I have always liked books ever since I learned to read at age 5, and I have never stopped reading since then. But, how is it that I now write/scribble and translate children’s books? Well, it is a long story but the shortest version is as follows.
Since I liked books so much, after receiving my university degree, when looking for a job, my first thought was to look for something that would let me read all the time. As luck would have it, I entered into the publishing world, where I worked many years as an editor cleaning up the translations made by other people. This was the main reason I began to translate: I was really sick of re-writing bad translations. I asked myself: “Why don’t I try to do it myself?” So, I did…and was further encouraged when in 1995, a little more than a year (I began in 1993) after I started translating, one of my translations, Monster by Christopher Pike, won for me the Andersen-Baia delle Favole Prize as “Best Children’s Books Translator of the year."
In 2004 the International Board on Books for Young People awarded and inscribed me on the IBBY honor list as the "Best Translator of Children's Books into Italian."
After just translating for 10 years, I decided to start writing, in addition to continuing to translate. My first books were more school-related books as I developed my craft, then I started writing original stories. My book I Cavalieri del Vento has won two prizes: first, in 2006, was the Premio Cento, XXVIII edizione, one of the major prizes for children's literature in Italy. I have joined good company here, the first Harry Potter book also won this prize. The second prize was the Premio Sardegna V edizione 2007-2008. In May 2009 my book Luci di Mezzanotte, a mystery set in Florence published by Piemme, won the XI edition of the Premio Un Libro per L'Ambiente. What I found so satisfying about all three of these awards was that the final vote was by the young people themselves.
In 2009 I have finished two books: a younger children's book, L'albero delle mille dolcezze, published by Giunti; and I Guardiani della Notte, a book with the same characters that appeared in I Cavalieri del Vento, published by Piemme.
My newest book for this year 2010 arrived in the bookstores in May, few weeks ago: it is for children age 11 and older. The title is La casa delle rondini and takes place in Taranto, the city where I was born, grew up and lived in until I was 17 years old.
Also, if you want to read some articles/essays/book introductions written by me, articles about me or about my books, or see some related videos, click on the articles page. To read some short stories published in Italian newspapers click on my books page.
I am also available for meetings with children and adults/teachers/librarians at schools, libraries, and bookstores. Just email me for more information.