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What's happening in my literary world...
The Story Behind the Story
Why I Wrote Letters from the Olive Tree
When I first sat down to write Letters from the Olive Tree, I wasn’t just imagining a story but remembering one.
This historical fiction is deeply personal, inspired by my Italian ancestors and the countless stories about their journey to America. Though fictional, the story is grounded in emotional truth. I wanted to explore the quiet courage to leave behind everything you know and the even greater strength to hold onto hope when the world turns cold.
If you’ve ever wondered where we come from and what our ancestors had to sacrifice to get us here, this story might speak to you.
Letters from the Olive Tree is available now on Amazon in print and Kindle. Free on Kindle Unlimited.
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The IAN Interview
https://independentauthornetwork.blogspot.com/2025/05/reese-balducci-ian-interview.html
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The Power of a Promise
What If You Built a Life on a Promise?
At the heart of Letters from the Olive Tree is a vow.
Giovanni Olivi leaves behind the hills of Tuscany and the woman he loves, Ersilia, with a single promise: to build a life in America and send for her. The story that follows is about whether love can withstand the long silence of distance, poverty, and uncertainty.
Promises are easy to make when you’re dreaming under the stars. Much harder when you’re sleeping in a sharecropper’s shack with nothing but calloused hands and a broken heart. This story is for anyone who’s ever fought to keep their word, especially when everything seemed lost.
Get your copy of Letters from the Olive Tree on Amazon Books or Kindle Unlimited. A story rooted in love, sacrifice, and the courage to keep building.
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