Equal parts laugh-out-loud travel comedy and sexy adventure, Marina’s first trip abroad will inspire you to throw your own itinerary out the window and throw caution to the wind. Art, love, sex, wine—the Italian playboy and the boy next door—who says you can’t have it all?
We chat with author Karina Kennedy about A Not So Lonely Planet: Italy, along with writing, book recommendations, and more.
Hi, Karina! Tell our readers a bit about yourself!
I grew up in Florida, love the outdoors, once pulled a small gator out of the river with my bare hands. (Yes, I still type with 10 fingers). My father hooked me on old films at an early age. I had a huge poster of Cary Grant on my wall in highschool. I have lived in other countries- my longest were Italy and Australia. My favorite reds are from Montalcino, Italy and my whites from Malborough, NZ. My surfboard length is the same as my shoe size, 9. I find inspiration and support in the amazing virtual village I’ve built out of strong, creative, brave, amazing women from all parts of the world.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
Shell Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends (I made up extra verses for some of his poems)
The Eleventh Hour, by Graeme Base (I wrote and illustrated my own children’s picture mystery book while in highschool)
Beyond Words, What Animals Think and Feel, by Carl Safina. This book blew me away.
When did you first discover your love for writing?
In elementary school. My mother, a teacher and a writer, inspired me by having me do creative writing exercises over the summer.
A Not So Lonely Planet: Italy is your debut novel and it’s out June 8th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Female-forward, fast, funny, sexy, Italian (did I cheat?)
What can readers expect?
To laugh a lot, and enjoy themselves at Marina’s expense, while also falling in love with her chutzpah and being inspired by the real, historical Italian women she’s discovering on her journey.
What inspired A Not So Lonely Planet?
I’ve travelled extensively and enjoyed quite a few romances along the way. There’s something magical about experiencing a new place with someone special. I’ve been screenwriting for years but this is my first book. It evolved as a prequel to a TV dramedy pilot called Wanderlust, which is Marina’s return home, age 30, after her globetrotting romantic adventures.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
I originally wrote Isabelle Rossellini into the book, not only as one of the featured, real, Italian women of influence, but also as a minor character. I just find her so intelligent, funny and creatively fearless. Her youtube series Green Porno is something magical and I wanted to help promote that. I knew she’d see the female forward nature of the book and the sex positive slant, and be supportive, but alas her agent was not. So, I had to replace her with a fictional character. In the end, this gave me more freedom.
Were there any favourite moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I love the hitch-hiking scene because that really happened to me (only I was on a small Greek Island) But I really like the characters’ conversations about the sexual gaze. Regina’s character, a veteran, Euro sex goddess and actress flips the script on Mulvey’s concept, which presupposes the gaze as disempowering and objectifying the person being watched. Regina teaches Marina the sexual gaze is something to be commanded by the gazee, a power to be respected.
What’s the best and the worst writing advice you have received?
Write everyday. It’s a good goal, but you set yourself up to fail if you don’t cut yourself some slack.
What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I’ve been writing scripts for years but have only written one other book. I spent a year querying agents with no luck and eventually focused on smaller publishers who would be specifically interested in my unique work.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently writing and releasing Wanderlust: Montana chapter by chapter, free to my subscribers at KarinaKennedyBooks.com. This adventure takes us back to Marina’s college days. It tells the story of her first roadtrip with her best friends, from Boca Raton, FL to Montana, in search of cowboys, romance and adventure.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Audio: Parker Posey does a fantastic version of the Betty Fredan classic, The Feminine Mystique.
Romance: Isabelle Lafleche has a great series starting with, J’adore New York. Her smart, sexy, French lawyer heroine finds herself in a new city each book.
Non Fiction: Beyond Words.
