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ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROMEAll Roads Lead To Rome, sizzles with the kaleidoscope of the Italian Network of Power chronicling the life of American expatriate, Bébé Deverton.
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Interview with Jojo Capece
What inspired this story?
"History, art and diverse Italians inspired me. I began writing the book in 1993, continuing research until its publication in 2011. My want was to write the definitive story of Italy today bringing Italian life alive on every page."
Although this is fiction, there are facts about Italy most people don't discuss.
"A candid chronicle has been my challenge."
What about Italians?
"The philosophy of Italians is unique, coupled with their passion, political situation and economic crisis at the present time. People confided in me and overlapping histories became a tapestry. I used composite characters, blessed the chance to be observant and had the opportunity to know extraordinary people. Every day I kept a diary."
Is the book autobiographical?
"Some will call it fact, some will call it fiction. This is not my memoir although it might read as a memoir in some chapters particularly when my protagonist becomes a sculptor. I couldn't have written ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME unless I experienced some of the moments and understood the composite character of Bébé Deverton. An author's responsibility is to entertain readers, not to bore them. I kept this in mind permitting my pen to have free license to create a candid, witty and compassionate book."
What brought you to Rome?
"Art and history called me to the Eternal City, no different from my last trip made close to publication date. Italy contains 60% of the world's art treasures, my eye is continually satiated in Italy exactly as it was decades ago. Beautiful weather, great food and fascinating people contributed equally with art, history and the tempo of Italian life to keep me in Rome a dozen years."
Did you know the historical figures that appear in your novel or did you invent the incidents and what they said?
"My novel is based on researched facts, what I saw and heard, what I discovered and whom I met referring to 'historical figures.' To protect certain people, they are not mentioned by name. In other instances, the name I gave them in Italian reflects the character of their soul."
How do you view women's equality in Italy today?
"Although women's equality is low by standards set by the Human Rights Commission at 74%, the other side of the spectrum is no one is more important in Italy than one's Mother. They can and do get everything from their families. Privileges from the country of Italy are another matter for Mammas and working women. Like women everywhere, their voice is being awakened. It is a different voice than before, when I first began living in Italy."
Are Italian Men better lovers?
"Italian men know how to flirt. It begins when they flirt with their Mamma and receive all they want as a child. They have a way with words and are not in a hurry to woo a woman. I cannot speak about them being better because I am not an expert on international lovers. Italian men, like men everywhere, want male supremacy. They are charming, sexy and speak with honeyed words."
Politics is an important part of ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. What do you believe is the political position of Italy today?
"I am no genie, nevertheless, Italy will always be Italy and little will change how they tally their books, accept graft, make 'deals' and exclaim their position with passionate rhetoric to seize what they want. It is ingrained in Italians to barter and make arrangements. Berlusconi is one of the remarkable characters of our time. The more one studies him, the more one understands he has been naughty, but he has his fingers on the pulse - his pulse - and the street cleaner who wishes to be him. Unless an exceptional person can change the problems I dilate in my novel, I venture to say Silvio Berlusconi has not met his political demise with his decision November 8, 2011 to step down as Prime Minister due to the debt crisis of Italy. He is the richest man in the country, worth over $6+billion and will rise to the occasion to demonstrate he wants to improve Italy's current problems, avoid prosecution and keep his immunity."
What about the trilogy? What are your plans?
"The second book of the series and an outline of the third was penned when I lived between England and Mexico. Copious notes were transported to and fro and my timetable is to have book two appear at the end of 2012 and book three the following year. If I'm lucky!"
When did you first know you wanted to write and be a storyteller?
"Around five years old, my dearest possession was a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales. I wanted to memorize all the stories read to me. Also, my Italian heritage brought dramatic enactments of tales to entertain children. Writing came later, practiced in my life-long diaries and studying the technique of great authors."
Who are your favorite authors?
"Balzac, Lawrence Durrell, Oscar Wilde, Lampedusa, Dostoyevsky the list goes on, Dorothy Parker, Orwell....then there is Boccaccio, Fellini, Dante, Ovid..."
What is your biggest challenge writing?
"Keeping my private life running smoothly when my writing life wants to take all my time."
"History, art and diverse Italians inspired me. I began writing the book in 1993, continuing research until its publication in 2011. My want was to write the definitive story of Italy today bringing Italian life alive on every page."
Although this is fiction, there are facts about Italy most people don't discuss.
"A candid chronicle has been my challenge."
What about Italians?
"The philosophy of Italians is unique, coupled with their passion, political situation and economic crisis at the present time. People confided in me and overlapping histories became a tapestry. I used composite characters, blessed the chance to be observant and had the opportunity to know extraordinary people. Every day I kept a diary."
Is the book autobiographical?
"Some will call it fact, some will call it fiction. This is not my memoir although it might read as a memoir in some chapters particularly when my protagonist becomes a sculptor. I couldn't have written ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME unless I experienced some of the moments and understood the composite character of Bébé Deverton. An author's responsibility is to entertain readers, not to bore them. I kept this in mind permitting my pen to have free license to create a candid, witty and compassionate book."
What brought you to Rome?
"Art and history called me to the Eternal City, no different from my last trip made close to publication date. Italy contains 60% of the world's art treasures, my eye is continually satiated in Italy exactly as it was decades ago. Beautiful weather, great food and fascinating people contributed equally with art, history and the tempo of Italian life to keep me in Rome a dozen years."
Did you know the historical figures that appear in your novel or did you invent the incidents and what they said?
"My novel is based on researched facts, what I saw and heard, what I discovered and whom I met referring to 'historical figures.' To protect certain people, they are not mentioned by name. In other instances, the name I gave them in Italian reflects the character of their soul."
How do you view women's equality in Italy today?
"Although women's equality is low by standards set by the Human Rights Commission at 74%, the other side of the spectrum is no one is more important in Italy than one's Mother. They can and do get everything from their families. Privileges from the country of Italy are another matter for Mammas and working women. Like women everywhere, their voice is being awakened. It is a different voice than before, when I first began living in Italy."
Are Italian Men better lovers?
"Italian men know how to flirt. It begins when they flirt with their Mamma and receive all they want as a child. They have a way with words and are not in a hurry to woo a woman. I cannot speak about them being better because I am not an expert on international lovers. Italian men, like men everywhere, want male supremacy. They are charming, sexy and speak with honeyed words."
Politics is an important part of ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME. What do you believe is the political position of Italy today?
"I am no genie, nevertheless, Italy will always be Italy and little will change how they tally their books, accept graft, make 'deals' and exclaim their position with passionate rhetoric to seize what they want. It is ingrained in Italians to barter and make arrangements. Berlusconi is one of the remarkable characters of our time. The more one studies him, the more one understands he has been naughty, but he has his fingers on the pulse - his pulse - and the street cleaner who wishes to be him. Unless an exceptional person can change the problems I dilate in my novel, I venture to say Silvio Berlusconi has not met his political demise with his decision November 8, 2011 to step down as Prime Minister due to the debt crisis of Italy. He is the richest man in the country, worth over $6+billion and will rise to the occasion to demonstrate he wants to improve Italy's current problems, avoid prosecution and keep his immunity."
What about the trilogy? What are your plans?
"The second book of the series and an outline of the third was penned when I lived between England and Mexico. Copious notes were transported to and fro and my timetable is to have book two appear at the end of 2012 and book three the following year. If I'm lucky!"
When did you first know you wanted to write and be a storyteller?
"Around five years old, my dearest possession was a book of Grimm's Fairy Tales. I wanted to memorize all the stories read to me. Also, my Italian heritage brought dramatic enactments of tales to entertain children. Writing came later, practiced in my life-long diaries and studying the technique of great authors."
Who are your favorite authors?
"Balzac, Lawrence Durrell, Oscar Wilde, Lampedusa, Dostoyevsky the list goes on, Dorothy Parker, Orwell....then there is Boccaccio, Fellini, Dante, Ovid..."
What is your biggest challenge writing?
"Keeping my private life running smoothly when my writing life wants to take all my time."