I’d like to tell you what I think I’ve learned through this experience. That survival, for me, means finding the courage to dig deep and believe in myself. That survival, for me, means finding that elusive inner strength. But let me tell you about myself first – and start the story at its beginning. . .
Maybe I’ve always been a ‘should’ person. Choosing to do things because I think I ‘should’ do them – the expected whatever, the normal action, the nice gesture. Swallowing part of me because I should put others needs before mine. My husband tends to put himself first, so does my brother, and my publisher and agent and why not, they say. Isn’t that how you get ahead?
Well, I’m now leaving New York City and heading to Florence, Italy to teach – and to do research on the Mud Angels of 1966, a group of dedicated volunteers who descended on Florence during a massive flood that threatened some of the greatest art treasures of the world. My mother had been one of the Mud Angels – and right before she died, she had asked me to bring her an old suitcase from the attic; it was full of memorabilia, letters and journals of that time that she wanted to share with me. ‘Find me in Florence,” she’d said. But I couldn’t fulfill her request in time and I was left going through the suitcase on my own. I discovered a mysterious thread, it felt important but remained mystifying – clearly something my mother had kept secret for decades. Her words, ‘Find Me in Florence’ haunted me.
My husband, Stan, could not join me on this trip; he said there was too much going on at his law firm. My best friend, Susie, couldn’t join me, she was busy promoting her newest swimsuit line. I arrive in Florence on my own, meet my writing students and get ready to use my free time to unravel my mother’s past. Florentines offer their help – the handsome and kind Matteo who is a curator of the Uffizi museum, his sister who is a translator, a few ex-pats and former Mud Angels – and I feel I am making some progress. But when Stan surprisingly contacts me and tells me ‘we need to talk’ and that he’s coming to Florence so we can have ‘that talk’ – the trajectory of my investigation is stalled. Sorry to tell you, but my heart felt irretrievably broken after ‘that talk’. The word betrayal loomed large.
Florence is beautiful and historic and romantic. My mother’s secret is tied up in those qualities too, and I have to find inner strength to allow the city, its people and its treasures to help me find the answers to her past – and to give me a chance to heal. To give me the courage to trust again and ensure that I am not following my habitual ‘should do’ – but following the trueness in my heart.
Giveaway: Tell us, do you like travel and mystery and romance? If so, leave a comment as to WHY you do. It’s your chance to win a print copy of Find Me In Florence. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends January 20, 2020. Good luck everyone!
Find Me In Florence is a contemporary women fiction published by Pandamoon Publishing, released November 1, 2019.
Finding herself at life’s crossroads, always-dutiful Lyn Bennett jumps at the chance to teach in historic Florence, Italy; it’s an opportunity to unearth the mysterious details of her mother’s past as one of Florence’s revered Mud Angels who helped save the city during the 1966 flood – as well as to re-evaluate the choices she’s made in her life. When her husband betrays her and a best friend falls to the wayside, Lyn is devastated. When handsome and magnetic Matteo strives to help, she has to decide if she will allow the people – and the city of Florence, with its pride, vitality and beauty – inspire her to open her heart again?
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Meet the author
Jule Selbo’s new book Find Me In Florence was released November 2019. Jule is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and novelist. She has written for television and for feature films. Credits include George Lucas’ Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, HBO’s Women Behind Bars – Prison Stories and numerous projects for Disney (Ariel’s Beginning, Hunchback of Notre Dame II, Cinderella II), Universal Pictures (Hercules and the Amazon Women) and more. Her other novels include Dreams of Discovery: Based on the Life of John Cabot (2018) and Breaking Barriers: Laura Bassi and the Enlightenment (2020). Her plays have been produced in NYC, Los Angeles and in regional theaters across the country, the latest production is Boxes at the lauded Good Theater in Portland Maine (Fall, 2019). In addition, she is a Professor has written books on screenwriting and film history including Screenplay: Building Story Through Character (2015), Film Genre for the Screenwriter (2015), Women Screenwriters, An International Guide (2016), edited with Jill Nelmes She holds a Ph.D. in Film from the University of Exeter in England and holds seminars on writing in the USA and abroad.
To learn more about Jule, visit her website at juleselbo.com.
All comments are welcomed.
I love to travel because I get to see and experience new places and things with a touch of the unknown. I think that’s one of the reasons I love to read a good book filled with mystery, suspense and twists and turns, especially when the setting takes place in a beautiful location.
Jeanne – I agree with you on travel! Sometimes I don’t make it a priority because “life” gets so full right here at home. But putting it on the calendar and making the trek – it’s always so rewarding. When I lived in Florence Italy – on and off over three years – – I was inspired every day. But the people and the art and just how much Italy has preserved and takes so much pride in! I hope you enjoy FIND ME IN FLORENCE! Let me know!
http://www.juleselbo.com
Best – Ciao! Jule
Traveling is a great way to experience other cultures and see places I’ve read about. I like the challenge of reading and writing mystery because it’s a puzzle to be solved.
Sharon – Yes yes! Writing mystery is a CHALLENGE! In my book FIND ME IN FLORENCE, the mystery is all tied up in putting together clues from a journal. It’s an emotional, familial investigation. I think of FIND ME IN FLORENCE more as women’s fiction – with romance and travel and mystery – a woman finding an important core strength in herself. Right now I am working on a true “private investigator” book – where the mystery/crime is foremost. The challenge is there! Let me know what you’re working on! Hope you enjoy FIND ME IN FLORENCE if you get a chance to read! You will think you are “in Florence”. Best Jule Selbo
http://www.juleselbo.com
I enjoy travel and mysteries and am very intrigued about Find Me in Florence after reading A Day in the Life of Lyn Bennett. Also, my daughter studied in Florence this past Spring, and I know she would enjoy this book (after I’ve read it first!) ~
Celia – so glad you plan to read FIND ME FLORENCE. Please get in touch and let me know what you think — I do feel you will “experience Florence” – and want to visit (stay?) or if – like your daughter – one has been in Florence – the memories will flood over and you will want to go back again! I spend many many months each year over three years living there – there was ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW to discover. ENJOY!
Best
Jule Selbo
http://www.juleselbo.com
I love to travel — although at present I seem to do it vicariously through good books, mostly mysteries. It’s best when those stories include a little romance to make them a bit more interesting.
Amy – I think you will love FIND ME IN FLORENCE. The romance is central to the story – and how Lyn Bennett becomes stronger in what she needs in a healthy romance! I love romance too – I think movies, books – everything! – is enhanced by a good romance story!
Please let me know what you think after you read FIND ME IN FLORENCE! Would love to hear from you.
Best – Jule Selbo
I enjoy books that contain travel and mystery with a little bit of romance of the side. Since I am not able to travel like I would like to, it is exciting to do so through a book. Also the chance to work through a mystery keeps my mind busy.
Robin – FIND ME IN FLORENCE sounds like the book for you! I am a big reader of National Geographic magazine for the same reasons you love travel books! There are so many places to discover – and knowing about them broadens my whole perspective on life. I hope you enjoy getting to Florence Italy in FIND ME FLORENCE – feel like you are walking on the stone streets and eating wonderful pasta – and following clues – and enjoying the romance of the city – and in Lyn’s life!
Best – Jule Selbo – let me know what you think!
I love travel, mystery and romance since the combination is electric. Travel gives me great pleasure since it is fascinating and eye opening. Mystery is what makes life interesting and romance fills my heart and soul. Your novel sounds captivating and special.
There’s so many places I want to see. I’d love to travel, unfortunately I don’t get the chance to right now so my journeys are through books. I love a good mystery with a bit of romance, and there’s nothing better than finding it in a foreign country.
Travel is my passion. Each year I visit another locale. This experience is what I enjoy since I am older and have the time, energy and good health. I couldn’t travel when I was young due to money constraints, young children and responsibilities. Romance is what I enjoy and together with mystery the book is memorable.
Ruth – I am totally your compadre! We get so busy with children, work, life when we’re younger – travel gets pushed to the side. And now – it’s so great that you are making it a priority! Would love to hear about the places you have gone – and are planning to go to! I spent over three years in Florence – for big chunks of time each time – living, cooking, shopping, getting to know Italians – I even joined a book group there! Fabulous! There are so many places I want to go – but I will always go back to Florence. I hope you enjoy the book! Let me know! Jule
I love to travel when I can! Throw in some mystery makes for a good read! As for as romance, some flirting is ok but when It’s too exotic, I really don’t care to much about those scenes. Is getting into that much detail necessary? I guess some like that though?
Nancy – hope you’ll read FIND ME IN FLORENCE! I, too, like romance – but not so much the graphic telling of each moment (each to their own!) Romance to me is the ADVENTURE of getting to know someone, what he/she stands for and believes in and their CORE. If you haven’t been to Florence Italy – hope you will put the city on your list! The book will take you there too – the stone streets, the light, the art, the food, the people. Let me know what you think! Best Jule Selbo
Travel can be pure joy: history, scenery, people, food! I would love to do more. As for books, I switch between mystery and romance. It is hog heaven if I get both in one book!
Pat – oh please read FIND ME IN FLORENCE and tell me what you think! I love your reading preference – so much like mine! Florence truly is a city that is so full of history, layers of cultures and filled with great people who take making their city a cultural haven! Food – amazing. Art – amazing. People – amazing. Lyn Bennett (my protagonist) has so much to discover – and the romance of the city blends with a romantic relationship that tests her!
Hope to hear from you when you read the book – might just be the combo for you! Best Jule
I love to travel. I love to see the history that I have read about for years. It makes you feel part of what when on during that particular time in history.
Emilie-Louis – I totally absolutely agree! History – especially of other cultures and continents – just jumps off the page for me when it is wrapped in personal stories. Putting characters into the historical situations or places – and being with them as they go on a journey – is my favorite thing to do. In FIND ME IN FLORENCE, I’ve added some mystery and a romance that opens even more doors to the history of Florence. I hope you’ll give my book a read – let me know what you think! Best Jule Selbo
Not too hard to guess what “the talk” is about.
This sounds like a good read.
Libby – I hope you will give FIND ME IN FLORENCE a read – would love to hear from you! Yes, “the talk” – one of those situations that can carry so much baggage! Lyn has a lot to deal with – emotional triggers and a new loss of trust in people – but she you think! has stalwarts in her life in Florence – good friends and new people that she meets as she searches for clues to her mother’s past. The whole experience opens her up to new and exciting possibilities! So that “talk” was a catalyst – painful – but in the end — well you will see! Let me know what you think! Best Jule Selbo
I love travel and romance and mystery because of all the possibilities they offer–life would be dull without them.
Rochelle – totally totally agree with you! The perfect combo for me too and that “must have been” the catalyst for me writing FIND ME IN FLORENCE. The months and months of writing it were fascinating to me – because I reveled in being in Florence! I lived there on and off for 3 years – so fantastic – what a great great city! And romance is a favorite genre of mine – the ADVENTURE of love is so exciting. Let me know what you think, I hope you’ll read FIND ME IN FLORENCE! Best Jule Selbo
I love traveling to different place I have never seen before!
Teresa – if you haven’t been to Florence Italy yet – I highly recommend it! So beautiful, so proud of its art, history and beauty. Food! Amazing! Stone streets and soft lighting and “finds” around every corner. FIND ME IN FLORENCE “will take you there” – from your reading chair too. I lived there on and off for 3 years – spent huge chunks of time there and so loved every moment. Let me know what you think! Best Jule Selbo
I really like reading about different countries and their culture, book sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance.
Dianne – Italy is so interesting! Because it didn’t become a unified country until the 1860s – each area still has such a unique feel! And FLORENCE is its crown jewel, I think. Such pride in its past, its art, its beauty. FIND ME IN FLORENCE will put you there! Many have said they can TASTE the food while reading the book. And the story – of a strong woman getting even stronger as she realizes what she needs in romance – and the mystery of finding the secrets to her mother’s past – every element brings more of FLORENCE and the history out. Let me know what you think! Jule Selbo
Travel? Mystery? Romance? Three things that make a book interesting. I love to travel, but I don’t get much chance to, so books allow me peeks into other places. Mystery allows a book to draw me in and keeps my interest in what’s going on, makes my brain work to try to figure things out before the author reveals their take. Romance adds a touch of softness to a book, a bit of excitement, and helps me to connect to the characters. Thank you for this chance.
Leeza – you and I love the same kind of books! That’s why I wrote FIND ME IN FLORENCE – so I could be steeped in these genres for the whole writing process! I think you will take an “armchair journey” to Florence with this book – what a wonderful place. I lived there on and off for 3 years – miss it everyday now. Let me know what you think – Best Jule Selbo
I own quite a few time travel novels from the 60’s so adding one that also has romance sounds like a winner.
Nora- Adrienne – So excited for you to read FIND ME IN FLORENCE! So fascinated that you have books – time-travel???- from the 60s – written in the 60s? Or that take you back to the 60s? Would love to know! So glad you’re gonna to read FIND ME IN FLORENCE! Hope you’ll let me know what you think!
Those 3 subjects are the best.
Karen – yes I agree – romance, mystery, learning about a new place – all great things to have in book! I wrote the kind of book I love to read – and it was so much fun! You will be STEEPED in Florence Italy in FIND ME IN FLORENCE! Let me know what you think!
Best Jule Selbo
I love to travel–especially cruising. I like reading romance and mystery because there is a lot of action in the story.
Linda – PERFECT book for cruising! And I love that you get to do a lot of “cruising” – sounds fascinating. Ports all over the world? I do think FIND ME IN FLORENCE is an energetic read — the romance, the mystery and the protagonist’s journey – always in flux and exciting. Let me know what you think and happy cruising! Best Jule Selbo
I like to travel and see different places and I always enjoy a good mystery
Sandy – you and I like the same kind of books! That’s why I wrote FIND ME IN FLORENCE – it was so much fun to work on it for the months and months I was living in Florence Italy – and then remembering it when I got home to the USA – and then going back to live there again! What a wonderful, historic, beautiful city! Have you been there? If so, the book will take you back there – and if not yet – it will whet your appetite and you may put it on your list! Let me know what you think!
i like reading about travel- especially since I am afraid of flying!
SuzAnne – then FIND ME IN FLORENCE is the book for you! This is a true “armchair” journey. I was lucky enough to live there on and off for a few years – in big chunks – and I miss it now every day that I am not there! There’s mystery and romance in here too – all that bring FLORENCE more to life! Hope you can read the book – please let me know what you think! Best Jule Selbo
I love to travel discovering new things, learning, growing…
I enjoy mystery in my books, not in real life…
Romance??? Eh….
Dear Cyn – Your note made me laugh! Romance??? Eh… I think you’ll find the romance in FIND ME IN FLORENCE so woven into the story – that it’s part of the protagonist’s journey. The ADVENTURE of love is always what is interesting to me – what brings people together (not the “love scenes” – which are not part of this book). FIND ME IN FLORENCE will definitely inform you about the city, its past and its art and the flood of 1966 – and give you an immersive feel for the city and its people! Hope you give it a read! Let me know what you think – Best Jule Selbo
Hi Jule!!! It’s your fellow Panda Nicole. Great read…I enjoy reading about far off locations. With travel anxiety, it’s hard to actually get up and go somewhere. So I live vicariously through books! Congrats on everything!
Nicole – I think Dru’s site is so amazing. Thanks for checking in on “me”. Yes – I am going off on a travel adventure in a week – so excited. Time to remind myself that world is large and full of people with fabulous stories … Jule
Thank you Jule!
**** WINNERS ****
Find Me in Florence are Jeanne Kennedy, Leeza Stetson
Congratulations!