Annalisa Russo
author : Annalisa RussoFollow me on Facebook to stay connected: https://www.facebook.com/AnnalisaRussoAuthor/\n\nI grew up in the Midwest in a first generation Italian family. We lived with my grandparents since in an Italian family when the eldest girl marries, she doesn’t move out, her husband moves in. I was the oldest of five children which caused the usual sibling problems—fighting, borrowing stuff, and eating really, really fast or you were out of luck. Our grandparents spoke to us in Italian and we answered in English (so we wouldn’t get kicked out of kindergarten like my mother did for not knowing English).\n\nI went to an all-girl Catholic high school (yes, with the plaid skirt/blazer/knee-high socks) and on to an all-girl college where I rebelled by wearing slacks in the library instead of a skirt. I majored in math until I switched to English Lit after deciding to become a teacher. Since I wanted to graduate early, I took several English courses at a time which is frowned upon in math (you know, prerequisite and stuff) and then went on to teach 5th grade math –go figure.\n\nDuring this exciting time, I began to write for my own pleasure, as no one wanted to buy my stories. I have a rejection slip from Helen Gurley Brown at Cosmopolitan magazine (way back when they published short stories in each issue). I framed it because Ms. Brown actually wrote on it and said (and I quote): Your story was not quite right for us, but we’d be interested in seeing some of your other work. Of course, I didn’t know at the time that I should have opened a bottle of very expensive champagne and called all my friends over to celebrate because I received an actual written response from an editor instead of a form letter (now I’m much more savvy; I crack the champagne when I put the finished manuscript in the mail). In my naiveté, I actually took Ms. Brown’s letter as a rejection—gasp– and decided to concentrate on making a living.\n\nI also married, had three children, traveled, took up gardening and became a pretty good cook (now I just cook for company; my stove is for resale purposes only). And I inherited a tabby named Buster who really runs the house and my life. Luckily he’s pretty easy to live with and doesn’t complain unless his dish is empty, which is all the time.\n\nMy son helped me create my first website as his business sense is intact along with his sense of humor (a necessity to working on technology with me, so he says). My daughter has stepped in as my personal assistant and has given me two beautiful little girls. (Babies trump technology, son).\n\nIn addition to The Cavelli Angel Saga, a romantic suspense quartet about an Italian immigrant family in 1925, and The Green Earth Christmas Series, sweet romance, I have several stand-alone novels. My ninth book, currently unnamed, will be Book 3 in the Christmas series TBA this holiday season. (Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom!)Annalisa Russo Book Series
author : Annalisa RussoFollow me on Facebook to stay connected: https://www.facebook.com/AnnalisaRussoAuthor/\n\nI grew up in the Midwest in a first generation Italian family. We lived with my grandparents since in an Italian family when the eldest girl marries, she doesn’t move out, her husband moves in. I was the oldest of five children which caused the usual sibling problems—fighting, borrowing stuff, and eating really, really fast or you were out of luck. Our grandparents spoke to us in Italian and we answered in English (so we wouldn’t get kicked out of kindergarten like my mother did for not knowing English).\n\nI went to an all-girl Catholic high school (yes, with the plaid skirt/blazer/knee-high socks) and on to an all-girl college where I rebelled by wearing slacks in the library instead of a skirt. I majored in math until I switched to English Lit after deciding to become a teacher. Since I wanted to graduate early, I took several English courses at a time which is frowned upon in math (you know, prerequisite and stuff) and then went on to teach 5th grade math –go figure.\n\nDuring this exciting time, I began to write for my own pleasure, as no one wanted to buy my stories. I have a rejection slip from Helen Gurley Brown at Cosmopolitan magazine (way back when they published short stories in each issue). I framed it because Ms. Brown actually wrote on it and said (and I quote): Your story was not quite right for us, but we’d be interested in seeing some of your other work. Of course, I didn’t know at the time that I should have opened a bottle of very expensive champagne and called all my friends over to celebrate because I received an actual written response from an editor instead of a form letter (now I’m much more savvy; I crack the champagne when I put the finished manuscript in the mail). In my naiveté, I actually took Ms. Brown’s letter as a rejection—gasp– and decided to concentrate on making a living.\n\nI also married, had three children, traveled, took up gardening and became a pretty good cook (now I just cook for company; my stove is for resale purposes only). And I inherited a tabby named Buster who really runs the house and my life. Luckily he’s pretty easy to live with and doesn’t complain unless his dish is empty, which is all the time.\n\nMy son helped me create my first website as his business sense is intact along with his sense of humor (a necessity to working on technology with me, so he says). My daughter has stepped in as my personal assistant and has given me two beautiful little girls. (Babies trump technology, son).\n\nIn addition to The Cavelli Angel Saga, a romantic suspense quartet about an Italian immigrant family in 1925, and The Green Earth Christmas Series, sweet romance, I have several stand-alone novels. My ninth book, currently unnamed, will be Book 3 in the Christmas series TBA this holiday season. (Thanks for reading all the way to the bottom!)