# Angela M Sims > Author of Historical Fiction set in Italy Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About this site URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/about/ Last updated: 2026-07-18T19:49:28.000Z Angela M Sims is an independent publication launched in July 2026 by Mezz Davies. If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website as well as email newsletters about new content when it's available. Your subscription makes this site possible, and allows Angela M Sims to continue to exist. Thank you! ### Access all areas By signing up, you'll get access to the full archive of everything that's been published before and everything that's still to come. Your very own private library. ### Fresh content, delivered Stay up to date with new content sent straight to your inbox! No more worrying about whether you missed something because of a pesky algorithm or news feed. ### Meet people like you Join a community of other subscribers who share the same interests. --- ### Start your own thing Enjoying the experience? Get started for free and set up your very own subscription business using [Ghost](https://ghost.org/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk), the same platform that powers this website. ### About Me URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/about-me/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:38:19.000Z This is the section where you come to read all about my many years of story writing, my extensive experience in creative writing and the numerous qualifications, awards and accolades that I’ve received in the field of historical fiction. Well, I’m afraid that is not my biography at all. In fact, I seem to have stumbled here quite by accident. Yes, I enjoyed writing stories in primary school and trundled through my English “O” Level (I am that old!), but that was it for many years. I pursued and loved my career as a cardiac physiologist in the NHS for over 25 years, before moving to the University of South Wales, to take up the post of senior lecturer. Ironically, it was this scientific environment that helped me to rediscover my love of writing. During my MSc (Education for Health & Social Care Professionals), I had to complete a large dissertation. Apart from the “rabbit in headlights” moment when I first faced a blank page and no clue how to start, I thoroughly enjoyed the process. After that, I wrote a few blogs, mainly about our travels (to Italy), and enjoyed playing with words, trying them on for size to see how they felt. I thought I'd like to do a bit more of this. The other enjoyable process of writing the dissertation was the research, and once I’d finished the course, I started to research my other passions – Renaissance artists and Florence. I wondered if perhaps I could do a qualification in the History of Art, but that would restrict me to whatever was prescribed by a particular syllabus. Instead, I decided to do my own research into whatever took my fancy…and so began my collection of books and frequent trips to Florence. I eventually began to wonder what I should do with this knowledge and thought perhaps I could write a book. When I stopped laughing at myself, I thought again. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. I could string a few words together, my spelling and grammar was pretty good, and it was a time and place that I loved. Of course, it’s not that easy at all. I am learning about writing fiction every single day. There are skills that are essential, and pitfalls that I didn’t know existed. It’s a fascinating process, and I am delighted that I have succeeded in sending my story and characters out into the big, wide world. Thank you for your interest in my work, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. For anyone interested in such details, I live in Cardiff with my husband and have two grown-up daughters, two gorgeous grandchildren and two demanding and slightly stupid cats. When I’m not working, reading or writing , I love to cook, my garden gives me great joy, and of course, at every opportunity, I travel to Italy to eat, drink and absorb the wonderful atmosphere. I like to call that "research"! Thank you for spending some time with me. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you. Happy reading! ### Out Now URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/out-now/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:38:10.000Z Cover images © Ray Lipscombe **The Rose of Florence** (2023) and **Hiding the Flame** (2025) My stories are set in Florence, Italy. If you have visited, you'll know why I fell in love with the city, her art, her architecture and her history. Stories of the Renaissance are well-documented, but where history ends, fiction begins, and that is the basis of my writing. Currently, I have two books set in Florence in the 15th Century. The first is *The Rose of Florence* (published Jan 2023, by Romaunce Ltd.), where we meet Lorenzo de' Medici (Il Magnifico), his brother Giuliano, Sandro Botticelli, the artist, and even Leonardo da Vinci makes an appearance. But they are not the stars of the show. We follow Gianetta, a servant girl in the home of the Rosini family, where she lives with her friends and colleagues. We meet Eleonora, the accomplished cook, who also knows a thing or two about herbal medicines; Lucia (Eleonora’s apprentice), and Antonio, who has caught Lucia’s eye. Last but not least in the group is Matteo, another of the family’s staff. Gianetta and Matteo are happily in love, but they begin to realise that the politics of Renaissance Florence may disrupt their plans for a long and happy life together. The Rosini family are wealthy textile merchants and great friends of the Medici family, who are often found dining at Palazzo Rosini. Even Botticelli comes to dinner on occasion. However, all is not well, as we find out when the two Medici brothers narrowly escape with their lives at the Palazzo Rosini. Is someone in the house part of a plot against them? When there is a more determined assassination attempt on their lives, everyone’s world is turned upside down, and we wonder if life will ever be the same again. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Duomo.jpg) © Angela M Sims, Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) Jan, 2011 The second book, *Hiding the Flame* (published Dec 2025, by Romaunce Ltd), takes place around 18 years after The Rose. Some of the characters are still around, such as Eleonora and Volpe, and we spend more time with Sandro Botticelli. Of course, Florence was in turmoil once more, this time due to the influence of Girolamo Savonarola, a fiery Dominican preacher. This story follows Gianetta and Matteo's daughter, Francesca, a woman trying to find her place in a man's world, a woman who yearns to paint, a woman who finds that some love is forbidden. Love and loyalty pull in different directions, but will she ever find happiness? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/11/Fire---April-21.jpg) © Angela M Sims, April 2021 While my work is fiction, historical events provide a fascinating backdrop. Florence is a perfect setting for such work. Many of the landmarks that are mentioned in the stories are still standing to this day. It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to stand in those cobbled streets and believe that you are there at the same time as our characters. There are so many intriguing areas of life in Italy at that time: the ruthless politics; the importance of family; the emergence of great art, and also the everyday things like food and fashion. I thoroughly enjoy exploring all aspects of the life of a Renaissance Italian. Sometimes, I get so absorbed and wander down tangential roads, that I forget what I originally set out to find…and that I’m actually supposed to be writing about it! ### Order Here URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/order-here/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T14:19:36.000Z ## Fancy a read? Are you an e-book sort of person? Or do you want a real book? With pages? **Amazon** [The Rose of Florence](https://amzn.eu/d/05d5n85W?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [Hiding the Flame](https://amzn.eu/d/070e6vYv?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Apple Books** [The Rose of Florence](https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-rose-of-florence/id6444842168?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [Hiding the Flame](https://books.apple.com/us/book/hiding-the-flame/id6755439260?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) There is an audio book on this site too, but it has not been endorsed by me, so I can't guarantee the quality. **Barnes & Noble** [The Rose of Florence](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rose-of-florence-angela-m-sims/1142781770?ean=2940165972638&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [Hiding the Flame](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hiding-the-flame-angela-m-sims/1148806679?ean=9781739185794&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Kobo** [The Rose of Florence](https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-rose-of-florence?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [Hiding the Flame](https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/hiding-the-flame?sId=ec393575-977b-4e0e-9e72-cacbaef314a1&ssId=FoB1O2z96cT11VXWuYUTy&cPos=1&ref=angelamsims.co.uk#ratings-and-reviews) ## ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/08/2-covers-1.jpg) Covers by Ray Lipscombe ### Social Links URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/social-links/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:37:53.000Z I would love to connect with readers or fellow authors (or both!). Please check out these links: **Facebook:** [Angela M Sims - AuthorAngela M Sims - Author. 3,088 likes · 6 talking about this. Author of historical fiction. The Rose of Florence, out now Hiding The Flame, coming soon! https://amzn.eu/d/edYLpmE![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/y1/r/ay1hV6OlegS.ico)Facebook![](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-1/580187040_1304411931700705_5553890812604815164_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&cstp=mx601x481&ctp=s601x481&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3ab345&_nc_ohc=7SZ71YaUVOIQ7kNvwENTfGj&_nc_oc=Adl6zbIxPn5r-R6lur50C99hhAcG3XpVJLhgNl5AEYd3cVJa927iN8sBu_by7jB174Y&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent.xx&_nc_gid=nUWH1CLJCljkBHCaYgyHag&oh=00_AfhIAI2ImQ526TmaWLyUCHlopab6EqPUudJ1vzMFQipy6Q&oe=691CFAF4)](https://www.facebook.com/angelamsimsauthor) **Instagram** [https://www.instagram.com/angelamsims1/](https://www.instagram.com/angelamsims1/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### Review Here URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/review-here/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:37:43.000Z Reviews are so valuable to authors and future readers, and guess what? It doesn't cost you a penny! So, if you enjoyed The Rose of Florence, I'd love you to leave a review. It helps authors and other readers. You can leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Netgalley. Amazon: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims-ebook/dp/B0BZJM6TB9](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims-ebook/dp/B0BZJM6TB9?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Goodreads: [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63886962](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63886962?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Netgalley: [https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/295855](https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/295855?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Here are some early reviews for The Rose of Florence:** *"This is a book that will appeal to the intelligent and curious visitor to Florence, not least for its culinary interludes. Take this book to a shady bench in the Boboli Gardens and turn off your phone..."* **Katherine Mezzacappa** *"The Rose of Florence is a beautifully written novel, full of vivid description that will whisk you away and draw you in from the start."* **Helga Jensen** *"Smell, hear and see medieval Florence, as young love meets power politics in this delicious Renaissance period piece... Magnifico..!"* **Tim Hartley** *"This was such a well-researched book. It was easy to picture the environment in which Sims places her characters, for she utilises Florence’s true beauty to end up with stunning, earnest imagery."* **Maddy Thorley** *"Located in the heart of 15th-century Florence, 'The Rose of Florence' is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and history."* **Finitha Jose** ### About Me URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/about-me-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:38:19.000Z This is the section where you come to read all about my many years of story writing, my extensive experience in creative writing and the numerous qualifications, awards and accolades that I’ve received in the field of historical fiction. Well, I’m afraid that is not my biography at all. In fact, I seem to have stumbled here quite by accident. Yes, I enjoyed writing stories in primary school and trundled through my English “O” Level (I am that old!), but that was it for many years. I pursued and loved my career as a cardiac physiologist in the NHS for over 25 years, before moving to the University of South Wales, to take up the post of senior lecturer. Ironically, it was this scientific environment that helped me to rediscover my love of writing. During my MSc (Education for Health & Social Care Professionals), I had to complete a large dissertation. Apart from the “rabbit in headlights” moment when I first faced a blank page and no clue how to start, I thoroughly enjoyed the process. After that, I wrote a few blogs, mainly about our travels (to Italy), and enjoyed playing with words, trying them on for size to see how they felt. I thought I'd like to do a bit more of this. The other enjoyable process of writing the dissertation was the research, and once I’d finished the course, I started to research my other passions – Renaissance artists and Florence. I wondered if perhaps I could do a qualification in the History of Art, but that would restrict me to whatever was prescribed by a particular syllabus. Instead, I decided to do my own research into whatever took my fancy…and so began my collection of books and frequent trips to Florence. I eventually began to wonder what I should do with this knowledge and thought perhaps I could write a book. When I stopped laughing at myself, I thought again. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad idea after all. I could string a few words together, my spelling and grammar was pretty good, and it was a time and place that I loved. Of course, it’s not that easy at all. I am learning about writing fiction every single day. There are skills that are essential, and pitfalls that I didn’t know existed. It’s a fascinating process, and I am delighted that I have succeeded in sending my story and characters out into the big, wide world. Thank you for your interest in my work, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. For anyone interested in such details, I live in Cardiff with my husband and have two grown-up daughters, two gorgeous grandchildren and two demanding and slightly stupid cats. When I’m not working, reading or writing , I love to cook, my garden gives me great joy, and of course, at every opportunity, I travel to Italy to eat, drink and absorb the wonderful atmosphere. I like to call that "research"! Thank you for spending some time with me. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you. Happy reading! ### Out Now URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/out-now-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:38:10.000Z Cover images © Ray Lipscombe **The Rose of Florence** (2023) and **Hiding the Flame** (2025) My stories are set in Florence, Italy. If you have visited, you'll know why I fell in love with the city, her art, her architecture and her history. Stories of the Renaissance are well-documented, but where history ends, fiction begins, and that is the basis of my writing. Currently, I have two books set in Florence in the 15th Century. The first is *The Rose of Florence* (published Jan 2023, by Romaunce Ltd.), where we meet Lorenzo de' Medici (Il Magnifico), his brother Giuliano, Sandro Botticelli, the artist, and even Leonardo da Vinci makes an appearance. But they are not the stars of the show. We follow Gianetta, a servant girl in the home of the Rosini family, where she lives with her friends and colleagues. We meet Eleonora, the accomplished cook, who also knows a thing or two about herbal medicines; Lucia (Eleonora’s apprentice), and Antonio, who has caught Lucia’s eye. Last but not least in the group is Matteo, another of the family’s staff. Gianetta and Matteo are happily in love, but they begin to realise that the politics of Renaissance Florence may disrupt their plans for a long and happy life together. The Rosini family are wealthy textile merchants and great friends of the Medici family, who are often found dining at Palazzo Rosini. Even Botticelli comes to dinner on occasion. However, all is not well, as we find out when the two Medici brothers narrowly escape with their lives at the Palazzo Rosini. Is someone in the house part of a plot against them? When there is a more determined assassination attempt on their lives, everyone’s world is turned upside down, and we wonder if life will ever be the same again. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Duomo.jpg) © Angela M Sims, Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo) Jan, 2011 The second book, *Hiding the Flame* (published Dec 2025, by Romaunce Ltd), takes place around 18 years after The Rose. Some of the characters are still around, such as Eleonora and Volpe, and we spend more time with Sandro Botticelli. Of course, Florence was in turmoil once more, this time due to the influence of Girolamo Savonarola, a fiery Dominican preacher. This story follows Gianetta and Matteo's daughter, Francesca, a woman trying to find her place in a man's world, a woman who yearns to paint, a woman who finds that some love is forbidden. Love and loyalty pull in different directions, but will she ever find happiness? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/11/Fire---April-21.jpg) © Angela M Sims, April 2021 While my work is fiction, historical events provide a fascinating backdrop. Florence is a perfect setting for such work. Many of the landmarks that are mentioned in the stories are still standing to this day. It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to stand in those cobbled streets and believe that you are there at the same time as our characters. There are so many intriguing areas of life in Italy at that time: the ruthless politics; the importance of family; the emergence of great art, and also the everyday things like food and fashion. I thoroughly enjoy exploring all aspects of the life of a Renaissance Italian. Sometimes, I get so absorbed and wander down tangential roads, that I forget what I originally set out to find…and that I’m actually supposed to be writing about it! ### Order Here URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/order-here-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:38:00.000Z ## Fancy a read? Are you a Kindle sort of person? **Amazon** [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims/dp/1739117301/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=3VKN6ZFVPBH6J&keywords=the+rose+of+florence+book&qid=1680254619&sprefix=the+rose+of+florence%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims/dp/1739117301/ref=sr%5F1%5F3?crid=3VKN6ZFVPBH6J&keywords=the+rose+of+florence+book&qid=1680254619&sprefix=the+rose+of+florence%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Google Play** [https://books.google.co.uk/books/about?id=CcGdEAAAQBAJ&redir\_esc=y&hl=en](https://books.google.co.uk/books/about?id=CcGdEAAAQBAJ&redir%5Fesc=y&hl=en&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Apple iTunes** [https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6444842168](https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6444842168?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Barnes & Noble** [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165972638](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165972638?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Kobo** [https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9780463819470](https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9780463819470&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ## Want a real book? A physical book? With pages? Well, look no further! **Romaunce Books** [https://www.romaunce.com/product-page/the-rose-of-florence-by-angela-m-sims](https://www.romaunce.com/product-page/the-rose-of-florence-by-angela-m-sims?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Amazon** [https://amzn.eu/d/a83txrT](https://amzn.eu/d/a83txrT?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/4-launch-1.JPG) ### Social Links URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/social-links-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:37:53.000Z I would love to connect with readers or fellow authors (or both!). Please check out these links: **Facebook:** [Angela M Sims - AuthorAngela M Sims - Author. 3,088 likes · 6 talking about this. Author of historical fiction. The Rose of Florence, out now Hiding The Flame, coming soon! https://amzn.eu/d/edYLpmE![](https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/y1/r/ay1hV6OlegS.ico)Facebook![](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-1/580187040_1304411931700705_5553890812604815164_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&cstp=mx601x481&ctp=s601x481&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=3ab345&_nc_ohc=7SZ71YaUVOIQ7kNvwENTfGj&_nc_oc=Adl6zbIxPn5r-R6lur50C99hhAcG3XpVJLhgNl5AEYd3cVJa927iN8sBu_by7jB174Y&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent.xx&_nc_gid=nUWH1CLJCljkBHCaYgyHag&oh=00_AfhIAI2ImQ526TmaWLyUCHlopab6EqPUudJ1vzMFQipy6Q&oe=691CFAF4)](https://www.facebook.com/angelamsimsauthor) **Instagram** [https://www.instagram.com/angelamsims1/](https://www.instagram.com/angelamsims1/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### Review Here URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/review-here-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:37:43.000Z Reviews are so valuable to authors and future readers, and guess what? It doesn't cost you a penny! So, if you enjoyed The Rose of Florence, I'd love you to leave a review. It helps authors and other readers. You can leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Netgalley. Amazon: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims-ebook/dp/B0BZJM6TB9](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims-ebook/dp/B0BZJM6TB9?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Goodreads: [https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63886962](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63886962?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Netgalley: [https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/295855](https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/295855?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Here are some early reviews for The Rose of Florence:** *"This is a book that will appeal to the intelligent and curious visitor to Florence, not least for its culinary interludes. Take this book to a shady bench in the Boboli Gardens and turn off your phone..."* **Katherine Mezzacappa** *"The Rose of Florence is a beautifully written novel, full of vivid description that will whisk you away and draw you in from the start."* **Helga Jensen** *"Smell, hear and see medieval Florence, as young love meets power politics in this delicious Renaissance period piece... Magnifico..!"* **Tim Hartley** *"This was such a well-researched book. It was easy to picture the environment in which Sims places her characters, for she utilises Florence’s true beauty to end up with stunning, earnest imagery."* **Maddy Thorley** *"Located in the heart of 15th-century Florence, 'The Rose of Florence' is a captivating tale that seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and history."* **Finitha Jose** ## Posts ### Another Test URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/another-test/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T22:49:12.000Z This is a second test to prove the links are fixed ### I Have Returned! URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/i-have-returned/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T20:18:50.000Z It's fair to say that there has been a small hiatus in my posts to you. Well, some may say you can have too much of a good thing, although whether that is my silence or my return is for you to decide! Some weeks ago, I opened my website to find that most of it had disappeared. This prompted a panic call to my son-in-law, Mezz, who had done a brilliant job of setting the thing up in the first place. He talked about things like servers, and hosts, and strings, and backups, and I nodded politely. Suffice to say that he worked his magic, and I'm back up and running. Not only am I back up and running, but now this is a 2-way street. I'm delighted that you can respond to me, either by replying to my email directly, or by adding a comment on the website. This is an exciting development for me, as I really hope to hear from you. As always, I won't be inundating your Inbox with posts, but I do hope to be in touch more regularly. I have plenty of ideas for posts that I think will interest you, but if you have any thoughts, please let me know. Don't forget, you can also contact me via [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/angelamsimsauthor) or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/angelamsims1/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). In the meantime, I'd like to share with you something that I did earlier this summer. I was delighted to be hosted on a podcast with the lovely Fosca D'Acierno in her series "15 with Fosca". We talked about Florence, historical fiction (no surprise there), but also what it means to begin a new creative life later in our professional life, imposter syndrome, and the stories that keep calling us. I hope you enjoy our chat. You can listen to it [here](https://www.askfosca.com/podcast/second-acts-featuring-angela-m-sims/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). As for what's coming up, I'll be doing a giveaway in the next couple of weeks, so please keep an eye out for that. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/08/It---s-good-to-be-back....jpg) ### The Savonarola Stone URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/flash-fiction/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:32:27.000Z You might've met this guy before. If you've read [*Hiding the Flame*](https://amzn.eu/d/0g1soy91?ref=angelamsims.co.uk), then you will certainly have read about him. This is Girolamo Savonarola, the fiery Dominican friar, who tried to save the souls of Florentines in the late 15th Century. He called out corruption in the government and church of the time, as well as in the lives of ordinary citizens. You may have heard of the Bonfire of the Vanities, an enormous bonfire in the centre of the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, which destroyed countless works of art, as well as music, books, wigs, playing cards, make-up...anything that might make a person turn away from God. This was all due to Savonarola, whose preaching stirred up great fervour. However, his popularity didn't last. Eventually, the people, the church and the government had had enough of his promises and calls to repentence. He was arrested, held in the Arnolfo tower in Palazzo Vecchio, where he was tortured and sentenced to death. He was executed on the same spot as the Bonfire of the Vanities. This is Rosselli's famous painting of Savonarola's execution. It's a photo I took in the museum at San Marco in Florence, where the friar lived. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/02/San-Marco.jpg) (San Marco, May 2023) Today, a small plaque marks this spot. Not many notice it. Many walk over it without giving it a second glance. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/02/Piazza-della-Signoria.jpg) Piazza della Signoria, AMS, Dec 2025 ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/02/Piazza-della-Signoria-1.jpg) Piazza della Signoria, AMS, Dec 2025 When I was in Florence recently, I wondered about the man and his legacy. In fact, while writing *Hiding the Flame*, I thought about him a lot. I wondered how many people know about him and what this stone commemorates. In January, the [Florence Literary Society](https://www.florenceliterarysociety.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) in conjunction with [The Florentine](https://www.theflorentine.net/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) (the English language magazine in Florence) held a Flash Fiction competition, asking competitors to write up to 150 words. So, I thought I'd give it a go. I didn't win, of course, but I thought I'd share it anyway. ***The Savonarola Stone*** *I’m still here. I still despair of your vanity. I still despair for your soul.* *I see you walking through the piazza, in hoards, not a thought for what has gone before. You take images, quickly, thoughtlessly, before moving onto the next source of gratification. Do you know what happened here? On this very spot? I tried to save your soul then. You gave up your books, your music, your cosmetics. We watched them succumb to the flames. Did it save your soul?* *You stand on my stone and gaze up at the tower that held me captive, that tried to silence me. But it took another bonfire to silence me, another bonfire on this very stone. Do you hear me now? Will you ever hear me? Or will you just move on?* ### Why Florence? URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/why-florence-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:32:35.000Z Last week, I had the great pleasure of launching my new book, [*Hiding the Flame*](https://amzn.eu/d/78loCJ8?ref=angelamsims.co.uk), here in Cardiff. It was an event that meant a great deal to me, as each new book means to every author. It was also a great opportunity for me to talk about my writing, and what author doesn't enjoy doing that?! The launch took the form of an interview, and I was asked some quite searching questions about the themes of the book: the role of Savonarola; what it meant to be a woman in Renaissance Florence; the journey of Francesca, the main character. But the question that intrigued me most (probably because I couldn't think of a suitably erudite answer!) was... Why Florence? What is it about Florence that sparks the inspiration? I've been thinking about that question ever since. I'm in the middle of research for Book 3\. It's no secret that this book will be set in 1966, the year of Florence's great flood. Part of my research is a book called *"Diary of Florence in Flood"* by Kathrine Kressman Taylor, an American journalist who was living in Florence at the time. This book, in part, encouraged me to consider the flood for my next project, so I thought I'd read it again, with different eyes. Today, I came across a passage which might actually be able to answer the question, "Why Florence?". I've reproduced it below, with full acknowledgement that this is Ms Kressman Taylor's work, not mine. *"This is the city of Giotto, Masaccio, the Gaddis, Donatello, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, Verrocchio, Verocchio, of Leonardo da Vinci, of Fra Angelico, of Fra Lippo Lippi and Filippino; and galleries, palaces, churches contain hundreds upon hundreds of their finest works. There are tombs, dwellings or workshops of such famous sons of Florence as Benvenuto Cellini, Andrea del Sarto, Sandro Botticelli, Niccolò Macchiavelli, Galileo Galilei. Michelangelo, another Florentine, worked as a boy in the Medici palace under the patronage of Lorenzo. Next to marble, Florence was Michelangelo's dearest love, and most of his finest statuary is here: the "Slaves" and the "David", the two great tomb groups in the Medici Chapel at San Lorenzo, the "Brutus" and the "Bacchus", several famous Madonnas, and two extraordinary late Pietà, to name only the most noted.* ![](blob:https://angelamsims.co.uk/79796704-162c-4b3b-8f0f-eefa880f0073) Michelangelo's "David", AMS (Oct 2021) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/01/Accademia_org.jpg) Galleria d'Accademia *"There is hardly a house, certainly not a church or palace in the ancient section that does not bear the memory or mark of one or more of these men. Brunelleschi's rosy dome crowns the skyline. Ghiberti's paradisiacal doors glow with gold under the morning sun. Orcagna's lacy tabernacle in marble mellowed to the tone of ivory is the chief beauty of Orsanmichele, perhaps the most delicate and Gothic of the churches. Santa Maria Novella with its cloisters, the monastery of San Marco, Santissima Annunziata, Santa Trinita, Santo Spirito, the Carmine, and Santa Croce are treasure houses of art.* *"An enduring virtue of Florence is that her people display a dignity of bearing, a grace of manners, and an interest in scholarship in keeping with the omnipresent reminders of antiquity and fame of their city, while in a mechanized century they keep alive the practice of craftsmanship, of the finest handwork in gold and silver, in leather, copper, onyx and marble, enameled wood, copies of antique furniture, embroideries, fabrics, and high fashion...* *"Once her charm takes hold of a visitor, no other city will again completely satisfy him."* I couldn't have put it better myself, but it certainly answers the question. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2026/01/71dd6d64-7e4a-43eb-bb90-73270e72ac38.jpg) Brunelleschi's Dome, AMS (Dec 2019) ### Christmas Cheer URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/christmas-cheer-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:32:44.000Z It's nearly upon us again. How does that happen? We know Christmas always lands on December 25th, and yet still it manages to take us by surprise. Have you finished shopping? Have you sent Christmas cards? (Do you send Christmas cards?) Have you ordered your turkey? Have you put the sprouts on to boil? I can honestly answer "No" to all of these, but there's no need to worry. Our Christmas will happen whether we have mushy sprouts or not. It's been an eventful year for me, with both HisNibs and I having some health issues - him more than me. (All good now!) In November, I finally retired from the "day job". I can no longer call myself a Cardiac Physiologist (that went a long time ago) or a University lecturer, but I now call myself An Author. How exciting is that? But it also adds a bit of pressure in that I ought to be spending more time writing than I actually am. When retired people have said to me "I don't know how I found the time to work", I didn't believe them. I do now! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/12/Hiding-the-Flame-Bookmark.jpg) My bookmark At the beginning of December, my second book, [*Hiding the Flame*](https://amzn.eu/d/3tNyezG?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) was published, which was very exciting. (Perhaps [*The Rose of Florence*](https://amzn.eu/d/gu8yb2i?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) wasn't a fluke, after all!) I've spent a lot of time sharing posts, learning how to use Canva to create those posts, and trying not to get pulled down social media rabbit holes. (Don't ask how long I've spent watching someone cleaning dirty road signs!) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/12/Rose-of-Florence-Bookmark--002----resized-small.jpg) My bookmark I have made some progress on Book 3, but I'm at the stage where the story could go in any direction (even though I do have a plan for it). I just have to take a deep breath and let it evolve. I've already had a couple of characters introduce themselves to me. I can't wait to see what they get up to. Of course, I have my historical framework, which I have to follow. In my books, I will sometimes play with historical characters but always trying to make them believable, using my research of what we know of them. For example, Botticelli features heavily in *Hiding the Flame*, but he didn't say any of the words I put in his mouth. If there are historical events or settings, though, they have to be right. Taking your reader to a different time and place is a responsibility. I can't think of anything worse than a reader going to Florence and not finding the places I took them to in my books. It's a matter of trust. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/12/Duomo-roof-2.jpg) The Duomo (AMS, Mar 2023) And so, purely in the interests of research and accuracy of course, I will soon be off to Florence again. HisNibs and I will be spending New Year (*Capodanno*) and the Epiphany (*La Befana*) there, while the family looks after our ravenous cats. We will do our best to sample traditional Tuscan fare, and as we will be staying in an apartment, I'll be able to go shopping in the market and try out recipes for the next book. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/12/Shopping.jpg) A typical shopping spree in Florence (AMS, Dec 2023) While I'm there, I'm very fortunate to be able to officially launch *Hiding the Flame*, in the city in which it (& *The Rose*) was born, hosted by my good friend and amazing author, [Katherine Mezzacappa](https://katherinemezzacappa.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). (Check out her books!) This is very much a "pinch me" moment, an event I would never have even dreamed of. Who would have thought that young girl, studying anatomy and physiology, would eventually go on to publish historical fiction and launch it in one of the most beautiful cities in the world? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/12/9771bd39-3d7c-4370-a112-daedd820943e.jpg) Which brings me back to where I started. Christmas. This time of year, many of us look back to see what we've achieved in the past twelve months. Many look forward to the New Year, with diets and gym memberships that will crash and burn before Valentine's Day (speaking from experience!). But my Christmas wish for you is that you find time and space to discover your heart's desire and to go for it. Yes, I've worked hard, and yes, I've had some luck, but if I can do it, then so can you. You'll never know what you can achieve until you try. *Nadolig Llawen a Blwydden Newydd Dda!* *Buon Natale e Buon Anno!* ### Hiding the Flame URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/hiding-the-flame-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:32:52.000Z Cover image © Ray Lipscombe Oh, I enjoyed writing this one! After *The Rose of Florence*, I did wonder if that was my lot, the "one book" that everyone supposedly has in them, but there was more to say, more to explore and more to share. Some of the characters wanted more time in the limelight, and who am I to deny them that? Eighteen years after the end of The Rose, we are back in Florence, which is in turmoil once more, this time due to the influence of Girolamo Savonarola, a fiery Dominican preacher, whose "Bonfire of Vanities" consumes many beautiful things, including works of art. Some say that Botticelli, who was known to have been influenced by the preacher, also threw some of his work on the fire, but there's no definitive proof of that, and therein lies the joy of writing fiction. This is the historical backdrop to *Hiding the Flame.* Some of my fictional characters are still around, such as Eleonora and Volpe, and we spend more time with Sandro Botticelli. But the story follows Gianetta and Matteo's daughter, Francesca, a woman trying to find her place in a man's world, a woman who yearns to paint, a woman who finds that some love is forbidden. Love and loyalty pull in different directions, but will she ever find happiness? Well, I'll leave that to you to find out. One of the surprising elements of *The Rose of Florence* was the popularity of the recipes that I included, so you'll be pleased to know that there are more in *Hiding the Flame*. I had great fun testing them out, and I hope you'll try them. You'll be able to get your copy soon. It is due to be published on 1st December, but keep an eye on my website and Facebook page, where I'll share the details as soon as I have them. Thank you for coming with me on my journey through Renaissance Florence. *Buon viaggio!* ### A Matter of Taste URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-matter-of-taste/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:01.000Z *My love for Florence is no secret, and whenever anyone asks me what I recommend to see or do, I'm never short of a suggestion or two. Several years ago, I put together my own short guide to Florence, which I've shared with friends. Today, I thought I'd share a section with you. This is the section that everyone enjoys...the food and drink! I hope you enjoy it.* Where to start with Florence and Tuscany’s food and drink! The most important factor here is the ingredients. Yes, it’s a very obvious statement, but wait until you see what is on offer in the markets. Even the local supermarkets have good quality food and drink to buy. Tuscan cooking is essentially “*cucina povera*”, which means “poor” cooking; good ingredients, cooked simply and with love. Some of the best meals I have ever eaten have been in Florence, and they have all followed this same pattern. Meat is an important part of the Tuscan diet, but so is a variety of vegetables, beans and pulses. Vegetarians have no problem eating well in Florence. Those needing a gluten-free diet are also well-catered for, as Italy is very pro-active in identifying coeliac disease in their population, testing children at an early age. For a country known for pizza and pasta, this is a big consideration. Ask for "*senza glutine*". While you will find fish sold in Florence, it is not known for its fish or seafood, as the city is quite a way from the coast. (For fresh, local fish, I’d recommend a trip to Livorno on the coast.) When you research the subject, you'll find that there are hundreds of thousands of pages in print covering Tuscan and Florentine cooking, so I am just going to mention a few of my favourites, in the hope that they will soon become yours. **Antipasti/Sharing Platters** ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/Antipasti-2.jpg) AMS 2018 This type of sharing platter includes a selection of cured meats and salamis, local cheeses, olives, chutneys, olive oil and the most beautiful bread that you will ever taste. Obviously, contents will vary depending on where you go, but they will rarely disappoint. It’s perfect for a lazy afternoon, spent talking and drinking good wine (more of which, later!) **Bistecca Fiorentina (Florentine Steak)** There is a legend that the origin of this truly Florentine specialty is connected with the famous Medici family. The story goes that the family would celebrate San Lorenzo’s day (Aug 10th) by offering great chunks of meat to the population, which were to be roasted in the city’s piazzas. Sadly, there is no evidence to back up this tale, but I like the story. The Florentine steak is a porterhouse cut from the Chianina breeds of cattle – one of the oldest breeds, once used for heavy work by the Romans. Any self-respecting restaurant will show you your steak before it’s cooked and check your approval. Don’t be afraid to ask for larger or smaller. You will be shown a steak that has been aged for some days, with a T-bone through the centre, also containing a fillet on one side. It’s usually at least 1” thick and usually weighs around 1kg. (Perfect to share!) Florentine steaks are usually priced by the kilo, so bear this in mind too. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/Florentine-steak.jpg) AMS, 2018 At this point, please pay strict attention to my next piece of advice. Never, and I mean NEVER ask for a Florentine steak to be cooked medium or well-done! You may find a restaurant who will do it for you (others won’t!), but you will be regarded with Italian disdain. It is a matter of pride. Also, the rare (or *al sangue*) steak is just beautiful as it is. There is no more to say! **Ribollita (Tuscan Bean Soup)** There is no standard way of cooking this delicious and nourishing soup. It is said to date back centuries, when servants would gather leftovers from banquets and cook them up for their own dinners. Nowadays, every cook has their own recipe, and many will guard that recipe with their life. This is the epitome of *cucina povera*, as it uses whatever may be available, but usually includes vegetables such as onion, carrot, celery (the Holy Trinity of Italian cooking), cannellini beans, cabbage, vegetable stock and sometimes tomatoes or leftover bread. It is cooked for hours until the stew becomes thick and unctuous. Here's one that I made on one of our trips. It really hit the spot. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/Ribollita.jpg) AMS, 2018 **Cinghiale (Wild Boar)** An ingredient that you won’t find very often in the UK, it’s on almost every menu in Florence. It has been a staple food for farmers in Tuscany for centuries and is still as popular today. It usually served as a delicious stew, or more commonly in restaurants, as a ragu (sauce) to go with pasta. The most common method of serving *cinghiale* is in a red wine and tomato ragu with pappardelle pasta, a thick ribbon pasta which holds the thick sauce. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/Cinghiale.jpg) AMS, 2022 **Sweet Treats** The *pasticceria* is a dangerous place to visit. Your eye will be drawn to all manner of sugary naughtiness, but of course, you're on holiday. Those calories don't count! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/Sweet-treats.jpg) AMS, 2018 **Coffee** What is your preference? Americano, cappuccino, espresso (please, not eXpresso!)? You will find many “rules” associated with coffee. For example, "nobody drinks cappuccino after 11:00am". While many Italians tend to abide by these habits, in reality, whatever you ask for, and whenever you ask for it, you’ll be happily served. One point to note, however, if you choose to take a seat while you are drinking your coffee, you will be charged more than if you drink at the bar. Sometimes, though, when your feet are crying in pain after pounding the streets of Florence, those extra few cents are worth it. In many coffee shops, you have to order and pay for your drink first, then take the receipt to the barrista who will prepare your coffee. Sounds a bit of a faff, but the coffee is so good. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/coffee.jpg) AMS, 2018 **Wine** Of course, I’ve left the best until last! Wherever you go in Italy, you will have a fantastic choice of good wine at a reasonable cost. As a general rule, just order a litre of the house wine, and you will be very pleasantly surprised. Whether you order white or red depends on your own taste, but also where you are. For example, in Rome, I always order white, because their regional specialty is Frascati. In Florence, however, it’s red…deep, fragrant, smooth red. Chianti is the wine most famous in this region, and it is available everywhere. You can pay any price for it, if you want to move up the ladder, but a jug of house red (*Vino Rosso della casa – un litro or un mezzo-litro*) is almost invariably a good quality, local Chianti at a fraction of the price. I’d suggest that you need look no further. However, there are a number of other wines to look out for: the locals love a good Brunello di Montalcino; there’s also Vernaccia di San Gimignano and many others to tempt you. *Saluté!* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2025/01/vino.jpg) AMS, 2016 *So, I hope I've tickled your tastebuds! Of course, this isn't even the tip of the tip of the iceberg.* *What would you recommend?* ### An Author's Special Day URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/an-authors-special-day-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:10.000Z I don't know who said "Never judge a book by its cover", but I, for one, love a good book cover. It gives us a first glimpse of the world we're about to step into. Those wonderful designers who create our covers are very underestimated, as far as I'm concerned! How do you sum up a whole story in one image? It takes great skill and insight. One of the most special moments for an author in the life of their book is the day that the cover is revealed. For The Rose of Florence, I remember it being such a milestone, the day that it actually became a real book, and yes, it reduced me to tears. Today, I'm sharing with you a beautiful book cover on the day that it's shared with the world. You'll have to wait a little while to get your hands on the book itself, but this should whet your appetite. The book is The Santorini Writing Retreat by fellow Cariad author, Eva Glyn. While the title and the cover is probably enough to make you want to dive in, you'll also want to know what it's all about. So, here's the blurb that you would find on the back cover - equally important! ***A secret, a sacrifice, and stories to share. A life-changing month in the sun.*** *Best-selling author Jessica Rose needs to escape. From her controlling husband, from her increasingly impatient publisher, but most of all from the terrible secret that’s robbed her of her creativity. Could leading a retreat on a gorgeous Greek island be just what she needs?* *Coming home to Santorini was never in Zina’s plans, but now she’s here she’s determined to make The Retreat House successful at all costs. So determined, she’s in danger of forgetting the reason she had to return – to protect the man she loves.* *And then there’s Karmela, who just wants to write her book and make her mother proud. She can’t let the others’ problems distract her; but how can she ignore them when she knows she can help?* *Ebook publication 31st March 2025* *Paperback publication 10th April 2025* *Publisher: One More Chapter* You know how I love a good recipe. So much so, that I included a few in The Rose of Florence. As an extra treat, Eva Glyn tells us a bit about the flavour of Santorini and some of the research that she did preparing the book. Oh, I love a good bit of research! *I wanted to bring a flavour of the real Santorini to readers of The Santorini Writing Retreat, so I decided to set the retreat house on a farm rather than in one of the island’s more touristy areas, and when I was researching it, one farm in particular inspired me.* *I read an online interview with a man called Yiannis Nomikos who has a real passion for Santorini’s traditional products and farming methods. He comes from an agricultural family, and one of his earliest memories is helping with the fava bean threshing on the traditional circular winnowing floor, with the help of borrowed donkeys and sea breezes.* *Although he also grows pistachios, tomatoes and capers – to name but a few – it was clear when I met him that the fava bean remains Yiannis’ passion. Planted in December, it is harvested in April before the weather becomes too hot. The beans grow in pods and these days the processing is done by machine, not beast, and the result is an exceptionally high quality product which Nomikos Estate sells in its shop in Oia, and from the farm in the village of Vothonas, which is open to visitors for tours and tastings during the tourist season.* *The Santorini fava is more akin to a yellow split pea and is most often made into a delicious puree. For readers wishing to indulge in a little Santorini food fantasy, here is a recipe from Nomikos’ website:* [Fava Beans with Seared Octopus - Nomikos Estate SantoriniFava Beans with Seared Octopus Santorini’s Fava makes an amazing pairing with all sea foods! Chef Spyros Agious Ingredients for 4 portions For the Fava purée: ½ Medium onion roughly chopped, 200gr. Fava Nomikos Estate 1 Bay leaf, Olive oil, 800ml. Water, Sea salt and black pepperFor the Octapus: 1ki…![](https://nomikosestate.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/favicon.png)Nomikos Estate Santorini - Santorini Earth Goodsnomikosestate-admin![](https://nomikosestate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/NomikosEstate_2024_SS-2-71.jpg)](https://nomikosestate.com/fava-beans-with-seared-octopus/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/10/eva-glyn-jane-cable-2021--002-.jpg) Eva Glyn ### The Sicilian Secret URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/the-sicilian-secret-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:19.000Z Why has Angela written a blog about Sicily? She hasn't even been there! Well, this Angela hasn't, but my fellow Cariad author, **Angela Petch** has. As you know, I occasionally share a blog with fellow authors, featuring books that I believe my readers would also enjoy, and today we have one of those blogs. I have read a few of Angela's books, and have loved them, mainly because you can feel the love of the place and characters in her writing. For example, The Girl Who Escaped was based on the life of her Italian husband's grandfather during the years of WW2 and was truly fascinating. On April 23rd 2024, her new book, The Sicilian Secret, was published. Again, the location is so important to Angela, and here she shares a little of it with us in an excerpt from The Sicilian Secret. *Savio stopped, placing his burden down on the path, shielding his eyes with both hands. The sight was like nothing he’d ever seen. Colourful succulents clung to the side of tufa rocks; butterflies danced their way from plant to plant. The openings invited exploration. The place was primeval, menacing and alluring at the same time. He itched to draw the sights on which his eyes were feasting but he was sure he could never do it justice.* *‘Where are we?’ he asked.* *‘They call it Pantalica.’ She shrugged. ‘There’s nothing here save wild animals and one or two abandoned huts. You might see an occasional shepherd, but you’ll be safe here.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/04/the-caves--002-.jpg) Acropolis/Necropolis, Pantalica Gorge 1975 Angela, how did you come to include this in your new book? *This Sicilian location appears towards the end of my new book but the place has been etched in my memory for over fifty years when I worked on the island. So, when I returned to Pantalica with my husband last spring on a research trip, it was inevitable that this desolate spot (now a UNESCO SITE) should creep into the story as the solution to a missing link.* Well, it sounds like a fascinating place, and although Sicily has always been on my list of places to visit, it's certainly moved up a few notches! Thank you Angela. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/04/me-writing-in-Pantalica--002-.jpg) Research Trip to Pantalica, 2023 You can get your copy of The Sicilian Secret [here](https://geni.us/B0CYQTW8KKauthor?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). Or you can get the audio version on the following links: [UK](https://ow.ly/8BP850RkY2U?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) and [US](https://ow.ly/xrJn50RkY2T?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). A bit about Angela Petch: Published by Bookouture, **Angela Petch** is an award-winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem. Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they sometimes let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas. The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela’s not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends. Angela’s gripping WWII novels set in Italy are published by Bookouture, while her novel, Mavis and Dot, was self-published and tells of the frolics and foibles of two best-friends who live by the seaside. Angela also writes short stories published in Prima and People’s Friend. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/04/AP-33e--002-.jpg) You can also find and follow her here: Blog: [https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com](https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Facebook: Twitter: [https://twitter.com/Angela\_Petch](https://twitter.com/Angela%5FPetch?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Instagram: @angela\_maurice ### A Little Spark URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-little-spark/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:26.000Z It's been just over a year since the publication of *The Rose of Florence*, and it's taken some time to organise my thoughts for Book #2\. Should I do something completely different? I considered it (briefly), but unsurprisingly, I kept coming back to Renaissance Florence. It's where my heart is, and it has such a rich source of history, art, people...and stories. *The Rose* was set in 1478, when Florence was under the influence of the powerful Medici family. Much of the wonderful art and architecture that we see today was created during that time, thanks to the patronage of wealthy men, such as Lorenzo The Magnificent, *Il Magnifico*. There was feasting and fornicating aplenty! Of course, not everyone approved of such a society, and it didn't take long before Florence came under the influence of the Dominican friar from Ferrara, Girolamo Savonarola. This powerful preacher condemned the corruption that was rife in government and the Catholic Church. Indeed, the Pope at the time was Alexander VI, the Borgia Pope, but that's a whole other story! With the Medici family now banished, Savonarola had managed to successfully negotiate peace with invading French forces and also create a more democratic government. Florence was now a republic, but a republic with Savonarola behind it. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/03/Savonarola---March-18.jpg) Statue of Savonarola (Ferrara) - AMS, March 2018 He preached that Florence was to be the New Jerusalem, a City of God, if the people of Florence followed his words. After generations of plague and poverty, crime and corruption, the appetite for God's promises was ravenous, and the people were fanatical in their support of the Dominican friar. Groups of boys and men, known as the *Piagnoni* (or weepers/wailers), would move from house to house, collecting items of vanity, anything that would turn thoughts away from God. Items such as cosmetics, mirrors, playing cards and non-religious artworks were all condemned to a [Bonfire of the Vanities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonfire%5Fof%5Fthe%5Fvanities?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). So, dear reader, this is the background I chose for Book #2\. Its current working title is *Hiding the Flame*, and not just because of the link with the Bonfire of the Vanities. You'd be disappointed if that's all it was! The story starts in 1496, eighteen years after *The Rose* ended. It's not all fire and brimstone. Botticelli is still prolific in his work and makes a number of appearances in my story, although it is believed that he also was heavily influenced by Savonarola's preaching. In what is strictly a man's world, strong female characters try to make their own way in life with whatever skills and tools they have. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/03/primaveragracesbot.webp) Detail of the 3 Graces from Primavera - Sandro Botticelli Is it a sequel to *The Rose of Florence*? In a way, I suppose it is, but it will be a story that will stand alone. If you have read *The Rose*, though, you will recognise some of the same characters. Which characters are you hoping will return? *PS: I would like to think that Hiding the Flame will be published sometime in 2025\. Let's hope my publisher,* [*Romaunce Books*](https://www.romaunce.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk)*, likes it!* *PPS: I'm afraid you currently can't reply directly to this email, but please let me know your thoughts on Facebook, X or Insta :)* ### Guest Post - Luisa A Jones URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/guest-post-luisa-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:34.000Z *As most of you will know, Florence was the biggest inspiration behind The Rose of Florence, and I'm always fascinated by the settings and history behind other authors' books. Today, I'm delighted to welcome* [*Luisa A Jones*](www.luisaajones.com) *to my blog, where she shares the inspiration behind her books,* The Gilded Cage, *and the recently published* The Broken Vow*. Luisa is a fellow Welsh author and member of the Cariad chapter of the RNA. Croeso, Luisa!* Hi Angela, and thank you for inviting me to contribute to your blog. Knowing how your trips to Florence inspire your own writing, I thought I’d tell your readers a little about Plas Norton, the main setting for my latest novel *The Broken Vow.* My fictional Welsh mansion was inspired by Newton House near Llandeilo, which has been owned by the National Trust since the 1990s. I’ve been there several times, and its gothic towers and crenellations came to mind when I first imagined the gloomy home of Lady Rosamund Fitznorton for my previous novel, *The Gilded Cage*. Although it was originally built in around 1660, the façade we see today at the real-life Newton House was remodelled in the 1850s. Built in the grounds of the ruined Dinefwr Castle, the house was the ancestral home of the Rice family, descendants of The Lord Rhys, Prince of the medieval Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth. Deer and distinctive white cattle graze the parkland surrounding it. I can recommend it as an interesting day out if you’re ever in the area - make sure you indulge in a cream tea in the café while you’re there, to give you energy for climbing up to enjoy the far-reaching views from the towers of Dinefwr Castle! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Newton-House.jpg) Newton House, nr Llandeilo In *The Gilded Cage,* Rosamund finds Plas Norton’s appearance and atmosphere oppressive, as her life there is terribly unhappy. However, *The Broken Vow* focuses on Rosamund’s nineteen year-old stepdaughter Charlotte. Having achieved her father’s dream of securing an aristocratic fiancé, Charlotte has no further ambitions beyond being a Society wife and hostess until war threatens her plans. When the story begins, Charlotte has been living with her wealthy aunt in London. Only when she learns that her fiancé Eustace has the mysterious new condition of “shell-shock” does she decide to return to her childhood home of Plas Norton, to create a sanctuary in which he can recover. Unlike her stepmother, Charlotte has happy memories of the house. Having always had a band of servants catering to her every whim, she now arrives home with only one maid, Miss Sharp, and the chauffeur Joseph Cadwalader, to help her convert the house into a convalescent home. She will have to grow up quickly! Here's an exclusive extract from Charlotte’s homecoming: *“I’m back,” she breathed, greeting the house which had been awaiting her return. Although it was hidden at intervals by clumps of oak and wych elm, she took in its details: the triple gothic arches of the front porch, the pointed windows and the crenellations along the roof line. Cadwalader drew the car up just outside the ha-ha and slid across the front seat, leaving the engine running while he climbed out and opened the front gates wide. The metal hinges screeched like an eagle’s cry, welcoming Charlotte home.* *She half expected to see Phelps, the family’s portly butler, waiting inside the porch, but of course there was no one waiting to greet them. It was the first time she had ever seen the house entirely empty. Without any signs of human activity, the grey stone seemed cold and bleak, the windows blank and dark. Weeds had sprung up in the gravel with no gardeners to remove them, and when Charlotte descended from the car she stepped carefully to avoid the rabbit droppings scattered everywhere. She approached the porch, hunching her shoulders against the wind, which whipped through it with seemingly renewed vigour. The largest and heaviest key fitted the lock in the oak front door, and she crossed the threshold into the darkness of the hallway...* *Its emptiness made the hall feel unfamiliar. There were no flowers on the table, only a heavy white sheet to protect it. The chairs serried against the panelled walls were covered in a film of dust, and the air smelled stale and musty. It was so quiet, Charlotte could hear herself breathing: the clocks had stopped ticking without Phelps or the footmen to wind them. She spun on her heel. Had she imagined the sound of tiny, scurrying feet along the corridor? Probably not, to judge by the way Sharp had turned pale…* I hope this has whetted your appetite for finding out how drastically Charlotte’s life is about to change! Thanks again for allowing me to share this snippet from the book. *Thanks Luisa. I can't wait to find out how Charlotte manages! It's been lovely to find out more about your inspiration for your stories. I'll definitely have to visit one day.* *If you're keen to find out more about* The Broken Vow*, you can get your copy* [*here*](https://geni.us/332-al-aut-am?ref=angelamsims.co.uk)*.* *You can also follow Luisa on Twitter (I mean X!)* [*here*](https://twitter.com/Taffy%5Flulu?ref=angelamsims.co.uk)*, Facebook* [*here*](https://www.facebook.com/LuisaAJonesauthor/) *and Instagram* [*here*](https://www.instagram.com/luisa%5Fa%5Fjones%5Fauthor/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk)*!* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Luisa.jpg) Luisa A Jones ### Happy Book Birthday to The Rose of Florence URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/happy-birthday-to-the-rose-of-florence-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:42.000Z We all have at least one book within us. Isn't that what they say? How many of us believe that to be true? I, for one, was extremely dubious. It seemed like an achievement only possible for "real authors", not normal human beings like you and me. Never one to be put off, I plodded along, focussing on enjoying the process, rather than worrying about the outcome. But, thanks to publishers, [Romaunce Books Ltd](https://www.romaunce.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk), The Rose of Florence was published on 16th January, 2023\. So this week, The Rose celebrates her 1st birthday. A year already! It's been a great year, too. Nobody prepared me for what publishing a book entails, but I've had some great experiences, so please indulge me while I briefly revisit some of them. Publication Day sadly came and went in a bit of a Covid blur, but I soon bounced back in time to enjoy the launch event. This was held in the beautiful Drawing Room of [Insole Court](https://www.insolecourt.org/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) and was attended by many family and friends. It was such a special occasion, and one that I will remember forever. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/3-launch.JPG) Insole Court, Cardiff The very talented and award-winning jewellery designer, [Suzie Horan](https://www.suziehoran.co.uk/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) created and produced a limited edition set of necklaces and earrings for the occasion, and I still wear mine with pride. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Jewellery.jpg) Jewellery designed by Suzie Horan In May, I travelled back to Florence, primarily to attend a course on Renaissance Art at the [British Institute in Florence](https://www.britishinstitute.it/en?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). (If ever you get chance to do this, take it. You won't regret it!) While I was there, I was able to see a copy of my book on the shelves of Florence's independent book shop, the [Paperback Exchange](https://www.instagram.com/papexbookshop/?hl=en&ref=angelamsims.co.uk). That was such a proud moment, seeing The Rose at home in her birthplace. She was in excellent company too! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Paperback-Exchange.jpg) The Rose of Florence on the shelves of the Paperback Exchange In June, I was lucky enough to be asked to speak to a book club at the local library, [Fairwater Hyb](https://cardiffhubs.co.uk/hub/fairwater-hub/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) about my writing journey, about The Rose and about Florence itself, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It doesn't take much for me to start rabbiting, and they were all very interested, asking lots of questions. I hope some of them have made it to Florence. (Perhaps I should be working for the Florentine tourist board!) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Fairwater-Hyb.jpg) Fairwater Hyb Then came the event that made me realise that yes, I am an author! The [Romantic Novelists' Association](https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Awards Ceremony is an annual event, held in August at the end of their conference, and I was a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award for debut authors. It was held in Imperial College London, and what an honour it was to be there. I didn't win the trophy, but I did win a bit of self-confidence. Perhaps I can do this writing lark after all? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Joan-Hessayon.jpg) While it was still hot and sunny, on a beautiful evening in September, I did another author event, this time in [Radyr Hyb](https://cardiffhubs.co.uk/hub/radyr-hub/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk). Will I ever get bored talking about my book, my characters, the time period, the setting, the beautiful city of Florence? I think it unlikely! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Radyr-Hyb.jpg) Radyr Hyb At the end of 2023, I came full circle and returned to Florence, where I collected my first Florentine earnings. I don't think I'm likely to retire to the Bahamas just yet, but it was still a very special moment for me. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/Earnings.jpg) Delighted with a few Euros! A year on, and I'm still very proud of The Rose of Florence. I think I'm also realistic in that I don't expect Netflix to be banging on my door with offers of a mini-series, although I have, of course, created a full cast in my mind! Writing will still play an important part of my life, and I will continue to work on Book 2, in the hope that I can do it all again. Thank you for allowing me to share The Rose's first year with you. If you'd like to give her a birthday present, the best thing you could do is leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads (or both). We'd be very grateful :) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2024/01/book-reviews.jpg) Book reviews are so important for authors Of course, if you haven't yet read The Rose of Florence, that would make a great birthday present too! You can get yours [here](https://angelamsims.co.uk/order-here/). ### Food for Thought URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/food-for-thought/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:51.000Z It’s a great privilege to share my musings with you, and today I offer some culinary contemplations for your delectation! My debut novel, The Rose of Florence, is an historical fiction, based in Renaissance Florence and includes a mixture of romance, murder and intrigue. These may be the perfect ingredients for a good story, but that’s not the only recipe you’ll find there. As my story developed, my thoughts began to turn to food (as they often do!) and how food can help create the right atmosphere for time and place. This thought kept coming back to me, and I realised that I wanted to include more of the food I'd researched. At the start of Chapter 16, Eleonora, the cook, creates her signature dessert, the [zuccotto](https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-welsh-zuccotto/). While I loved writing about it, there was a danger that food would take over the story, and not everyone would be as excited by Renaissance recipes as me! So, I reined in my enthusiasm (slightly!)...but something was still niggling me. I wanted to share with my readers some of the wonderful Tuscan food I’d sampled over the years (all in the name of research, of course). Florentines are very proud of their cuisine, and the restaurant and hotel owners we've come to know were very generous with their time and advice. Eventually, the plan for presenting a meal to you came together, and this is how I start The Rose of Florence... ***“L’appetito vien mangiando”*** ***“The appetite comes while you are eating”*** ***Italian proverb*** **A good story should be very like a good meal and should be just as satisfying. Each will have its own stages or courses, and each course should make you look forward to the next. Like guests at my dining table, I offer my story to you for your entertainment and enjoyment.** **We start with the traditional Italian *aperitivo*, designed to whet the appetite, encouraging you on to the next course and the course after that. At each course, I offer a simple Tuscan recipe to represent each stage of the story. We finish the story with a *dolce* or dessert and a simple *digestivo*, which I hope will leave you figuratively patting your stomach in satisfaction.** ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/11/ang1.png) Starting a good story with an aperitivo - an Aperol spritz (AMS, 2020) It was quite a risk, to structure a book in this way. Might it interrupt the flow of the story? Or would it actually add another layer of interest? Eventually, I decided to keep the idea, and I'm so glad I did. Reviews are beginning to come in, and it seems that the recipes are a big hit with readers. *"I really enjoyed the descriptions of the feast courses that were sprinkled in the book, the recipes look amazing. I’ve not seen this in a book before and found it refreshing and a great interlude between all the horrors going on." Georgina C, Amazon review.* *"One of my favourite parts of the book is the recipes for a good meal that sit between each section, they make a nice marker and they do sound so lovely. I've added a few of the recipes to my to-try list, Italian food always sounds so indulgent!" K. Miles, Amazon review.* I'd love to know what you think. Have you made any of the recipes? What would you like to see next? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/11/Florentine-steak.jpg) Want to know how to cook the perfect Florentine steak? Find it just before Chapter 11.(AMS, 2019) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/11/Torta-della-Nonna.jpg) Torta della Nonna...per due! (AMS, 2019) ### Award-Winning, Katy Turner! URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/award-winning-katy-turner-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:33:59.000Z In August, you may remember I mentioned travelling to Imperial College, London as a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award for debut novelists. It was a wonderful experience, and I met some lovely people there, not least of whom was Katy Turner, who went on to win the award. Today, I'm delighted to host this award-winning author on my blog. I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about Katy and her book, "Let's Just Be Friends". (Make sure you get your copy here: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/LETS-FRIENDS-perfect-feel-good-romance-ebook/dp/B0C2J66Q66](https://www.amazon.co.uk/LETS-FRIENDS-perfect-feel-good-romance-ebook/dp/B0C2J66Q66?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/09/Katy-Turner---RNA-Joan-Hessayon-Award-2023---Let-s-Just-Be-Friends-BOOK-COVER.jpeg) Welcome, Katy! Thanks for joining me. Can I start by asking what is your background? What did you do before you started writing? *My first job proper job was at a literary agency. I started, in time-honoured fashion, in the post room (I am very handy with a franking machine) and then became an assistant to an agent. I worked there for most of my twenties, before retraining as a history teacher. That didn’t last long, as I had my first child in the summer holidays after completing my training, and then I became a stay-at-home mum. And wrote a lot during nap times.* As you know, I also love a bit of history! What period of history is your favourite? *Probably medieval. It’s far enough back to have more than a hint of magic, and there’s something fascinating about topics like the birth of towns, the nitty-gritty of the wool-trade, castle building and royal manoeuvrings. I also really loved architectural history, which I studied for a couple of terms at uni, and am very happy spending time looking at floorplans of Palladian villas.* What inspired you to write a novel, and how did you come up with your story? *I had always secretly wanted to be a writer, and I’d written a couple of books (which are sat in a drawer), before Let’s Just Be Friends. It took me a little while to gather the confidence to do it, and to get it right.* *Let’s Just Be Friends was borne out of wanting a main character who yearned more than anything to be independent, and not to have to rely on anyone – especially a man – to get through life. Also, when I was younger, I would have loved to have been a vet, my aunt being one up in the Highlands, so I was living vicariously a little. Perhaps too, as the book was started under lockdown, I chose a location in the British Isles almost as far from Hampshire as one can get.* We all know authors have some crazy research trails. What's yours? *Possibly talking to my aunt (a vet) my uncle (a former cattle farmer) and mother in law (a pig farmer) about various animal illnesses. I’ve also found myself reading up on cruck-framed buildings recently. It began as a tangent and I ran with it.* Most writers are avid readers too, so what is your favourite genre of books to read? Do you have an all-time favourite book? *I love romance (of course), and also tend to go for women’s literary fiction of the early to mid-twentieth century variety. It’s impossible to pick an all-time favourite, but my top three are probably Cold Comfort Farm, Rebecca and Coming Home by Rosamund Pilcher. Oh, and Jilly Cooper’s Rivals. Sorry. That’s now four.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/09/RNA-Joan-Hessayon-Award-2023-Winner---Katy-Turner---L-to-R-Melissa-Oliver--Katy-Turner--Jean-Fullerton---Photo-Credit-Katie-Hipkiss-Visuals---12-August-2023.jpg) ***Photo credit: Katie Hipkiss Visuals*** Now you’ve had time to absorb the fantastic news of winning the prestigious Joan Hessayon Award, how do you feel? *It’s had time to sink in, but when I think about it, it still takes me by surprise. That said, it’s given me confidence (which I sorely lack a lot of the time) to get me through the next few thousand words, and not dismiss every other paragraph I write as garbage.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/09/RNA-Joan-Hessayon-Award-2023-Winner---Katy-Turner---12-August-2023---Photo-2---Photo-Credit-Katie-Hipkiss-Visuals-1.jpg) ***Photo credit: Katie Hipkiss Visuals*** What’s next for Katy Turner, Award-Winning Author? *Ha! Now school has started again, I’m typing away, trying to order my thoughts coherently, and attempting not forget to develop my secondary plot threads.* Many thanks, Katy. It's been so good to chat to you, and I wish you every success. I hope we can keep in touch. If you'd like to keep in touch with Katy, you can find her here: Twitter - Katy Turner: @katherinecjones https://twitter.com/katherinecjones Instagram - KatyTurnerWrites: https://www.instagram.com/katyturnerwrites/ Facebook - Katy Turner Writes: https://www.facebook.com/katy.turner.writes ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/09/8.-RNA-SOCIALISING-37.jpg) Katy and I getting to know each other before the ceremony! ***Photo credit: Katie Hipkiss Visuals*** ### A Cariad Collection URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-cariad-collection/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:06.000Z ***Finding your tribe is important in any part of life, and I have frequently mentioned that my "writing tribe" is the Cariad Chapter of the RNA. Inspiration by the bucketload, and more supportive than an underwired bra! What this tribe does particularly well is celebrate success. I couldn't have asked for more encouragement on my road to publication, and their joy for me was genuine and heartfelt.*** ***Today, I am celebrating the success of a selection of our Cariads. There are a few books just published or just about to be published, and I'd like to share them with you. I have read books by some (but not all) of these authors. (They're on my list!) I'm sure you'll find new favourites among them. So, sit back, and let's browse this virtual bookshop.*** ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/lost-heir-cover-v2.jpg) The Lost Heir, Jane Cable The first is a new Cornish Echoes romantic mystery from Jane Cable, called **The Lost Heir**, a beautiful time-shift romance set in Cornwall between the Regency era and the modern day. *1810: Smuggler William meets his childhood friend Franny on the cliffs, but something about her has changed...* *2020: On just the same spot, Carla meets a man with the darkest of auras...* You can get your copy here: [https://getbook.at/LostHeir](https://getbook.at/LostHeir?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Learn more about Jane on her website: [https://janecable.com/](https://janecable.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/sea-sisters.jpg) The Sea Sisters Swimming Club, Sue McDonagh Next, we have **The Sea Sisters Swimming Club** by Sue McDonagh, who also paints her own book covers. Talented lady! She says that it was inspired by the group that she sea swims with regularly. She says "No matter how long it is between your swims, you're always assured of a warm welcome." This is a romance about sisterhood and second chances. ***Fifty-year-old police officer Fran Doherty thought she had a good few years left in her. But if a heart attack while dancing the night away at a disco in a sequin dress isn't a sign to slow down, then she doesn't know what is . . .*** *Fran's waved goodbye to the force and hello to her pension. But who is she without her job? She decides to get away from it all in Llanbryn, an idyllic seaside village in Wales. It beats feeling sorry for herself and watching Homes Under the Hammer all day.* *Fran's soon taken under the wing of the Sea Sisters, a group of inspirational women of all ages and sizes who swim in the ocean. They challenge her to move on from the past and face her life-long fear of the sea. And the strapping Wyn catches her eye. He appears to be the local troublemaker, but perhaps Fran's got the wrong end of the stick . . .* *The closer she gets to Wyn, the more she's unable to deny the feelings he brings out in her. And Llanbryn feels more like home with every passing day. Fran feels more alive than she has in years, but Wyn has his own emotional scars. Maybe they can help each other?* You can dive in here: [The Sea Sisters Swimming Club: A brand new unputdownable romance about sisterhood and second chances: Amazon.co.uk: McDonagh, Sue: 9781781895870: Books](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1781895872?ref%5F=cm%5Fsw%5Fr%5Fcp%5Fud%5Fdp%5FN06WQMPQZC12Z7TFGS2D&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/New-Dreams-Final.jpg) New Dreams at Polkerran Point, Cass Grafton Now, we say hello to Cass Grafton, who writes feel-good, contemporary romances set in Cornwall and, in doing so, manages to live there vicariously through her characters and settings. She is about to release the first of a new 5-book contemporary romance series. This is **New Dreams at Polkerran Point** and will be released on 21st September. *When Anna is drawn back to Cornwall after many years away, she’s soon swept off her feet by an old crush. Loving life, and her job with a reclusive and somewhat exasperating historian, it seems she has all she’s ever wished for—until a shock revelation brings everything under threat. Can Anna save her new life and, if she does, who will be there to hold her hand?* You can get your copy here: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Dreams-Polkerran-Point-uplifting-ebook/dp/B0C5CL6KR3](https://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Dreams-Polkerran-Point-uplifting-ebook/dp/B0C5CL6KR3/ref=sr%5F1%5F1?crid=27MAAM9DEC6WY&keywords=cass+grafton&qid=1692347686&sprefix=cass+g%2Caps%2C1245&sr=8-1&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/--Love-at-War--002-.jpg) Love at War, Jill Barry Next, we say hello to Sandra, who writes as Jill Barry, and was also one of the first to read my early, tentative chapters. Her latest book is **Love at War**. *Set in the Welsh seaside town of Barry during World War two, Anna Christensen is not only stunningly attractive, but she’s young and bright. Despite the war she has everything going for her. She’s soon given the opportunity to cover when a secretary is ill. Her home life is complicated and she wants to be independent. She’s determined to show what she’s capable of, especially when she realises, she has the support of her secretarial teacher and the woman in charge of the typing pool.* *However, being beautiful has it’s drawbacks, particularly when she doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Inevitably, she ends up with three potential boyfriends – the charming Captain, the handsome 2nd Lieutenant and the boy next door. Emotions run high as she favours one, then another. The backdrop of war is ever present and you appreciate you’ve got to live for today. No one knows what’s going to happen next which makes for a truly emotional story that sweeps you along to the very last page.* You can find your copy here: [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-at-War-Jill-Barry/dp/1739117336](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-at-War-Jill-Barry/dp/1739117336?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) And learn more about Jill Barry here: [www.jillbarry.com](http://www.jillbarry.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/Under-a-guilded-sky.jpg) Under A Guilded Sky, Imogen Martin Now, we welcome Imogen Martin, who writes sweeping, historical fiction, with tales of brooding charismatic men, captivated by independent women. Her first novel, **Under A Guilded Sky**, is due to be released on 15th September. In this epic and unforgettable love story, set in the wilds of Missouri and the glamour of high society Boston at the dawn of the Gilded Age, one woman’s life changes forever the day that a stranger turns up on her doorstep. *Missouri, February 1874: The last thing struggling homesteader Ginny needs is a scandal on her hands. But when a badly injured drifter arrives at Snow Farm in desperate need of medical attention, Ginny’s kind nature and good upbringing means she has no choice but to treat his wounds and care for him until he’s back on his feet, no matter the danger he might pose.* Make sure you pre-order your copy here: [https://geni.us/176-al-aut-ch](https://geni.us/176-al-aut-ch?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) And learn more about Imogen here: [https://imogenmartinauthor.com](https://imogenmartinauthor.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/Recipe.jpg) Recipe for Mr Banksy, Anni Rose And now, say hello to Anne, who writes as Anni Rose. Her book, **Recipe for Mr Banksy**, is book 5 in her Recipes for Love series and will be released on 19th September. It's a stand-alone, modern-day romance, set in the fictional town of Redford. **Daisy’s love life needs a makeover . . .** *Beauty therapist Daisy is having one of those days. She’s just ended things with her boyfriend. Coming home to a huge ‘Sold’ sign planted in their front lawn and hearing him planning to move them into a caravan is the last straw. To top it off, her greedy landlord, who also happens to be her ex’s best friend, is threatening to ruin her business.* *So it’s no surprise a spelling mistake in the butcher’s window is enough to push her over the edge. And fixing it with a can of spray paint from a passing graffiti artist only makes things worse. The graffiti artist is actually trainee doctor Jackson. Street art helps him to relax when he’s not at his stressful job.* *Jackson doesn’t know what to make of the impulsive Daisy, but he can’t get her out of his head. As Daisy fights to save her business, fate seems to delight in throwing her and Jackson together.* *And boy do they make a good team . . . But can a passionate beauty therapist and a sensible doctor really have a future?* Cook up some laugh-out-loud romance by getting your copy here: [www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CF62GY4F](https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CF62GY4F?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/The-Secret-Sister-by-Jan-Baynham.jpg) The Secret Sister, Jan Baynham Last, but by no means least, is Jan Baynham, who is releasing her fourth novel, **The Secret Sister**, on 31st August. It's set in 1943 and 1968, in rural Wales and the island of Sicily, and is a dual timeline dealing with secrets, forbidden love, sibling relationships and forgiveness. Two sisters work together to prove their father’s innocence of a crime he did not commit and clear his name. *Wales, 1943.* *Sara Lewis should be heartbroken when her husband doesn’t return from war. But he was never the kind husband she hoped for. And now she’s stuck with her cruel mother-in-law on the family farm. Sara must do what is best for her young son. So she leaves the farm for the safety of her sister’s home. Despite herself, she begins to notice Carlo, an Italian prisoner of war. Longing looks soon turn into love letters and a connection neither of them can sever. But fraternization between the prisoners and local women are forbidden. As their love grows, so* *does the danger all around them . . .* *Twenty-five years later, their daughter holds her father’s hand as he takes his last breath and whispers a name: Giulietta. But who is Giulietta, and who are the young woman and baby in an old photograph? The secrets of the past collide as the family are shaken to their very core, forced to revisit memories they’d rather forget to uncover the truth.* Don't forget to get your copy here: ***I hope you've enjoyed browsing some of the Cariad Collection. I'm sure your "To-Be-Read" pile has increased, just as mine has. But what is life without a good book, eh?*** ### And the winner is... URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/and-the-winner-is/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:15.000Z Well, it wasn't me! The winner of the Joan Hessayon Award for new writers was a lovely lady, called Katy Turner, for her novel "Let's Just Be Friends". I couldn't possibly be disappointed, because I know what an achievement it was to have been a contender at all. The award ceremony took place in Imperial College, London, on Saturday evening, and it was a fantastic occasion. I finally got to meet my publisher, who came to support me, and there was a substantial contingent of the Cariad Chapter, enjoying the conference too. Your support, ladies, meant so much to me. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/JH3.jpg) Some of the ladies of the Cariad Chapter In the run-up to the ceremony, all contenders were advised to prepare an acceptance speech, which I did, more in hope than expectation. However, having written (& memorised) it, I thought I'd share it with you anyway, as I really felt like a winner that evening, just by being in the running. So, until I reach proper award-winning status (one can dream!), here is the speech that I would have given on Saturday night. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/08/JH1.jpg) Everyone loves a free tote bag! *Firstly, I'd like to congratulate my fellow contenders for this award. To reach this stage is no mean feat, and we should be very proud of our achievements. Well done, ladies!* *When I was 18, I recorded my very first ECG. What followed was a wonderful career of almost 30 years in cardiology. I never thought I'd leave the NHS, but at the age of 47, I did just that and started working as a University lecturer, another career which has given me much joy and satisfaction - and continues to do so.* *But it seems that I was destined to return to matters of the heart, because at the age of 59, my first book, an historical romance, was published. However, would it have happened without the RNA New Writers' Scheme? I think...possibly not.* *I was in danger of drowning in research books, never to be seen again. The Rose of Florence may never have seen the light of day, but with the help of my wonderful NWS reviewer, Katherine Mezzacappa, my story was whipped into shape, and now I can hold my book in my hand...and every one of you here knows how special that feeling is.* *You also know how much support is needed in bringing a book to publication, so in true Oscars style, I have thanks to give.* *Firstly, to the ladies of the Cariad Chapter of the RNA. If you have a local chapter, cherish them They are a constant source of support and inspiration. I should, in particular, mention Sue McDonagh who, over a curry with a local bikers' group (I kid you not) first pointed me in the direction of the RNA and NWS.* *I have already mentioned Katherine, my NWS reviewer. The NWS is anonymous, but we connected quite by accident, and I now consider her a good friend. No thanks will ever be enough for the guidance she has given me.* *Toni, from Romaunce Books. You took a chance on this new writer, and despite my constant emails full of questions, you continue to work hard to get The Rose out there. I will always be grateful to you for giving me that chance. Thank you so much, and thank you for being here today to support me.* *The biggest thank you has to go to my husband, Keith. He has been my biggest supporter from the very beginning. We started just as tourists in a very pretty city called Florence, but very soon, he was as invested as I was in the art, the history, the culture...the food! When I'm looking for a particular research book, he's the one who will scour the internet for a copy that doesn't cost the earth. He makes constant cups of tea, while I am writing, and of course, he always travels to Florence with me. He's a tough cookie! Even today, he has driven me here from Cardiff and is currently outside, dodging traffic wardens before we drive back later this evening.* *I'm sure you'll agree that everyone needs a Keith in their lives!* *And thank you to the RNA for supporting new writers like me and my fellow contenders. We would not be here without you.* *As they say in Florence... Grazie di cuore!* *And at home in Wales... Diolch yn fawr iawn!* ### My Ramblings On Historical Fiction URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/my-ramblings-on-historical-fiction-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:22.000Z Those of you who follow my social media posts will know that I've been lucky enough to be announced as a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award for debut novelists with the Romantic Novelists' Association. (Yes, still pinching myself!) At the time of the announcement, I was also asked to write a short article about my views on historical fiction. Of course, I didn't need to be asked twice! Here's my take on it, but I'd love to hear your views. What do you look for in historical fiction? *This article was first published on writing.ie on 25th July 2023 and can be accessed via this link:* [*https://www.writing.ie/resources/my-view-on-historical-fiction-by-angela-m-sims/*](https://www.writing.ie/resources/my-view-on-historical-fiction-by-angela-m-sims/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) When I began writing, there was never a question about whether it should be historical fiction or not. It was always going to be a historical setting. The reason for this is that my interest in the Italian Renaissance came before the decision to write a novel. Much of my research happened as a result of being an inquisitive tourist, rather than a researching author. Of course, this changed as my first novel, *The Rose of Florence*, blossomed. The central event of the story is The Pazzi Conspiracy, a real event in the history of Florence that can be found in many a history book, and even dramatised for television. This was the starting point for me. It has been widely written about, and so I had no trouble finding detailed, while sometimes conflicting, accounts of the events. This is where being an author of fiction allows a certain amount of freedom. You can take some liberties with the truth, but where should you stop? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/07/Duomo-a2.jpg) AMS, 2022 Of course, this is my view on historical fiction, and one that is important to me as a reader, but other authors may have a very different view. If you are going to write about a well-documented event, you really owe it to your reader (and to the protagonists) to be as accurate as possible. The who, the what, the how and the why were very important to me, and I tried to keep this as accurate as possible. I did, however, play with the date a little. History books tell us that the event occurred during Eastertide, between Easter itself and Pentecost, forty days later. Some more dramatic accounts place it on Easter Sunday itself, and I chose to go with this version, purely for purposes of the story. Having taken this liberty, I also believe it is my responsibility to ensure the reader knows I have done this by including the correct version in my Author’s Notes at the end of the book. So, this is the main event with facts that can easily be checked, but what about the smaller details? What about the time, the place, the people who lived there at the time? Any reader of historical fiction will tell you how important it is to get the feeling that you are there with the characters, to see what they see, to taste what they eat, and so on, and this is where research gets interesting. It is said that an author’s internet search history could sometimes get them arrested, or at least raise an eyebrow or two, and I was no different. “What part of a foxglove is poisonous?” “How much is needed to kill?” “What are the symptoms of digitalis poisoning?” With a background in cardiology, I had a fair idea of the symptoms, but I needed to know how this poisoning might work in a Renaissance kitchen. Several internet searches and many hours and numerous books later, I have a fair idea how plants and herbs were used for good and evil at that time. Never upset an author. You never know what secret knowledge they possess! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/07/foxglove.jpg) https://www.thespruce.com/tall-toxic-foxglove-plants-2132588 With any research, primary sources are usually the most reliable, as they are accounts by people who were there and witnessed events. For some areas of history, that’s easy, because I can do it myself. No, I can’t go back five hundred years, but the landmarks I included in *The Rose of Florence* are still there today. I have visited them all many times and can close my eyes and see them as clearly as I can see my own kitchen or garden. Similarly with food. There are many writers of medieval cookery, and I spent countless hours poring over their descriptions of foods that were consumed at the time. But why take their word for it? Eleonora, the cook in my story, is famous for her zuccotto, an Italian dessert. I have eaten my fair share of Italian desserts but hadn’t come across this before. I visited several restaurants and coffee shops in Florence but only found one that made them. It wasn’t that impressive, if I’m honest, but I was intrigued by the number of variations of the recipe that were available in my research. So, what would an honest, researching author do? I tried it out myself. By combining what I considered to be the best parts of each recipe, I created my own zuccotto … and pretty darn good it was, too! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/07/Zuccotto2.jpg) AMS, 2020 It is possible to get things wrong, though, and this is where my Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) reviewer proved invaluable. One of the great aspects of this scheme is that the NWS pairs you with a reviewer who is experienced in writing your genre, and so it was with mine. Taking the small yet significant parts first, she picked up that the surname that I’d chosen for one of the characters was unlikely to be found in Florence at the time. She also commented that my main character’s blond hair was implausible. While there are many blond(e) Italians now, at the time this story is set, it would have been highly unlikely that they would have had anything other than dark hair. These are small details, but if a writer is to take their reader into a historical world, then it should be as accurate as possible. As an experienced author, it would have been too easy for her to find fault with my crude attempt at a novel and make no mistake, she did. There were great plot holes, character flaws and inconsistencies aplenty, and she found them all, but what she did was send me a very detailed report that encouraged me. Much of the report also highlighted what was good about it and made me believe that I could actually achieve the impossible dream of a published novel. And here I am, my debut novel is published, and I am now a contender for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers. A couple of years ago, like many before me I suspect, I would never have believed that such a thing would be possible, and it is my true belief that without the NWS it would have been impossible … or at least I would have spent far too long in the murky world of Renaissance research and never been seen again! ### Coming Soon URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/coming-soon-3/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:32.000Z It's been a while since there have been any posts from me, for which I apologise! You may know that there have been some problems getting these posts out to you by email. You signed up to my mailing list, then heard nothing from me - how rude! However, I believe all is now well, and the email function is working. Hurrah! I hope to keep in touch with you on a much more regular basis, but don't worry. There won't be a flood into your already busy Inboxes. I will keep it to once or twice a month, and I hope that you enjoy my ramblings. :) You will see that on my social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and now Threads!) that I will be encouraging readers to join my mailing list, and I will be doing a small giveaway as an incentive to join up. Obviously, I'll include you all, as you have been waiting patiently for me to get my act together and start posting. So, watch this space! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/07/giveaway.jpg) ### Luisa A Jones: My First Book URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/luisa-a-jones-my-first-book/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:40.000Z In the true tradition of every great series, just when you think it's over...it's not! The same goes for my series entitled My First Book, featuring some great local authors (& some not so local), who have taken time out to tell us about publishing their first book, and what's coming next. This blog is given to Luisa, a fellow member of the Cariad Chapter of the RNA, who has been a great support to me, and who I finally had the pleasure of meeting (In Real Life!) at my own book launch in February this year. Over to you Luisa! Thank you so much for inviting me to participate in your blog, Angela. I enjoyed reading your first book, *The Rose of Florence*, and appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions about my first book, *Goes Without Saying*. Like you, I live in South Wales, in the UK. My books are all mainly set in Wales, and in different ways they explore themes connected to mental health and relationships. My first two books are contemporary women’s fiction, but the most recent is an historical novel, *The Gilded Cage,* published by Storm on 22nd June, 2023\. All my books have a thread of romance, so I’m a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association as well as the Society of Authors. ## When did you publish your first book, and what started you writing? I published [*Goes Without Saying*](http://www.bit.ly/GoesWithoutSayingLAJ?ref=angelamsims.co.uk)independently in 2018, but I’d been working on it for a long time before that – several years, in fact. I had always enjoyed reading, and had several creative hobbies. As a child and teenager I loved writing, but as an adult I lost confidence and thought it somehow presumptuous to picture myself as an author. It seemed such an impossible dream to ever hold a book in my hand with my name on the cover. I’ve loved writing since I was quite little. I remember feeling proud when I was five or six and my retelling of the story of Mary Jones walking 25 miles to Bala to get a Bible was printed in my Infants’ School magazine. It was much longer than anyone else’s from my class, because I enjoyed writing it so much. I wrote a lot as a child and teen, then hardly at all until I reached my late thirties; when my three children were young it was difficult to find the mental space to come up with stories. I made some attempts to start writing a book, but coming up with an entire plot that worked was difficult. Still, one day, while looking at a rather expensive classic camper van at a Volkswagen festival, the germ of an idea began to grow. What if someone spent thousands of pounds on a camper van without telling his wife? And what if he went off on holiday in it without even discussing it with her? I started thinking about what could make this situation even worse (she’s heavily pregnant, and they already have two young children). I wondered whether this would break their marriage, and what it might take for her to forgive him (if forgiveness were even possible), and what might have led to him acting in such a way. The story grew in my head, and I came to love Megan and Tom. They feel like friends to me, and I’d love to write more about them in the future. ## Tell us about that book. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/06/Goes-Without-Saying-Cover-inc-quote-front.jpg) Here is the blurb: “*Most people run away from home when they’re in their rebellious teenage phase. But not you, Tom. You waited until you were a forty-year old father to do it.”* *Tom Field promised his wife Megan he’d never leave her. So when she finds his note saying he’s gone away, she can’t help but wonder if that’s the only vow he’s broken.* *Following him and his treasured camper van to the beautiful coast of North Devon, she has plenty of time to reflect on what’s gone wrong between them. Time to decide whether their marriage is worth saving.* *But all too soon reality threatens to catch up with them. Can Tom make things right before it’s too late?* *Goes Without Saying is a heart-warming story of love and a mid-life crisis.* Key to the story is that Megan is a feisty Welsh woman from a single-parent family and Tom’s background is very different, so there’s a lot of potential for comedy in their relationship. As well as laughs, the book also deals with some serious themes about family life, male mental health, and what it takes to get over the rough times in a relationship, but hopefully these are covered with a light touch. [www.bit.ly/GoesWithoutSayingLAJ](http://www.bit.ly/GoesWithoutSayingLAJ?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ## What is your fondest memory of publishing your first book? It’s impossible to decide whether the fondest memory is achieving my dream of holding that paperback copy in my hand for the first time, or getting the first five-star review from someone who didn’t know me so couldn’t be biased about the quality of my writing. Those were both exceptionally special moments, as I’m sure you’ll recognise from your own experience as an author! *(Angela: Yes, absolutely. Both priceless moments!)* ## Tell us about your latest book. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/06/The-Gilded-Cage-revised-cover-design.jpeg) My new book, [*The Gilded Cage*](https://geni.us/98-Storm?ref=angelamsims.co.uk), is a very different story. It’s my first historical novel, again years in the making! It’s being published by Storm Publishing on 22nd June and as well as the eBook and paperback, this time there will also be an audiobook, which is very exciting. *The Gilded Cage* is a much darker story which considers women’s roles, relationships, and the impact of sexual violence. There is a romantic element, but it’s primarily about Lady Rosamund Fitznorton’s development as she seeks to escape her miserable yet outwardly privileged life. It’s an emotional read, but ultimately uplifting. Here’s the blurb: *1897\. Rosamund bows her head and steps slowly down the aisle. The satin of her gown whispers against the stone floor and a single tear falls into the bunch of yellow roses twisted in her trembling hands. Despite rumours of his cruelty, Rosamund has no choice but to become this man’s second wife.* *After her wedding, Rosamund finds herself trapped in Sir Lucien Fitznorton’s lonely country estate. As she wanders the chilly halls, made shadowy by drapes of heavy velvet, she longs for the lost comforts of her childhood home, where she was the beloved only daughter to a doting father, now buried miles away. As a young woman with no fortune of her own, only death can release her from this misery.* *Until she meets Joseph, her husband’s gruffly handsome new chauffeur. With his mop of salt-and-pepper hair and lilting accent, Joseph is from another world. One of clambering children and tea at scrubbed kitchen tables, the hollow scratch of hunger and long hours of hard work. Despite their differences, they find themselves increasingly drawn to one other.* *But Sir Lucien is not only cruel, he’s devious too, and soon Rosamund finds herself caught in a dangerous web of secrets and lies. Is Rosamund’s fragile marriage nothing but a golden cage, trapping her between two men who desire her… and to what end?* *One holds her captive and the other offers a hope of escape… but who really holds the key to Rosamund’s gilded prison?* *A gripping and emotional historical novel, fans of Lucinda Riley and Tracy Rees won’t be able to put this book down.* [https://geni.us/98-Storm](https://geni.us/98-Storm?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ## What advice would you give to new writers? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/06/Luisa-1.jpg) I’d advise new writers not to get hung up on perfection or to be afraid of the blank page. Don’t put yourself under pressure to share your work until you’re ready. Just keep going, and write the story you want to read. Learn what you can along the way. Starting out, I was naïve about writing technique and learned a lot from bloggers. A brilliant little book which was very helpful is *The Word Loss Diet*, which taught techniques that transformed the quality of my writing. These days there’s so much available on YouTube: people like David Gaughran, Bryan Cohen, Abbie Emmons and Alyssa Matesic are worth following for advice on writing, self-publishing, and approaching publishers or agents. You could also listen to podcasts such as *The Creative Penn, The Self-Publishing Show,* and *Write Damn It!* Finally, connect with other authors. There are many social media groups for author. You could look for hashtags such as #WritingCommunity, #AuthorCommunity, or #AmWriting. Consider joining the Society of Authors, and communities for specific genres. If you’re not ready to join, follow them on Twitter. There may also be creative writing groups in your area. I wouldn’t have got this far without the support and generosity of some wonderful authors out there. We’re not in competition with each other, but rejoice in each other’s efforts and successes, and commiserate with disappointments. There’s so much to learn from those who’ve trodden the path before you. Thank you so much for inviting me to contribute to your blog. It’s been an honour to be able to talk about my writing, and exciting to share details of my next book. I love connecting with my readers, so feel free to get in touch via my social media links or my website, where you can download a free short story. [https://twitter.com/Taffy\_lulu](https://twitter.com/Taffy%5Flulu?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [www.luisaajones.com](http://www.luisaajones.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Thank you so much, Luisa. I've loved reading about your work and how your urge to write kept niggling at you. It was obviously worth waiting for. Now, I'm looking forward to reading The Gilded Cage. ### The Pazzi Conspiracy URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/the-pazzi-conspiracy-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:48.000Z **26th April, 1478** A day like many others in Renaissance Florence. A Sunday. A day when everyone went to Mass, to kneel, to pray, to take communion. But it was also a day when blood would be spilt on holy ground. The Medici family were the de facto rulers of Florence, through their influence in the *Signoria*, the city's government, but they had rivals. These rivals were led by members of the Pazzi family, an old family whose history went back to the Crusades. In their desperation to seize power, they decided to kill the leading members of the Medici clan: Lorenzo (known as Il Magnifico, the Magnificent) and his younger brother, Giuliano, and this assassination was to take place during Mass in the Cathedral de Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo. Giuliano was killed, stabbed nineteen times, but Lorenzo managed to escape with a flesh wound to his neck. In his grief, his revenge was ruthless, and the conspirators were rounded up and hanged from the walls of *Palazzo Signoria* and the *Bargello*, the city's prison. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/04/image.png) Leonardo da Vinci was on hand to sketch one of those who were hanged. This event plays a central role in The Rose of Florence, as I wanted to explore how this bloody event might have affected the common folk, not just those in power. I tried not to alter any details, apart from the date. In the book, I describe it as Easter Sunday, a legend that was perpetuated by the Medici family themselves. In fact, it took place a few weeks afterwards, the last Sunday of the Easter period. Here's a short excerpt from The Rose, in which we see the beginnings of the chaos that ensued that day. *Eventually, the priest came to the most solemn section of the Mass, the consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Everyone bowed their heads in reverence as the bell rang.* *At that moment, from the back of the church came a loud shout. “Traditore! Traitor!” and somebody screamed, and then many more people screamed.* *Matteo turned to look at what was happening but couldn’t see, as the congregation had risen and were starting to move towards the disturbance. However, he could see that it came from the area where Giuliano had been standing. It couldn’t possibly be an attack. Nobody would dare such a thing on sacred ground, and in the middle of Mass too. Perhaps there had been an accident. He heard someone shouting again, and his eye caught sight of a knife, and…was that blood? Yes, it was!* *The moments following the realisation that someone was indeed launching an attack on the Medici passed in slow motion for Matteo. He could feel a wave of panic spreading as the whole congregation tried to escape the nave. He heard some people crying that the dome was collapsing. A glance above him confirmed that the dome was intact, and no such disaster was imminent. Other more fatalistic members of the congregation were announcing the arrival of Judgement Day. It took but a second for Matteo to realise that this was simply an assassination attempt, sacrilegious as it was. His first thought was for Francesco and Niccolò, but they were still in front of him, safe but looking equally as confused as many of the crowd.* *Lorenzo was trying to make his way to the back of the nave, to his brother, but the chaos in front of him made it impossible to pass.* *His mother, Lucrezia Tornabuoni, however, had managed to run along the side aisle to her younger son, and her screams echoed around the great cavernous space, enough to tear the heart of any man.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/04/Rose-of-Florence-Bookmark--002--section.jpg) Get your copy here: https://amzn.eu/d/e36lDZC ### An Historical Fiction URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/an-historical-fiction/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:34:56.000Z *I was recently asked to write a short overview of The Rose of Florence for a book club, so that they could get a flavour of the story before I go to meet them. Yes, I'm going to talk to a group of book lovers about my book - I'm still pinching myself that this is even happening!* *So, for those of you who haven't yet plucked The Rose of Florence from her pages, here's what is in store for you...* Florence in the late 15thCentury was a tremendous, but turbulent time. The Renaissance is considered to have been born in this small city. At the time of this story, historical figures, such as Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Machiavelli lived alongside each other. Even Michelangelo lived there, although he was only two years old at the time. The city was ruled by a *Signoria*(or local government), the power mostly being controlled by a wealthy family of bankers – the Medici. Of course, there were always power struggles, none more so than with the Pazzi family. This rivalry eventually led to a daring and sacrilegious attempt on the lives of the Medici brothers, Lorenzo and Giuliano. Why sacrilegious? The assassination attempt occurred during Mass in Florence’s cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the *Duomo*. Lorenzo escaped injured, but Giuliano was killed. Chaos followed, with the culprits publicly hanged. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/Duomo-roof-2.jpg) Duomo, AMS, 2023 All this is historical fact, but what about the unknown stories? What about the regular Florentines? How would such an event affect them? This is not a novel about Italian politics, but a story about everyday life in Florence at the time. It has intrigue, mystery, treachery, and romance. We follow the staff of the fictional Rosini family, who live and work in Palazzo Rosini, which is based on the real Palazzo Davanzati. We meet some of the big historical figures in their dining room: Botticelli, Lorenzo de’ Medici and his brother Giuliano, as they enjoy relaxed evenings of food and wine with their friends, the Rosini. Eleonora is the cook, who rules the kitchen; Lucia and Antonio, who help to keep things running while enjoying a romantic fling, and Gianetta and Matteo. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/davanzati.jpg) The courtyard of Palazzo Davanzati, AMS, 2018 Our two main protagonists, Gianetta and Matteo love each other dearly. They know about the political shenanigans going on out in the big world but can’t believe that it would ever affect them or their plans for a happy life together. How wrong they were! When the family learn that Matteo was among the conspirators, Gianetta knows that life will never be the same. We know that there is a traitor in this Medici-supporting household. Was it Matteo all along? The whole story is presented as a typical Italian meal, with an aperitivo to accompany the prologue, whetting our appetite for more, and finishing with a digestivo at the epilogue, while we figuratively pat our stomach after a satisfying experience. Each course is accompanied by a typical Italian recipe. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/Duomo.jpeg) The Rose in her home, AMS, 2023 The historic centre of Florence hasn’t changed much in the last five hundred years, and many of the places described in The Rose of Florence can still be seen today. In fact, just walk along the small side streets of Florence, and we could be back in 1478 with the friends we have just made. *I hope this has given you a flavour of The Rose, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you for reading :)* **Amazon** [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims/dp/1739117301/ref=sr\_1\_3?crid=3VKN6ZFVPBH6J&keywords=the+rose+of+florence+book&qid=1680254619&sprefix=the+rose+of+florence%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims/dp/1739117301/ref=sr%5F1%5F3?crid=3VKN6ZFVPBH6J&keywords=the+rose+of+florence+book&qid=1680254619&sprefix=the+rose+of+florence%2Caps%2C118&sr=8-3&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Google Play** [https://books.google.co.uk/books/about?id=CcGdEAAAQBAJ&redir\_esc=y&hl=en](https://books.google.co.uk/books/about?id=CcGdEAAAQBAJ&redir%5Fesc=y&hl=en&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Apple iTunes** [https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6444842168](https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id6444842168?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Barnes & Noble** [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165972638](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165972638?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) **Kobo** [https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9780463819470](https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9780463819470&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### Jan Baynham: My First Book URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/jan-baynham-my-first-book/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:03.000Z In the last of my series of blogs from authors talking about their experience of publishing their first book, I'm delighted to welcome Jan Baynham. Jan is a fellow Cariad member of the RNA and was one of the first people to give me advice and encouragement when The Rose of Florence was still a sapling! Welcome, Jan! **When did you publish your first book, and what started you writing?** My first novel, *A Mother’s Secret*, was published in April 2020 by Ruby Fiction. Maybe, at the height of lockdown, it wasn’t the best time to launch a debut novel but it didn’t take away the thrill of having my first ever book published. A Although it wasn’t intended to be an escapist novel, it was received very well as such. When COVID restrictions meant you couldn’t travel more than a few miles from home, readers commented that they were transported to a beautiful Greek island as if they were holidaying there. Once retired, I looked for something I hadn’t done before and to which I could devote my newly acquired time. Having loved inspiring both teachers and pupils in the craft of writing, writing my own fiction seemed to be the natural step for me to try. I joined a small writing group in a local library where I wrote my first piece of fiction. From then on, I was hooked! I knew I wanted to find out everything I could about writing fiction. I don’t think that learning ever finishes. Meeting authors at book fairs and listening to how they got started as writers further inspired and motivated me to make a start. I went on to take a writing class at the local university and began to submit short stories and flash fiction for publication to a wider audience. With my stories getting longer and longer, I took a novel writing course and began to write my first full-length novel. One of the best decisions I made was to join the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2016\. I value the friendship and support from other members and have gained so much from the conferences, workshops, talks and get togethers I’ve attended, especially with members of our local RNA Chapter, *Cariad*. **Tell us about that book.** *A Mother’s Secret* is a dual narrative, dual timeline novel set in rural mid-Wales but mainly on a fictional Greek island off the Peloponnese.It explores the relationship between a mother and daughter, family secrets, loss, forbidden love and identity. It’s 1969 and free-spirited artist Elin Morgan has left Wales for a sun-drenched Greek island. As she makes new friends and enjoys the laidback lifestyle, she writes all about it in her diary. But Elin’s carefree summer of love doesn’t last long, and her island experience ultimately leaves her with a shocking secret that she keeps until her untimely death. Twenty two years later, Elin’s daughter Alexandra has inherited the diary and is reeling from its revelations. The discovery compels Alexandra to make her own journey to the same island, following in her mother’s footsteps. Once there, she sets about uncovering what really happened to Elin in that summer of ’69. **What is your fondest memory of publishing your first book?** The realisation that my story was going to be out there for other people to read was accompanied with excitement and trepidation. I loved the story and considered the characters of Elin and Alexandra, Stelios and Yiannis, to be now firm friends. I knew them as well as any real-life friends. Questions whizzed around in my head the night before publication. What if no one enjoyed it? What if they didn’t relate to the characters or picked holes in the plot? The morning arrived and seeing some early five-star reviews with wonderful comments from readers who had read advanced copies of the book was just the best feeling. Not able to celebrate at a Greek restaurant on publication day as we’d planned, my husband cooked a typical Greek meal which we ate in the hot sun in the garden. We toasted publication with a glass – or two! –of ouzo. Later that evening, we’d arranged for a family celebratory Zoom meeting but it turned out that my daughter had invited friends and writing buddies along too. It was very special day. **Tell us about your latest book.** I’ve just submitted my fourth novel to my publisher and will hopefully have news about that soon. My latest published novel is *Her Nanny’s Secret*. Set in rural mid-Wales and Northern France in different eras, it is a dual-narrative novel of secrets, forbidden first love, another mother/daughter relationship, and social class. It’s 1941, and Annie Beynon has just become the first stable girl for the most powerful family in her Welsh village. Whilst her gift for working with horses is clear, there are some who are willing to make her life very difficult on the Pryce estate, simply for being a girl. There are other – secret – ways Annie is defying conventions, too. As the war rages, and when Edmund, the heir to the Pryce fortune, leaves to join the RAF, it seems that it’s only a matter of time before Annie’s secret is exposed. She makes a shocking decision. It’s 1963 before Annie is able to face up to the secret she chose to keep over twenty years before. Justifying that decision takes her to Normandy in France, and an outcome she could never have expected … ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/Ville-Fleurie--002--1.jpg) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/HNS-Cover-.JPG) **What advice would you give to new writers?** Writing can be a lonely business so for me, getting involved with other writers, joining a writing group and attending workshops and classes all helped me learn more about the craft of writing. This continues after you’re published; too. My other piece of advice would be not to give up. Try not to take rejection personally and try to learn from feedback. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/Jan-Baynham.jpg) **Jan's Links** AMAZON PAGE ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/Bouganvillea-in-Greece.jpg) SOCIAL LINKS Twitter: @JanBaynham [https://twitter.com/JanBaynham](https://twitter.com/JanBaynham?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Facebook: Jan Baynham Writer Blog: [https://janbaynham.blogspot.com](https://janbaynham.blogspot.com/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### Emma Bennet: My First Book URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/emma-bennet-my-first-book-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:11.000Z For the third in my series of "My First Book" interviews with fellow authors, I am welcoming another Cariad Chapter member, Emma Bennet. I am very envious of how Emma has fully embraced all avenues of social media as an author, and it's clear I have a lot to learn! Have a look at her links here: [https://linktr.ee/emmabennetromance](https://linktr.ee/emmabennetromance?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) Here's what Emma had to say about her first book. **When did you publish your first book, and what started you writing?** I published my first book nearly 10 years ago now, though it certainly doesn’t seem that long ago! I’d written some children’s stories before that, but thought I’d be brave and try writing a ‘grown up’ book. There was a lot of trial and error because I didn’t have any of the amazing resources I now know about, and which can make such a difference such as the wonders of YouTube and excellent writing craft books. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/GHOH-old-800x800--002-.jpg) **Tell us about that book.** It was called The Green Hills of Home and it was the story of a young Welsh writer called Gwen falling in love with her handsome editor. *‘Shy Gwen Jones lives in the beautiful rolling hills of the Welsh countryside in a sweet little farmhouse that’s been in the family for generations.* *She dreams of becoming a famous writer, but that sort of thing never happens to ordinary country girls.* *Then Gwen lands a deal with a prestigious London publisher. Her new editor John comes to stay to work on her book. He’s aloof and pompous and thinks he knows everything, but he certainly is handsome . . .* *Before long the pair can’t deny their mutual attraction. But cosmopolitan John never planned on getting distracted by pretty Welsh writers. And country girl Gwen has no plans to leave the green hills of home.* *Then John suddenly ups and leaves, and Gwen’s book deal is cancelled. Did he ever really have feelings for her?* *Gwen knows that if their love stands any chance, she’ll need to swallow her fears and write her own destiny.’* This book has recently been republished by my new publisher, Joffe Books. Their cover is beautiful and makes the fourth cover this story has had! **What is your fondest memory of publishing your first book?** I think for most authors the fondest memory is when you first got to hold a physical copy of your book. There’s nothing quite like it! I originally self-published and my husband designed the cover for me which made it extra special! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/FALLING-IN-LOVE-AT-NIGHTINGALE-FARM-800-x-800--002-.jpg) **Tell us about your latest book.** My latest book is called Falling in Love at Nightingale Farm. It’s another contemporary romance and it’s set on a farm in Kent which city girl Polly is trying to save from financial ruin. *‘Polly Pressman is a London girl through and through. So when she’s asked to help save an old family friend’s struggling farm, she’s way out of her depth.* *She arrives at Nightingale Farm trying to impress John and his gruff-but-hunky son Mark with her business know-how. But it’s clear from her sky-high stilettos that she is woefully unprepared.* *Polly knows how much the farm means to John, and she’s doing everything she can to get it back on its feet. Soon people are flocking to visit the petting zoo and cute coffee shop and go strawberry picking.* *Finally Mark sees that Polly truly cares about Nightingale Farm. And one night after too much of John’s homemade cider, the pair find themselves alone and unable to deny their attraction . . .* *Romance is blossoming at Nightingale Farm. Will Polly trust her instincts and leave behind the big city for good?’* **What advice would you give to new writers?** Read and write as much as you can! I say read first because I really believe that this is so vital to discovering more about your own writing. Read as widely as you can, in as many genres as you can, even if you’re not sure they’re for you. You never know what you might be drawn to and what will inspire you. As for writing, practice makes perfect as they say! The more you write, the better your storytelling will be. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/IMG_2445--002-.JPEG) ### Jane Cable: My First Book - The Cheesemaker's House URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/jane-cable-my-first-book-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:20.000Z This week, I'm delighted to welcome Jane Cable to my blog. Jane is a fellow member of the Cariad Chapter of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and during the time I have been a member, she has helped me enormously. I have always said that authors are the most supportive group of people, and Jane is one of the best. Not only that, she writes the most wonderful books too. Welcome, Jane! **When did you publish your first book, and what started you writing?** I have always written, one way or another, but I didn’t seem capable of completing anything novel-length until I was in my forties. Then it took me a few more years to produce something I felt might be worth publishing. In 2011 my mother persuaded me to enter the Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition and *The Cheesemaker’s House* reached the last four. However because it was a rather ghostly romance I struggled to find a publisher, and in the end I self-published it in 2013 through Matador. **Tell us about that book.** Because I’ve just had a new cover produced for *The Cheesemaker’s House* to bring it up to date I’ve rewritten the blurb as well, so here it is: When Alice discovers her husband has been cheating there are just three things she wants; their gorgeous second home in Yorkshire, their spaniel William, and a quiet life. But no sooner than she arrives in Great Fencote, strange things begin to happen. A skinny-dipping swimmer disappears without trace, only to pop up behind the counter of a local coffee shop. Someone seems to be crying at night, but Alice can’t work out who. And equally unsettling is the incredibly sexy builder she employs to turn her barn into a holiday let. Old houses hide old secrets, but is The Cheesemaker’s House ready to share the tragedy in its past? And can Alice, café owner Owen, and builder Richard, find a way to lay its ghosts to rest for once and for all? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/Book-in-the-Maldives--002-.jpg) **What is your fondest memory of publishing your first book?** Being on holiday when it came out and discovering there were these wonderful people called book bloggers who were reviewing it and loving it. I guess because of its competition success, it had been chosen as a book of the month on Netgalley. I had absolutely no idea how important that was either. I was green as grass. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/03/First-cover--002-.jpg) **Tell us about your latest book** My latest book is The Collaborator's Daughter, my third Croatian novel written as Eva Glyn. I've always wanted to write a romance featuring characters in their sixties, so this is Fran's story. Having fled from Dubrovnik in 1944 in her mother's arms, Fran had always been told that her father died a hero. But when she is finally free of the caring duties that have filled her adult life she discovers he was executed as a Nazi collaborator, so she returns to the city of her birth to find out the truth. But the past is rarely what it seems - and neither is the future. **What advice would you give to new writers?** Write the very best book you can. It won’t be your first draft, or even your second (from memory I wrote about thirteen or fourteen until I was happy with *The Cheesemaker’s House*). Getting a publishing contract is tough, but so is self-publishing if you do it properly. It’s no good just sticking a book on Amazon and hoping people will find it – you need to learn about book marketing too. But self-publishing gives you an instant back list; it was my second novel, now called *The Missing Pieces of Us*, that won me a deal with One More Chapter, an imprint of Harper Collins, where I now write as Eva Glyn. **Links for *The Cheesemaker’s House***: apple.co/3laPr0h amzn.to/3l68jxq **Link for *The Collaborator's Daughter*:** [https://mybook.to/CollaboratorsDaughter](https://mybook.to/CollaboratorsDaughter?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/eva-glyn-jane-cable-2021--002-.jpg) **About Jane** Jane Cable writes romance with a twist and its roots firmly in the past, more often than not inspired by a tiny slice of history and a beautiful British setting. After independently publishing, Jane was signed by Sapere Books. Her first two novels for them were contemporary romances looking back to World War 2; *Another You* inspired by a tragic D-Day exercise at Studland Bay in Dorset and *Endless Skies* by the brave Polish bomber crews who flew from a Lincolnshire airbase. Jane lives in Cornwall and her current series, *Cornish Echoes*, are dual timeline adventure romances set in the great houses of the Poldark era and today. ### My First Book! URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/my-new-book/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:28.000Z It's finally happened! My First Book has been released into the wild! To celebrate, I'll be hosting a series of blogs from authors, who will be telling us about their First Book. More of this, shortly. First of all, I'd like to share with you a little of my experience of launching a debut novel. Publication Day had always been my focus, but it came and went in a Covid-ridden haze. After avoiding it for 3 years, it finally got me, but I was not to be beaten. I had arranged a launch celebration evening for a couple of weeks after publication. This week, The Rose of Florence was launched in the glorious [Insole Court](https://www.insolecourt.org/?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) in Llandaf. (Worth a visit if you're in the area.) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/4-launch.JPG) I was very nervous, but once I'd got over that, it was a very special experience. Family and friends were there to support me, I sold some books and I got to talk about my story to a captive audience. What could be better? This got me thinking about the experiences of other authors on publishing their first book. So, I asked them! Throughout March, I'll be publishing interviews with some wonderful authors, all with the theme of My First Book. As they'll be asked a series of questions, it's only fair that I take my turn too, so here are my responses to my own interview questions. I'll keep it brief! **When did you publish your first book, and what started you writing?** My first book was published in January 2023\. I'd only really written a dissertation for my Masters degree, and writing fiction is a completely different skill, but that's really what gave me the impetus to give it a go. **Tell us about that book.** It's an historical fiction, set against the backdrop of the Renaissance in Florence. It has romance, murder, intrigue...and some good recipes! **What is your fondest memory of publishing your first book?** I have three highlights. Firstly, when I saw the design of the cover, I cried. I could never have imagined anything so beautiful. Secondly, holding the proof copy of the book in my hand. At this point, I had achieved my dream - to see my story in print. It seems that it even gets better. Lastly, my launch evening. This will live long in my memory as a very special experience. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/1-launch.jpg) **Tell us about your latest book.** Well, my latest book is also my first book. Perhaps I'll revisit this question in the future! **What advice would you give to new writers?** Coming from a standpoint of relatively little experience, my advice is to *read* (even the books you don't enjoy can teach you about what you want to write), *write* (whenever you can, whatever you can) and *chat*. There are so many supportive writers' groups with years of valuable experience to draw on. In short, I'd say - just do it! You only ever regret the things that you don't do. ### Katherine Mezzacappa: My First Book URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/katherine-mezzacappa-my-first-book-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:37.000Z As promised, this month, I'm sharing a series of blogs from other authors, who tell us about their experience of publishing their first book. It seems only fitting that my first guest is Katherine Mezzacappa, who was my New Writers' Scheme reviewer and was vital in shaping The Rose of Florence into something readable! (The NWS review scheme is an anonymous process, but we found each other by accident, and now I would be lost without her.) When Katherine sent me her answers to my questions, she said "By all means trim this. I do have a habit of going on a bit!", but then I started to read it and was fascinated. How could I trim this? I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Over to you, Katherine! **When did you publish your first book, and what started you writing?** *My first book, strictly speaking, was an academic text, published in 1995, a reworking of my thesis on Victorian ephemeral illustrated books. I had fun doing it and I think the discipline actually stood me in good stead for writing fiction later. In the same year I published other non-fiction, a Human Resources manual. About that time, I wrote a short novel for Mills & Boon, sitting in my garden shed in true Dylan Thomas fashion. Only Mills & Boon didn’t agree. I put the book away and forgot about it. Though I’d always wanted to write stories I sort of gave up at the first hurdle, which is precisely the wrong thing to do (new writers take note).* *My husband rediscovered that novella on an old floppy disk (remember those), got it converted and gave me a memory stick. I had a look, thought it had possibilities and so revised it. There was no social media to speak of in the 1990s (we used to write letters, remember?) so that had to be included, and everyone had phones, not just the hero (who carried something a bit like a house brick). Because the publishing world had changed so much in the meantime, there were so many more outlets to explore.* Tuscan Enchantment *was published in 2019 by eXtasy, in British Columbia, as an ebook. My pen name for that book is Kate Zarrelli.* *But what started me writing seriously was a friend in Canterbury urging me to join her on a Masters in Creative Writing at Canterbury Christ Church University. Every writer needs a friend like Anne Booth, now a very prolific children’s and YA author who published her first adult fiction novel,* Small Miracles, *last year (read this book, people, it’s enchanting). I graduated in 2006, got an agent quite quickly for the historical novel I wrote on the course, but the recession (the 2008 one) intervened, that agent left the agency and didn’t take me with him and I was back where I started. Ten years intervened (people, mine is not the example to follow!), I’d moved to Italy, had small children to bring up, a living to earn, and then Anne nagged me in the gentlest way possible to get back to writing. That was February 2016\. I stopped messing about and since then have published three full length novels with Zaffre, writing as Katie Hutton, and another Kate Zarrelli for eXtasy. Another ‘Katie Hutton’ will come out in July and in 2024 I will have two novels coming out under my own name, one with Fairlight Books in Oxford and the other with Addison & Highsmith in the US. I have also published twenty short stories in that time. Call it trying to make up for lost time.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/The-Gypsy-Bride---for-author--002--1.jpg) **Tell us about that book.** *I’ll say a little bit more about* Tuscan Enchantment *but would really like to talk about* The Gypsy Bride, *my first historical novel, especially because my host today is also a historical novelist.* Tuscan Enchantment *is contemporary, and is* *really a novella, at 50,000 words.* The Gypsy Bride *is twice that, with a much wider arc. I am delighted that a revised edition of* Tuscan Enchantment *is being brought out – about now – by Romaunce Books, the publisher of* The Rose of Florence. *When I say revised, what I mean is that readers’ tastes and expectations change. There was a scene in which the hero grabs the heroine and kisses her. All very masterful and probably quite typical of the genre in the 1990s, even in books written by women for women. That would now, quite rightly, be seen as assault. It’s astonishing what we thought we had to expect or accept once.* The Gypsy Bride *came about after I had written what I think of as my first serious historical novel,* The Ballad of Mary Kearney, *the book that will be published in the US next year. In 2016* Mary Kearney *garnered some interest from agents but I wasn’t signed. While it was out on submission I just had to get on and write the next one (this is what you do, new writers. Don’t lose the momentum waiting for agents to come back to you). I wanted to write something rural and early twentieth century. I thought about the hoppers, given that I’d lived five years in Kent. Then in an Oxfam bookshop in London I picked up a copy of WH Hudson’s* A Shepherd’s Life, *published in 1910\. One of his chapters (he was writing about Wiltshire) is entitled ‘The Dark Men of the Village.’ I started to read, thinking it would be about mummers, and the hero of* The Gypsy Bride *walked out of the trees. Hudson writes about how Romanis were part of the warp and weft of rural life, moving with the seasons to where they were needed as agricultural labourers. Sam Loveridge encounters the heroine at the harvest in the Chilterns. She, by contrast, was a member of a stable, rooted, Evangelical community, the Primitive Methodists. For the latter, I drew on stories about my English relatives; my great-great grandfather, born in 1839, was a carter from Oxfordshire and a ‘Prim’ preacher.* **What is your fondest memory of publishing your first book?** *There are quite a few things. An obvious one was when my copies arrived. My son filmed me taking them out of the box, with Magnus the cat providing a noisy accompaniment (he was interested in the box, not the books). Another was reading a review from a lady of Romani heritage who thanked me for getting all the detail right. That meant a great deal. If you are going to write about a culture not your own you have to get things right or you are guilty of cultural appropriation of the worst kind. Historically, Gypsies tended not to write about Gypsies (something that has very much changed – read Damian Le Bas) but an awful lot of people thought they could write about them, sometimes in a pretty highly-coloured way. I was helped in ways I will never be able to repay by a family of Kentish Romanis, the Brazils who live near Marden, where they run a museum. They also referred me to a Professor Emeritus of Romani Studies who read my draft for accuracy. It’s when I got the contract for that book and its sequel,* The Gypsy’s Daughter, *that I started to think of myself as a ‘real’ writer, changing my social media profiles to reflect it.* **Tell us about your latest book.** *Er, I’ve got several things on the go. My fourth ‘Katie Hutton’ for Zaffre,* The Maid of Lindall Hall, *is set in the Irish community in Barrow-in-Furness (into which my father was born). It will be published this summer. It’s quite ‘gothic’ in some ways. The heroine is brought up in a Cottage Home, a setting which replaced the workhouse as a way of bringing up small children, in a pseudo-family setting (though some survivors would say it was anything but). There is a terrible secret about her parents. She goes into service to the ramshackle Lindall Hall, which I place near Furness Abbey on Barrow’s outskirts. My father has vivid memories of live theatre in Barrow in the 1930s and 1940s; provincial touring companies put on what were known as ‘blood tubs’ (i.e melodramas, like* Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber*) and one of these companies features directly in the plot, in a sort of tribute to JB Priestley.* The Maid of Lindall Hall *is the sequel to* Annie of Ainsworth’s Mill *which came out in July 2022\. That book was inspired by my great-grandparents’ experiences in Cleator Moor; in a mixed marriage, they migrated there from County Down before the Great War to a town riven by sectarian divisions imported from Ulster.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/Annie-of-Ainsworth-Mill2--002-.jpg) *Other novels in press are* The Virgin of Florence, *based on a true story. A twenty-year-old girl was taken from a Dominican-run orphanage in 1584 to serve as ‘test bench’ for the virility of the heir to the dukedom of Mantua, a condition he was asked to satisfy before making a dynastic marriage with a Medici princess. I tell the story from the point of view of the girl, Giulia Albizzi, whose voice is almost silenced in the Medici correspondence. It’s a real #MeToo and I wrote it sometimes in a red mist of rage. The book will come out with Fairlight in summer 2024.* The Ballad of Mary Kearney *is set mainly in County Down in the late eighteenth-century, against the backdrop of the United Irishmen rebellion. Culture clash is the theme, based on divisions of class and religion. Having been brought up in Belfast during the Troubles (we left in 1974) it was probably the book I always had to write. It’s right that this book should come out in the US, where the largest Irish diaspora lives.* *Current projects are a gentle romcom set in post-Covid Venice (I haven’t written in this genre before and am really enjoying it) and another historical novel which like* The Virgin of Florence *deals with a voiceless woman from history, in this case in Victorian London; it’s the story of Lucie Dumas, the mistress of Samuel Butler. At some point during their relationship he introduced his friend and biographer, who would like Butler visit her once a week, with Butler paying his fee. Lucie’s view of this arrangement is not recorded.* **What advice would you give to new writers?** *The first thing you have to do is read well, but if you weren’t readers you probably wouldn’t want to be writers. Write every day. Yes, every day. Don’t worry about whether it’s any good or not. First drafts are only for your eyes, and remember you can’t revise a blank page. You can and will be influenced by writers you admire, but don’t try to be them (though keep reading as you have to know your field. When submitting your work it’s useful to be able to name authors you think your potential readers may have on their shelves). You have your own unique voice. I’d encourage you to enter writing competitions (though keep a lid on how much you spend in entry fees; I’m convinced that some competitions are run as money-spinners, but there are enough that are free). Try the short story as a means to publication, on paper or online. Short story collections are notoriously difficult to get published, but you’d be writing them to build up your writer’s CV. Find supportive writing groups either physically or online (but give a body-swerve to any that seem to be competitive or cliquey). Writing is a job like any other, so nurture your professional development. That needn’t be an expensive residential course. It can be an online workshop that fits around the business of living.* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/02/Katherine-Mezzacappa-Oxford-editors--002--1.jpg) ## Katherine's Links **Facebook** **Twitter** @katmezzacappa @KatieHuttonAut1 **Book links** [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gypsy-Bride-Katie-Hutton/dp/1838770259/ref](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gypsy-Bride-Katie-Hutton/dp/1838770259/ref?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gypsys-Daughter-emotional-gritty-family/dp/1838770372/ref](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gypsys-Daughter-emotional-gritty-family/dp/1838770372/ref?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Annie-Ainsworths-Mill-Victorian-star-crossed/dp/1838775838/ref](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Annie-Ainsworths-Mill-Victorian-star-crossed/dp/1838775838/ref?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) [https://www.romaunce.com/product-page/tuscan-enchantment-by-kate-zarrelli](https://www.romaunce.com/product-page/tuscan-enchantment-by-kate-zarrelli?ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### The Rose of Florence is about to bloom URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/the-rose-of-florence-is-about-to-bloom-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:44.000Z Early in 2019, I started to jot down a few words, thinking that I might eventually make a reasonable short story. Well, many months of work, many sleepless nights trying to untangle plot knots and a global pandemic later, The Rose of Florence is a full-length novel, ready to go. It hardly seems believable that I have managed to reach that goal, and as every author will tell you, it is hard work. Hard work doesn't mean that it's not enjoyable, though. I have loved every minute of this process, even if there were occasions that I seriously doubted my ability to reach this point. Recently, I made a trip to Florence (yes, another one!), to celebrate New Year with some of my family. Taking the opportunity of the perfect location, I took some photos of The Rose in her birthplace. It was very special. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/01/Boboli.jpeg) Now, we're just a couple of weeks away from publication date. It's an exciting time, but equally terrifying. I'm releasing my work to the world. What will people think? Will they love some of the characters as I do? Will they despise the characters that I do? I guess I can't spend too long worrying about that, but just hope that it brings some joy and entertainment to at least one person. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2023/01/Boboli-3.jpeg) So, as I enter the realms of "published author", wish me luck. It's a whole new world! And if you haven't already ordered your copy, check the links above and travel back to Renaissance Florence with me. ### Florence in Flood URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/florence-in-flood/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:35:52.000Z On the night of 3rd November, 1966, the people of Florence went to bed as usual. The heavy rain was nothing unusual for a November night, but this night was to be unlike any other in living memory. The Arno river, which flows through the centre of Florence, is used to high water, especially in the spring and autumn. The rain runs down the Apennine mountains and 240km later, flows out to the Ligurian Sea. Dams along the way in the Valdarno usually control the flow, but there was nothing usual about this quantity of water. It amounted to 25% of the region's annual rainfall in just 24hrs. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/c3b2b881390111a6c61f7301804a69ae-1.jpg) (Pinterest - uploaded by Ugo Merenti) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/3ae243e69007f550883c6525ededdb51.jpg) (Pinterest - wunderground.com) ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/Flood-1.png) Overnight, cellars in the Santa Croce area of the city began to flood, and by the morning, the flooding had reached ground level. Power failed, and even the hospital's emergency generators were cut. By early morning of the 4th November, the water had reached the Piazza del Duomo, circling the jewel of Florence's crown, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and sweeping through homes, shops, churches, museums and civic buildings. Not only was the city invaded by river water, but by sludge, oil, and debris. Over 20,000 people were made homeless, 10,000 cars wrecked, and more than 100 people lost their lives. There was no drinking water, phone services or electricity, and the streets were strewn with rotten food, animal corpses and sewage. Museums and churches were ravaged, and much of their priceless art destroyed, including paintings, frescoes, manuscripts and sculptures. The 17 foot doors of the Baptistry displaying the 15th Century bronze panels by Ghiberti, referred to by Michelangelo as "The Gates of Paradise", were knocked off by the flood waters. A historic 13th Century crucifix by Cimabue was destroyed, just two examples of how the flood devastated this centre of Renaissance art. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/mud-angels.jpg) Piazza della Signoria (c) Getty Images But Florence is nothing if not resilient. The city inspires so many around the world, that an appeal for help brought another flood, this time of volunteers. As well as professional art restorers and scholars, young people came to the city to simply help the Florentines emerge from the oil and sludge, to transfer priceless works of art to safety, to bring food and water to the elderly, to bring hope. These helpers became known as Mud Angels or *Angeli del Fango,* and their work has become legendary. Aid came from many corners of the globe, none more poignant than the parcels of toys and clothes sent from Aberfan in Wales, just two weeks after the devastating landslide of coal waste that killed 116 children and 28 adults. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/Flood-line-2.jpg) Angela M Sims - April 2016 Today, all around the city, there are reminders of that night. Look for the flood markers on the walls of homes and shops, showing the levels that the waters reached. Here's a picture I took not far from Santa Croce. Yes, the flood marker is next to the upper window. Imagine that! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/Flood-line.JPG) Angela M Sims - April 2016 Dante Alighieri, some 600 years before the flood, referred to the River Arno as "the cursed and unlucky ditch", and no doubt, in November of 1966, there were many who would have agreed with him. But what would Florence be without her Arno? ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/11/Arno-2.JPG) Angela M Sims - June 2018 ### Where I Write... URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/where-i-write-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:00.000Z Writing is a lonely business...or so I've been told. That hasn't been my experience, so far. Authors are a social and supportive bunch, keen to boost each other when they get chance. This often includes sharing each other's blogs, and one of the topics I read about frequently is "Where I Write". It's a fascinating insight into what makes your fellow writer tick. Writing spots vary from an antique desk and chair with real paper and pens (imagine!) to a laptop on the dining table (the original working-from-home), purpose-built annexes with glorious sea views to a mobile phone on a bus (I kid you not!). I started to think about my writing spot. Over the last couple of Covid years, much of my day job has had to be conducted at home, so I've repurposed the converted attic room (which daughter #1 conveniently moved out of a little while before) into an office/creative space...a Me-Cave. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/08/Office.jpeg) My office space Plenty of room for my books, family photos, a fan, two screens (one for writing, one for research...or Facebook...or Twitter...) and room to pace up and down when I need to stretch the limbs a bit. There's a lovely view over Cardiff from the window, but there is a downside. It gets full sun in the morning, so when I need to see what I'm writing without losing my retinas, I'm very grateful for the blackout blinds. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/08/Office-sun.jpeg) A sunny morning in the office I was thinking about this while out on my early morning walk, and realisation dawned. This isn't where most of the writing happens at all. Sure, this is where the words find their way onto the page, but it's not where I discovered that I knew what was going to happen to Gianetta. It's not where I realised who the traitor in Palazzo Rosini was. It's not even where La Volpe introduced himself to me, unannounced. No, that happens elsewhere. That all happens in my head, while I'm out walking, especially in the early morning. The gentle rhythm of footsteps on the path, the birds flitting in and out of the trees, the silence...a perfect environment for plot knots to iron themselves out, or for my characters to try out their dialogue. All this happens almost subconsciously, except now that I've put it into words, it'll probably feel very different. Recently, I asked HisNibs what he thinks about while we're walking. (At 6am, we usually enjoy a companionable silence!) His reply? Cars..! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2022/08/Walk.jpeg) Early morning walk So, I'll retreat to my little corner of Renaissance Florence at 6am in the morning, where I'll dream up what's going to happen to my characters in book 2\. Who shall I include alongside my own characters? Michelangelo? A fair bet. Machiavelli? Interesting. Savonarola? Now, there's a character to get your teeth into! Of course, they all need to fit into my world...or do I need to fit into theirs? What of book 1, I hear you ask? What is happening with The Rose of Florence? When will she be released into the world? Well, I am hopeful that I will have news of this soon, so watch this space. In the meantime, I'll walk along the country path, dreaming of launch events, seeing my book on the shelf as I browse my local bookshops, being a real author..! ### And so it begins... URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/and-so-it-begins-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:08.000Z When you first have an inkling of an idea for a book, everything seems so simple, but writing and publishing a book is a whole new world, not for the faint-hearted. I started with a setting. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to write a story set in Florence, and it was just a short step to set it in the time of the Medici, da Vinci, Botticelli...the time of the Renaissance. My story grew from a few "What if...?" thoughts. There were a few historical characters that I had to include with my own fictional characters, so I had to get their traits, appearances, actions and ages correct. The discerning reader of historical fiction would soon pick up any inaccuracies. (Actually, I have one big inaccuracy in my story, but I've kept it in to benefit the drama. I hope future readers will forgive me.) Research expanded to the city of Florence, as it was in 1478, their method of government, how a Florentine home was set up, what and how they ate and dressed. A fascinating, if time-consuming, part of putting The Rose of Florence together, but it also enabled me to escape to 15th Century Florence during the worst of the Covid pandemic. I consider myself very lucky to belong to the New Writers' Scheme of the Romantic Novelists' Association, allowing us to submit a manuscript for review each year. The extensive report is detailed and constructive, and my book is far better for having been through this process. This year, my reviewer suggested that it might be time to look for an agent and/or publisher. I was delighted that it wasn't just a pile of pants after all, but this is where it gets scary! Get hold of "The Artists' and Writers' Yearbook" I was told. Every publisher and agent can be found there. This 800 page tome is now my constant companion. I have highlighter pens, pencils, post-it notes and coloured tabs everywhere. Each company has different submission requirements: email only; posted manuscripts only; a cover letter; an introductory message; a 500 word synopsis; a 1000 word synopsis; opening chapters; first 10,000 words; full manuscript; author bio; no author bio; hook line...and the blurb. Oh, the blurb! How many hours have I agonised over the blurb? Being an avid reader, I know the importance of getting it right. Wandering through an airport bookshop, that blurb decides whether it is worth carrying yet another book onto the plane or not, but how do I condense my whole story into just a few lines? That is a skill itself. I'm still working on it! So, the next chapter of my life as an author will be very different from the first, and it's one I am very nervous about. It's like handing over a beloved child to a pack of wolves. Yes, that's rather melodramatic, isn't it? Still, some wolves have been known to take great care of the young... ### Today is Dantedì URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/today-is-dantedi/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:16.000Z 700 years ago, on 25th March 1321, the "Supreme Poet", Dante Alighieri died. He is widely considered to be the father of the Renaissance, and his most famous work is The Divine Comedy, which includes the well-known Inferno (not the Dan Brown story!). He was also one of the first to write in the local vernacular language, rather than the more academic Latin, and in doing so, reached more ordinary Florentines. As his works spread across Italy, so did the Florentine dialect, creating the basis of what we now know to be the Italian language. His own life also held drama, with his unrequited love for Beatrice and his banishment from Florence. He is buried in Ravenna, and the arguments between Florence and Ravenna about where he should reside are a whole other story! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/03/Dario-Cecchini_Photo-Massimo-Sestini-680x453-a.jpg) Dario Cecchini, Photo by Massimo Sestini Dante holds a special place in the hearts of Italians, none more so than Dario Cecchini, from Panzano, a small village in Tuscany. Dario is a butcher. Not an ordinary butcher, he is an international celebrity, due to his great character and the care and respect he gives to the meat he serves. I have been lucky enough to visit his shop and eat at his restaurant on more than one occasion, and they are among the most memorable experiences of my life. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/03/Dario.jpg) Macelleria Antica, Panzano Dec 2019 Here is what Dario has to say about Dante! [Dario Cecchini on Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ | The FlorentineDario Cecchini recites Dante by heart in his butcher’s shop in Panzano in Chianti, towering over the modest display of carefully chosen cuts.![](https://www.theflorentine.net/wp-content/themes/theflorentine/images/logo_1.png)The FlorentineMarisa Garreffa![](https://www.theflorentine.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_8332-scaled.jpg)](https://www.theflorentine.net/2021/03/24/dario-cecchini-dante-divine-comedy/?fbclid=IwAR3bgQygXmniqlZ6Kdbf5ccky1NMdIBIuo7RrNYAPnst3eiJ-oSlK%5FNjWKc&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### A Rare Treat URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-rare-treat-2/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:24.000Z If you are a bit of a meat-lover, like me, one of the highlights of visiting Florence is ordering a Bistecca alla Fiorentina – a Florentine steak. Being faced with such an enormous chunk of meat could be daunting, but like many Tuscan dishes, it’s best when shared. Its history dates back to the times of the Medici and celebrations of the feast of San Lorenzo. On his feast day, still celebrated on August 10th, parties were held in the piazzas around Florence. Large pieces of meat, donated by wealthy families, were cooked on open fires and shared with the people. At the time, Florence was often a resting place for travellers, and it is said that English knights were often included in these celebrations. Enjoying local hospitality (and plenty of local wine, I’m sure), they encouraged their hosts to share more by shouting “Beef steak! Beef steak!” The Florentines adopted this, and it is still called Bistecca to this day. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/02/Florentine-steak.jpg) December, 2017 Today, Bistecca alla Fiorentina is the pride of many a Florentine restaurant, but beware! There are rules! The steak is cut from the loin and has a T-bone in the centre, with a fillet one side and a sirloin on the other. One of the favourite breeds of cattle is also one of the oldest – the Chianina breed. They can be traced back to Roman times, their white coat being widely valued in triumphal processions. When ordering, you will often be shown the raw cut, for your approval, before cooking. It’s usually 3-4cm thick and can weigh from 1-3kg. (Prices on the menu are usually quoted per kg.) Don’t be afraid to ask for a larger or smaller steak, depending on how hungry you and your companions are. One piece of advice, never…and I mean, never…ask for it to be cooked well done! Bistecca alla Fiorentina is served rare…always! There are no sauces needed for this dish. It is cooked on hot coals or burning wood and seasoned well before serving. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/02/Eleonora.jpg) Eleonora at Ristorante Toto, Florence Here, we can see our Bistecca being cut and prepared by Eleonora, in our favourite Florentine restaurant. (She has the same name as the cook in my story. Coincidence?) Ok, so a lot of red meat is not good for you, but this is a rare treat! ### In Times of War URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/in-times-of-war/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:31.000Z Even though he was only 3 during the time of my story and therefore doesn't feature in it, Michelangelo was probably the first to fire my interest in the Italian Renaissance and the wonderful art that came from that time period. I remember watching Charlton Heston in "The Agony & The Ecstasy" as a child and being captivated. The Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of Michelangelo's best known works, but he was first and foremost a sculptor. When I first met his David, I was lost. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/david-face.jpg) David, accademia.org There are plenty more qualified and eloquent than I, who can describe the beauty and majesty of the work, so I am not going to try. However, I would like to share a little bit of information about him...or rather how he was looked after during WW2. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/david-full-front.jpg) David, accademia.org We know that Europe was heavily bombed during that awful time, and while not forgetting the dreadful human cost, priceless art was in grave danger. The Superintendent of the Florentine Galleries was given instructions to do what was necessary to preserve these statues and many other works of art. Initially, bombing of historic centres was not expected to be a problem, and statues, including David, were protected by a wooden frame and sandbags. However, these measures were soon thought to be inadequate. Here, we have a picture of the protected statue of Cellini's bronze Perseus in the Loggia dei Lanzi outside the Palazzo Vecchio. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Perseus.jpg) Perseus, moduscc.it ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Perseus-pinterest.jpg) Perseus (Cellini), Pinterest The rather eerie photograph below is of the Hall of Prisoners and the protected Michelangelo statues, including the David in the Galleria Accademia. As you can see, their wooden frames and sandbags have been surrounded by brickwork for added strength and protection. ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/michelangelo_bricked_accademia_wwii-greg_org.png) The Hall of Prisoners, Galleria Accademia, greg.org Below is the Hall of Prisoners that you would see today if you were lucky enough to be able to visit. The "Prisoners" are the large, unfinished statues that you see along the side walls, said to represent "the soul imprisoned in the flesh, slave to human weakness" (Accademia.org). They were originally intended to form part of the tomb of Pope Julius II, but after running out of money, the Pope ordered Michelangelo to abandon the project. The project was eventually resurrected but on a much smaller scale, and so these statues were no longer needed. Many visitors bypass these works in their rush to see the beautiful David. They have a beauty of their own and are worthy of more than a passing glance...but I still love David! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Accademia_org.jpg) The Hall of Prisoners, Galleria Accademia, accademia.org Many people worked hard and risked their own lives in order to protect these masterpieces, so that we can continue to enjoy them for many more centuries. Grazie...grazie! ### Local Knowledge Is Priceless URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/local-knowledge-is-priceless/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:39.000Z Apologies for mentioning the C-word, but COVID has been hard on so many walks of life, including the business of a busy tour guide. However, sometimes a bit of good can come out of the challenges. Last summer, while doing some research online, I spotted a Florence tour guide who was offering some webinars on the Medici family. Sounded like a good idea. After all, what else did I have to do? Turned out to be a great idea. Martina was friendly, full of historical and local knowledge and happy to spend time answering my many questions. (I was most impressed to discover that at the height of the tourist season, she would take 3 groups a day to the top of the Duomo cupola!) Since then, we have kept in touch, and I have made some very important "tweaks" to my story to make it...right. After all, I'd hate to offend any Italians who might end up reading my book. Can you imagine? *"Che peccata! È stupida!"* ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Martina.jpg) Martina Arezzini, SunFlorence Tours Like so many in the hospitality and tourism business, Martina has had to adapt to the changing circumstances. We have even taken a cooking class with her via Zoom. Best spaghetti carbonara ever! ![](https://angelamsims.co.uk/content/images/2021/01/Carbonara.jpg) So, in true pandemic-bartering fashion, I would like to pay a little something back to Martina who has been so helpful to me. Today, in Florence, museums have started to open, and while we may be a little while away from jetting around the world, the tourism business is beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Should you find yourself on your way to Florence (and I would thoroughly recommend it), and you are looking for a tour guide who will not rip you off, give Martina a shout. You won't regret it. [Home![](https://www.sunflorencetours.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/sunflorence_5-Copia-e1554557221431.jpg)Tourist Guide in Florence](https://www.sunflorencetours.it/?fbclid=IwAR2xQikeN4LI3TzXOMjBM-mYHTgdo5aeLFVShd-f0rPRx%5FrZ4rq5AEbyE5A&ref=angelamsims.co.uk) ### A Little Help From My Friends URL: https://angelamsims.co.uk/a-little-help-from-my-friends/ Last updated: 2026-06-25T18:36:47.000Z Sandra is an author who writes under the name of Jill Barry. She has been so very helpful to me in my quest to write, and I'm always keen to hear stories of how others find themselves in their chosen field. It turns out Sandra had a little help from a ghost! Read her story here. [WELSH WRITING WEDNESDAYS: INSPIRED BY A GHOST – INTRODUCING JILL BARRY