How a Novel is Born Among the Superyachts of Monaco
In the summer of 2021, as the Covid-19 pandemic was finally slowing down, my teenage son and I took a trip to Italy. Travel restrictions had been lifted only a few days before, and Rome was almost entirely empty of
In the summer of 2021, my teenage son and I embarked on a trip to Italy, a destination nearly devoid of tourists as Covid-19 restrictions had just been lifted. We traversed the city, exploring iconic landmarks such as the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum. The Vatican's Sistine Chapel, almost empty, left a lasting impression on me.
Amidst all this opulence, I couldn't help but notice the sleek superyachts anchored or berthed just offshore, glinting in the sun like glittering jewels. This sight sparked the genesis of my novel The Red Dress. Amidst the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic, I, a healthcare worker, found respite in Italy. However, the pandemic's toll was evident in the stark emptiness of hospital ICUs, where patients passed away silently on ventilators.
Society fractured during this time, with essential workers, especially executives and administrators, disappearing into the virtual world of Zoom meetings. The pandemic exposed deep divisions within society, with non-essential workers abandoning their duties while essential healthcare workers faced inadequate PPE and long hours.
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