In the chapter entitled, “Remember the Bonsai” of Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees, Silvia talks to Vince about his hostile feelings towards their brother-in-law, Doug. Vince is in the former Occupy movement and Doug is a
Read more07
Where Eagles Glide
Posted by Grace Mattioli in world events | 0 comments17
Fiction Books about Happiness: Keeping the Good
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 3 commentsThis is the title of the last chapter of Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees. In it, Silvia is so overjoyed by her family gathering that she feels covetous of the time and knows that, like all really good times, it will come to an end too
Read more28
Fiction Books about Happiness: The Gift of Each Day
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 0 commentsIn Discovery of an Eagle, a near fatal accident wakes Cosmo up to the fragility of life. He realizes that each day is a gift, not a guarantee, and this realization is the impetus for his awakening. He decides to stop sleepwalking through his
Read more21
Fiction Books about Happiness: Give Peace a Chance
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 1 commentI wrote Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees after a failed attempt at making peace in my own family. Writing this book wasn’t only cathartic and therapeutic, but it gave me an opportunity to vicariously experience Silvia’s
Read more04
Fiction Books about Happiness: In This World of Sameness
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 0 commentsThis is a line from my forthcoming novel and the third novel featuring the Greco family–“The Bird that Sang in Color.” It’s told from the point of view of the family matriarch, Donna and is the story of her transformation
Read more21
Fiction Books about Happiness: A New Way To Live
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 0 commentsIt was difficult to come up with a blog post about finding happiness in such difficult times. My husband and I both lost our jobs this week but I consider us fortunate to have our health. In Italy, people grieve in isolation; our most vulnerable
Read more29
My mom died when I was fifteen. It was sudden and tragic. No time for goodbyes or any of that last-minute stuff. We were bonded together like shoe strings tied or fingers crossed so the thought of going on without her was really tough. The
Read more06
Fiction Books about Happiness: A Lifetime of Pictures
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 0 commentsWhat pictures will you have of yourself by the end of your life? This is the question posed to readers in my forthcoming novel. This story begins in 1970 with thirteen-year-old Donna narrating the story of her and her older brother, Vincent. As
Read more10
Fiction Books about Happiness: The Necessity of Peace
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 0 commentsHappiness isn’t possible without peace and peace isn’t possible without practicing forgiveness. In Olive Branches Don’t Grow On Trees, Silvia, in an attempt to help her brother Vince come to peace with their father, tells him
Read more26
Fiction Books about Happiness: How Misery Destroys Humanity
Posted by Grace Mattioli in Finding Happiness | 0 commentsThe theme of happiness is central to all of my novels and stories. Everyone is well-aware of the necessity of happiness on an individual level and everyone wants to be happy in some way or another. At the very least, they want relief from the
Read more