Q&A With Kristin Harmel Pt 2

Please see the start of the interview here...

Q: What made you think to include recipes at the back of the book? It was a great addition!
A: Thank you! First of all, I love to cook, so it was a pleasure to share some Italian recipes I like with the reader! (The book includes five recipes for foods that Cat actually eats throughout the novel.) Secondly, I have always been a person who travels through my taste buds. My friend Kara and I, in fact, were faced with the decision between seeing the Spanish Steps and returning to our favorite restaurant on our last night in Rome – and we chose the food! I do truly feel that when you travel, one of the best ways to truly experience a new place is to go to neighborhood, non-touristy restaurants and not only eat the food of the region, but also talk to locals. That’s how I travel, and in ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, restaurants and food play an important role in Cat’s life too. Including the recipes was something I did in hopes that the reader might be able to bring a little piece of Italy home with them, at least until they’re able to make it there in person!

Q: I must ask it, is Roman Holiday a favorite of yours?
A: I do like Roman Holiday, but I don’t think I would call it one of my favorite movies. I do feel it’s very evocative of Rome, though, and additionally, I think the movie has some of the same themes I hoped my book would have. Like Cat, the main character in ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, Audrey Hepburn’s character in ROMAN HOLIDAY discovers what it’s like to simply be herself, if only for a brief time, without a multitude of expectations weighing down upon her.

Q: Since the book is very much about traveling and discovering yourself, where else have you traveled? And what city do you find most inspirational?
A: I love to travel. I have a million places on my list of countries I’d like to visit; so far, I’ve only been to North America and Europe (and I’d love to visit Asia, Africa, South America and Australia, of course!). Of course I love New York and Los Angeles (and have spent time living in both cities). But the three places that have completely captured my heart are: Tuscany (a beautiful region of Italy), Ireland (particularly County Cork and County Kerry) and Paris, with Paris holding the #1 spot!

Q: Where would you love to visit next?
A: I always want to go back to Paris, and now I’m eager to return to Ireland too. Among places I haven’t been yet, I’d probably like to go to Australia next!

Q: Now that ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS is out, what next? Do you have another novel on the horizon?
A: Yes. I have a new young adult novel, called AFTER, coming out in February 2010. And I’m also ghostwriting rock’n’roll legend Chubby Checker’s autobiography, which will be out by summer 2010 to correspond with the 50th anniversary of The Twist. I’m currently working on a proposal for my next women’s fiction novel, so hopefully, I’ll get that underway soon.

Q: And since this is a book blog – what’s your favorite book? Who’s your favorite author?
A: Augh, an impossible question! I love so many books and so many authors. I suppose if I had to pick a book that influenced and moved me the most, it would be the Diary of Anne Frank, which I read numerous times as a teenager. My favorite book that I had to read for school was The Great Gatsby. Now, my favorite authors include: Emily Giffin, Jane Porter, Liza Palmer, Megan Crane, Sarah Mlynowski, Alison Pace, Melissa Senate, Brenda Janowitz, Lynda Curnyn, Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman and many, many more. I just love to read!

Thank you again to Kristin Harmel for answering my questions! And be sure to check out her new book ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, which will be released August 13th!