Reading: Allegra by Christine de Melo & Piazza Carousel by Jule Selbo, with writer David Orr as moderator. 

Florence Writers is delighted to announce the upcoming reading of two novels set in Florence, by Jule Selbo and Christine de Melo. Each author will read from their work, Piazza Carousel and Allegra respectively, and a chat afterwards will be led by moderator David Orr. 

Allegra by Christine de Melo: 

16th Century Florence: Allegra Castagno harbors a secret that can ruin her life and her father's reputation. Banned from the Florentine guilds, she devises a clever ruse in order to ply her beloved craft. Before long, the work of "La Castagna" is being praised in noble courts. Resentful of the male dominated society in which she lives, Allegra rejects all suitors until a rival melts her icy heart. Faced with a serious dilemma, she turns to her scandalous friend, Bianca Cappello, for help. ALLEGRA is a tale brimming with secrets, lies, and passion, spanning an intriguing period of the powerful Medici family. 

A longtime resident of Florence, Italy, C. De Melo specializes in unique historical fiction novels. After graduating Summa cum Laude from UMASS Dartmouth with a degree in Art History, she moved to Tuscany to work as an educational tour guide. She is fascinated with the Medici, and has been researching this intriguing dynastic family for over a decade. A world traveler, she enjoys experiencing different cultures, and strives to share her passion for history and adventure through vivid storytelling. She has self-published several novels and currently contributes pieces to the Florence News. 

Piazza Carousel by Jule Selbo:

Lyn Bennett has arrived in historic Florence, Italy to discover details of her mother’s past as one of the city’s beloved Mud Angels - a group of volunteers who helped save Florence’s art during the 1966 flood. When she is shocked by a betrayal of those closest to her, Lyn takes a hard look at her expectations of love and fidelity – and how she has made decisions in her life. New friend, Matteo, a curator in the restoration office of the Uffizi Museum, becomes a conduit to uncovering secrets of her mother’s past. He, along with the city of Florence, with its pride, strength and beauty, inspire her to open her heart again.

Jule Selbo has written feature films and written and produced televisions series for major studios and networks. She has written plays that have been produced in New York City, Los Angeles and in regional theatres across the country. In addition, she has written books on screenwriting and film history including Film Genre for the Screenwriter (2015), Women Screenwriters, An International Guide (with Jill Nelmes). She built the Masters of Fine Arts in Screenwriting program at California State University, Fullerton, where she is a professor. Piazza Carousel (2017) in her first fiction novel.

Moderator: 

David Orr is a writer, technology consultant, and ultra-runner. He arrived in Florence seven years ago by way of Canada, the US and India, and works with international tech start-ups by day, and writes stories by night from the glow of his four year old's batman light.