Although I do not seek compensation for my work and I have not been paid by any of the publications where my stories have appeared, I enjoy writing and I know that my stories have made a difference to many people.   This has been rewarding to me. 

I am in the process of selecting the stories which I  will publish in my upcoming paperback.  Although I will not be publishing all of the stories, I will do my best to include most of the stories that I have written.

Also, I have paid for my own radio advertising, banner ads, and newspaper ads as well as the cost of publishing my book.   However, this project has brought me a lot of joy. Most of all, I have met alot of  kind people during this project.  I always look forward to all of the warm and sincere emails which I receive daily from my readers throughout Fairfield County, CT, the Northeast, and other parts of the United States and the world.

Send me an email to JMARIA165@hotmail.com. I would love to hear from you, or you may log in and send me a message or review through this site, www.authorsden.com/joannamleone
 
I want to thank all of my readers, family, and friends who have read my stories, commented, reviewed, or emailed me kind words and offered support.

 I want to extend a special thank you to Attorney Paul Fattibene of Southport, Connecticut, for providing me with guidance and advice.  His intelligence, wisdom, and patience have made things so much easier for me.  

Author's note:   Everyone who I have written about has granted me the authority to place their stories factually and fictionally on my website and in my upcoming book, "Slices of Life" Collective Memoirs.

The most popular stories for the week of 8/21/09 are, "Italian American Summer," "Italian American in Norwalk, CT", "Italian American in New York," Italian American in Florence," "Italian American Len Paoletta",  and "Italian American Orchid".  Also, as of  another popular story is "Italian American in Stamford, CT." 

 A popular poem which made it to the top 25 in popularity as of July 1st,   is "Italian American Thank You Letter to Her Parents."  My newest story which is beginning to climb the chart is"Italian American in Naugatuck, CT", "Picnic at the Beach", and "Italian American Anthony Pellicci. Popular poems this week are, "Italian American Love Message," "Italian American Rose,""Tribute to Veterans," and "Tribute to Fishermen." (This poem is in English and in Italian for my Italian readers and fans)  Another story which is now at # 4 on the top 25 list is "Shelves in the Cantina."  Check out "Italian American Designer", all about Mimi of Mimi Designs in Fairfield County, CT!  Visit with Maureen Bossone as you read, "Italian American Sunday Morning Memories."  My most recent story, "Italian American Walk to the Garden of Love" about Bruno Massaro of Hamden, CT will touch your heart.  Bruno's story is currently ranked # 5 on the top 25 list of authors den! I know you will enjoy hearing Pauline Massini's story, "Italian American Forgiveness." Recently, I wrote, "Italian American Journey to the Barbados." I know you will enjoy reading about Edwin Hurdle's traditions.  The newest story for the week of July 27th is "Italian American Love and Devotion," which is a story about Frederick Russo of Hamden, CT and his special memories. Enjoy your journey to Rhode Island as you read my newest story for the week of 9/14/09, the "Italian American Cory Pesaturo". He is the International Accordion Champion. If you want to take a journey from Norwalk, CT to Portchester, NY for the week of 9/21/09, please read Karen's story, which is titled "Sundays From Norwalk to Portchester."    It was a beautiful September evening as I met Julia and Gus, the owners of Angelo's Restaurant in Bridgeport, CT. I know you will enjoy reading the story for the week of 9/28/09, which is "Julia's and Gus' Table." I know that you will love hearing about their Italian American memories and delicious food! Please join me in the North End of Boston. I know you will enjoy hearing about Terry's memories in "Italian American in Boston,"  which I have completed on October 16th.

There will be a few more stories posted during the next couple of weeks!

So, why do I write? It is fun and a great way to meet warm and sincere people who want to share their stories which will be included in my upcoming hard cover book, "Slices of Life", with the subtitle, "Collective Memoirs".The book includes true stories which many people have shared with me about their special memories about growing up Italian or Italian American.

I have already signed a contract with a publisher as of August 13th, 2009. However, I still have time to write a few more new stories from now until October 30th. Although my work will be published, I will still own the rights to my own work.  The emails, reviews and phone calls have made me smile each day!

The most important part of my project  is to attract more readers as I have begun to write stories and memoirs about hundreds of people in Fairfield County, New Haven, Massachusetts, New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Canada and other areas. 
 
I hope that you will put your feet up on my coffee table, relax, and enjoy the biscotti with espresso as you visit my den. Well, actually, I am referring to my authorsden.com website.  

Although a majority of my poems and stories have an Italian American theme, hundreds of my readers are from all ethnic backgrounds. Everyone is welcome in my den. I would love to hear about traditions of all ethnic backgrounds.

I have been flooded with inbound emails and calls on my cell phone from so many people who want me to write a short story about them.  Please email me at JMaria165@hotmail.com! Most people smile and say, "That was fun" or "your website which contains my story is a great keepsake for my children or grandchildren." Everyone wants to have fun and the best part is that  I can take the facts and mold it into a beautiful story. Since writing is an art form, I love adding guided imagery or details to the story. However, I never change the facts of the story.  Many times I have to visualize or look at the person's photos so that I can add detail to the story. This is a new direction for me, as I am focusing on the lives of others, rather than just the stories about my own friends and families. My book will be a culmination of the new people that I have met, plus my close friends and family.  The best part is that I am meeting Italian Americans who have roots in all different parts of Italy.
 
I accept all stories as long as they are clean and family oriented.  Remember, I want the project to be fun, relaxing, heartwarming and inspirational.....Please keep in mind, that after the story is written, I always get written permission from the person who I am writing about before I place it on my website or in my book. 

 
The project has been going smoothly and I have received emails from people all age groups and backgrounds. Some of the people that I have met and written about are in their late 20's all the way up to the age of 90!   Everyone wants to talk about their tradition, memories, and ways to stay close their Italian American heritage. Sometimes people want to talk about their fond memories of their parents, grandparents, or trips to Italy.  My authorsden website is a place where everyone is welcome, and where people want to come back for more!  Airline stewardesses, secretaries, restaurant owners, bakers, housewives, interior designers, marketing managers, teachers, have contacted me to write their story.  

The project is not all about me. It is about hearing the different memories of Italian Americans from Connecticut, Philadelphia, New York, Massachusetts and other areas.
 
As an Italian American, some refer to me as "Giovanna", while my older brother and sisters sometimes just call me Jo. Since I am the youngest of six children, you can only imagine how many stories I have to tell about growing up in an Italian family!. 
 
I know that my passion for writing stems from my mother, Antonetta Fabrizio-Leone, and my father, the late Donato Leone.  My mother's family, the Fabrizio's, are artists and poets. Many of the Fabrizio's have the creative talent of painting, drawing, or designing. My father's family are very bright skilled laborers.   It is their love of Italian food, great conversations, funny quotes,  and the way we spent our weekends and holidays which has motivated me to write and talk about being and Italian-American. Memories are something that will always belong to me, and no one can change my own memories of how life looked to me growing up in an Italian family.  I will always remember our Italian kitchen and dining room,  especially how things were back in the mid to late 70's.  
 
I remember that I was about 13 years old when I first started to write.  I always felt inspired to write when the house was quiet.  The best time to write was  after a family discussion, holiday, weekend event, or trip to Italy. After the crowds left and everyone had gone to bed, I really loved to write!  I could still remember the old, torn, orange, spiral notebook .  I still have that notebook! It is funny  that we always think we have the perfect hiding places for our poetry, thoughts or feelings.  There are many different people who have inspired me at different times of my life.  This is the reason that I have created a special page called The Best Italian American Stories in Connecticut.  This will be updated twice a week and will contain a "thank you note" to each person who allowed me to interview them and to write a story, as well as others who have encouraged or supported me.
 
My parents' love, warmth, and Italian traditions really motivated me to write and talk about being Italian, but there are many different types of people and levels of love that I have experienced which have inspired me to write.  
I have kept my father's memory alive inside of my heart, and continue my close relationship with my mother. 

Even though my father was not at my high school or college graduation, I still beleive he was there, spiritually. Our loved ones never really leave us entirely. Writing is an art form, and I enjoy it very much. The most amazing aspect of my project are how many people are so willing to open their hearts and allow me to write about them! They do not expect anything in return except to have fun!  
 
I still remember my father's brown pick up truck with buckets of cement in the back. Sometimes it seems like just yesterday as I heard him pull up into the driveway after a hard day's work as a stone mason. Most people that I have met remember my parents and grandparents. They all say the same thing: "be proud of your family. They are honest, hardworking and loving people." It seems that most people who knew my dad mention that they loved talking to him.  
 
I know that the special dedication page of my website and book will be quite a few pages long upon the completion of my personal project.  All of my family and friends have  inspired me to write in many different ways, wether it be to offer encouragement, support, sending me heart warming emails or reviews.  Memories are something that no one can take from you, so share them, and be proud of your heritage! Also, the warm comments and the types of messages that people have posted to my website or to my personal email address have made me realize that I am touching many hearts.
 
Please visit my den often. I really want you to feel comfortable here.  The most recent popular stories are Italian American in Florence, which is about a woman named Michelina in Stamford who studied in Florence several years ago and  Italian American Len Paoletta, which is a story about the former Mayor of Bridgeport and ways that he has remained close to his Italian heritage as well as his special memories. Just last week I wrote as story called  Italian American in Norwalk, CT, which is a stroll back to Dee Nagy's nonna's house in Norwalk. They can tell you how much fun it has been!    It has become a new social thing for many people, and it is wholesome, clean fun.  It is as simple as sending me an email, meeting me, and allowing me to hear your story. I promise you will have a great time!
 
During the next few months I will be on Bedford Street in Stamford, South Norwalk area, Fairfield, New Haven, New York and Philadelphia, Norwich, New Jersey, Yonkers, and the Bronx  interviewing and writing my stories as many people have said, "hey, my friends want to talk to you, or you should write about so and so.." You'll notice my bright colored writing journal from a mile away!

Although my hobby is writing, I work full time as  a Project Manager for the Inlingua School of Languages Translation and Interpretation Center on Summer Street in Stamford, CT. I have left my job in the Trumbull Public School system and work solely for Inlingua in Stamford.  I now work full time at Inlingua Monday through Saturday.   Although I coordinate translation and interpretation projects, my second role at Inlingua is teaching the English language to foreigners.  I enjoy my dual role.

I have to mention this so that you realize that my writing is just a hobby and is not related to my full time job.  However, the common thread is that I love speaking with people in my role as Project Manager at Inlingua, and through my leisure activities and hobbies. 
 
Please send me an email anytime, I would love to hear from you! I look forward to your visit!  Also, check out my favorite links listed below, including www.onlineprimo.com