Anna Maria dal Violin. The narrator of Vivaldi’s Virgins is based on a real person, known in childhood as Anna Maria dal Violin (with the accent on the last syllable, pronounced “leen”), and throughout her adult life as Anna Maria della Pietà. Her life followed the basic outlines elucidated in the novel. She was brought as an infant to Venice’s home for foundlings, the Ospedale della Pietà, in 1689. When eight-year-old Anna Maria dal Violin comes to the master’s attention, Vivaldi recognizes a like spirit if an as-yet unschooled talent. The following years are spent teaching Anna Maria the exquisite nuances of the violin, her willing spirit a joy to behold in one who so values genius. Well-researched and elegantly written, it tells the story of Anna Maria dal Violin (orphans pick up the name of their instrument as a last name), her search for her parentage and observations of “the Red Priest,” maestro Antonio Vivaldi, and her coming of age in a cloistered convent-orphanage. Anna Maria dal Violin was one of Vivaldi’s prized students, and at the age of 24 she attained the position of “Maestra,” leader of the orchestra. In addition to the violin, she played the cello, lute, harpsichord, mandolin, viola d’amore and oboe. Anna Maria remained at the orphanage her whole life and died at.
Anna Maria Dal Violin Youtube
I’ve just signed a contract with Michele Berk of Lotus Productions. I will serve as a Story Consultant as Michele works with her favorite screenwriter to create the pilot. This is something I’ve long wished for! What a magnificent chance this will be for me to return to Venice—and to give back to Venice, after all that Venice has given me. Stay tuned for updates!
Two poems of mine just published in the Winter Solstice issue of Gail Entrekin’s beautiful eco-poetry magazine, Canary
A poem of mine published in the debut issue of Emily Ferrara’s Pendemics Journal: The Masked Issue
Have a listen to the interview and reading I had the honor of doing for the long-running Library of Congress program, “The Poet & the Poem,” with host Grace Cavalieri.
The chapbook of poems I wrote last summer on the Greek Island of Sifnos was co-winner of the 2020 Blue Light Press Poetry Prize. Many thanks to publisher Diane Frank, who will be bringing out “The Light on Sifnos” next year. I hope to be able to return to Greece for my book tour! I especially have my eye on Atlantis Books on Santorini—and of course I want to return to Sifnos to see and thank the many friends I made there. It was such a pleasure, in 2019, to be able to give away a copy of Vivaldi’s Virgins in Greek. In this time of lockdown, my travel memories are particularly sweet.
On September 10, 2020, I was interviewed by Stephanie Cowell (Marrying Mozart) along with author Patricia Morrisroe (Woman in the Moonlight) for a program hosted by Susan Wand and the New York City Chapter of the Historical Novel Society. A great time was had by all! You can stream the program here:
Anna Maria Dal Violin Concerto
An extraordinary artist who specializes in Venetian Carnival masques has honored me with a place of partnership on her exquisite website. I love the way she has used my words and research (with my permission, of course!) as part of her delightful, multimedia presentation of the history of Venice.
Click here to explore the gorgeous, highly collectible and, truly, affordable creations of the artist, Lih Steiner. I feel so delighted that reading Vivaldi’s Virgins (in its Brazilian Portuguese translation, no less!), and rereading it through the years, inspired her to reach out and contact me!
I was one of four authors interviewed for this podcast created by Jaynie Royal, the extraordinary publisher and editor-in-chief at Regal House, which will be publishing my new novel, What Disappears, early in 2022.
Anna Maria Dal Violin Sheet Music
From Regal House Publishing
Struggling to write under lockdown? Listen in to see how these remarkable women authors (Cheryl Ossola, Kate Murdoch, Barbara Quick, Maureen Pilkington) from all over the world are managing isolation, building community, and finding hope amid a pandemic.
https://regalhouse.buzzsprout.com/966220/3729176-writing-under-lockdown
