Welcome to another Weekend Read post. My featured book this week is Seven Days on the Italian Island by popular women’s fiction author Victoria Springfield. Victoria has dropped by today to tell us what inspired her to write this story. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get chatting to Victoria.

Blurb

A sun-kissed island, the sparkling turquoise sea and a love story waiting to be rediscovered…

In the summer of 1972, Tanya arrives on Capri ready for adventure. A chance moment sees her captured in a now-iconic fashion photograph, but it’s the island itself, and a handsome sandal maker named Enrico, who truly steal her heart. Then tragedy strikes, and Tanya leaves without saying goodbye.

More than fifty years later, the glamorous Tellini fashion house is returning to Capri for a glittering anniversary celebration – and they want the mysterious girl from that famous photograph as their guest of honour. Reluctantly, Tanya agrees to return to the island, accompanied by her daughter Hannah, who is nursing a broken heart of her own.

As both women are swept into the world of high fashion and creative craftsmanship, Capri begins to work its magic once more. Old feelings resurface, new romances spark, and the past refuses to stay buried.

Can the island offer them both a second chance at love?

Purchase link: https://mybook.to/SevenDaysItalianIsland

Hi Victoria, welcome to my blog. Your books sounds fantastic. Can you tell my readers what inspired you to write it?

It’s usually hard to pinpoint where a new book idea comes from; they’re usually percolating away in my head for weeks or months, but I remember exactly where I was when I first got the idea for Seven Days on the Italian Island. I was idly perusing the bookshelves in The Works and noticing a trend of titles that linked a profession with a place: The Beekeeper of Aleppo, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and so on. A title popped into my head: The Sandal Maker of Capri. I’ve set books on the other two islands off Naples (An Italian Island Secret on Ischia and Invitation to Italy on Procida) but though I’d been to Capri on a couple of day trips, I hadn’t thought of an angle for a story. Now I had one!

Leather sandals made on the island were popular with the travellers of the nineteenth century before being worn by the rich and famous (Jackie Onassis, Audrey Hepburn et al) in the sixties. This got me thinking about the celebrities who flock to Capri to see and be seen – remember Madonna walking the streets with her white parasol? Fancy beach bars, exclusive villas and the parade of designer shops along Via Camerelle cater to those with cash to splash but of course many ordinary people visit or work on the island like my heroine Tanya, the man she loves: sandal maker, Enrico and his sister Ava.

Tanya first comes to Capri in 1972 and lands a waitressing job at Luna Verde in the iconic Piazzetta. When she waltzes in front of Gianni Tellini’s camera, this chance moment sees her captured in a now-iconic fashion photograph. More than fifty years later, Gianni’s wealthy family are back on the island celebrating the centenary of their fashion house – and they want the mysterious girl from that famous photograph as their guest of honour. Tanya and her daughter return to Capri, staying on the island as guests of the Tellini family propelling Tanya back into the family’s orbit and threatening to bring old secrets to light.

Last year I spent several days exploring the island’s hidden corners and searching out locations for my characters to visit and it was wonderful to visit for a longer period. I experienced evenings and early mornings in the Piazzetta once the day trippers had departed and I was able to get out into the countryside on some of the jasmine-scented walks Tanya and her daughter take in the book. Truly, inspiration around every corner!

My publisher, Boldwood, did not keep my initial title, changing it to Seven Days on the Italian Island which is better suited to the final book but I’m glad I thought up The Sandal Maker of Capri as it gave me that initial spark for a book that was great fun to write.

What a wonderful story, Victoria. I can see how the  character of a sandal maker inspired you, I can picture him in my mind. I hope you enjoyed your publication day on Tuesday and that your book flies high.

Meet Victoria

Mini bio:

VICTORIA SPRINGFIELD writes contemporary women’s fiction immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy. Her feel-good stories follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they find adventure, friendship and romance. She grew up in Essex and after many years in London now lives in Kent with her husband in a house by the river. She likes to write in the garden with a neighbour’s cat by her feet or whilst drinking cappuccino in her favourite café.  Then she types up her scribblings in silence whilst her mind drifts away to Italy. Open a Victoria Springfield book and feel the sunshine.

Contact links

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/VictoriaSpringfieldNews

Amazon page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Victoria-Springfield/author/B095NCV8G1

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More of Victoria’s Books