Jo Piazza has written 12 books, and shes not afraid to play favorites.
The book is inspired by Piazzas great-great-grandmother, Lorenza Marsala, who was also murdered in Sicily.
We found some crazy bombshells going through the records of the town, she says.
About her murder and who she was murdered with, which is something we did not know.
The recent fixation on themob wife aestheticcould not have been more perfectly timed toThe Sicilian Inheritance.
There is really something to big Sicilian energy, says Piazza, whos based in Philadelphia and the Catskills.
On writing from anywhere:
I write all the time at all times, in all places.
Have laptop, will write.
I would write on my Blackberry half the time.
I miss the Blackberry, to be honest.
Sometimes I still write on my phone.
I love coming up to New York on Amtrak because I love writing on trains.
I love writing on planes when Im alone I do my best writing on planes.
Its uninterrupted, because I never buy plane WiFi anymore, because its $100.
And there are no distractions.
So a long flight without my children is just its my dream.
And Im like, Where can I fly?
Ive got sage on my desk that I have been lighting to bring about good things.
I lit it when we were going for the book deal.
My only indulgence isexpensive candles: Diptyque, which is everyones favorite brand.
And then we have Catskills Candle Studio candles that I buy up in the Catskills.
I buy it every time that Im up there.
Theres a local Philadelphia brand called Dilo that I really like.
And theyre right down the street from me.
So I dont understand writers block.
I do have days where its harder.
Its so funny I think women are probably more efficient writers than men.
I talk to male writers a lot: I have to be in the perfect space.
I have to be in a cabin in the woods.
Its got to be very quiet.
On her entrepreneurial pipe dream:
I eat cheese and chocolate constantly.
Its a really well-rounded diet.
Its called Nice Things, because we deserve nice things.
And who doesnt want nice things?
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
