Christian by Matt Mikalatos I don't notice...