Kimberly Sullivan's Blog, page 22

Happy 2023! Wishing you a travel-filled year

Happy 2023! Hoping you’re facing a new year with plenty of travel – whether it be to new countries, or exploring new regions in your immediate surroundings. Travel does the soul good. Like many, I’m pretty angered by what we went through during these almost three (wasted) years of Covid hysteria, when it became almost…

My 2022 in books

I always love the Goodreads end-of-year round-up. It’s always so much fun to look back at your year in reading. I overshot my 2022 Goodreads Challenge by quite a bit, pledging to read 45 and instead reading 59. And I read a whopping 18,835 pages. You can see My 2022 Year in Books here. As…

In the steps of the Ancient Romans – enjoying the hot springs of Bagno Vignoni, Tuscany

Earlier this month, I enjoyed a fabulous weekend escape in Tuscany – in the small town of Bagno Vignoni. This town was known to the thermal-bath-loving Ancient Romans … and it continues as a spa location up until today. We stayed at the Le Terme Hotel, right at the edge of the town’s central piazza/thermal…

Last minute holiday shopper? Give the gift of books…

I know what I like to receive under the tree – books. Ever since I was little, I loved seeing stack of books I’d received under the Christmas tree. And that hasn’t changed at all over the years. I still love receiving – and gifting – books. To help cut down on your gift-giving expenses,…

The Eternal City is ready for its holiday close-up

Rome is not the most spectacular city when it comes to Christmas decorations. BUT it does enjoy some amazing Christmas weather. I love walking around Rome over the holiday period and enjoying the Christmas decorations. Weather forecasts in Rome are looking pretty good for these next few weeks, so I’m looking forward to enjoying the…

Gorgeous cover reveal for Laura Morelli’s latest: The Last Masterpiece

My friend Laura Morelli has a new historical novel coming in 2023 called THE LAST MASTERPIECE. Look at this gorgeous cover! And yes, I admit I do judge books that way … especially if they plan on covering the breathtaking beauty of Florence and its spectacular art. If you do not yet know Laura’s work,…

Christmas cheer in Montepulciano and Pienza, Tuscany

Earlier this month, I was in Tuscany for a weekend with my family, and we enjoyed seeing the cheery Christmas decorations. They were especially pretty in the towns of Montepulciano and Pienza – two gorgeous Tuscan hilltowns.   Montepulciano is a steep medieval hilltown (bring good walking shoes), known for its long wine tradition. Montepulciano…

Preparing my next publication – a short story collection

I’ve been super busy as 2022 comes to a close. After my first three novels, I decided to break with routine and to publish a short story collection. I have loved writing short stories – and some of the stories in this collection have won prizes or been included in anthologies and magazines. Others were…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas … in Verona

Fitting for a Saint Nicholas Day post that we start taking a look at Christmas decorations. This day (or 8 December – The Immaculate Conception) is when many Italian towns begin decorating their centers – although the date is constantly being pushed earlier. Luckily for us, the decorations were up at the start of December…

Learning the craft of short stories

While I’m not a fan of Zoom-work, or Zoom-school, I do have to admit I am a big fan of Zoom writing craft classes. I have been taking them recently, and I am pleased to join in on classes I wouldn’t otherwise be able to join. When you’re  a writer, craft classes always provide new…