On The Road to Firenze Via Bologna (1980) With An Unexpected Stop In Jerusalem (2023)
March 27, 2023. It’s been a difficult week.
The country where I reside is in turmoil.
It’s troubled. Breaking news isn’t once a day, nor twice a day. Breaking news is every hour.
It’s difficult to think, to concentrate, to write. Even the weather is unsettling.
Springtime sun and Mediterranean Blue Skies disappeared, covered by thick layers of dust, clouds and unexpected rain while the intermittent dry, desert winds drive people to the brink of lunacy.
Hopelessness wavers over the masses.
And with the uplifting and interwoven holidays of Passover and Easter just around the corner, the joy of springtime gladness and celebration disperses into little drops of doubt, fear and unwanted anxiety.
Every Saturday night citizens of all ages leave their homes, head for the cities, gather in the streets, wave their flags and banners, encourage each other in an uplifting vibration of love and optimism that the country’s democracy will remain intact.
And the future?
The joke of the days is,”What’s the difference between Bibi and Putin?” The answer, “Nothing.”
Turn the Dial, Change the Channel, Let’s Get Back On Track
Walker Books In Bologna, Italy
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair, an annual springtime, four-day event is singularly the most important international book fair for children’s books.
Since its inception in 1979, Sebastian Walker attended the Bologna Book Fair. Within 2 years, Walker Books created an imaginative booth with shelves filled with successful fiction and non-fiction co-editions series printed in a variety of languages.
There was a wall full of artwork by our top illustrators and tables filled with presentation ‘dummies,’ pop-up books produced with Waldo Hunt, board books, novelty items and general information on our new series.
Art Director, Amelia Edwards and Editor-In-Chief, Wendy Boase never left the booth.
On the other hand, Sebastian roamed the vast halls to meet with friends, colleagues, print companies and major publishers. In his smooth, seductive manner, Sebastian maneuvered top executives and representatives to our booth where ‘Amelia And The Artwork’ and ‘Wendy With Her Words’ would continue the sales pitch.
I too roamed the fair. I met with representatives of small publishing companies and book clubs from Canada, Denmark, Japan, South America and Sweden.
It was fun. It was exhausting. It was 20 hours a day.
After long hours at the fair, a quick shower and change of clothes, off we we went to a late night dinner at Sebastian’s choice of the finest seafood restaurants in Bologna. And this is where and when the Walker Team, with Sebastian at the helm, completed the seduction of the American executive elite of children’s book publishing.
It was at one of these heavenly meals that I met Sheldon Fogelman, a redheaded, hilariously funny New York Jewish lawyer/agent. We enthusiastically laughed away the hours. Among Shelly’s clients were Maurice Sendak and David Susskind. I’m proud to say, he was my first agent.
My book fair experience was an exciting and successful journey. After the fourth day of intense negotiations resulting in contracts, Sebastian and Wendy flew back to London while Amelia and I traveled by train to Firenze.
Tuscany and Our First Hours in Florence, Italy
This was before high-speed train service. For several hours we slowly chugged along the beauty of Tuscany.
It was late afternoon when Amelia and I arrived at the Firenze train station. We decided to travel by taxi, luggage and all, to the ‘Piazzale Michelangelo’ to enjoy the bronze statue of David and the setting sun.
It was glorious.
Our eyes were filled with rich Italian colors and breathtaking images. Our taxi drove us to our small hotel tucked away in a quiet side street.
For the next 8 days, Amelia and I would be tourists in the City of Firenze.
Home of the Medici Family, the birthplace, heart and soul of the Italian Renaissance where magnificent works of art decorated private and public altars, chapels and Catholic Churches.
That first night, after dining in a local café, we walked around our neighborhood and were rewarded with a much needed, long, deep, restful sleep.
That would be the only night I ever slept in Firenze.
For the next 7 nights, every time I closed my eyes to sleep, Leonardo Da Vinci came to me in a whirlwind of visions.
More about my reunion with Da Vinci and my sleepless nights – the next time we meet?
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