Pump Up Your Book Chats with Barbara Conelli

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

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

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

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

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

Her latest book is Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita, a narrative travel nonfiction book full of charming, poetic, delightful and humorous travel and life stories about extraordinary Milanese women, men who have succumbed to their temptation and the art of living your own dolce vita no matter where in the world you are.

You can visit her website at www.barbaraconelli.com or connect with her at Twitter at www.twitter.com/barbaraconelli or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/barbaraconelli.

Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita Q: Thank you for this interview, Barbara.  Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

I wrote Chique Secrets of Dolce Vita to share my personal, intimate encounters with Milan with my readers, and to show women that they can live their Dolce Vita no matter where they are in the world. It’s my way of bringing a piece of Italian joy, fun and zest into women’s lives.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

Nothing was hard to write. To me, writing really is like breathing, and writing a book is pure joy.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

The underlying message is that the biggest happiness can be found in simple, everyday things. We just need to look around and allow ourselves to experience and embrace them.

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

I was born with a pen in my hand! I learned to read and write at the age of four and I’ve never stopped. I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember.

Q: Besides books, what else do you write?  Do you write for publications?

Yes, I write for several magazines and websites, although I’d love to create more time in my life to write more regularly. Sometimes it’s a challenge to even keep my blog going. I’m an extremely creative person and I love exploring new ways of expression – I’m not the kind of person who is able to focus just on one thing. Although I bring everything I do to perfection, I’m a creative adventurer. I think those people whose path is straight and clear have an easier life. If your path is full of twists and turns and unexpected encounters, it can be a bumpy ride, but it’s extremely rewarding.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Just write. Personally, I don’t like the expression “aspiring writer”. If you’re a writer, you write. If you’re an aspiring writer, you don’t write. So sit down and start writing. Then you’ll be a writer. A writer is not a person who has published or sold a certain amount of books. A writer is a person who writes for the joy of writing.

Q:  Would you like to tell us about your home life?  Where you live?  Family?  Pets?

I live in New York but I’m very restless and have many homes away from home all around the world. My beagle is my beloved companion, and also my favorite writing critic: He never says he doesn’t like what I’ve written. He falls asleep or walks away. Talk about a powerful hint.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

If it’s just for a few hours, I go to my favorite Thai spa. I also love theaters, concerts and performances, I enjoy art in all its forms. If I have a few days, I travel. Italy is usually my first choice: When life gives you twists and turns, Chique Yourself Up in Italy. I swear by this.

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

Oh, I have wishes all the time, and I make them come true all the time. I believe we are the creators of our life, and we have the power to manifest all our desires. It just takes some inner work. When things don’t go my way, I always look within. Sometimes we insist on what we want things to be like without realizing there’s something much bigger in store for us, we just need to look around with clarity and without judgment.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

I would be on a beautiful, endless white beach, totally unplugged, totally relaxed, with a big pile of books next to me.

Q: Thank you so much for this interview, Barbara.  Do you have any final words?

Thank you very much for this lovely interview, it’s fantastic to be here today. Be Chique, dream big dreams and don’t forget to make them come true!