Dreaming Sophia a Story of Resilience and Creativity
From Heartbreak to Renaissance—A Young Woman’s Imaginative Quest Through Art, History, and the Magic of Italy
Dreaming Sophia is the enchanting tale of a young American painter, Sophia, whose name pays homage to the legendary actress Sophia Loren. At the beginning of the novel, Sophia is blindsided by fate, struggling to navigate a heartbreaking tragedy. Yet, through her passion for art, Italy, and her boundless imagination, she finds a way forward.
Dreaming with Open Eyes: Sophia’s Unique Gift
In Italian, to daydream is to sognare ad occhi aperti—to dream with eyes open. And that is exactly what Sophia does. In her vivid dreams, she converses with some of Italy’s most iconic figures—Eleonora de’ Medici, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Simonetta Vespucci, Lucrezia Borgia, Garibaldi, and even Lorenzo de’ Medici himself. Each visionary encounter provides her with inspiration, guidance, and strength, helping her reclaim her independence and creative spirit.
A Whimsical, Joyful, and Transformative Journey
While Dreaming Sophia explores profound themes of loss and reinvention, it is also a joyful and whimsical novel filled with humor, adventure, and passion for Italy. As Sophia embraces the gifts offered by her muses, she takes bold steps toward a new destiny—one that leads her straight to the heart of Italy.
Sophia’s Gift Box
Dante’s gift to Sophia is La Divina Comedia.
Dante “wakes” Sophia through the gift of the Italian language
Elenonora de’ Medici gives Sophia a ring.
Eleonora reminds Sophia she isn’t alone in the world.
Michelangelo & Leonardo give Sophia a piece of Carrara Marble.
The painting masters tell Sophia to see the beauty in the world.
Marcello & Sophia Loren give Sophia a red silk Versace scarf.
They encourage Sophia to take a chance on love
Lucrezia Borgia gives Sophia a necklace of Venetian Beads.
She encourages Sophia to follow her own unique path and be true to herself
Garabaldi gives Sophia an antique button.
He tells Sophia to re-invent herself and put the puzzle pieces back together
Giulietta gives Sophia a book of sonnets.
She tells Sophia something awaits her in Italy, something she hasn’t yet dreamed of.
Simonetta gives Sophia a seashell.
She tells Sophia to relax and go the flow but with new freedoms, come consequences
Brunelleschi gives Sophia a snow globe.
He tells Sophia learn more about where an artist’s inspiration comes from.
Lorenzo de Medici gives Sophia ruby earrings.
Lorenzo’s gift is a commencement present. Sophia’s journey is almost complete.
Find out what Sophia gives to Lorenzo.
Read the novel that was inspired by these Italian Muses.
Dreaming Sophia
Dreaming Sophia is a magical look into Italy, language, art, and culture. It is a story about turning dreams into reality and learning to walk the fine line between fact and fantasy. When tragedy strikes, Sophia finds herself alone in the world, without direction and fearful of loving again. With only her vivid imagination to guide her, she begins a journey that will take her from the vineyards in Sonoma, California to a grad school in Philadelphia and, eventually, to Italy: Florence, Lucca, Rome, Verona, Venice, and Val d’Orcia. Through dreamlike encounters, Sophia meets Italian personalities—princes, poets, duchesses, artists, and film stars— who give her advice to help put her life back together. Following a path that takes her from grief to joy, she discovers the source of her creativity and learns to love again, turning her dreams into reality.
