'MY
FAMILY SIZED PIZZA'
Why I wrote the book
The original version of My
Family Sized Pizza was titled Wogaluccis and published 2002 in Australia only.
This version has been rewritten to today's audience and has been made more
international. My parents migrated from Italy
in the early 60's therefore I grew up with not only coal dust and drizzly days
but with a strong Italian community who had settled together in Australia.
Although famous for my
salami, melenzane and stinky cheese sandwiches at primary school, they didn't
particularly make me a social hit! This upbringing brought fodder to the story
of Angela and her family.
My Family Sized Pizza is
semi-autobiographical - a lot of the school, wedding and restaurant scenes
actually happened. The characters are a mix of my mother, sister, neice, myself
as a teen and sprinkled with elements of my Italian ex mother-in-law! The angst
and dramas suffered by main character, Angela were real and there was many a
day when writing the book that Angela and I commiserated together!
I like to tell a story but
with humour, thus the true, gritty, racial, and emotional moments told through
comedic moments.
Angela lives with her grandparents who run a restaurant, Fioruccis,
rechristened Hoochies by the mega cool Rachael Blake and her wannabe groupies.
How can Angela discover herself when she feels as if she's smothered in
spaghetti sauce and drowning in olive oil? Add two scheming Italians with a
grand matchmaking plan, Simon who wants to be more than friends, a controlling
Nonna who won't let her wear jeans and Angela's sheer Italianicity- all getting
in the way of her search for independence.
Excerpt
I got home from
school one afternoon and there were heaps of cars parked outside Nonno and
Nonna’s place. Something was wrong. Nonno hadn’t been feeling so good that
morning.
I
could hear moaning. Did I really want to go inside? I walked down the side to
the backyard and found Nonno asleep on the garden chair. He was under his olive
tree with a big bottle of vino on his lap. Phew! He was OK.
The
moaning from inside sounded like chanting. Had Nonna joined a cult or
something? I went in and found the house full of Italian women. They were on
their knees praying …to a huge statue of Mary! Mumbling and fiddling with their
rosary beads, but at the same time checking me out. Multi-talented women!
Oh
no! It was Nonna’s monthly rosary meeting. But this time it was at our place.
If I’d known I’d have gone to the library with Sarina.
“Angelina!
Mamma Mia how you have grown!” Signora Romanelli was looking straight at
my boobs.
“Oh,
you look just like Elena, you mudder,” Signora Vesta did the sign of the cross
and looked at me sadly. It’s not me that’s dead, you idiot.
“Madonna,
is dis little Angelina? She’s a big gal!” Signora Della Something was looking
at my bum. I needed a quick escape, but the statue blocked the way to my
bedroom. There it was – halfway up the stairs.
“Angelina,
vieni qua,” Nonna called. “Come on”. She had her arm around one of her
friends.
“Dis
is Signora Bertolini.” This lady I’d never met before grabs me by the cheeks
with her fingers and thumbs.
“Quanda
si bella!” She was shaking my face but half of my face was still in her
hands. Yes. I’m beautiful, but I’m going to need plastic surgery if you don’t
cut it out!
“You
know who dis is?” Nonna asked. “Signora Bertolini. The Nonna of dat boy I tell
you about.” She winked.
Ohhhh!
Dat boy! The one you want me to marry.
Nonna
and Mrs. Bertolini knelt at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at the
statue. I looked at the statue of Mary, I looked down at Nonna and Signora
Bertolini – two interfering grandmothers. What if the statue lost balance? The very
heavy statue would topple down and … that would be the end of the
matchmaking!
eBook can be
purchased at Solstice or Amazon
print copies will be
available later this year
Who is Josie Montano?
Josie is an award-winning author of over 40 books.
She has been internationally published and writes fiction under the name of
MONTANO and non-fiction resources on Asperger Syndrome under the pseudonym of
SANTOMAURO.
From age nine Josie annoyed her librarian by
shelving her self-published books for borrowing and being the most diligent
library monitor there was! She then went on to receive her first rejection
letter from Golden Books at age thirteen. But that didn't stop her, decades
later - finally she has 'real' published books on those shelves!
Josie draws on her varied life experiences to help
her with her writing, interesting experiences such as being involved in a bank
robbery, working within the primary school environment, surviving cancer,
growing up within an Italian community, winning the major prize on ‘Wheel of
Fortune’ and as a volunteer member of the State Emergency Services.
She loves coffee, chocolate, amateur theatre, going
to the movies, and being silly, witty and humorous.
My website is www.booksbyjosie.com.au
social media links:-
This book sounds so good. Good luck with your story.
ReplyDeleteLeota
Sounds like an interesting book. Nice cover. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on my blog Jose.....Wishing you tons of success with this terrific book.
ReplyDelete