Bellini for One Sneak Peek

Kelly E. Carter reads Bellini for One at Napa Valley Writers Club meeting on March 8, 2025.

I was thrilled by the response to my reading of the opening chapter of Bellini for One at the Napa Valley Writers Club.

It was the first time I’d read this chapter of my memoir-in-progress publicly since reworking the beginning after receiving feedback during a memoir writing class. I began taking those classes while recovering from cancer treatment, and they gave me the push I needed to start writing again and get this book back on track.

The chapter opens in Lake Como during my first trip to that magical part of Italy. What struck me during the reading was hearing people laugh exactly where I hoped they would. As writers, we know the lines and passages we expect to land, but you don’t really know until you read them in front of an audience.

What stayed with me even more was what happened afterward. People came up to talk about their own trips to Lake Como, their time in Italy, and the memories the story brought back. That kind of connection is what this book is meant to create, and it’s what keeps me going.

There’s more to the chapter, but I condensed this version to fit the time allotted for the reading. If you’re inspired to leave a comment on YouTube, I’d love to hear from you. 🍑