Amidst the chill of an Australian winter, my mother begrudgingly went into labour and was delivered (with due respect, thankfully not by the postman) of a wailing, flabby, unsightly (and likely none too pleased) baby girl at the Women's Hospital. Put simply, I was born in Melbourne. My journey from Down Under to the sun-kissed landscapes of Italy is a tale too intricate for this brief presentation. Instead, let’s fast forward to my career.

     For over three decades I worked as a professional actress performing both in English and in Italian under the stage name of Giannina Salvetti. In 2003 I was offered the post of English drama teacher at the Italian National Academy Silvio D’Amico. For the ten years that I taught there, I had a great time, and I truly loved teaching. Possibly I learnt more from my wonderful and talented students than they did from me.

     Yet, life took an unexpected turn with two pivotal events. One compelled me to abandon teaching, while the other ignited a desire to articulate my experiences through writing. Hence, with a tinge of regret, I resigned from my teaching post and leapt into the realms of writing. Following the publication of my first book, I embarked on a journey of creative expression, honing my craft through studies with Oxford University.

     My memoir, "A Bitch in Rome", delves into the complexities of love, chronicling my husband's affair—a tale where the unexpected adversary in our marriage is a diminutive mixed-breed Maltese terrier, whose presence threatened the very foundation of our union. Like a famous royal marriage mine, too, became crowded.

     In my debut novel, "A Bear on Trial", set in a fictitious Italian town, I explore the widening chasm between humanity and the natural world, probing the depths of our relationship with the environment.

     The novel "Quello Diverso" (English title "The Odd One" still to be published), set in Tuscany between a rural veterinary clinic and an experimental prison shelter, is a literary novel that blends psychological drama, social realism, animal ethics, and an unconventional love story. At its core, it explores trauma, prejudice, redemption, and the fragile boundary between what society labels “dangerous” and what is truly humane.

     Lastly, my short story "Rose, Gordon and..." unfolds against the backdrop of Albury, Australia, and explores the themes of war, loneliness, and love.

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