Barbara Conelli's Blog, page 8

Writer’s Wisdom 2013 #2: Get Willing To Follow Your Dream

“Turn aside your dream and it will come back to you again. Get willing to follow it again and a second mysterious door will swing open. The universe is prodigal in its support. We are often miserly in what we accept. What we really want to do is what we are really meant to do. When we do what we want to do, money comes to us, we feel useful, and the work we do feels like play to us.” (Inspirations: Meditations from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron)

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The Charm And Beauty Of Italy 2013 #2: Campastrello – The Mediterranean Garden In Tuscany

Campastrello in Tuscany is a truly magical place: an enormous garden, home to thousands of Mediterranean plant species, both endangered and extinct in wild nature. It was founded by professor Franco Scaramuzzi from the University of Florence as a gift for his daughter Oliva who shared his passion for Mediterranean vegetation.

♥ Discover the heart and soul of Italy

with Barb’s Chique Travel Books

Filed under: 2013 Tagged: Barbara Conelli, campastrello tuscany, Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore, Chiqu...

Writer’s Wisdom 2013 #1: Learn To Be Self-Nourishing

“As artists, we must learn to be self-nourishing. We must become alert enough to consciously replenish our creative resources as we draw on them – to restock the trout pond, so to speak. I call this process filling the well. In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun.” (Inspirations: Meditations from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron)

Filed under: 2013 Tagged: Barbara Conelli, postaday, tips for writers, writer's life

The Charm And Beauty Of Italy 2013 #1: Giardino Arte Sella

Giardino Arte Sella in Trento is an extraordinary piece of work. Built in 1986 in the area of Val di Sella, this stunning garden is a collection of natural works of art that are being created throughout the year. At the end of the season, they are left to the natural process of decomposition so that they can return to Mother Nature.

♥ Discover the heart and soul of Italy

with Barb’s Chique Travel Books

Filed under: 2013 Tagged: Barbara Conelli, Chique Secrets of Dolce Amore, Chique Secrets of Do...

Happy & Chique Holidays!

It’s December, time to rest, relax, think about the year that’s quickly coming to an end, and make plans for the year to come. I’d like to thank you, my friends, readers and fans, for your loving support and encouragement throughout the year. My writer’s and traveler’s world is so much brighter thanks to you, and I’m eternally grateful for your kind words, smiles and hugs – the real ones as well as the virtual ones.

I’m taking the rest of December off – but I’ll be back in January with some br...

Writer’s Success Often Comes From Unexpected Places…

For the last year and a half, I’ve been focusing on promoting my books on Kindle. After having been told, having read from several sources, and having convinced myself that becoming a bestselling paperbackauthor was basically impossible, I just put my paperback books out their without paying any major attention to them.

This morning I went to look at my Kindle Amazon ranking and I accidentally clicked on the paperback version, only to discover that Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita was #17 in paper...

A Budding Novelist, Pleased To Meet You

Two years ago, I started to write a novel. On a whim. On a muse’s whim, to be exact. I sat down one night and wrote 5 full chapters. They were hilarious, smart, elegant, and held a big part of my heart. Since then, I haven’t added a single word to the manuscript. Why?

One of the worst things that can happen to a writer is to create a story around her art. This story is not based on reality but on other people’s beliefs and patterns that we have acquired along the way and chosen to wear as our...

Fancy A Villa In Italy? You Can Have It! A Home For The Princess That You Are

Italian villas are known for its beauty, splendor and glamorous comfort, and their tradition goes far back into the history of Italy. Already centuries ago, a villa was usually a luxurious house in the countryside built by a family of aristocrats as their second or third residence. It was not the main place of residence – it was common for city people to have at least two villas. One of the two villas could be easily reached from Rome if needed, and the other was seasonally used and had serva...

When In Italy: Getting To Know And Savoring Italian Food

In order to fully appreciate your trip to Italy, you must learn to appreciate Italian food. Tourists are usually pleasantly surprised to learn that there is a lot more to Italian food than what is found in the typical foreign Italian restaurant. While you certainly will find pastas and pizzas in Italy, there are many other fine Italian foods available in each part of the country. In fact, the best regional Italian foods are made with regional Italian produce.

You can classify Italian food as b...

(Travel) Writer’s Diary: Today I’m Rich

Henry David Thoreau said: “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” This is one of the quotes that have found a place in my heart, in my travel journals and on my fridge.

These days, (hopefully) wiser than I was years ago, I look for ease, joy and lightness in my days. I have found that as long as my needs and wants are covered and I have enough to live comfortably, I don’t strive for more. I’d rather spend the day watching the ocean, photographing hidden nooks and cra...