Battlefield

I don't know if you know, but I wrote this story in 36 days. I have no idea what Hank was on but he had other things to do that month and wanted to get on with them, rather than deal with Rocco pining for his tempesta. Without further ado, here is the soundtrack for Rocco and Anna's battlefield love story:

I've mixed it up from the original soundtrack, only because I don't want repeats of the same tracks. It tickles the OCD patient hiding within me...

The Claim on Spotify

1. Florence and the Machine Shake It Out 
2. TI ft. John Legend Slide Show
3. Maxwell Pretty Wings
4. Madonna She's Not Me
5. Justin Timberlake What Comes Around
6. Birdy Shelter
7. One Republic Apologize
8. Mumford & Sons I Gave You All
9. Gnarls Barkley Crazy
10. Gnarls Barkley Run
11. Faithless Don't Leave
12. Massive Attack Paradise Circus
13. Arcade Fire Ocean Of Noise
14. Rihanna ft Drake What's My Name
15. Interpol The Lighthouse
16. Zero Seven Ghost Soul
17. The Rapture How Deep Is Your Love
18. Kanye West ft Bon Iver Lost In The Woods
19. Tom Rosenthal Take Care
20. Chaka Khan Love Has Fallen On Me 

Blurred Lines

I know some people think I've made some sort of mistake with my IK books but, believe me I haven't. A long time ago, two and a bit years ago, I was happily writing away on Massimo's story and got stuck. Just plain old stuck. And with most things I get stuck on, I leave it, have a bit of cake, play with some boys (hehehe) and go back to it when I'm ready. That didn't happen until this year. In the meantime, Rocky started chattering to me about his lost love and the Luca wanted to have his past resolved with someone sweet and generous and loving. All the time, Massimo was sitting back, waiting, patiently. That surprised even me, since patience isn't a Da Canaveze trait by a long mile. So while Rocky talks about Massimo's marriage on his book, A Life Sublime tells you all about that wedding and what happened to even get to said wedding. This book pre dates the events of The Claim. I wish I could have written A Life Sublime two years ago, but I wasn't in that place. Neither was my hot muse Hank. There were things we had to experience, to go through, to understand, to feel before I had the maturity to write this book. Plus there's so much Fante in it, I needed my parents to wait a damn minute to get spelling. In truth, the IK order of books should be as follows:

1. Windows
2. On Caristo's Watch
3. A Life Sublime 
4. The Claim
5. Best Laid Plans

Any other story after number five will not cause timeline confusions. I hope. Depending on who shouts the loudest. Massimo was content to wait. I'll have to see who else is.

http://beautifultroublepublishing.com/genres/new-releases-home-page/a-life-sublime-ebook.html

Time Warp

Italian Knight Number 5 is on it's way and my way of celebrating is to remind you of the Italians that came before. Actually, IK5 was supposed to be IK3 but then these two below turned up and were all "tell our story first!" What could I do but obey the legal eagles? May I re-introduce you to Rocco Mamione and Anna Taylor...

• Who are you closest to?

Rocco

The man, the myth, the madness that is Beppe Nardiello. A close second is my Nonna, Elisabetta Mamione. Actually, Nonna and Beppe get on very well. There's a common thread. Madness.

Anna

As long as Imogen doesn't see this, because I have known her longer, but my best friend is Mimi Johnson. She's a surgeon and she reads me like only one other person ever has. And she didn't need to sleep with me to do it. No, that's not gross, Meems, chill out.

• What is your earliest memory?

Rocco

Nonna feeding me lemon cake in her kitchen in Palermo, Sicily. I can still taste that cake now and I understood my nonna's dialect. She's always been funny. Funny haha and funny crazy.  

Anna

Christmas Day. I couldn't have been more than three, I think. And my parents bought me a teddy bear and the thing was about ten times the size of me. I fell completely in love with it. So they were the ones that started the teddy bear obsession. 

• What is your biggest fear?

Rocco

That I'll make the same mistakes as my father and my family will be the ones that suffer for it.

Anna

Never having the same relationship that my parents have with each other. I don't know if anyone will love me like that.

• What are you best at?

Rocco

Ask Anna.

Anna

Ask Rocco.

• Tell us something that will shock us.

Rocco

I have never cheated on anyone. Ever. In my life. 

Anna

I know how to use guns. My daddy insisted. I wanted horse riding lessons instead. Kinda mean now I think about it.

• What do you value in a partner?

Rocco

Loyalty and trust. It can carry the both of you through anything. 

Anna

A little bit of goddamn loyalty would go a long way. And fidelity. Is it really that hard to stay faithful?

• Describe the last time you remember feeling really happy.

Rocco

Anna and I were in France. Skiing. And she said those three little words back to me. Nothing else has ever come close since. 

Anna

I went to France with Roc... my boyfriend at the time and maybe it was the grappa or the high altitude, but we told each other that we loved each other and... Yeah, well. Things never last do they?

• What is your biggest regret?

Rocco

All tied up with the woman a few offices down from my own. 

Anna

It sways between ever meeting Rocco Mamione and the decision to become a lawyer at all. 

• What is the one thing you would change about your life?

Rocco

I would have told Anna everything. Straight away. Maybe not straight away. Jesus, she was a hard nut to crack. Usually, all I do is show the tats and it's a done deal. Really? You want to look? Of course you can, bedda. You only need to ask... 

Anna

My life or me? Same thing right? I wish... I wish life allowed me to be softer. But when you are, people take advantage. Or someone builds a cake shop inside my house. One of the two would be good. 

• What item can't you live without?

Rocco

My Blackstones Criminal Practice book.

Anna

Wine. I defy you to find a solicitor who doesn't drink. A good solicitor. We need it. 

Mr Mamione will see you now...

Italian Knight number 3 is out and it's Rocco Mamione's story aka the fastest and smoothest story I've ever written. Hank and I battered this out like the Mayans gave us our own deadline and the world was going to end this month. I didn't even skip to the sexy parts and fill in the rest - it just flowed, beginning to end. As fast as it was it was also cathartic. I got a quite a few things off my chest about what it means to be a woman, a friend, a daughter. There's also plenty in there that came straight from Lady London - must give her props for the Epilogue especially. I've got words in there that I have heard so many times from other women. The women I meet in my day job, that I work with, that I'm friends with and definitely women I now avoid like the freakin' plague. Ultimately, whatever interpretation people want to put on this back, it's called The Claim for a reason. I don't normally preach, because I'm a live and let live sort of woman, but whatever decisions you do make - man, woman or child - own them. Stand by them. Defend them if need be. Then you'll get the respect you are looking for. Ah, well. When you read it, you'll get it. You know what? Compared to Italian Knight number 4? This is starting to look kinda tame. Hank's been on some special ish, I can't even tell you. Onwards!

The Claim ebook