The place is the city of Ferrara in Italy – in itself one of the best kept secrets of renaissance history when it comes to tourism. Ten days ago I found myself walking its streets again towards the convent of Sant ‘Antonio in Polesino, with its deeply peaceful exterior coutyard and cherry tree ( famous in the city for those intense blossoms once a year) framing the entrance to the outside chapel and the forbidding green door with its grille which leads to  the enclosed convent itself.   The occasion was an event  which, three years ago when I first found this wonderful place, I could barely have imained.  I was there to meet the mayor of the city and the head of the province, alongside journalists a wonderful woman writer of Ferrara to talk about the Sacred Hearts, the novel, the convent which inspired it and the nuns whose lives and voices played such a rich part in the city’s history.  I had sat up half the night writing a short speech in Italian. At my side was Laurie Stras, one half of Musica Secreta, the early music group which had given me so much help in the writing the novel and with whom I have been collobrating on concert projects.

It was the most extraordinary hour. I must confess I didn’t answerstand everything that was being said, ( the speeches went on quite a while) but it was clear that  the city was very proud of own history, but also the novel which had used the city and the convent as its backdrop.  After it was over we went inside and were allowed to wander ( the nuns were hidden somewhere) aroud the chapel and the anteroom. Then , from the church , came the sound of singing-   Gregorian chant, prepared and performed by one of the city’s choirs

I would  like to thank absolutely everyone in Ferrara, Lauretta, Luca, Elisabetta, Guiliana and many many others for making my stay so rich and memorable.   And to say to anyone planning to go to Italy this summer, that if you miss Ferrara you miss a real jewel…….

Maybe this is the hardest of all. It is spring here in England after an  especially gruelling winter: the first blossoms and blue blue skies. Very tender and special, as only English springs can be. But I have to get on another plane tomorrow,  this time heading West to New York and then……

Dallas, Boulder, Portland, Nashville, Atlantic Beach, Connecticut.  I know that once I get off the plane and start I will get a second wind and enjoy it, since meeting people and talking renaissance history ( and its many and fascinating connections with the present) always lights my fire.  And this is the last time with Sacred Hearts.

So if you find yourself round any of those cities please drop in. The dates and places should be up on my website within the next few hours.

After these next two weeks, I come back and bury myself in the library. I have a mewling puking idea for the next book, and I have to see if it can be fed and nurtured into something more substantial.

And please keep on blogging. It is such a pleasure to hear from you all.

in answer to your question Veronica , il libro uscira a Novembre., ma non so come se chimara. Forse sara diversa… ….