Name: Anne Pickering
Email Address: anne@falconmining.com.au
I am reading “Finding Nino”. I found “Finding Nino” at Dymocks Sydney?? Melbourne?? I forget where, and it was AUTOGRAPHED!! “FOR INSPIRATION….” you wrote. Your book certainly is inspiring. I LOVE Italy (who wouldn’t) and wouldn’t you know it?? THANK YOU!! for bringing back vividly memories of child-bearing/rearing years! I LOVE the way you write and I hope there will be many more books penned by yourself! Thank you …. Sincerely, Anne Pickering
I’m working on a bit of a new project. It’s called www.dayspaguide.com.au.
It lists every Day Spa and spa resort in Australia.
I’m an avid travel book reader and I’ve devoured two amazing books recently. Finding Nino - a Seachange in Italy, by Marc Llewellyn. This is an Australian author who fled the rat race with his wife, baby and dog to live on a tiny Italian island. I think this is the best travel book of its kind ever. Very, very honest and hilarious too. There is a website: www.findingnino.com.au Another book I think is great is The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow. This is about a voyage by mirror dingy from the UK to the Black Sea. Very funny book
It’s spring in Australia and I’ve just pulled out the last of the peas. The tomatoes are growing strongly, including seedlings from varieties from Lipari, and I’m really enjoying cavalo nero - or Tuscan Kale. I’ve planted some Italian-style eggplants (aubergines) and the striped Italian beetroot are ready. we now have six chickens producing eggs regularly and two ducks - with three ducklings so far. This winter I planted a few more fruit trees on our 40 acres of dry scrubby land down south, including some European apples and plums. I hope the kangarros and wild goats don’t get them. We are planning on visiting he Mediterranean again next European summer - and may even get back to Lipari!
Hi Marc— I just finished reading “Finding Nino” and I felt like I was back on Lipari, even though I just left there a month ago. As soon as I got back to the USA I ordered three copies off the internet—-I gave one copy to my family doctor as his family is from Lipari … . I’ve mentioned your name and “Finding Nino” to all my friends and relatives, as I loved the book so much. Hopefully it can become as popular here is I assume it is in Australia. Before I go any further I should tell you a little about myself so that you can understand why I relate to your book so well. I was born in Furnari on the north coast of Sicily (near Barcellona, Milazzo) From my house we could see the Isole Eolie. My family and I immigrated to America in 1953 (I was 8 years old and the youngest of seven children) I took my first return trip to Sicily, along with my husband, in 1986. Since then I’ve gone back four more times, the most recent this past September. Now I had heard about the Islands all my life—my father (whose name was Tindaro) was a musician and used to go to Lipari to play in the bands, and would always bring back a container of capers. (By the way I loved the part in the book about picking capers—people used to think I was crazy when I used to say we couldn’t can tomatoes if it was that time of the month). Oh there is so much I can relate to in your book, especially with your perception of everyone… Elia
Name: matt.walters@three.com.au
Message: Hi Marc,
Just read your book ‘Riders to the Midnight Sun’. Fantastic book mate. Came on here to see if there were further books for me to chase down.
Keep up the adventure.
Cheers,
Matt
Brisbane QLD
Hi Marc,
I just want to congratulate you on your book “Finding Nino” which I have just completed while on holidays. I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn’t wait to pick it up each day to see what happened next. I particularly loved your honesty about becoming a parent. Difficult enough in the familiar surrounds of a comfortable home in Australia without the added challenges of a foreign country. Hats off to you and your wife for your efforts. The result (the book) was worth the effort so we can all enjoy your sea-change.
Best wishes
Janine Harrison
Email Address: sara.antunes@gmail.com
Message: Ciao Marco,
Your blog is outdated, you have now sold 450,222 copies of “Finding Nino”!
I can’t wait to get my hands on it; I read bits from the Harper Collins website and so far, I’ve loved it.
I am a Portuguese living in London with an Irish boyfriend and I have been thinking of leaving the rat race and daydreaming about Lipari - we went there last year and I was besotted both with the island and the people. They were all mad, but in a recognisable way; I am Portuguese after all, and if there’s one thing that living in London has taught is, I am Mediterranean.
Like you, I seem to have an itch for change and thus, feel Portuguese in London and an alien in Portugal 
Alas, your book came at the right time, I stumbled upon it just as I was looking at properties for sale in Lipari. As much as I think I would feel right at home in the Isoli Eoli, my bf is not Mediterranean and there are things I need to consider.
Perhaps we could try and holiday there every year, but moving would be too much of a change for my Paddy.
Thanks for the insight on the island and thanks for existing.
Somehow knowing that there are people like me out there, with the right dose of naivité and courage to chase their dreams is an inspiration.
All the best,
Sara
Hi Marc, Rohan, Louis and Charlie,
Have just finished reading your book this morning. Being an Italophile I must say it is one of my favourite reads of Italian life, you were just so open and honest about the effect the whole adventure had on your family. It wasn’t all glam and pretty. We have been to Italy twice, the first time we did a tour of 14 days and basically did an overview, next time we walked the Cinque Terre which we loved, we then went onto Rome and spent a few days there.
Our 2 sons have lived in Italy and both speak fluent Italian. no 2 met us in London where he lives and then we flew to Genoa and into the Cinque by train meeting his Austrian girlfriend there. We stayed in a lovely hotel in Vernazza and our son proposed to her on the beach there. The wedding is later in the year in Vienna. Maybe we will fit some more time in iin Italy.
Have you written any more books?
Regards,
Barbara
Name: Karen Prisco
Email Address: feb13th@aol.com
Message: Hi Marc,
I just found your book online at the Lipari (Aeolian Islands) website. To say that I was thrilled is a true understatement. I’m from the USA and in my youth (some 30 some odd years ago!) I lived on Lipari for a total of about 8 months over a two year period. As an American woman traveling alone I was a rare breed at that time especially since American tourists in general were rare. Most tourist were Italian or other Europeans. I made my living as a street vendor selling hand made jewelry and small leather goods to the tourists on Vulcano. I would go from Lipari to Vulcano daily by fishing boat, and I sold my wares at the harbor at a little triangle off the end of a cafe dining area. I have such fond memories!!! The people were very good to me, and I treasure those memories. I have often thought of going back for a visit, but unfortunately for me it hasn’t happened yet. Hopefully one day I will. From pictures that I’ve seen online it has changed quite a bit and seems much more commercial rather than the charming and quaint place that I remember. Also, I see that there are four ports now when I remember only two. Well enough of my babbling … but it has sure been nice reminiscing. Thank you so much for taking me back in time!! I just ordered your book online, and can’t wait to get it so I can again be immersed is the culture that is Lipari.
Sincerely,
Karen
PS - you should definitely consider publishing in the USA.