What Writers Read: Jo Piazza
The Sicilian Inheritance is an adventure filled with food, wine, gorgeous landscapes and just the right amount of kicking the patriarchy's ass.
Hello readers!
Today brings you the final edition of the What Writers Read series and I’m so excited to close the series with one of my very favorite writers, podcasters and Substackers! I first found
through her book The Knockoff back in 2015 and I have been excited for all of her work since. I was honored to beta read two of her books and have been raving about her podcasts since I first came across Under the Influence years ago. She also jumped on the Substack train with her publicationand truly doesn’t seem to stop with her new ventures!I was intrigued to hear last year that Jo was working on a completely different type of book from her past work and I eagerly devoured her newsletter accounts of her research trips to Sicily. When I received an early digital review copy of the book, of course I jumped right in!
The Sicilian Inheritance releases TODAY and is such a delicious, suspenseful and atmospheric read ~ you’ll be transported to Sicily and be SO hungry from all the yummy food descriptions!
I hope you enjoy meeting Jo ~ let’s jump right in!
Give us a brief elevator pitch for your book
I have had so many readers tell me this is the book that got them out of their reading slump which I love so much. I also think this is the perfect book to take while traveling or if you want to be traveling but are stuck at home.
The Sicilian Inheritance is a multigenerational mystery and adventure about a woman who returns to Sicily to claim her family's land and is threatened by the same forces that murdered her great grandmother a hundred years earlier. It is an adventure filled with food, wine, gorgeous landscapes and just the right amount of kicking the patriarchy's ass.
What was the most interesting / challenging / rewarding (pick one!) part of writing The Sicilian Inheritance?
Because this book is loosely based on the murder of my own great great grandmother Lorenza Marsala in Sicily a century ago I felt an intense need to get the details about the lives of women in Sicily correct. I felt like I owed that to her and I did a ton of academic research on the time period. The most rewarding part was taking my entire family of five to Sicily last summer to finish reporting and writing and literally eating every dish that I mentioned in the book.
What are the three most recent books that you have loved?
The Women by Kristin Hannah - Kristin Hannah's book is number one on all the lists for a reason. It is a masterclass in incredible writing, character development and elevating women's stories.
This American Ex-Wife by Lyz Lenz - Lyz Lenz's exploration of the dissolution of modern marriage and the freedom divorce affords women through the lens of her own divorce is a must-read for all women.
I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol - I recently read the final version of this book by my best friend Glynnis MacNicol detailing the summer she spent in Paris indulging in French cheese, wine and men. It is a delicious and transformative delight. Releases on June 11, 2024!
A huge thanks to Jo for joining me here today, and please make sure to get your hands on a copy of The Sicilian Inheritance in the very near future!
Previous editions of What Writers Read:
Thanks for reading,
I love to hear from readers, so please do reach out to me with questions or feedback at mindfullibrarian@substack.com . If we aren’t already connected on Goodreads, I would love to see you there as well!
I’m a fan of Jo’s writing and podcasts, too! I can’t wait to read The Sicilian Inheritance soon.
So glad you introduced me to Jo Piazza’s books and podcasts years ago. Big fan!!