The Diva

About the Book

When I wrote my first book about Sicilian immigrants, I included the appearance of a classical musician from Milano as an incidental character. However, a question plagued me. What events led him to be living with Sicilians in East Harlem? That answer was explored in the writing of my third book: The Diva. I had been married to Ezio Flagello who was a leading bass-baritone at the Metropolitan Opera Company in New York. Often I accompanied him to European theaters such as the Covent Gardens in London, La Scala in Milan, and The Staatsoper in Berlin. Fascinated with the high power energy and sheer talent of an opera singer, there was a story which I could not turn away from...the story of a Diva. In my subconscious mind I sometimes visualized myself on the operatic stage, but what it takes to be one was not one of my talents, so I did the next best thing. I created a Diva and gave her my name, which is as close as I''d ever get to being on stage (being a writer has its perks, and this was one of them). As I wrote the story, I felt the tension of my characters, and I experienced the thrill of a magnificent performance, and the incredible courage of having an accident on stage while continuing to remain in character. Courage, intelligence and sheer will power is part of their psychological makeup, with attributes which fulfill the demand of their art form: vocal perfection, memorization, singing in many languages, stepping out in front of multitudes knowing that "you''re as good as your last note." No other profession can possibly be as demanding. I dedicate this story to opera singers all over the world who give their heart and soul to their craft, making the sense of beauty of the human vocal instrument so awesome as to lift the spirits of the ardent fans who attend their performances, buy their records and deserve the adoration with which their fans bestow upon them.

About the Author

I''ve been enamored of the novel for many years, and even when I was a young married woman with four children, and teaching responsibilities, I still found time to write.  I wrote two books on East Harlem, and never did pursue the publication of them.  In 1999, I was living alone near children, and retired once more from the Catholic School sector as a music teacher.  It was my time, and I wanted to write about the Sicilian experience in America.  What better way than in a historical novel?  So I set out to write one book, it was called Sicilian Love Story.  After I completed it, and it was edited, I sought to find a literary agent.  After six mailings of the first three chapters, Cambridge Literary Agency requested the rest of the book.  I was signed for a contract of representation.             

Meanwhile, I was like a dam holding back a river which was stronger than the wall.  I wrote another novel, same family, and focused on the younger daughter Katy.  That novel was called Sicilian Seduction.  What followed was The Diva.  The same people from the first two novels are woven in minor parts into this last of the first trilogy.  Thinking that I was done, another literary journey precipitated by conversations at my cousin Fritzi''s coffee table three years ago in Staten Island, led to the writing of The Patriarch, The Matriarch, and The Matriarch: Conclusion.  They are written edited and two are out and the third shall make it''s publishing debut in a few weeks.  I don''t know if I''m continuing to write novels, but I have no long range plans at this juncture except to promote and sell my existing publications.  That''s the fun part of this journey, because then you get to meet the people who share the story with you, and that is so wonderful.  They have unanimously agreed that The Patriarch is a page turner, and like a performer, those comments are so precious to the writer who sits on an empty stage with no sound except the clicking of his/her fingers on the keyboard as the drama spells itself out.  The support system of the readership is tantamount to the deafening sound of an enthusiastic audience after a concert..and I can almost hear, Brava Anna!  and Bis!  (encore)..and that keeps me going...