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Art of Loving Italy

Art of Loving Italy

Art & Beauty are all around us.

Playlist of Italian Songs for each book I write

April 8, 2019 by Melissa Muldoon Leave a Comment

Everyone has a different style of writing and a different way of going about the creative process. When it comes to music—some listen to music while they write, and some don’t. I tend to fall into the latter category. During the day, listening to music while I’m putting words together is far too distracting. I want to sing along to the words of the songs and start thinking of other things.

Oh, I’ve tried! Believe me. I plug into some Italian music on my computer, but then after a few minutes, I have to switch it off because there is just too much commotion in my head.

Having said that, I do, however, listen to music when I am walking in the evenings when I am brainstorming new ideas or mussing over my storyline. I let my mind wander, sing along to my favorite songs and new ideas just seem to flow into my head.

Francesca Renga

Music and various music artists often mark certain periods in my life, and I have found with each new book I write I gravitate to certain singers. During the writing of my first novel “Dreaming Sophia,” I listened to many different Italian artists and I mentioned many of them in the pages of my book. In fact, I created a play list of all songs. But, of course, Francesco Renga was one of my favorites and his song “Il mio giorno più bello.” I like his romantic ballads and voice that have a quality that fit my mood perfectly when I wrote some of the romantic scenes between my protagonists Sophia and Lorenzo.

From a previous blog post
Francesco Renga Spotlighting Italian Singer new CD Guardami Amore

Modà

When I wrote “Waking Isabella” I listened to Modà. The popular Italian rock group has a mellow, yet still upbeat rhythm as well as a romantic vibe. I love the songs “E solo colpa mia” and “California.” They hit home and seemed to be songs my protagonist Nora would have identified with. That novel was fun to work on because as part of my research I tuned in to popular Italian music from the 1940s as part of the story takes place during World War II and the time of Mussolini’s State-controlled radio.

From a previous blog posts

Modà: muscia si sente tutta la volta sulla radio italiana

Swing Italiano – la musica durante il period fascista

Noemi

During the writing of “Eternally Artemisia,” I listened for the most part to Noemi’s songs. She is a strong woman with progressive feminist ideas that I found extremely compelling, and I was drawn to the energy of her music. I really like her song “Non smettere mai di cercarmi,” “Passenger”, “Sempre in Viaggio,” as they seemed to speak directly to the themes of my book.

From a previous blog posts

Non smettere mai di cercarmi –Festeggiamo Women’s Day con Noemi

La luna è storta e alte espressioni

In the last couple of months of writing, however, I listened mostly to Ermal Meta’s album Vietato morire. There is something so lyrical and evocative about his music that fit my mood as I polished off my story.

Ermal Meta

The whole album in my opinion is really good. Some of my favorites are:

Vietato morire

Ragazza paradiso

New York

From a previous blog posts

Piccola Anima

When I hear any of these songs in the future, they will always make me think of my books and the moments spent creating them!


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My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and My girls on mugs! Artemisia, Sophia, Sofonisba and Eleonora… the heroines of my four novels set in Italy.

Escape to Italy in the pages of a novel!

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. 

Available on Amazon in Print, Epub, and Audio. Links in bio.

5 Stars - Dianne Hales (author of La Bella Lingua, La Passione, and Mona Lisa-A Life Discovered): A true Renaissance woman, Melissa Muldoon weaves her passions for art and Italy into a stirring saga that sweeps across centuries. As her time-traveling heroine, Maddie reconnects with kindred souls, we meet Artemisia Gentileschi, the 17th–century artist who overcame rape and ignominy to gain respect and acclaim. Historical figures such as Galileo and Mussolini also come to life in this intricately plotted novel. Still, the women who defy all constraints to take control of their destinies are the ones who prove to be eternally fascinating. 
 
5 Stars - Lize Amazon Reader: What a lovely story! Melissa weaves the lives of 4 women across time, all with some connection to Artemisia Gentileschi, a 16th-century Italy painter. They represent the feminine strength that arises from life challenges, each with unique intelligence. Underlying their stories is the idea that love transcends all, even time; love is timeless. As with her other books, Melissa fills the story out with interesting facts and references to Italian life, culture, and its history; her attention to detail is immaculate. I loved the many connections in this story that tied it all together; very cleverly done. Wonderful read; I would highly recommend it.

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Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. Sono c Ciao! Sono Melissa, la studentessa Matta. 

Sono contenta che mi stia seguendo qui su Instagram!

I’m pleased you are following me on Instagram. I help you to learn Italian.

I organize, with my partner schools in Italy, small group language immersion programs in Arezzo, Lucca and Montepulciano.

For 10 or 12 days, you will study at the school at your level in the mornings and in the afternoons we will participate in activities and go on excursions— like make pasta, drink wine, talk to local artisans and see churches, museums, art —even the giostra del Saracino - the jousting festival if you join me in Arezzo.

Accommodations and most evening meals are all included AND you will have unlimited conversation practice and language learning when you meet my Italian friends and teachers from the schools who will accompany us.

The dates for 2023 Matta Italian Language Programs are

2023 Matta and Arezzo Italian Language Program: June 11 - 23

2023 Matta and Lucca Italian Language Program: August 24 - Sept 2
 
2023 Matta September Arezzo Joust Weekend: September 2 - 4, 2023 (Open to Italian learners and English speakers) 

2023 Matta and Montepulciano Italian Language Program: September 10 - 22

Join me in Italy 2023 and take your Italian language skills further.

More information and to sign up can be found on the StudentessaMatta.com website

Alla prossima! Ciao!

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Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian i Modi di dire con rospo, rana, ranocchio! Italian idiomatic expressions involving frogs and toads.

New post on the StudentessaMatta.com blog site.

Today I'm talking about lively idioms that practically jump up and down. These idiomatic expressions involve frogs and toads and will surely put a spring in your step and make you jump a level up. Want to sound like a native Italian speaker? Here is a chance to brush up on some Italian idioms involving our little web-footed friends.

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Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Prett Out on the town with Ryan last night to see "Pretty Woman the Musical" at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. ( His Christmas gift to me this year!) We had so much fun! Began the evening with drinks at the Otopia rooftop bar to watch the sunset, then dinner at Acre 41. The show was fantastic, well staged, great singing — just a lot of fun to watch live theater again! #prettywomanthemusical #austintexas #bassconcerthall #theater
New on the Studentessa Matta Blog! Alessandra, It New on the Studentessa Matta Blog!

Alessandra, Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable dish

Alessandra, an Italian teacher from Livorno, shares recipes for a successful homestay and a delectable spaghetti dish made with artichokes and anchovies. 

In her guest post Alessandra tells us about Livorno and more about herself and her background. Alessandra has traveled extensively and made homestays in America so she knows what it’s like to be away from home and how important it is to find a warm and friendly environment that makes you feel comfortable as a family or among friends.

Find out more about the Italian Language Homestay opportunities offered on the StudentessaMatta.com website : See links in Bio.

#italian #ItalianLanguageHomestay #Livorno #HomestayLivorno #learnItalian #LearnInItaly #studentessamatta
Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema ital Addio a Gina Lollobrigida. Lo star del cinema italiano è scomparsa. È successo ieri, Mercoledì 18 gennaio. La diva italiana aveva 95 anni. 

Più ricordata come un modello e attrice - una vera bomba, molto sexy e seducente, Gina Lollobrigida era una donna di talenti incredibili che comprendeva tutte le arti - cinema, fotografia e scultore. 

Leggi il nuovo post su StudentessaMatta.com

#studentessamatta #GinaLollobrigida #Lollo #ItalianCinema #ItalianFilmStar #attriceitaliana✨👑🎬🎥
Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vici Ieri sera ho ricevuto una dolce sorpresa. Una vicina di casa ha fatto marmellata in casa e mi ha dato un vasetto! Oggi l'ho spalmata sul mio toast! Il gusto è veramente ottimo! Grazie Brianna!

#marmellata #vasetto #vincina #dolce #italiano

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