We chat with author Barbara Josselsohn about The Lost Gift to the Italian Island, which is an enchanting, unforgettable novel about desperate decisions in the dark days of war and the uplifting power of true love.
Hi, Barbara! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Sure! I’m a novelist and journalist who loves crafting stories about strong protagonists facing a fork in the road. My newest book is The Lost Gift to the Italian Island, the second in my historical WW2 series and a follow-up to my best-selling Secrets of the Italian Island. I’ve also written five previous novels: The Lilac House, The Cranberry Inn, The Lily Garden, The Bluebell Girls, and The Last Dreamer. As a journalist, I’ve written hundreds of magazines articles and essays for a range of publications including New York Magazine, Parents Magazine, and The New York Times. I teach novel and creative writing at the Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and other venues. I live in Westchester County, New York, and when I’m not writing, I enjoy ballet (both dancing and watching), yoga, reading, and spending time with my husband, our three adult children, and our rescue pup, a mini-schnauzer named Albie.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love reading and writing stories! I think I fell in love with both of those things very young. There’s something about storytelling that connects people with one another and somehow with the wider world. I feel calmer and more grounded when I read and when I write.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Pippi Longstocking — Boy, did I love her! I even dressed as her for Halloween several times!
- The one that made you want to become an author: Little Women – what aspiring author wouldn’t dream of being Jo March?!
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Lessons in Chemistry – what a remarkable characters Elizabeth Zott is!
Your latest novel, The Lost Gift to the Italian Island, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
It’s a novel about love, sisters, war, secrets, and courage.
What can readers expect?
I think readers will find themselves swept up into a world they may not have “visited” before – a world of Mediterranean beauty and enduring love set against the backdrop of loss and unimaginable choices during the darkest days of World War 2.
Where did the inspiration for The Lost Gift to the Italian Island come from?
A couple of years ago, I came across the story of Bruno Abakanowicz, a Polish inventor who acquired a beautiful island on the coast of Brittany and commissioned the building of the castle. He opened his castle to the best artists, inventors, and writers of his time, who went on to craft wonderful work there. But sadly, the castle was overtaken and damaged by the Nazis during World War 2, and this beautiful place of creativity and imagination was no more. How do you deal with something wonderful that ends too soon? How do you still have hope when this is the outcome? What is the antidote to the worst of human nature? These are the questions my historical series deals with, as it follows three sisters who sneak onto such an island in the days before the Nazis arrived and become separated during the invasion. THE LOST GIFT TO THE ITALIAN ISLAND is the story of what happens to the middle sister, Giulia.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved exploring the Italian coastline and getting to know the climate, culture, foods, wines, plants, and flowers that would have been part of my characters’ lives. But even more, I loved writing about Giulia’s evolution – from a sheltered girl who cares mostly about her appearance to a strong, independent young woman capable of great love and enormous courage as the world around her crumbles.
This is your seventh published novel! What are some of the key lessons you have learned when it comes to writing and the publishing world?
Publishing is a tough business for sure, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or become frustrated and insecure. Over the years that I’ve been an author, I’ve learned to trust my instincts, to manage self-doubt, and to embrace the power and charm of storytelling. It’s one of the most fun things a person can do – tell a story!
What’s next for you?
THE LOST GIFT TO THE ITALIAN ISLAND is the second book in my Sisters of War dual-timeline series, which tells the story of three sisters with a complex past who become separated during World War 2. The first book in the series, SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN ISLAND, was about the oldest sister; Annalisa; THE LOST GIFT is about the middle sister, Giulia; and the third book will be about the youngest sister, Emilia. I’m now working on Emilia’s story, which is set to publish in the summer of 2024.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
- Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
- Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
- The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
- Anything by Ann Tyler!
