Fabrics and Styles

Fashions in the 13th century are discussed in a number of volumes, especially Herbert Norris's Medieval Costume and Fashion. Clothing in England and France has been the most described and depicted, but it was different than that in the warmer climes of Sicily. Similar styles of clothing were worn in Sicily as in England, but the fabrics were lighter, more cotton and linen than wool and furs. Through the extensive trade between Sicily and North Africa and the Middle East, fine silks and cottons were readily available in the markets. Distinctions in clothing were relevant to one's class and occupation. For a working woman like Ysabella or Larissa, the daily costume included an undergarment or sheath (chemise,kirtle), a simple gown or robe girded at the waist, and an apron to help keep the gown clean. Sleeves could be rolled up for working. Hair was usually braided and pinned up and covered by a simple scarf. Clog-like wooden shoes made in the shoemakers' district were worn by everyone--Just the thing for working in the garden or traversing rain-soaked dirt streets. Of course, our middle class women would also have had fancier duds for important occasions, along with leather boots or slippers, jewelry and headdresses. A good description of such garments may be found in "Murder at the Leopard" when Ysabella and Angelica invite Ferdinand to the Leopard to negotiate purchases of wine.

La Cucina Italiana - food is history and culture - and books!

So this morning I'm reading Walking in Sicily by Gillian Price.  Being a historian of Sicily, albeit in the 13th century, I'm still interested in all things Sicilian.  She talked about gelato and then one of my favorite Sicilian drinks - granite.   She gives some history along the way, includes lots of maps (a must in my opinion!) and talks about one of my favorite food-culture-history books about Sicily - Mary Simeti's On Persephone's Island.


So I'm inviting readers of this blog to talk about their favorite books on the food, history, culture of not only Sicily but Italy - who wrote your favorite books and why are they your favorites?


By the way, a good friend of mine and professor is going to visit Puglia in a few weeks.  Doing some Norman history and possibly even going to Mt. Gargano - lucky dog!

Libraries are our friends

So many books, so little time, as the saying goes. That hit home especially this weekend as I worked at the local Friends of the Alamosa Public Library facility sorting and culling donated books for the sale shed. Our few volunteers have been able to donate more than $20K to the library in the last 3 years and supply groups from the detention center to a preschool reading program with perfectly readable volumes. I really have to watch myself, or I would have stacks of books in every corner of the house! Unfortunately, due to lack of space and the interests of our customers, the Friends must recycle or dispose of too many books and materials, from recipe pamphlets and textbooks to the rare but not valuable publication lovingly save by someone from the early 1900s. I give a great shout out to Salai Taylor and all the other librarians who work so hard for readers and writers. She sponsored a great local authors' forum last fall and we hope to repeat it. We have given copies of our books to various libraries and they always are warmly received--even checked out! Support your local library and they will support you!

Pictures from Stella's - good people, good food, great time!

Taos is known for a lot of things, but check out our picture below which shows part of the Taos Mystery Book Club and yours truly authors having a good time at the lunch meeting of mystery lovers at Stella's. 

Any other pictures out there of book clubs and their authors?  Let's see them!!!

Easter Monday - Anniversary of the Sicilian Vespers!

I know all of you out there know that the Easter Monday, 1282, is the anniversary of the Sicilian Vespers when the Sicilians, with the help of the Aragonese, threw off the yoke of their Angevin oppressors. Let's all celebrate!!!! Easter Monday is a Sicilian tradition wherein the Sicilians gathered at the church of Santo Spirito, which in the Middle Ages used to be outside the walls of the capital city of Palermo. The Sicilians would gather in the piazza in front of the church at Vespers time to finish their celebration of Easter.

Mille grazie to Jan from San Acacio and Carolyn from Questa - the Regno Series

I want to thank both of you for your great comments on Murder at the Leopard and Malice Stalks the Leopard. Jan, our ETA for the third book is this October but don't hold me to that! I'll be happy to keep you posted. If either of you have the time or inclination, a review of our books would be most appreciated on Amazon. I'm thrilled that you love our books and you'll be glad to know that when the Vespers Trilogy is completed, a new generation will be showcased and that trilogy will be called The Regno Trilogy, the Regno being the Kingdom of Sicily. Stay tuned! Any and all comments and critiques are totally welcome. Also your favorite mystery authors, favorite mystery books and favorite historical novels.

Wine anyone - how about Sicilian wine???

Now I know there aren't a lot of wine drinkers out there (lol) but if you like wine, European travel, traveling around Sicily and Italy and might want to try out local wines, check out this article from the travel magazine called Afar - http://www.afar.com/magazine/into-the-vines-the-wines-and-winemakers-of-sicily?&utm_source=newsletter041914&utm_medium=email&utm_content=logo&utm_campaign=weekly_wander