Malinda Lo

I just got some great news: Italian rights to Ash have been sold to Elliot Edizioni! This means that Ash is going to be translated into Italian and sold in Italy! [insert Italian-appropriate cheering sounds]

I am super excited about this because I love Italy. I mean, who doesn’t? Hello, gelato! Not to mention prosciutto! And parmigiano romano!

Anyway, before I get carried away by listing all my favorite Italian foods, let me just say this. I visited Italy back in, um, a long time ago, and it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I went on this trip with six (I think) of my college friends … and my ex-boyfriend, who was extremely good-natured about it all.

We spent a couple of days on the island of Capri, which is basically the most gorgeous place on the planet. When we got there, we stopped by a little shop and bought some cheese and bread and prosciutto, and sat outside on a bench or a rock or something and ate it. It was a little bit nippy outside because it was March, but the cheese was the most fantastic thing I had ever tasted. It wasn’t entirely about the flavor (salty, rich, tangy, yum), but about the whole experience: Sitting outside on a beautiful island with my friends and some good food. That is what I remember about Italy.

Alas, I visited a lot of ancient monuments (I enjoy them). And as evidence, here I am in front of the Coliseum in Rome:

Here I am in Rome!

I am so thrilled that Ash is going to go to Rome, too.