Character Interview with Angelica Delfino from Joanne Guidiccio's, No More Secrets

 

Character Interview – Angelica Delfino

 

Today, I’m interviewing Angelica Delfino, the protagonist of No More Secrets.

 

Thank you for joining me, Angelica. Tell us about your character.

 

I’m an ordinary woman who has been blessed with an extraordinary life. Growing up in small-town Calabria (southern Italy), I assumed I would marry, have children, and live a stone’s throw from my parents’ house. Several unexpected events—among them the death of my husband—upturned my life, forcing me to leave sunny Italy and emigrate to Canada. In No More Secrets, I share six decades of my life with the daughters of my heart.

 

What’s going on in your life right now?

 

Thanks to my lovely companion—Bellastrega—I have been given a reprieve from the rogue cells that invaded my body. I still find it hard to use the “C” word. I now have time to tie up all the straggling bits that remain. My nieces (daughters of my heart) need to be rescued.

 

What is your greatest fear?

 

I’m worried that my nieces won’t be too forthcoming with their issues. Each of them is at a critical juncture and need my help before it’s too late.

 

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

 

Bouncing back and reinventing myself. I did it once in Italy and then crossed the ocean to do it once more in Canada.

 

Do you have any regrets?

 

I have tried to be proactive and take responsibility for all my decisions. For the most part, I have succeeded. But there is one sticky situation where I allowed my sisters to take over. Had I taken action…well, the entire trajectory of my life would have changed. If you want to know more, read No More Secrets.

 

Do you have a motto? If so, what is it?

 

Avanti! (Onward!)

 

An angel theme exists in No More Secrets. Do you really believe in them?

 

My fascination/love affair with angels began in elementary school. I adored my teacher, Liliana Della Croce, and listened with rapt attention as she spoke of angels. A walking encyclopedia on the topic, she would weave them into many of her conversations. I can still recall her personal philosophy: When you need something, someone or something will appear. She believed God sent angels to anyone who asked for special assistance. I embraced her philosophy and have been fortunate to find several angels on my path.

 

Thank you for talking with us, Angelica.

Intrigued? Read more about No More Secrets.

Book Blurb

 

Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling, possibly even toxic secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets—secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, the nieces listen as Angelica travels back six decades to reveal an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.

 

Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, set themselves free.

 

But one heartbreaking secret remains untold...

 

Excerpt

 

As Angelica read the document, she heard several sighs emanating from Bellastrega. While she had grown to like this young woman and trust her judgment when it came to wellness, Angelica was not prepared to abandon her plans. Three women needed to be rescued.

 “What if they don’t come?” Bellastrega asked.

 “They will come,” Angelica said, smiling confidently.

 “It’s still winter, and the roads around here can be treacherous.”

 “That won’t stop them.” Angelica smiled at Bellastrega’s discomfort with winter driving. Fearless in her talk, the psychic dreaded going out at any hint of snow. “Not to worry. They’re Northern Ontario girls.”

 Bellastrega waved her hands. “So, they get up here, and you share your secrets. Then what?”

 “They begin to heal.”

 “You can’t expect to solve all their problems in one weekend,” Bellastrega said in a gentler tone. “If you’re not careful, you’ll send them running to their mothers, who won’t hesitate to create unnecessary stress for you.”

 From the start, Bellastrega had been determined to eradicate all the unnecessary stress in Angelica’s life. Did she really think she could create a lasting magic bubble?

 

Since receiving the positive medical report, Bellastrega had redoubled her efforts and started to plan spring and summer excursions. She had added to her meager wardrobe and purchased several decorative items for her room. Each day, she was settling in and becoming more comfortable in her role as a companion. The beautiful thirty-five-year-old woman with Arctic-blue eyes and a stormy past had found sanctuary in Angelica’s house.

 Angelica’s thoughts traveled back six decades to her encounter with another set of Arctic-blue eyes. But that woman had been much older and more realistic in her expectations.

 “Are you all right?” Bellastrega asked.

 “I’m fine,” Angelica said, returning to the present. “I want to start the process. The rest will be up to them.” Angelica felt a sudden wave of fatigue, one she hadn’t experienced in months. This argument was growing old, and she no longer wished to justify her motives. Why couldn’t Bellastrega let it go?

  

Book Trailer

 

https://youtu.be/vo5ozMtcz2U

 

 

Buy Links

 

Amazon (US) -  https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX

Amazon (Canada) - https://www.amazon.ca/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX

Amazon (UK) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX

Amazon (Australia) - https://www.amazon.com.au/No-More-Secrets-Joanne-Guidoccio-ebook/dp/B08CVTYWWX/

 

Author Bio

 

A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Joanne Guidoccio writes cozy mysteries, paranormal romances, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.  

 

  

Social Media Links

 

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Goodreads:      https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7277706.Joanne_Guidoccio

LinkedIn:          https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanneguidoccio/

Amazon:           https://www.amazon.com/Joanne-Guidoccio/e/B00FAWJGCG