Vanessa Navicelli

Vanessa Navicelli: this is me I was born in the North of Italy, in a small village on the hills, not far from the river Po. I grew up with The Little House on the Prairie, with t...ver maisVanessa Navicelli: this is me I was born in the North of Italy, in a small village on the hills, not far from the river Po. I grew up with The Little House on the Prairie, with the American movies of the 40s and the 50s (all sorts!), with Italian neorealist movies, with English 19th century novels and with Giovannino Guareschi’s novels, The little world of don Camillo (which in the American movie version had Orson Welles as a voiceover narrator). I attended a Scientific High School and then I started to study Literature and Philosophy at the University of Pavia (near Milan), where I still live today. I had several jobs (while attending some writing and screenwriting courses): I gave private lessons, I worked in a small communication agency, in an antique shop and other things. Now I babysit a very sweet little girl; this helps me financially and gives me time to do what I love most of all: writing. With my unpublished novel “The bread under the snow” I was one of 21 finalists – from among 1100 participants – of the “La Giara” 2012 Literary Prize for Unpublished Novels, a scheme created by RAI, Italian State Television. I was in fact selected as the winner for the Emilia Romagna region. In 2008 and in 2009 I participated, with some of my poems and nursery rhymes, in a touring poem exhibition, which was organized to spread the message of peace and to raise funds for Amnesty International, Emergency and for the Saharawi population. When I need to reflect I make soap bubbles; at night. I recharge my batteries under the spring sun and the winter snow. Other climatic conditions have a terrible effect on me (making me sleepy, irritable and bringing out the killer instinct in me). I deeply love Christmas time (and have lights and decorations in my house all year round). I have a dog whose name is Spank. He does not know how to bark. But, after all, neither do I. I write novels for adults and young adults; and short stories for children. When I write, I try to keep four things in mind: simplicity, empathy, humour and the real desire to tell a story. I believe in kindness. And in humour. (Maybe it’s humorous to believe in kindness...). Frank Capra once said: “In my opinion, with humour and affection we promote good instincts. They’re a tonic for the whole world.” I endorse it. And I also endorse Giacomo Puccini's words when he said: “I want to get to people’s heart.” I’m sure that goodness brings goodness. And I love to tell it. # # # Vanessa Navicelli: chi sono Sono nata in un piccolo paese di collina, in Emilia, ma da anni vivo a Pavia. Sono cresciuta coi film neorealisti italiani, con le commedie e i musical americani, coi cartoni animati giapponesi, coi romanzi dell’Ottocento inglese e coi libri di Giovannino Guareschi. (Be’, sì... anche coi miei genitori.) Nel 2012, col romanzo inedito “Il pane sotto la neve”, sono stata tra i finalisti del Premio Letterario "La Giara", indetto dalla RAI. Sono stata selezionata come vincitrice per l'Emilia Romagna (la mia regione). Sempre nel 2012, ho vinto la sezione “scritture per ragazzi” dello Scriba Festival, organizzato da Carlo Lucarelli. Nel 2008 e nel 2009 ho partecipato, con diverse poesie e filastrocche, ad una mostra itinerante di poesia, legata al concorso Carapacetiscrivo, organizzata per diffondere una cultura di pace e per raccogliere fondi per Amnesty International, Emergency e per il popolo Saharawi. Quando devo riflettere faccio bolle di sapone; di notte. Mi ricarico col sole primaverile e con la neve. Le altre condizioni atmosferiche hanno su di me un effetto devastante (sonnolenza, irritabilità, istinti assassini...). Rivendico il diritto ad amare il Natale (tengo le decorazioni natalizie in casa tutto l’anno). Ho un cane, di nome Spank, che non sa abbaiare. Ma in fondo non lo so fare nemmeno io. Scrivo romanzi per adulti e ragazzi; e storie per bambini. Quando scrivo, cerco di tenere presente quattro cose: la semplicità, l’empatia, l’umorismo, la voglia vera di raccontare una storia. Credo nella gentilezza. E nell’umorismo. (Forse è umoristico credere nella gentilezza...) Frank Capra diceva: “Con humour e affetto si favoriscono, a mio avviso, i buoni istinti. Sono un tonico per il mondo intero.” Lo sottoscrivo. Io sono convinta che dal bene nasce il bene. E mi piace raccontarlo.ver menos