Hope. Dreams. Life... Love: No More Secrets

No More Secrets

by Joanne Guidoccio

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GENRE: Women's Fiction

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BLURB:

Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling, possibly even toxic secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets—secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, the nieces listen as Angelica travels back six decades to reveal an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.

Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, set themselves free.

But one heartbreaking secret remains untold...

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EXCERPT:

As Angelica read the document, she heard several sighs emanating from Bellastrega. While she had grown to like this young woman and trust her judgment when it came to wellness, Angelica was not prepared to abandon her plans. Three women needed to be rescued.

“What if they don’t come?” Bellastrega asked.

“They will come,” Angelica said, smiling confidently.

“It’s still winter, and the roads around here can be treacherous.”

“That won’t stop them.” Angelica smiled at Bellastrega’s discomfort with winter driving. Fearless in her talk, the psychic dreaded going out at any hint of snow. “Not to worry. They’re Northern Ontario girls.”

Bellastrega waved her hands. “So, they get up here, and you share your secrets. Then what?”

“They begin to heal.”

“You can’t expect to solve all their problems in one weekend,” Bellastrega said in a gentler tone. “If you’re not careful, you’ll send them running to their mothers, who won’t hesitate to create unnecessary stress for you.”

From the start, Bellastrega had been determined to eradicate all the unnecessary stress in Angelica’s life. Did she really think she could create a lasting magic bubble?

Since receiving the positive medical report, Bellastrega had redoubled her efforts and started to plan spring and summer excursions. She had added to her meager wardrobe and purchased several decorative items for her room. Each day, she was settling in and becoming more comfortable in her role as a companion. The beautiful thirty-five-year-old woman with Arctic-blue eyes and a stormy past had found sanctuary in Angelica’s house.

Angelica’s thoughts traveled back six decades to her encounter with another set of Arctic-blue eyes. But that woman had been much older and more realistic in her expectations.

“Are you all right?” Bellastrega asked.

“I’m fine,” Angelica said, returning to the present. “I want to start the process. The rest will be up to them.” Angelica felt a sudden wave of fatigue, one she hadn’t experienced in months. This argument was growing old, and she no longer wished to justify her motives. Why couldn’t Bellastrega let it go?

A Word With the Author:

Did you always want to be a writer?

While sitting in high school English class (circa 1973), I dreamed of writing the great Canadian novel. I considered taking a gap year (unheard of at that time) and focusing on writing. My parents and teachers were relieved when I decided to pursue degrees in mathematics and education. But in my heart of hearts, I knew that someday I would resurrect that writing dream. In 2008, I took advantage of early retirement and devoted my second act to writing.

Tell us about the publication of your first book.

At first, there was the silent treatment. I sent out query letters and received no reply. I obtained feedback from my writing group, reworked the letter, and started getting form rejections, a step up. Soon after, several agents and publishers asked to see a partial—the first three chapters—and a few asked for the full manuscript. At this stage, there were polite refusals and suggestions for improvements.

One agent sent the following positive rejection: “Thank you so much for sending this to me. It sounded so wonderful that I put my afternoon aside to look at it right away. There’s a lot to like in here; you have a fresh, quirky voice that I enjoyed. However, I think that this may be a bit light for my personal taste. And so, I am going to step aside. You will very easily find representation for this work. Best of luck! And again, thank you so much for sharing your work with me!” I celebrated over dinner with friends.

On January 31, 2013, I received the following email from Senior Editor Debby Gilbert of Soul Mate Publishing: “Great news! I enjoyed Between Land and Sea so much we’d like to publish your book. You’re a strong, compelling writer and have written a unique story. I look forward to working with you.”

Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

I find it difficult to pinpoint a specific author. My favorites include Ann Patchett, Ann Lamott, Jane Green, Maeve Binchy, Joanna Trollope, Claire Cook, and Adriana Trigiani. In their novels, the protagonists are older and wiser, having encountered many bumps on the road to personal fulfillment. Several years ago, a friend commented, “Your writing reminds me of Maeve Binchy’s novels.” I couldn’t have received a better compliment.

What’s the best part of being an author? The worst?

I look forward to writing the first chapter and giving life to the characters. That initial spark of an idea may percolate for several days (sometimes weeks). Still, the real thrill occurs when I sit at my computer and start writing.

At some point in the writing, I encounter the murky middle, that nebulous place where I find it difficult to sustain the narrative. In short, I’m lost with no clear trail or direction in sight. Thankfully, I have developed several strategies that help me get back on track.

What are you working on now?

I’m focusing on short pieces—novellas, articles, essays—about a range of topics, among them reinvention, retirement, and wellness.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and launched a second act as a writer. Her articles and book reviews have been published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Joanne writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Website – https://joanneguidoccio.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/joanneguidoccio

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.ca/jguidoccio/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/authorjoanneguidoccio

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio/

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Joanne-Guidoccio/e/B00FAWJGCG/

Buy links:

Amazon (US) - https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX

Amazon (Canada) - https://www.amazon.ca/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX

Amazon (UK) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX

Amazon (Australia) - https://www.amazon.com.au/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX/