Available in paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository and for Kindle, Nook, and iBooks!
True Vines
Written by: Diana Strinati Baur
Trade paperback
347 pp.
ISBN: 978-0-9821023-4-3
Author’s website: http://dianabaur.com
When the Italian countryside simply won’t leave your heart . . .
True Vines by Diana Strinati Baur traverses the manicured rows of northern Italy’s majestic wine country and the winding path of Pennsylvania’s Delaware River as Meryl Michelli seeks to reconcile her past and her present after the sudden death of her Italian winemaker husband.
After the sudden death of her Italian winemaker husband, Meryl Michelli flees to her small hometown in Pennsylvania, looking to slam the door on heartache and trudge forward. But it’s never that simple, especially when old family ties have been strained by years of geographic and emotional distance.
A chance encounter with a childhood friend brings back a betrayal she could never put to rest, and readjusting to life in the States in upper mid-life wears her thin in ways she never could have imagined. Just when Meryl feels she can’t go on, Providence steps in and gives her permission to completely fall apart. Only then can she finally manage to grieve both her magnanimous, flawed Francesco and the unforgettable country she left behind.
True Vines traverses the manicured rows of northern Italy’s majestic wine country and the winding path of Pennsylvania’s Delaware River as Meryl seeks to reconcile her past and her present. Several people on each side of the Atlantic guide her as she relives her own stories: a spirited sister-in-law, a petulant physician, a strong-willed landlady, a good-guy boss, a determined mother-in-law, an amazing flood survivor, a Senegalese English student, a young co-worker. Each recollection and encounter deepens Meryl’s insight into how to make peace with her new reality.
Saying goodbye to one existence allows Meryl to swing the door open to another as she weaves a new, uniquely beautiful tapestry that transports her to exactly the place in this short, sacred life she is meant to be.
Here is what is being said:
“Transporting us from a small riverside town in Pennsylvania to a vineyard in Italy’s Piedmont, Diana Baur has crafted a story of courage, love and the family ties that twist and knarl like grapevines. I couldn’t help but root for Meryl, an unlikely heroine who stumbles into unexpected love and an entirely new life, only to lose it all in an instant. Her struggle to make peace with her past and find love again is utterly captivating. Glass in hand, this is a book to curl up and savor with a fine Piemdontese red.” – Gina DePalma, James Beard Award Winner and Author of Dolce Italiano: Desserts From the Babbo Kitchen
“With colorful and poetic prose and a sense of humor, Diana Strinati Baur has created a treasure of a book with real people coming to grips with an imperfect and real life. The context blends the cultural differences between American and Italy in a way that only an expat would understand. Engaging and entertaining, Baur’s book will have you checking online for your next ticket to Italy.” – Pamela Sheldon Johns, Author of Cucina Povera: Tuscan Peasant Cooking
“The transformational powers of true love and Italy are beautifully expressed in Baur’s emotionally rich story, finely textured with fascinating characters.” – Susan Van Allen, Author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go and Letters from Italy: Confessions, Adventures, and Advice
“True Vines was written by a born storyteller who really understands the way the Bel Paese can get under your skin (and drive you crazy at the same time). It’s a must read for anyone who loves Italy, wine, and/or stories about amazing women finding their way.” – Arlene Gibbs, author of The Rebirth Of Mrs. Tracey Higgins and co-screenwriter of the hit Hollywood film, Jumping The Broom
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Read an excerpt of True Vines.
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Available in paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and The Book Depository and for Kindle, Nook, and iBooks!
Booksellers: This book is available at Ingram, IndieBound, and Baker & Taylor.
* For personal orders of five or more books (for book clubs, etc.), please contact Gemelli Press for available discounts. *
