This June, 2010, I will be attending a Conference in Atri, Abruzzi, with AICW, the Association of Italian Canadian Writers, reading from "Entering Sicily", a literary exploration of a journey of return taken in Sicily this past October, 2009, to my maternal grandmother's birth town of Vita.

From "Entering Sicily":

Pending AICW Conference, June, 2010:

At the AICW conference n Atri, I will also be reading my reflections of Italian Canadian poet Gianna Patriarca, "Poetry in Reverse: On the experience of being translated into Italian."

Reflections on Culture, An Anthology of Creative and Critical Writing: Tooting my Father's horn!

This anthology, edited by Canton, Fazio and Zucchero, has recently been published by The Frank Iacobucci Centre For Italian Canadian Studies. The Cover features a painting by my father, John Madott, Gate to Via Agatha: Walled City of Siena, 2000, as well as 10 inside color pages, including one with John Madott at the age of 92. When I placed this publication in his hands, just before his birthday this past May, 2010 -- from the very University of Toronto through which he educated two of his daughters, his having attended the conference in 2008 which led to the publication -- he described this as "a pinnacle in my life." I am so honored to be the daughter of such a remarkable man and artist!

The Anthology includes "Afternoon in a Garden of the Palazzo Barberini," a short story which will be included in my forthcoming collection, Stations of the Heart, as well as an essay, "Contemplations of the Obstacle Race", by Darlene Madott.

The next collection is waiting on one piece of one short-story, "Cycling in Sardegna", but the proverbial penny has yet to drop. Hopefully, Atri will put new wind into the sails….

For more information about the AICW Conference, please visit their website at http://aicw.ca/2010Conference.htm