Very pleased to share with you that the audio book of The Proxy Bride has been released! It is narrated by Italian-Australian film, tv and theatre performer, Lucia Mastrantone (her most recent role being in the stage play, Looking for Alibrandi). Many thanks to Lucia for her wonderful narration and to Wavesound and HarperCollins. (You may listen to a free sample at Audible.)
Happy to say that all three books are available in paperback, ebook and audiobook now. And, after being sold out for a time, the paperback versions of Mezza Italiana and Joe’s Fruit Shop and Milk Bar are each again in stock both online and in stores, or your local bookshop can order a copy in for you.
Thank you for your ongoing care and interest in my books. I feel so fortunate to be able to share these stories with you and I also appreciate very much your loyalty to them as I take various paths. Whether I venture into fiction or non-fiction at different times, I will always endeavour to do my very best in researching, interviewing and writing to create these books, putting my heart and truth into each one as well. I couldn’t wish for more wonderful readers to share them with and am very grateful – thank you! Baci e abbracci, Zoë x
It was actually Nonno Anni who originally gave me the idea for, The Proxy Bride. When I was talking to him about his life for Joe’s, he mentioned by chance that during WW2 when he and other Italian men were taken from farms around Stanthorpe and sent to internment camps, the women and children suddenly left alone did it very tough. He later heard they were given no assistance and with curfews and restrictions weren’t allowed to drive, many didn’t know how to use the farm equipment or ride a horse and faced poverty and starvation. He mentioned this group of women who banded together to keep their farms going. That really struck me and I felt I’d come back and write about it. When I learnt that some of these women were also proxy brides, it opened up more to the story.
Zoë Boccabella 