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Barbara Conelli

Barbara Conelli

About

Barbara Conelli is an internationally published bestselling author, seasoned travel writer specializing in Italy, and Chiquenist on the mission to bring Fantastic Fearless Feminine Fun into women's lives. In her charming, delightful and humorous Chique Books filled with Italian passion, Barb invites women to explore Italy from the comfort of their home with elegance, grace and style, encouraging them to live their own Dolce Vita no matter where they are in the world.

Barb learned to read and write at the age of four, and a year later, she wrote her first bestselling book that became a big hit in local kindergartens. She turned into an overnight success that lasted for twelve exciting hours. Since then, she has never separated from her writing endeavors. Barb writes even in her sleep and she can often be seen sitting on her bed at three a.m. with a flashlight frantically processing her somnambulant ideas. A born nomad and adventurer, she's been there, she's done it, and she's not afraid to write about it.

An entertaining storyteller, Barb has a unique ability to capture the magical atmosphere of the places she writes about. Through the pages of her books, Barb takes your hand and guides you through the irresistible beauty, captivating secrets, unrepeatable spell and fugitive moments of Italy. She makes them come alive easily and spontaneously, and her writing is like a magic carpet that carries you to Italy and back in the blink of an eye. She introduces you to fascinating women who have created the face of Italy, lifts the shroud of their mysteries, and reveals adorable places off the beaten track where the authentic Italian heart hasn't stopped beating.

As a naturally curious person who loves traveling, meeting new people and discovering their life stories, Barbara founded Chique Show, an entertaining radio show for women and about women. On Chique Show, Barbara shares her Dolce Vita adventures and interviews inspiring women authors and experts who show listeners how to live their sweet life with gusto.

Barb lives between New York and Milan, and as a real globetrotter, she's always on the move, accompanied by her adorable and very spoiled beagle. To her, writing is like breathing, and she's currently working on her new book.

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

The Sons of Godwine: Part Two of The Last Great Saxon Earls

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Description

<p>Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame.<br /><br />This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers.<br /><br />This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end.<br /><br />Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective.<br /><br />Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY.</p>

Story Behind The Book

Fascinating, enthralling and seductive travel and life tales about unexpected encounters with the capricious, unpredictable and extravagant city of Milan, its glamorous feminine secrets, the everyday magic of its dreamy streets, the passionate romance of its elegant hideaways, and the sweet Italian art of delightfully falling in love with your life wherever you go.

Media Links

Events and Media Appearances

🔗 http://www.barbaraconelli.com/events.htm

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Reviews

<p><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#7f007f;">&quot;With grace and elegance, Ms. Conelli shares the city’s special spots, only known by locals and passionate lovers of Milan. Her unique way of capturing the magic of places and people she writes about is ever present, guiding you through Milan – by morning, day or night. Every part of the book brings a different perspective to the essence of love. It is as if you follow the author’s every step of the journey and you feel an unavoidable desire to walk the streets of Milan on location, not only through your imagination.&quot; </span></strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#7f007f;">(Erica Johansson, Travel Blissful)</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#7f007f;"></span><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;color:#7f007f;"></span></strong></p><p><strong><font style="color:#7f007f;" color="#3a0038">&quot;By describing in detail only personal, quirky aspects of the whole, you create a vivid picture for your readers. This is exactly how Barb Conelli brings to life the Milan she knows and loves. Instead of reciting a shopping list of Places You Must See, which you could find in any guide to Milan, Conelli figuratively takes you by the hand and says, 'Forget the official tour. Let me show you my Milan, the people and places I love.' &quot; </font></strong><font style="color:#7f007f;" color="#3a0038">(Kate Allison, The Displaced Nation)</font></p><br /><strong><font style="color:#7f007f;" color="#3a0038">&quot;With insightful nostalgia and personal delight Barbara Conelli takes you on a soulful journey through the magnificent city. </font><font style="color:#7f007f;" color="#3a0038">Whether you plan to travel to Milan or not, you will enjoy reading this book and surrendering to the temptations Ms. Conelli offers you as you browse through her tour of Milan's dreams of past and present. And the most tantalizing dreams are those that have not yet come true.&quot; </font></strong><font style="color:#7f007f;" color="#3a0038">(Kat Duncan, Author)</font><strong><font style="color:#7f007f;" color="#3a0038"><br /><br /></font></strong>