• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
    • Awards & Honors, Pomp & Circumstance
  • Blog
    • Modern, 18th, 19th Century
    • Baroque, Rococo
    • Renaissance
    • Ancient, Roman, Medieval
    • Culture, Festivals, Music, Literature
    • Art News, Current Events
  • FaceBook
  • Pinterest
  • Italian with Melissa
    • Studentessa Matta Italian Site
    • Learn Italian at home with Melissa
    • Study in Italy with Melissa
  • Melissa’s Books
    • Melissa’s Author Website
  • Store
  • Sign Up & Connect
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Blog

Art and Artemisia come to life!

It’s been a while since I wrote a post on the Dreaming Sophia Art History Blog site. The first reason why I’ve been a little absent from this site is that for most of the summer of 2018 I was traveling in Italy. I spent the entire months of June and September, first in Montepulciano and then in … [Read more...] about Art and Artemisia come to life!

Arezzo Scarf – designed by Melissa

I wanted to share with you my newly designed scarf that pays tribute to Arezzo and Piazza Grande!  I have taken the original illustration that I created for the cover of my book “Waking Isabella,” depicting the medieval buildings that surround the Piazza Grande and applied them to an oblong … [Read more...] about Arezzo Scarf – designed by Melissa

Sharing a magical letter from Sophia Loren

A year or so ago, as I was writing my first novel Dreaming Sophia, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Miss Sophia Loren in person. At the time, I was researching my book, and when I learned she was giving a one-woman show in Las Vegas, I knew I had to find a way to meet her. Had I not been … [Read more...] about Sharing a magical letter from Sophia Loren

Dreaming Sophia Receives 1st Place in Adult Fiction in the 2018 Reader Views Literary Awards

I am thrilled to announce that “Dreaming Sophia” has been selected by Reader Views as the FIRST place winner in the 2018 Adult Fiction Literary Awards category! Cin! Cin! Grazie! Sophia and I couldn't be happier and more proud to know that the story of a day-dreaming artist and the love she … [Read more...] about Dreaming Sophia Receives 1st Place in Adult Fiction in the 2018 Reader Views Literary Awards

As an author – what do you enjoy most about the writing process?

Sharing readers thoughts about “Waking Isabella” and answering reader questions Review of Waking Isabella – OLIO By MARILYN: Kudos to the author on a well-crafted story. I love the way the author's writing takes the reader between past and present so seamlessly it feels like they are happening … [Read more...] about As an author – what do you enjoy most about the writing process?

Celebrating Waking Isabella — Book Launch Party!

Celebrating with friends and readers of my new book “Waking Isabella” was such a thrill! It was a chance, to get out from behind my computer, pop open a couple of bottles of prosecco, and share my love of living and traveling in Italy, which I express through my books. We had a great turnout, and I … [Read more...] about Celebrating Waking Isabella — Book Launch Party!

Waking Isabella starts in the distant past, then continues in the future with flashbacks. How did you keep track of parallel history lines?

Writing a novel is an interesting experience, and I am learning that not all readers are wired the same. Just as each author has a unique story to tell that only he or she can tell, each reader is different and will react to a story and its characters based on their own personal tastes and … [Read more...] about Waking Isabella starts in the distant past, then continues in the future with flashbacks. How did you keep track of parallel history lines?

A reader asks: How did you become a published author? Was it a childhood dream or something you embraced later?

Waking Isabella is on a virtual book tour this month AND she is resonating with readers! Over the past couple of weeks, as the book is being discovered and read, I've been receiving some delightful emails. I can't tell you how much I appreciate reading feedback. I writer puts their heart and soul … [Read more...] about A reader asks: How did you become a published author? Was it a childhood dream or something you embraced later?

Amazon Reader Review of Dreaming Sophia – this just in!

A delightful story of self-discovery that will leave you dreaming too! (Posted by cmakin17 on February 28, 2018 - Amazon.com) This is a wonderful novel that will transport you into the life of a young artist, Sophia, trying to find her place in the world. It is a delightful tale of love, … [Read more...] about Amazon Reader Review of Dreaming Sophia – this just in!

A reader asks: Can we find parts of the author in the main female characters of “Waking Isabella?”

Recently I was asked if readers can find a part of me in the characters, Nora, Isabella, and Margherita – the three female protagonists in my new novel “Waking Isabella.” Curious to know the response? I think all writers put a bit of themselves in their characters. At the beginning of the … [Read more...] about A reader asks: Can we find parts of the author in the main female characters of “Waking Isabella?”

Waking Isabella is on a world-wide book tour: Join in and win a copy!

“Waking Isabella” is on an around the world book tour! All this month “Waking Isabella” is on an around the world book tour with Laura Fabiani's Italy Book Tours. After finishing my debut novel "Dreaming Sophia" which in some ways is autobiographical and tells the story of a young woman – … [Read more...] about Waking Isabella is on a world-wide book tour: Join in and win a copy!

Waking Isabella reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views

Earlier this week I had an email from Sheri Hoyte telling me she had reviewed “Waking Isabella” for Reader Views. With great excitement, I clicked on the link to take me to the website to read her comments about my newly published novel set in Arezzo Italy. Writing a novel is a very personal … [Read more...] about Waking Isabella reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views

Picasso’s Guernica: Art speaks volumes

A work of art must make a man react…it must agitate him and shake him up. The Guernica is undoubtedly one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous works of art. It is a powerful antiwar statement and was painted in reaction to the Nazi’s casual bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish … [Read more...] about Picasso’s Guernica: Art speaks volumes

Waking Isabella Book Trailer Video

Ciao a tutti! I just published “Waking Isabella” my new novel that takes place in Arezzo, Italy in Tuscany. I’m very excited and pleased to share the new book with you. To explain the plotline in a visual way, I have put together this short video featuring pictures set to music. It is a little … [Read more...] about Waking Isabella Book Trailer Video

“Waking Isabella” New novel about Italy set in Arezzo by Melissa Muldoon

It is here! My newly published novel set in Arezzo, Italy called“Waking Isabella” is now available on Amazon in print and e-book. When Isabella woke that morning with intentions of washing her long dark hair, she hadn’t imagined she would be dead before it was dry. …and so begins the story of … [Read more...] about “Waking Isabella” New novel about Italy set in Arezzo by Melissa Muldoon

Florence through the eyes of an Artist – Dreaming Sophia Program 2017

I have just returned from spending a month of September in Italy. For the first two weeks I was in Arezzo co-leading a language learning group with Paola Testi of Cultura Italiana. The third week I found myself in Florence once again, with a delightful group of Dreaming Sophia readers. For four days … [Read more...] about Florence through the eyes of an Artist – Dreaming Sophia Program 2017

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to page 5
  • Go to page 6
  • Go to page 7
  • Go to Next Page »

Subscribe to the Art of Loving Italy Blog

Follow along on Instagram @studentessamatta

I believe in dreams. Dreams become reality. (Sophi I believe in dreams. Dreams become reality. (Sophia Loren) 

Dreaming Sophia - a novel set in Italy by Melissa Muldoon available on Amazon in print, ePub and audiobook

#DreamingSophia #MelissaMuldoon #MelissaMuldoonAuthor #IndieAuthor #NovelItaly #DreamsReality #Florence #Art #ItalianCulture
The short walk home! The short walk home!
Il portico della Pieve. Church of the people. Il portico della Pieve. Church of the people.
May the force be with you when learning Italian pr May the force be with you when learning Italian preposition “di”: Matta Set Number 8.

New post on the Studentessa Matta website to help you learn Italian prepositions.

Credere di essere un Jedi Knight? Speri di imparare la preposizioni "di" utilizzando la forza e una spada laser? In Star Wars, the Force is a powerful energy that the Jedi can harness and master. Similarly, mastering Italian prepositions empowers you to wield the language more effectively, enabling you to express ideas precisely and convey subtle nuances. This set covers “Ricordare di,“ Dimenticare di,“ “Proporre di,“ “Consigliare di,“ “Sperare di“ and “Credere di.”

#lepreposizionitaliane #StudentessaMatta #LearnItalianprepositions #ItlaianPrepositionDi #LearnItalian
Una bella serata qui ad Arezzo. Una bella serata qui ad Arezzo.
All settled in. Taught a lesson online. Did some g All settled in. Taught a lesson online. Did some grocery shopping. Catching up with friends. Now having a spritz!
Ora d’aperitivo. Posto preferito! Il prato vicin Ora d’aperitivo. Posto preferito! Il prato vicino al Duomo

Melissa Muldoon © 2023 Built with and Genesis Framework by Bellano Web Studio