Jill Santopolo is an international best-selling author who writes sweeping love stories about decisions, regrets, second chances and how families influence the choices we make.

Her fourth novel, Stars in an Italian Sky moves from World War II in Italy, to today's New York in a tender-hearted family saga.

Hi there. I'm your host, Julie Wheeler, and in Binge Reading today, Jill talks about how writing helps her understand her own life and why she believes books are essential, not just for our children, but for our human future.

Our Giveaway today is the Booksweeps Family Saga and Historical Fiction that was due to close today has been extended for a few more days.

I'm putting that up again, so you have a chance to enter and win that library of 50 plus historical and family saga books. Included in it is one of mine – Book Bundle #2 - actually two books, one full length mystery, Poisoned Legacy, (Book #1) and a New York Christmas novella, Tangled Destiny (Book #4).

ENTER BOOKSWEEPS HERE

The links for where to enter that giveaway can be found in the show notes for this episode on the website, www.thejoysofbinge reading.com, along with the other details, like Jill's social media contacts and where the books that she recommends can be found as well.

And don't forget if you enjoy the show, do leave a comment somewhere online. so others will find us too. Word of mouth is still by far the best recommendation.

Links to things mentioned in the interview

The Light We Lost, Jill Santopolo:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32956365-the-light-we-lost

Philomel Penguin Children’s Imprint:  https://www.penguin.com/philomel/

Same Time Next Summer: Annabel Monaghan: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62562931

Nora Goes Off Script: Annabel Monaghan:  https://annabelmonaghan.com/nora-goes-off-script/

Carley Fortune: Meet Me At the Lake: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61797464-meet-me-at-the-lake

The Favor: Adele Griffin: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63107458

Kristen Harmel, The Paris Daughter:  https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62327255

The Daydreams, Laura Hankin:  https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61913611

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow

Where to find Jill Santopolo Online

Website: www.jillsantopolo.com

Instagram: @jillsantopolo

Facebook: @jillsantopoloauthor

Introducing author Jill Santopolo

Author Jill Santopolo - Sweeping love stories

But now here's Jill. Hello there, Jill, and welcome to the show. It's great to have you with us.

Jill Santopolo: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Jenny Wheeler: Now you are in New York and I'm a New Zealand, so it's really fun to be able to make these connections. You've got the most amazing range of roles on your CV, which we probably will get into a little bit later on, but the real reason we are here today is to talk about your latest book Stars in an Italian Sky.

It's your fourth novel and it's a sweeping dual timeline romance that starts in Genoa in World War II and then moves quite quickly to New York in the 2020 ones. Is this the first one where you've had a truly historical aspect to your work?

Jill Santopolo: Yes, I think so. My first book, The Light We Lost, starts in 2001. By some definitions now people are calling that historical, which is crazy to me.

But this is the first one that feels truly - it's set in 1946 - It's post-war, it feels truly historical to me in a different sense.

Jenny Wheeler: Yes, that's right. All of your books are about heart searching decisions, about where to go in life, missed opportunities, and how families influence our choices. And I wondered what particularly appeals to you about this territory.

Love in all forms, not just romantic

Jill Santopolo: I feel like love in all its forms is what connects people.