I never dreamed when I wrote my book, The Japanese Art of Sex: How to tease, seduce and pleasure the samurai in your bedroom, I would be speaking about geisha and performing Japanese dance in Venice, Italy at La Biennale, the oldest and most prestigious cultural arts festival in the world.
Going to La Biennale on a boat taxi!
I also had the opportunity to meet my Italian Harlequin Editor, Alessandra Bazardi, and sign copies of my Spice novel, The Blonde Geisha, in Italian: Passioni di una Geisha.
How did this all happen? It was just like a fairy tale…
Once upon a time my nonfiction book featuring geisha, The Japanese Art of Sex, was translated into Italian…
Along with my coming-of-age novel, The Blonde Geisha.
Rino De Pace, the coordinator, at La Biennale invited me to be part of the dance festival and on the panel debating on the subject of using the body as an erotic medium of expression with critics and performers from around the world.
Stefania Lora helped me finalize the plans and the PR director, Lucia Da Re (you’ll meet Lucia in the video) assisted me when I was there (you met Enrico Dal Bianco, my Italian bodyguard, in my private boat taxi video).
And then there was Alessandra Bazardi from Harlequin Italy. She was fabulous! Bringing copies of my Passioni di una Geisha books from Milano, setting up a book signing and taking me to dinner afterward. Grazie, Alessandra!
Grazie a Alessandra Bazardi di Harlequin Italia e Stefania Lora di La Biennale!!
Click on links below if you've missed previous posts re: Jina's Venice Videos:
Jina's Venice Videos: My Private Boat Taxi to Hotel Saturnia
Jina's Venice Videos: Hotel Saturnia: Jina’s room
Jina's Venice Videos: Jina takes you on a tour of Hotel Saturnia
Jina's Venice Videos: Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and Gondolas
Jina's Venice Videos: Bookstores and Gelati Shops
6 comments:
As always it was fun to watch the footage Jina. You were so lucky to be a part of that festival.
I've enjoyed your Venice series! Thanks for sharing your Italian adventure.
It all started with writing a damn good book!
You're so right, Michelle. I was indeed lucky to be part of the festival. La Biennale staff treated me like a celebrity. And Alessandra from Harlequin has since become a very good friend as well as a colleague.
I will never forget it!
You're welcome, Wynter. Venice is a city of books and gelati and St. Mark's Square, but it's also a city where everyone walks! When you do go to Venice, wear your most comfortable shoes.
Thankz, Dalton. Yes, you're right, it all started with my nonfiction book, The Japanese Art of Sex (which was recently re-released in Italy!). I talk about everything from how the geisha coordinates her kimono colors according to the season to dildos.
Post a Comment