Anna Lucia
Born in England, Anna Lucia was a late arrival for older Italian immigrant parents who had left rural poverty in search of better prospects. They came with a way of life that belonged to a different era and culture - Anna's father had fought in the Italian army in WW2, her mother had lived through German occupation.
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Family and church were cornerstones. Dialect Italian was spoken at home, upbringing was strict and traditional, and many summers they did the long drive to Italy to visit elderly relatives. Anna enjoyed listening to their stories about a time and place that were far, far removed from growing up in 1970s and 80s suburbia. Anna was into alternative music, spoke to her parents in English and didn't want to fall into the role expected of good Italian women of years gone by. She topped her convent grammar school at A levels and became the first in her family to go to university, to study French and German.
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Anna has enjoyed a long leadership career in marketing and communications, always fascinated by the psychology of the choices we make. She became a volunteer Relate counsellor, going on to work in the fields of wellbeing, mental health and mentoring.
The transition to writing historical novels was a natural development, based on years of observing and listening to stories of identity and the impact of family history, interest in language, together with exploring her Italian heritage in a fresh light.
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Spirituality has always been part of Anna's life. She has worked in the Catholic Church, heading up a retreat centre and working in a local parish. Today she is more interested in broader interpretations, and has a particular interest in reading tarot, astrology and dream analysis.
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Anna has been awarded support for her writing from Arts Council England. She is a shortlisted contemporary flash fiction writer and writes short stories on themes of identity and relationships.
Anna is Chair of Trustees of literature development agency, New Writing South. She is passionate about supporting and developing writers, leading writing groups, mentoring and providing editorial support.
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When not writing, Anna is most likely to be found gardening, walking in nature, cooking up a storm, reading, or dancing the Charleston.
Anna Lucia's Italian roots
