Margherita's Notebook (36 page)

After years of television, we decided to put ourselves to the test by writing a novel, and we wish to thank all those who supported and encouraged us in this new adventure.

First of all, special thanks go to Dino Audino, who has always backed us, urging us to stick our necks out.

Special thanks also go to our agent, Maria Paola Romeo, whom we met at the Women's Fiction Festival, and who believed in us. And we also wish to thank the other promoters of the festival, Elizabeth Jennings and Mariateresa Cascino, who offered us the chance to enter the publishing world.

Heartfelt thanks go to our editors, Giulia De Biase and Valentina Rossi, who fell in love with our coldhearted Nicola and gave us some precious advice on how to improve Margherita's story.

We also wish to express our gratitude to Paolo Poeti, who taught us everything we know about wine.

Thanks also go to Angela Padrone, who revealed to us the secret of her chocolate cake.

Special thanks go to June Ross, who supported us from the very start.

Loving thanks go to our husbands, Franco and Marco, who put up with us . . . and put up with us . . . during the gestation and writing of the novel.

Last, thanks to all our friends, who continue to be amused by our stories.

Elisabetta and Gabriella

Washington Square Press

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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 by Sperling & Kupfer Editori S.p.A. by arrangement with Grandi & Associati, Milan

Originally published in Italian in 2013 by Sperling & Kupfer Editori S.p.A. by arrangement with Grandi & Associati, Milan.

English language translation copyright © 2016 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

English language translation by Sylvia Notini

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Atria Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Washington Square Press trade paperback edition July 2016

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Interior design by Kyoko Watanabe

Cover design by Jennifer Heuer

Cover image © Itchysan/Getty Images (farm); © Knape/Getty Images (tomatoes)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Flumeri, Elisabetta, author. | Giacometti, Gabriella (Novelist), author.

Title: Margherita's notebook / by Elisabetta Flumeri and Gabriella Giacometti.

Other titles: Amoré un bacio di dama. English

Description: New York : Washington Square Press, 2016. | Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016021063 (print) | LCCN 2016014545 (ebook) | Subjects: LCSH: Cooking, Italian—Fiction. | Women Cooks—Italy—Tuscany—Fiction. | Man-woman relationships—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Contemporary Women. | FICTION / Romance / Contemporary. | FICTION / Literary. | GSAFD: Love stories. | Romance fiction.

Classification: LCC PQ4906.L86 (print) | LCC PQ4906.L86 A413 2016 (ebook)

DDC 853/.92—dc23

LC record available at
https://lccn.loc.gov/2016021063

ISBN 978-1-4767-8602-5

ISBN 978-1-4767-8605-6 (ebook)