I have a real passion for the culinary arts and basically anything ethnic or cultural. I specifically enjoy discovering new cultures through cooking and discovering regional Red wines. My claim to fame is my 30 minute appearance on The Food Network with Tyler Florence cooking a phenomenal Italian meal as well as having the opportunity to spend the day and cook with David Boule at Danube Restaurant and in the kitchen of Boule Restaurant in Tribeca, NYC...On a simpler note, one of my favorite things is the smell of Sunday. (If you are Italian, you'll know why) I am a 5 year cooking student with the famous, gorgeous, creatively talented, passionate, sassy, and Sicilian (did I say famous), Chef Carol Frazetta of Staten Island's Carol's Cuisine just to fulfill my passion. September, 2007 I was cooking up some Pasta a la Norma in Sicily, touring vineyards, tasting olive oils, marsala, salts and nibbling on hard cheese. I loved the lemoncello so much I bought a lemon tree and now lemons are growning in my bathroom. Another thing I loved in Italy and miss is the blood orange juice. Time to add to the tree collection...lol I am a huge fan of Indian and Japanese traditional foods but I don't cook them...I find another great way to discover new cultures is through Movies and Music, and Reading biographies as well as well researched fictional works like the DaVinci Code. I like sports but I don't play them, I enjoy recreational running, skiing, general fitness and nutrition and weight training, and lots of quality time with my kids. Cooking fills my soul and so does music. When I can't create, I'm lost. Music, wine tasting, traveling, skiing do it for me. Painting is something I'm getting back into. I consider myself sensual in that my passions tie directly into the gratification of my senses...so basically the ideal job for me would somehow be comprised of music, cooking, writing, wine tasting and travel. I have a thing for electronics and technology and my favorite place to hang out The Apple Store...lol... Another wonderful thing no person should live without is an IPhone oh, and pepperoncino....I put it on almost everything! Ciao!
Music
Sting/Natalie Merchant/U2/Bon Jovi/Alannis Morrisette/Jewel/Nora Jones/Josh Groban/Joss Stone/Bocelli/James Taylor/Phil Collins/Keith Urban/Meatloaf/Beatles/U2/Paul Simon/The Eagles/Melissa Etheridge/The Stones/Don Henley/Outcast/Black-Eyed Peas/Gypsy Kings/KT Tunstall/Bruce Springsteen/Matchbox 20/Anything acoustic (oh, and spanish guitar solos). Did I say U2?..lol.. 70's: Elton John. 80's: old disco, Depeche Mode, The Cure. 90's: Madonna/R&B:Alicia Keys/Luther/Mariah Carey/India Arie/Stevie Wonder, Macy Gray and now Fantasia. On the fence about hip hop/I love, Big Band and Standards. Proud Fanilow
Movies
Sideways,Pretty Woman/Jerry McGuire/Shakespere in Love/Moulin Rouge/Fargo/Pleasantville/Misery/Crash/The Usual Suspects/Primal Fear/The Ice Storm/The American President/Hanna and her Sisters/9 1/2 weeks/The Notebook/Mr and Mrs Smith/Good Will Hunting/Dave/Castaway/As Good as it Gets/Matchpoint/Click/
Under the Tuscan Sun/Meet the Fockers/Anchor Man/40 Year Old Virgin/Harry Potter/Unfaithful/The Ring/Life is Beautiful/Legends of the Fall/Meet Joe Black/Passion of the Christ/Gladiator/Windy City/American Beauty/Austin Powers/What about Bob/The Wedding Singer/Starsky and Hutch/Truly Madly Deeply/Documentaries/Sundance/IFC.
Television
The News
The Biography Channel
I Love Lucy Re-runs
House
American Idol
SpongeBob.
Books
Books I've read (or am reading) Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker... The Secret Lives of Bees, Skinny Bitch, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Twins, A Man and his Meatballs by John Lafemina (ok, well that's a cookbook with a story written by a HS friend), The Kite Runner, Eat Pray Love, Little Children, A Year of Magical Thinking, The Secret, For One More Day, Hard Boiled Men,A Million Little Pieces/The Notebook/DaVinci Code/The Red Tent/Cabinet of Curiosities/Memoirs of a Geisha/Blink/ Street Boys/Lovely Bones/Little Children/The Five People you meet in Heaven/Tuesday's with Morrie/The Gold Coast is one of my all time favs/American Psycho, The Kite Runner, Water for Elephants, A Thousand Splendid Suns, Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, A New Earth, Nineteen Minutes, The Second Nine Months, I'm currently checking out some fellow authors on MS....
Heroes
hmmmm,Hot Copacola, and fresh mozzarella on crusty semolina bread, a delicate drizzle of olive oil from Italy and John's home grown tomatoes and glass of John's homemade wine.
My books Eco-Friendly. They are currently published in Vertical Media which means they are available on CD ROM and in digital formats. Having Papa in the Sky in print is a dream of mine.
First there was a death, then a birth, and a writer emerged.
Soon after, a legacy began...One which cultivates perseverance, acceptance, encouragement and inspires self-esteem and personal growth in both young children and adults.
Classics in the making.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I was raised in an Italian-American household, and grew up one of three daughters. Brooklyn is where I still call home.
As the firstborn in a set of identical twins technically this makes me the middle child; the one supposedly seeking attention. As it turns out, I was the opposite. Growing up, I shied away from attention and my twin sister reveled in it. While my twin chose to be more outward, I was more intrinsic and preferred to inspire quietly, by writing. I have authored eight childrens stories and co-authored one. Eight stories are now featured in Vertical Media. The Caterpillar that Wouldnt Change was my first published story. My other published titles are Massimos Meatballs, The Pizza Man and The Parrots, The Really Jealous Jimmy Crab, Papa in the Sky, Irregular Joe, and Un-Identical Twins. I Am A Dot: A Tale of Punctuation and Purpose will be released October, 2007!
SynergEbooks bestselling story The Caterpillar that Wouldnt Change, a heartwarming story about never giving up, is the impetus for my contributing chapter in the upcoming book Life Manual for 21st Century Women.
I am a member of the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
You may find out more about me and my books at http://www.nancysmure.com
SYNOPSIS of the Books I've written to inspire and delight both Children and Adults:
THE CATERPILLAR THAT WOULDN'T CHANGE by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Kezia Terracciano
Available in English or Spanish GET IT HERE!
We have all experienced a moment in our lives when we didn't want something to change: a school commencement, someone to leave us, or a day to never end. Imagine a caterpillar not wanting to become a butterfly. In The Caterpillar that Wouldnt Change, when another caterpillar, Franny, informs Nelle they must turn into butterflies, Nelle resists the change. When Franny reappears as a beautiful monarch butterfly she motivates her feeble friend with a single phrase. Once a butterfly, Nellie realizes that change is often better than expected. The storys simple format and lovely illustrations hold a life-changing message: Our dreams are our choices.
MASSIMO'S MEATBALLS by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Margot Miller GET IT HERE!
The tree-lined streets of Brooklyn are the backdrop for this imaginative picture book about a boy who loves the smell of Sunday. Massimo's Meatballs is a fun story about a young boy and his Sunday ritual of eating meatballs. The lighthearted events unfold as Massimo takes the task on himself! He recalls the recipe from memory- improvises when necessary and uses the help of his beloved dog and next-door neighbor Carmine. The story ends the way any Italian/American meal does- with too much food for one person to eat and the chance to share with your friends.
THE PIZZA MAN AND THE PARROTS by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Tom Torre GET IT HERE!
Mr. Martinelli, a good natured pizza man is amazed to see twelve green parrots tropical birds on the electrical wires outside of his pizzeria in January! He feeds the birds a scattering of breadcrumbs but the parrots snub his offerings: they want rice balls! Mr. Martinelli prepares the rice balls but the hungry birds refuse them. Despite his crowded pizzeria, Mr. Martinelli tries to please the intelligent birds who begin to make demands: no parsley, no sauce, no cheese! The so-called adaptable creatures prove to be the pizza mans toughest customers!
PAPA IN THE SKY by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Bri Hermanson GET IT HERE!
Papa in the Sky, told gently in a childs voice, is an inspiriting story about death and heaven. The Author describes heaven as a glorious table where everyone eventually gathers to eat and there's always an empty chair waiting... The imaginative journey begins with a young girl Ruby, along with her brother Jimmy, who every night blesses Papa in the Sky. They've seen Papa in pictures throughout their house. Now they want to know more about him. Their mother tells them about the man, then pursues her childrens other questions about Heaven. Jimmy and Ruby discover the power of remembering and how it keeps loved ones alive.
THE REALLY JEALOUS JIMMY CRAB by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Bobby Nelson GET IT HERE!
The mystical story with a Rockaway Beach backdrop is about Karma. In The Really Jealous Jimmy Crab, the main character, Jimmy Beetles has one thing on his crabby little mind himself! He steals an oysters pearl intending to carve the colossal jewel into a crown, then anoints himself Royal Blue, King of the Ocean Floor. The wise and majestic oyster warns Royal Blue not to steal the gem, but he takes it home. Mysteriously, strong undercurrents wedge the pearl in Royal Blues burrow to trap him, and then eventually release him. Remembering the oysters warning, Royal Blue hurries to the oyster to beg for its spell to be removed. Royal Blue discovers what it takes to be king and learns that the world is not 'his Oyster.'
IRREGULAR JOE - by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Casey Gathy GET IT HERE!
Every Sunday, and especially on holidays, the Normale family gathers to eat dinner. They are a large Italian family. Yet Young Joe Normale feels ordinary among them and it’s no wonder: each member of his large family is named Joe in some form! With a new addition on the way “How many more Joes can there be?” Young Joe wonders. Even the coffee is called Joe! A one-day sale of irregular items helps him to put his feelings in perspective and he discovers that he's no regular Joe! The story mingles family customs with homonyms and humor to show what's really in a name.
LIFE MANUAL FOR 21st CENTURY WOMEN
Nancy S.Mure - Contributing Author
GET IT HERE!
Life Manual for 21st Century Women is created and dedicated to all the women seekers in the world- it contains the wisdom, experience, life stories and hearts of 22 great women from everywhere in the world. It is intended to help us, our daughters, sisters, girlfriends, wives, and every woman who is looking for guidance, support, solutions, and "what to do" in many aspects in her life. These are real life stories who will speak directly to your subconscious mind and will remind us of what is finally and truly important.
Available at Amazon.com
UN-IDENTICAL TWINS by Nancy S. Mure
Illustrated by Robyn Ng GET IT HERE!
Can twins be Unique and Identical? Would that make them Un-Identical? It's something to consider. Although they look alike, Abby and Gabby are very different in personality and in the way each feels about being a twin. Abby doesn’t like the attention being a twin brings. She doesn’t like sharing birthdays, wearing the same clothes or that her name has to rhyme with her sister’s. Abby asserts herself. She sets out to prove that she is unique and some ways above being a twin but instead discovers how fortunate she really is.
I AM A DOT: A Tale about Punctuation and Purpose
An ingenious collaborative effort by Nancy S. Mure and first-time Author, Jeanne Glassman Clair, LCSW
Illustrated by Alex T. Lee GET IT HERE!
Imagine a dot so bored with its existence that it takes a journey. In “I am a Dot: A Tale about Punctuation and Purpose”, Dot encounters many characters along the way: a line, a hook, a semi-circular line and other dots. With each new relationship, Dot learns more about how it feels and what it wants through a selective process which leads to self-discovery. In the end, Dot develops a new understanding of its function and what it wants to truly be. The story reminds us that we have many choices about how we wish to function in our lives. It is a fun way for teachers and parents to help children learn about the many functions of a dot. Most importantly, it reminds us all to pay attention to our feelings. They are our internal road map and can show us the way to our hearts’ longing.
THE PINK LIZARD by Nancy S. Mure Illustrated by Amy E. Chace
Hillary is a chameleon who lives in the rain forest. She is pink. The other lizards reject her because of her color. Determined to befriend them, she displays stellar hunting and climbing skills but her efforts fail. Exhausted and rejected, Hillary becomes saddened causing her scales to change during the night. She catches a glimpse of her reflection, sees that she is no longer pink and approaches the lizards, who then befriend her. As Hillary grows happier, her scales turn pink again. The Pink Lizard is an inspiring story about accepting others based on merit. Its theme teaches that as different as we all may be, we are very much the same. Coming September, 2008
Who I'd like to meet: Publishers, Editors, Literary agents, fellow Writers and Authors, Filmmakers interested in creating animated shorts.
Book review anyone?
Just so you know: the only cheesy thing I prefer is pizza.
Cheesy comments and tasteless new friend requests will be deleted.
The winery is called Westport Rivers, it is about 20 minutes east of Providence Rhode Island.
It would be quite a trip for you.
I got the idea from a few readers. When I realized that a few people were flying in for the book launch party, I though it would be a good idea to make a weekend of it and add the winery tour.
It's neat that readers can see where the action in my books takes place. S&V is about 80% on this actual site. A Demon Awaits begins here and moves into the surrounding towns.
Should be fun. You're welcome to come along if you want to make the drive up, but it is probably about 3 hours for you.
I'm finished with A Demon Awaits , just waiting for cover art now.
In the meantime, I'm planning a winery tour to visit the winery where Sin and Vengeance takes place. So far I've gotten a grea response, so I hope it will be a great event.
you have great taste in music...and the way you remember your song lines is impressive! Nice job on the traffic article...so since you had such a great reference for your article...do you think you could use that person for a movie? or is it..."as I dream about movies they won't make of me when I am dead..."
Hey Nancy: Thank you so much for your get well wishes. Very much appreciated! How excited that you're reviewing your contract! I'm just thrilled for you!
It's always such a pleasure to meet a fellow author. The synopses of your books sound absolutely delightful! Sort of like an art gallery of whimsical paintings that one wants to jump right into!
Dark Regions Press invites you to enjoy four fine new books for preorder! These titles include: Shadows and Other Tales by Tony Richards, Wings by Sarah A. Hoyt, The Nightmare Collection by Bruce Boston and Ennui: And Other States of Madness by David Niall Wilson.
For more information on these works, either click here to visit our blog about them, or visit us directly at:
My son is six and he enjoys reading on the computer. And playing video games, and watching last night's Nova ScienceNows, etc. May take that generation to give digital books an edge, but it will happen.
Thanks for sharing the journey. (Is that too cheesy?)
You are too freakin funny!!! I am soooooo FREEEEEEEE! Peter & kids just left for a fun-filled weekend of disfunction. Havin a drama free weekend!! Hope you are too!!!
Hey iwrite, thanks for becoming friends with Agents of Karma. Perhaps we'll see you at a performance sometime. Until then, Peace Out and good Karma to you always from, Jayster, Conrad + Paddymyke:) AOK / NYC
