A New Decade, and New Stories

IN PAUL SALSINI?S FIRST NOVEL of this series, "The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany" (first place winner, Council for Wisconsin Writers and Midwest Independent Publishers Association), terrified villagers were trapped in a farmhouse during World War II. In the second, "Sparrow's Revenge: A Novel of Postwar Tuscany," a partisan hunted down the collaborator of a horrific massacre. In the third, "Dino's Story: A Novel of 1960s Tuscany," a boy came of age during the devastating flood of Florence in 1966. Then the characters entered a new decade in "The Temptation of Father Lorenzo: Ten Stories of 1970s Tuscany" (first place winner, Midwest Independent Publishers Association).

NOW THESE BELOVED CHARACTERS, along with a few new friends and relatives, return in "A Piazza for Sant?Antonio, Five Novellas of 1980s Tuscany."

IN THE FIRST STORY, Donna writes a cookbook that makes her famous and threatens her marriage. In another, little Pasquale, in trying to save a cat, teaches the people of his village understanding. When Sant?Antonio is ridiculed because it lacks a piazza, a mysterious man who lives in an abandoned monastery comes to the rescue. Meanwhile, when Dino seeks his roots, he discovers a heroic grandfather, a loving uncle and a doomed village that may be inhabited by ghosts. And in Florence, Father Lorenzo tries to cope with the hysteria brought about by a serial killer of young lovers.

Weeks before Christmas, little Stefano sits down with his grandfather Nonno and they put together their nativity scene, or presepio, one figure a day. Nonno tells Stefano the amazing story of each of the miniature people and about the wondrous miracles that happen when they visit the Baby Jesus. This is a story for grandparents, parents, children -- and everyone else

Praise for A Tuscan Trilogy

"The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany." "A moving debut novel of a luscious country." - Jacqueline Mitchard, best-selling author of "The Deep End of the Ocean."

"Sparrow's Revenge: A Novel of Postwar Tuscany." "I enthusiastically recommend "Sparrow's Revenge" to anyone with the slightest interest in history, Italy or human nature - in short, to everyone." - BookReview.com

"Dino's Story: A Novel of 1960s Tuscany." "Salsini's research once again is impeccable and serves well to anchor this young man's story to an unforgettable place and time in Italian history." - Fred Gardaphe, distinguished professor English and Italian American Studies at Queens College and associate editor of "Fra Noi."
"The Temptation of Father Lorenzo: Ten Stories of 1970s Tuscany"

A decade after "Dino's Story," the beloved characters of the first three novels return in this engrossing collection, all set in Florence and the beautiful hills of Tuscany. Father Lorenzo, still exhausted from the flood, is tempted by a beautiful woman. Tomasso seeks his long-lost son. Father Sangretto retaliates when a rival priest produces a "miracle." Donna and Ezio open their farmhouse to tourists and an eccentric author is their first visitor. The women of Sant'Antonio join to help the stricken Annabella. Anna leaves the convent. Dino makes up his mind between Sophia and Francesca. And more.

From a tiny isolated village to the high art of Florence, "Dino's Story: A Novel of 1960s Tuscany" completes the sweeping narrative of "A Tuscan Trilogy." A boy just born in the first novel of the trilogy comes to Florence to study art, and, in this tumultuous decade of change, he is himself transformed as a devastating flood ruins not only works of art but also the lives of the poor and helpless.

In the first of the trilogy, "The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany, " terrified villagers confront seemingly insurmountable dangers while trapped in a farmhouse during the German occupation of 1944. In the second, "Sparrow's Revenge: A Novel of Postwar Tuscany," set in 1955, a guilt-ridden partisan relentlessly pursues the collaborator of one of the worst massacres in Italy during World War II.

Martha Bergland, author of "A Farm Under a Lake, " calls "Dino's Story" a "fascinating inside look at Florence through the eyes of Paul Salsini's warm and complex characters. I couldn't put it down." Lawrence Baldassaro, Professor Emeritus of Italian and Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, found it "an intriguing coming-of-age tale. "Dino's Story" is a seamless and conclusive sequel to the first two volumes of Paul Salsini's Tuscan trilogy. Once again, Salsini combines meticulous research, a keen eye for detail, and narrative dexterity."

Praise for The Cielo "Salsini spins a tale of both cruelty and courage, and affirms yet again the ability of humans to endure."-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "A moving debut novel of a luscious country too often forgotten when we consider the ravages of the 'Good War.'"-Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean "(The Cielo) diligently explores the complexities and exquisite tortures of wartime existence, the sense of powerlessness and fear and the essential qualities of those who survived. A well-researched and gripping drama of wartime survival and transcendence."-Kirkus Discoveries The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany won First Place for Fiction from the Council for Wisconsin Writers; First Place for Fiction from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, and First Honorable Mention from Writer's Digest International Self-Published Book Awards. In Sparrow's Revenge: A Novel of Postwar Tuscany, the Resistance fighter whose code name was Sparrow relentlessly pursues the collaborator of one of the worst Nazi atrocities in Italy during WWII. But in the treacherous and mysterious land of the Garfagnana, he discovers something he has long hidden within himself. Sparrow's Revenge is an unforgettable tale of revenge, retribution, guilt and, finally, forgiveness.

"Salsini spins a tale of both cruelty and courage and affirms, yet again, the ability of humans to endure."-"Milwaukee Journal Sentinel" "Salsini's beautiful novel of Italy during World War II, peopled with a wide range of characters, deepens our knowledge of both Tuscan hill towns and the terrible effects of war on civilians."-Martha Bergland, author of "A Farm Under a Lake" ""The Cielo" is an unforgettable read. You won't be able to put it down, through tears and smiles, until you reach the very end."-Bookreview.com Ordered by the Germans to evacuate, a group of Italian villagers flees to a farmhouse in the beautiful hills of Tuscany. As the war rages around them, the refugees confront betrayal by one villager, fearlessly house an escaped prisoner, and survive a raid by the Nazis. A young girl finds love, two boys become heroes, and secrets are revealed before an unthinkable event changes their lives forever. Inspired by experiences of Salsini's relatives, "The Cielo: A Novel of Wartime Tuscany" is a gripping story of courage, endurance, and the power of the human spirit.