In Quotation Marks

Growing up, I didn’t always know what I wanted to be, but I knew one thing for sure: by the age of 30, I wanted to write a book.

Of course, as usual, I procrastinated until the last minute. It took a layoff earlier this year to finally push me to sit down and write. Then, life happened. A lot happened, honestly.
I lost sight of the goal amid the whirlwind of personal struggles and the sheer heaviness of the world. 2024 hasn’t been kind to anyone, but I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for those directly affected by wars, on top of the daily chaos and mundane frustrations we all deal with.

And yet, here I am, nearing the end of the year, facing even more challenges in my private and professional life. And oddly enough, I feel accomplished. Accomplished because, despite everything, I still have this dream—this anchor.

In Italian, we call it a “sogno nel cassetto” (a dream in a drawer). And finally, after months of gathering dust, my first book has come to life.

It’s not the gripping novel or the tear-jerking poetry collection I once dreamed of publishing. But it is a little piece of my heart. Vulnerable, honest, and full of the authenticity I always wanted my first book to have.
“In Quotation Marks” is a short collection of drawings I made, each one inspired by some of the best books I’ve read, paired with my personal commentary.

I owe so much to Monika Kozub for helping me turning this project into a reality. She patiently edited my ramblings and created a layout that is as lovely as it is readable. Without her, this dream might still be sitting in that drawer.

I know: it’s ironic that I’ve published my first book on Amazon. I have no idea who will read it beyond my family and a couple of friends with incurable cheerleading tendencies.
But I’m proud of one thing: every cent of the proceeds will go to the Middle East Children’s Alliance, supporting humanitarian efforts for those who need it most in a year like this.

So, if you decide to buy “In Quotation Marks”, I hope you’ll enjoy it. And if you don’t, it’s almost Christmas… you can always wrap it up, and give it to that uncle you always argue with. Nothing feels better than doing good out of spite 🤭

“In Quotation Marks” is now available on Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/8w6SGKz