Contemporary Authors

• Rosa, Sola - 2005 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,
• Playing By Heart - 2017 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform,

• Carmela A. Martino Website - http://www.carmelamartino.com/

  Like the main character in Rosa, Sola, I am the daughter of Italian immigrants, and I was born and raised in Chicago. Unlike Rosa Bernardi, though, I am not an only child. Here's a picture of me with my younger brother and sister.

  My Childhood
  As a child, I loved to read so much that my mother often scolded me, saying, "You spend too much time with your nose in a book." Because my family owned few books, I made regular bus trips to the library to stock up on reading material. When I was ten, my father purchased a brand new twenty-volume World Book Encyclopedia. The encyclopedia became one of my most valued possessions. I still use it to help me remember what the world was like when I was ten years old.

  In junior high school, I began keeping a journal and writing poetry. The first piece of writing I ever had published was a poem called "My Sanctuary." It appeared in a book of creative writing by Chicago public school students. I also had an essay published in the local newspaper and one of my poems appeared in my high school yearbook. Here's a picture of me on my high school graduation day, with my brother and sister again.

  As An Adult
  I put aside my writing dreams to major in Mathematics and Computer Science in college. After graduation, I took a position as a computer programmer, married, and moved to a Chicago suburb. I worked with computers for five years before becoming a training course developer. Writing training materials soon rekindled my interest in writing. After my son was born, I quit my training job and became a freelance writer.

  I worked as a freelancer for the New Catholic Explorer for five years, writing feature articles and a bi-weekly interview column. Some of my articles and essays also appeared in the Chicago Tribune and several national magazines, including Writer's Digest and Catholic Parent. Eventually, after being inspired by the books I read to my son every day, I decided to become a children's writer. I went back to school and completed an MFA in Writing at Vermont College. That's where I first started writing Rosa, Sola. Even though parts of the novel are based on things that happened to me as a child, it's really Rosa's story, not mine.
  Nowadays, I love to teach almost as much as I love to write. I have taught writing classes at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois since April 1998. I also teach children's writing camps at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, IL. To learn more about my classes, see the Classes page. I'm also available to speak at libraries, schools, and conferences. See the Speaking page for more information.

  Speaker's Bio
  Carmela Martino is an author, speaker, and writing teacher.
  She wrote the middle-grade novel, Rosa, Sola (Candlewick Press), while working on her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College. The novel was a Booklist "Top Ten First Novel for Youth" and received a Catholic Press Association Book Award in the "Children's Books" category. Her second novel, the young-adult historical romance Playing by Heart (Vinspire Publishing), took first place in the Young Adult category of the 2013 Windy City RWA Four Seasons Romance Writing Contest. Carmela's credits for teens and tweens also include short stories and poems in magazines and anthologies. Her articles for adults have appeared in such publications as the Chicago Tribune, Catholic Parent, and multiple editions of the Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. Carmela has taught writing workshops for children and adults since 1998, and she blogs about teaching and writing at TeachingAuthors.com.

  Five Things Most People Don't Know About Me:

  I can't remember which I spoke first, English or Italian, but the Italian I spoke as a child was actually a dialect, not "proper" Italian.
  As a preschooler, I entertained my family with my singing and dancing. When I started first grade, though, my teacher didn’t appreciate my antics. I sometimes had to stay after school for talking too much in class.
  At age 10, I was 5’ 5” tall and one of the tallest kids in the whole fifth grade, earning me the nickname “jolly green giant.” Yet my adult height is only 5’ 6 1/2”.
  I first visited Italy at age 17, which is when I met one of my grandmothers for the first time. I still have first cousins who live in Italy.
  I almost drowned in high school swim class, and I still don't like going in water over my head.

• Amazon -

  CARMELA MARTINO is a freelance writer and writing teacher living in the Chicago area. She wrote her first novel, ROSA, SOLA while working on her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. The novel was named to several award lists, including Booklist’s “Top Ten First Novels for Youth” and the Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books of the year.

  Carmela’s credits for young readers also include short stories and poems in anthologies and magazines. Her articles and essays for adults have appeared in the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, WRITER'S DIGEST, and multiple editions of the CHILDREN'S WRITER'S AND ILLUSTRATIOR'S MARKET (Writer’s Digest Books). She teaches writing workshops for both children and adults at various locations, including the College of DuPage, where she’s been an adjunct instructor since 1998. She founded TeachingAuthors.com, a blog by six children’s authors who are also writing teachers, where she posts regularly.

  For more information, visit Carmela’s website, carmelamartino.com. There, you can also join her e-newsletter mailing list to receive news of upcoming publications and writing classes.

• From Publisher -

  Carmela Martino is an author, speaker, and writing teacher who lives in the Chicago area. She wrote the middle-grade novel, Rosa, Sola, while working on her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College. The novel was named a Booklist “Top Ten First Novel for Youth” and received the Catholic Writer’s Guild Seal of Approval.

  Her other credits for children and teens include short stories and poems in magazines and anthologies. Her articles for adults have appeared in such publications as the Chicago Tribune, Catholic Parent, Writer’s Digest, and multiple editions of the annual Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market.

  Carmela has taught writing workshops for children and adults since 1998, and she blogs about teaching and writing at www.TeachingAuthors.com. You can read more about her at and follow her on Facebook at

• Catholic Mom - http://catholicmom.com/2017/10/05/book-notes-interview-carmela-martino-author-playing-heart/

  Book Notes: An Interview with Carmela Martino, Author of Playing by Heart
  4
  By Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS on October 5, 2017
  Articles from Our Contributors, Book Notes

  Set in 18th-century Milan, Playing by Heart is a symphony of romance and faith with an undercurrent of social commentary. Will Maria and Emilia’s father sacrifice their futures on the altar of his own ambitions to join the noble class? Carmela Martino’s new novel for teen readers explores family ties, vocations, and discernment of the best ways to use God-given gifts. Cue up some Vivaldi or Pachelbel and settle in for an intriguing tale.

  It was my pleasure to interview author Carmela Martino about her novel.
  Q: Your previous novel was set in the twentieth century. Did you find that you prefer writing historical fiction?
  Actually, since my first novel, Rosa, Sola, is for readers ten and up, the twentieth-century is historical fiction for those readers. And I confess, it was much easier to write a story set during my own lifetime than two centuries earlier. For Rosa, Sola, I still had to research some of the setting details, such as the popular songs of the time, for the sake of accuracy. But much of that novel was based on my own memories. As much as I enjoy reading historical fiction, when it comes to writing, I prefer a time period I can recall. Getting the details right is so much easier.
  Q: What was your biggest challenge in writing a novel set in the eighteenth century?
  I had so many challenges, but the biggest was probably finding primary documents describing what life was like specifically in Milan in the early 1700s. Most of the material I found was about life in England or France, or even Venice. But Venice was a republic at that time, with a way of life significantly different from that in the Duchy of Milan, which was under Hapsburg rule. Even when I did find documents about Milan, they were typically written in Italian. I grew up with my parents speaking Italian but I didn’t study it in school, so I have difficulty reading it. To add to the challenge, the Italian documents I found were sometimes riddled with archaic words no longer in use, so they weren’t even in my Italian-English dictionary. And, like old documents in English, the fonts were often difficult to read. For example, a lower-case s looked like a lower-case f without the crossbar.
  One of my greatest research finds was an account by someone who had witnessed Archduchess Maria Theresa’s visit to Milan in 1739. I don’t even recall how I’d found it, but it was included in a document that had been scanned into the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale. I was able to download the document onto my computer and print out the pertinent pages. It was like striking gold! I probably spent several hours translating the pages. It was well worth it. The document gave me wonderful details that I incorporated into my novel, such as the description of the crowds that lined the streets waiting to greet the archduchess and how the welcome ceremony had to be moved indoors because of the rain.
  Q: What was the most surprising thing you learned while researching for this novel?
  I learned SO much about many different subjects: the Enlightenment, noble titles, art, music, the history of musical instruments, Italian history, women’s education, etc. One of the most surprising things was learning of the holy relic housed in the Cathedral of Milan that is purported to be one of the nails used to crucify Christ. I had no idea the relic existed. In 1576, Saint Charles Borromeo, who was archbishop of Milan at the time, carried the relic in procession during an outbreak of the plague, instituting an annual tradition. Originally, the Ritual of the Holy Nail was conducted every year on May third, the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross in the old liturgical calendar. (There’s a scene in my novel where Archduchess Maria Theresa participates in the ceremony during her visit to Milan.) The Ritual of the Nail is still conducted annually in Milan, though it’s been moved to September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. There are numerous videos on YouTube depicting the event—they were a great aid in my research. Here’s a brief one narrated in English:

  And this one’s a bit longer, but narrated in Italian:

  Q: Were the characters based on historical figures?
  Yes, both my main character, Emilia, and her older sister, Maria, are inspired by two sisters who were well-known in 18th-century Milan. We have more information about the woman who inspired the character of Maria Salvini. Her name was Maria Gaetana Agnesi. She was a child prodigy, fluent in seven languages by age eleven. By age fourteen she was solving difficult geometry problems. She went on to write an acclaimed math textbook.
  My main character, Emilia Salivini, is loosely based on Maria Gaetana’s younger sister, Maria Teresa Agnesi, who was one of the first Italian women to compose a serious opera. Their father, Pietro Agnesi, held salons in their home where he had the two sisters perform to impress his guests. Maria Gaetana hated all the attention, though, and felt called to help the sick and poor. Around age 18, she asked her father’s permission to join an order of nuns known for their work with the poor. But Pietro Agnesirefused. Her sister, composer Maria Teresa, wished to marry a poor nobleman, but their father refused her as well. It wasn’t until after Pietro Agnesi’s death in 1752 that his daughters could finally live lives of their own choosing. By then, Maria was nearly 34 years old. She quickly traded her inheritance for a small annual stipend and devoted the rest of her life to helping the poor.
  Maria Teresa married Pietro Antonio Pinottini three months after her father’s death. By then, she was 31 years old. Little is known of her later life, except that she and her husband struggled financially. Unfortunately, most of her compositions were lost, but there’s recently been renewed interest in her and her music. You can find YouTube videos of her compositions, such as this one:

  You can read more about the Agnesi sisters at this website I created: www.mgagnesi.com
  I changed the sisters’ names in the novel because their story is heavily fictionalized. However, real historical figures do occasionally appear in Playing by Heart. I mentioned above how I incorporated the visit of Archduchess Maria Theresa, who would later become Empress, into the story. My characters also meet General Otto Ferdinand von Traun, interim governor of Milan at the time. Whenever possible, I tried to incorporate real people and events to try to add to the story’s authenticity.
  Q: Are you a musician? You seem to know a lot about music. Who is your favorite composer?
  I wouldn’t call myself a musician but I’ve always loved music. When I was six, we moved into a house that had an old upright piano in the basement. I used to pick out simple tunes on it, like “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” I longed to study piano, but that wasn’t one of the instruments my Catholic elementary school offered for instruction. Instead, I studied the clarinet. I played clarinet in high school marching band and orchestra, but haven’t touched it in decades. I’ve always enjoyed singing, too, and sang in our church choir in junior high and then again in college. I used to make up my own songs, though I never wrote them down. In a way, writing Emilia’s story allowed me to indulge my fantasy of being a keyboard musician and composer.
  Regarding my favorite composers, I enjoy Vivaldi and Mozart and often have their music playing in the background while I’m writing. (I really wanted to mention Mozart’s trip to Milan in my novel, but that didn’t take place till later in the 18th-century.) While working on Playing by Heart, though, I wanted to surround myself with music my main character would have known and played. So I created a Pandora station of baroque music that included the works of Sammartini, Pachelbel, and Rameau. In the novel, Emilia plays works by the last two composers.
  Q: What’s next for you?
  I’d really like to write a companion/sequel to Playing by Heart featuring Emilia’s younger sister Isabella as the main character. Right now, though, I’m working on a short story set in the same time and place as Playing by Heart that I plan to submit to an anthology.

• Leslie A. Lindsay - https://leslielindsay.com/2017/12/15/weekend-reading-carmela-martino-talks-about-her-gorgeously-written-historical-fiction-playing-by-heart-tenacity-in-publishing-being-excited-about-what-you-write-math-and-music-and-the-little-kno/

  WeekEND Reading: Carmela Martino talks about her gorgeously written historical fiction, PLAYING BY HEART, tenacity in publishing, being excited about what you write; math and music, and the little-known Agnesi sisters, and so much more

  1 Vote

  By Leslie Lindsay
  Sweeping historical novel set in 18th century Milan features bright, spirited girls well ahead of their time.

  Carmela Martino completely transported me to the historical landscape of Italy where girls were destined to become ‘only’ a wife/mother or join the convent. Oh, but the Salvini sisters, Maria and Emilia, have so much more they want to do with their lives.
  Emilia, ‘the second sister,’ wants nothing more than to marry a man who loves music as much as she does. Her sister, on the other hand, really desires to take the veil, but her father has insisted she become a scholar–her brilliant language skills are second to none (she has mastered seven!) and her math and astronomy studies are fearless. In fact, he hopes her skills land their large family in noble status.
  Every character in PLAYING BY HEART has a strong desire to become something: a mother, a musician, a nun, a nobleman. Their desires are often incongruent with the 18th century culture of Milan.
  I found the writing lucid, the characters well developed, and the story straddling the YA/adult genre. Martino is a gifted storyteller that made the reading of PLAYING BY HEART an absolute joy. While PLAYING BY HEART is billed as a YA historical romance, I didn’t see it as that at all, but more of a determined (and bright) young girl searching for satisfaction in a life she wants so desperately.
  Please join me in welcoming Carmela to the blog couch.
  Leslie Lindsay: Carmela, I so loved this book. I found it inspiring but awed by its roots in history. Maria and Emilia Salvini, the sisters depicted in PLAYING BY HEART are based on actual sisters who lived in 18th century Milan: musician and composer Maria Teresa Agnesi (1720-1795) and mathematician and linguist Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1718-1799). Can you tell us a bit about how you came to ‘know’ these sisters?
  Carmela Martino: First, off, let me say thanks so much for hosting this interview, Leslie, and for your insightful review of Playing by Heart.
  I came to know the Agnesi sisters in a rather roundabout way. Even though I have an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, I’d never heard of mathematician Maria Gaetana Agnesi until I came across her name in an article about forgotten women of history. I was appalled that there’d been no mention of her in any of my math classes or textbooks. Maria Gaetana was a woman I could have looked up to as a role model had I known of her. After reading about her in that article, I began researching her life with the goal of writing a picture book biography to inspire girls who might be interested in math.
  As I learned about Maria Gaetana’s life, I was again appalled. This time, because of all the misinformation about her, both in print and online. For example, the current Wikipedia entry states that her father was a math professor. This is false. Pietro Agnesi came from a family of silk merchants. He never taught math. He never even worked in the family business. It seems some writers assumed that the only way Maria Gaetana could have come by her math skills was by learning them from her father. I set out to write a biography of Maria Gaetana that would set the record straight and introduce people to this extraordinary woman, not only her scholarly accomplishments but also her work for the poor. During my research, I also learned about her sister Maria Teresa’s extraordinary musical talents. I’d never heard of her either, even though she’d been one of the first Italian women to compose a serious opera.
  After Candlewick Press published my middle-grade novel, ROSA SOLA in 2005, I submitted the picture book biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi to my editor there. We went through several revisions. Unfortunately, not much remains of Maria Gaetana’s own writing besides her textbook. My editor felt there wasn’t enough information about Maria Gaetana’s personal life and personality to write a nonfiction book that would engage young readers. She suggested I write a novel instead, one inspired by how both Maria Gaetana and Maria Teresa had struggled to please an overbearing father who put his ambitions ahead of their happiness. And that’s how I came to write PLAYING BY HEART. Unfortunately, even less is known about Maria Teresa’s life than about her older sister’s. But I was able to track down a music professor at the University of Chicago who is an expert on the music of 18th-century Milan and he helped me immensely.
  I still hope to eventually find a publisher for my biography of Maria Gaetana. Meanwhile, I’ve created a website to help dispel some of the myths about her and her family. The page about Maria Teresa includes a YouTube video of one of her music compositions being performed.
  L.L.: And yet PLAYING BY HEART was a hard book for you to write and sell. Like the sisters in the story, you were determined. Can you tell us a bit about that journey?
  Carmela Martino: The amount of research required for this novel was rather daunting. I needed to understand the culture of 18-century Milan—the politics of the time, social standards, clothing, food, music, etc. The few primary documents I found were written in Italian. I have difficulty reading modern Italian, let alone Italian as it was written in the 1700s! I guess I really was determined, as you say, because I stuck with it. I ended up heavily fictionalizing the story of the Agnesi sisters to give me more freedom. I changed the family name to Salvini, and originally called the novel The Second Salvini Sister. It took me about 2 ½ years to get a solid draft. In September 2011, I sent that manuscript to the Candlewick editor who had originally suggested I write the novel. Unfortunately, she turned it down.

  You can imagine my disappointment, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know rejection is simply part of the process. I continued revising and submitting, sending the novel to editors and agents, and entering it writing contests. I was encouraged when the manuscript took second place in the YA category of the 2012 Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Midsouth Conference. I continued to revise, eventually changing the title to PLAYING BY HEART. The novel did well in several more contests, including first place in the YA category of the 2013 Windy City Romance Writers Association Four Seasons Romance Writing Contest. The contest successes meant several editors and agents read the full manuscript, yet none of them were interested in publishing or representing the novel. The feedback I kept hearing was that PLAYING BY HEART was well-written but “historical YA is a tough sell.”
  I eventually gave up and put the manuscript in the proverbial drawer. I focused my efforts on freelance writing instead. Still, deep down, I hoped historical YA might eventually come back in vogue. I shared that hope on our TeachingAuthors blog back in 2014.
  Then, in March of 2016, I signed up for an online conference that included pitch sessions with editors. One of the editors was from Vinspire Publishing, a small press that looked like it could be a good match for my novel. With nothing to lose, I pulled PLAYING BY HEART out of the drawer and pitched it. The editor liked my pitch and eventually bought the novel.
  L.L.: Which brings me to genre. As a writer, is this something we should concern ourselves with, or is it purely a marketing device?
  Carmela Martino: That’s a great question and I’ve heard conflicting answers. I tell my writing students it’s good to know about the market, but that shouldn’t necessarily determine what you write. I believe the most important thing is to write the story that calls to you, that excites you. One of the biggest mistakes I see my students make is to choose their writing project based on what they think will sell. For example, when vampire stories were all the rage, some of my students who’d never even read a vampire novel began writing them. There are several problems with this. First off, if you’re not a fan of vampire novels, it’s going to be tough to stick with the hard work it takes to complete a novel-length story you’re not passionate about. And even if you manage to persevere, readers (and editors) will be able to tell that you weren’t as invested in the story as a writer who really cares about the genre.

  The reason I say it’s good to know about the market is so that you understand the expectations of readers of your genre, and also how to write a novel that complements what’s already been written. I’m a great fan of historical fiction and have been for many years. One of my favorite aspects of the genre is being immersed in the novel’s time and place, and glimpsing what it must have been like to live then. I also love learning about true historical events through fiction. As a result, I worked very hard to accomplish those things in PLAYING BY HEART. So I’m especially pleased with reviews from readers like you who say the novel transported them to 18th-century Milan.
  L.L.: I understand you completed your MFA through Vermont College of the Fine Arts. I’ve been intrigued with their program, mostly because one of my favorite authors, Thomas Christopher Greene, is the president of the university. What can you tell us about the process of obtaining the MFA and the importance of having a ‘hive?’
  Carmela Martino: The MFA program surpassed all my expectations. The school was called simply Vermont College when I was there, but it’s now the Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA). For those who may not be familiar with it, the VCFA MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults is a low-residency program that takes two years to complete. At the start of each semester, students attend an intensive 10-day residency on campus in Montpelier, Vermont. The residency includes faculty and student presentations, critique workshops, readings, and guest lectures by some of the finest writers in children’s and YA lit. During the residency, students create a work plan for the coming semester and are assigned an advisor who reads and critiques your monthly packets of writing. The program is set up so that you work with a different advisor each semester.
  My first semester, I was lucky enough to work with Newbery-honor winning author Marion Dane Bauer. I learned so much from her that I was disappointed that I had to switch to a new advisor my second semester, especially because I was in the middle of the first draft of a novel. But I eventually discovered that each advisor had different things to teach me. Each helped me make amazing leaps in my writing skills. Having to produce both a creative thesis (which turned out to be my middle-grade novel ROSA SOLA), and a critical thesis, meant I grew not only as a writer but in my ability to read critically, too.
  The program is quite intense, but the environment is incredibly supportive and nurturing. I ended up forming a strong bond with those in my graduating class, several of whom were already award-winning authors before attending the program. There’s a tradition at VCFA for each graduating class to have a nickname, and our group was christened the “Hive” by a faculty member because we were always “buzzing” about something. We liked the name and called ourselves Bees. There were about fifteen writers in my class. After graduation, we formed a Yahoo group to stay in touch. Seventeen years later, that group still has eleven active members. Hardly a day goes by without someone posting to the group. We share industry buzz, commiserate over rejections, celebrate sales, offer manuscript feedback, and support one another through personal and professional challenges. The Bees live all over the United States, but we’ve had several mini-reunions and try to connect at conferences whenever possible. I don’t know how I could have stuck in this business without the support of the Hive, especially after my local critique group disbanded a few years ago.
  L.L.: What are you working on now?
  Carmela Martino: I’m working on a short story set in the same world as PLAYING BY HEART. I plan to give it away as a thank you gift to my newsletter subscribers. After that, I want to take another crack at the biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi.
  L.L.: Since we’re in a season of indulgence, what are some of your guilty pleasures?
  Carmela Martino: Well, food wise, I have a terrible sweet tooth. At Halloween, I make my husband hide the candy or I’d eat it all before the trick-or-treaters arrived. I typically don’t keep any candy, cookies or cakes in my house—it wouldn’t last long if I did. But during the holidays, I do indulge my sweet tooth at holiday gatherings.
  My other guilty pleasure is reading fiction for fun. I tend to be a workaholic, and between writing, teaching, and blogging, I don’t have much spare time, so reading feels like a guilty pleasure. I’m part of a book club that reads books written for children and teens, so reading the 1-2 titles assigned for that each month is pretty guiltfree. And I just finished an adult novel (a rarity for me): The Enchantress of Numbers: A Novel of Ada Lovelace by Jennifer Chiaverini. Ada Lovelace, the only legitimate child of Lord Byron, is considered to be the world’s first computer programmer. She was born less than 100 years after Maria Gaetana Agnesi. The Enchantress of Numbers helped me appreciate some of the parallels in the two women’s lives. And I was pleasantly surprised to find Maria Gaetana mentioned in the novel! (I talk a bit about the novel and two other of my favorite reads from this year in my blog post today at www.TeachingAuthors.com.
  L.L.: Carmela, it’s been a pleasure! Is there anything I should have asked, but may have forgotten?
  Carmela Martino: I’ve enjoyed it, too, Leslie. Thank you very much. Or, as Emilia Salvini would say, mille gracie!
  I would add that I’m also a writing teacher. I enjoy teaching as much as I do writing, so it’s sometimes a challenge to balance the two. I’m part of a site called TeachingAuthors.com, a blog of writing and teaching tips by six published children’s/YA authors who are also writing teachers. My co-blogger April Halprin Wayland recently posted a guest TeachingAuthor interview with Paul Mosier and we’re hosting a giveaway of his acclaimed middle-grade novel, Train I Ride, through Dec. 20. I invite your readers to check out the blog and enter the giveaway if they’re interested.
  I also send out a monthly Creativity Newsletter that includes updates about my publishing news and writing classes as well as creativity tips. Readers can subscribe to the newsletter on my website. If they’d like to read a recent issue first, they can find one here.
  For more information, to connect with Carmela via social media, or to purchase a copy of PLAYING BY HEART, please see:
  Website
  Teaching Authors
  Facebook
  Instagram
  Twitter
  Amazon
  Barnes & Noble
  BAM!
  IndieBound
  Book Trailer
  ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carmela Martino holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. Her middle-grade novel, Rosa, Sola (Candlewick Press), was named a Booklist “Top Ten First Novel for Youth.” Her second novel, the young-adult historical romance Playing by Heart (Vinspire Publishing), took first place in the Young Adult category of the 2013 Windy City RWA Four Seasons Romance Writing Contest. Carmela’s credits for teens and tweens also include short stories and poems in magazines and anthologies. Her articles for adults have appeared in such publications as the Chicago Tribune, Catholic Parent, and multiple editions of the annual Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market. Carmela has taught writing workshops for children and adults since 1998, and she blogs about teaching and writing at www.TeachingAuthors.com.

Martino, Carmela A.: PLAYING BY HEART

Kirkus Reviews. (Aug. 1, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Martino, Carmela A. PLAYING BY HEART Vinspire Publishing (Children's Fiction) $15.99 9, 30 ISBN: 978-1-5467-9945-0
It might seem like Emilia and Maria live lives of ease and decadence, but behind the fancy dresses are two young teenagers who work hard and are deeply affected by events beyond their control.Emilia is a talented musician who composes her own music, while her sister Maria is a talented scholar with a gift for languages. Their father is proud of them, but he also sees them as tools with which to gain a stronger foothold in 1737 Milan's noble society. His vision of their future clashes sharply with Emilia's, which involves a betrothal to a certain handsome violin player. And Maria feels called to join a convent and serve the poor, but as the eldest daughter, she is expected to contribute to her family's social standing instead of following her own wishes. Martino explores the gilded passageways of Hapsburg-era Milan's white aristocracy with technically accomplished descriptions of privilege, luxury, and teenage longing. The writing is sometimes rich and nuanced, though it often falls victim to cliche. For example, when the music teacher praises Emilia's love for writing music with "true heart," Emilia thinks to herself, "And in doing so, he'd captured mine." The romance at the heart of the book tends to miss the mark of real passion with weak arrows of platitude. A sweet historical romance hobbled by cliche. (Historical fiction. 13-16)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Martino, Carmela A.: PLAYING BY HEART." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499572669/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2f289e99. Accessed 12 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A499572669

Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola

Kirkus Reviews. 73.17 (Sept. 1, 2005): p978.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2005 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Martino, Carmela A. ROSA, SOLA Candlewick (256 pp.) $15.99 Sep. 1, 2005 ISBN: 0-7636-2395-4
Nine-year-old Rosa is an only child. She's envious of friends who have brothers and sisters and she feels different and lonely. She decides to say a rosary each day to pray for a baby brother. When her mother becomes pregnant, she's overjoyed. But all that joy turns to sorrow when the baby is stillborn and she nearly loses her mother as well. Her father is lost in his own grief and her mother's deep depression threatens her recovery. Rosa has an "empty cave" feeling of deep loneliness coupled with the fear that she is somehow responsible for setting this tragedy in motion. Martino has set this tale in an Italian immigrant community in 1960s Chicago. Rosa is not truly "sola," because she's surrounded by neighbors, friends and an extended family who provide practical care along with loving support. A warm, tender tale that touches the heart. (Fiction. 9-12)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2005, p. 978. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A136075938/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=e73a0cdc. Accessed 12 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A136075938

Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola

Kristen Oravec
School Library Journal. 51.10 (Oct. 2005): p166.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2005 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
MARTINO, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola. 244p. glossary. Candlewick. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-7636-2395-4. LC number unavailable.
Gr 4-6--Loss and healing play a central part in this gentle and moving story of an Italian immigrant family. Set in Chicago in the 1960s, the plot focuses on Rosa, an only child. While visiting her friend, she becomes enthralled with AnnaMaria's baby brother and soon begins praying for her own. When her mother becomes pregnant, Rosa is overjoyed. But the labor and delivery are difficult and the infant is stillborn. Afterward, Rosa's mother is physically and emotionally shattered, her father is angry, and Rosa feels guilty, sad, and lost. Gradually she begins to lean on her friends and extended family as she learns to cope with her loss. The story unfolds layer by layer, revealing each character's personality, secrets, and flaws. The author does not spare the difficulty of the situation and realistically depicts the ramifications of the tragedy. The healing is drawn honestly and the ending is ultimately hopeful. Italian words are defined in context and included in a glossary.--Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga Count), Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Oravec, Kristen
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Oravec, Kristen. "Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola." School Library Journal, Oct. 2005, p. 166. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A137918781/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=ee60807a. Accessed 12 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A137918781

"Martino, Carmela A.: PLAYING BY HEART." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A499572669/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=2f289e99. Accessed 12 May 2018. "Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2005, p. 978. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A136075938/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=e73a0cdc. Accessed 12 May 2018. Oravec, Kristen. "Martino, Carmela A. Rosa, Sola." School Library Journal, Oct. 2005, p. 166. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A137918781/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=ee60807a. Accessed 12 May 2018.

• Historical Novel Society
  https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/playing-by-heart-2/
  Word count: 302

  Playing by Heart
  By Carmela A. Martino

  Find & buy on
  Carmela Martino’s debut novel is a charming story of two sisters, Emilia and Maria, who are accomplished young women—so accomplished that their father shows them off at every opportunity. Set in 18th-century Milan, this romance explores the customs of the day, such as fathers using their daughters to enhance the wealth and status of the family. For Emilia and Maria, this tradition conflicts with their own desires. Emilia, from whose point of view the story is told, falls deeply in love with a violinist/composer, Bellini. However, trouble arises when Emilia’s father wishes to become part of the nobility and insists both his daughters marry someone from that class.
  Particularly of interest is the description of the lavish balls held in Italy; sumptuous clothes and fancy carriages come alive, as does the hustle and bustle of such events—and the pressure. Although somewhat predictable as a romance novel, the fact that the two sisters are based on real women (one, a composer; the other, a nun) makes the book even more enjoyable. Composing music at a time when women simply didn’t participate in such activities is a nice twist. Another interesting addition is the relationship between Emilia and her stepmother, which grows from dislike to comradery and even love. The writing is smooth and easy to follow. And, of course, there’s a happy ending.

  Details
  Publisher
  Vinspire
  Published
  2017
  Genre
  Children/Young Adult
  Period
  Georgian
  Century
  18th Century
  Price
  (US) $15.99
  ISBN
  (US) 9781546799450
  Format
  Paperback
  Pages
  278
  Review
  Appeared in
  HNR Issue 83 (February 2018)
  Reviewed by
  Anne Clinard Barnhill

• Historical Novel Society
  https://historicalnovelsociety.org/reviews/rosa-sola/
  Word count: 240

  Rosa, Sola
  By Carmela M. Martino

  Find & buy on
  Carmela Martino provides a wonderful message of love, friendship, and family in this young adult novel. Set in Chicago in the late 1960s, Rosa Bernardi is a nine-year-old girl who strongly desires a sibling. Rosa prays long and hard for her mother to get pregnant, and eventually she does. Sadly, all of Rosa’s wishes do not come true, and she must face difficult emotional times with her family. Rosa is able to confront these challenges with courage and the support of family members, neighbors, and friends. The author blends hope, faith, and destiny in this sensitive story.
  While there are strong religious overtones in this text, your heart will open widely to this coming-of-age tale. Since the Bernardis are an immigrant family, some of the dialog includes Italian words; these are defined in the book’s glossary. In looking up “sola,” readers will learn that the title means “Rosa alone.” While there are times when Rosa feels lonely, in the end, she learns she is far from alone.

  Details
  Publisher
  Candlewick
  Published
  2005
  Genre
  Children/Young Adult, Inspirational
  Century
  20th Century
  Price
  (US) $15.99
  (CA) $22.99
  ISBN
  (US) 0763623954
  Format
  Hardback
  Pages
  244
  Review
  Appeared in
  HNR Issue 34 (November 2005)
  Reviewed by
  Carol Anne Germain

• A.J. Cattapan
  http://www.ajcattapan.com/rosa-sola/
  Word count: 352

  Monday Book Review: Rosa, Sola by Carmela Martino
  Posted on January 16, 2017 by AJ Cattapan
  Can I resist a middle grade book with an Italian-American main character and lots of Italian vocabulary words sprinkled throughout?
  No. No, I cannot. 🙂
  Title: Rosa, Sola
  Author: Carmela Martino
  Age group: middle grade (on the youngish side)
  Genre: historical fiction? (I read somewhere that anything from the Vietnam War or earlier is now considered historical fiction. This story takes place in the 1960s.)
  Summary: Rosa Bernardi, an only child living with her Italian immigrant parents in 1960s Chicago, often feels alone, or SOLA, as her parents would say. But after she holds her best friend AnnaMaria’s baby brother for the first time, Rosa is sure that if she prays hard enough, God will send her a brother of her own. When Rosa’s prayers for a sibling are answered, she is overjoyed—until tragedy strikes. Rosa is left feeling more SOLA than ever, and wondering if her broken family will ever be whole again. (taken from Amazon)
  School Library Journal called this a “gentle and moving story,” and I have to agree. Rosa is a good Catholic girl who desperately prays the rosary every night for God to send her a little brother. I don’t want to give the story away, but as the Amazon summary states, tragedy strikes the family. You can’t help but feel for Rosa and her family. Carmela’s descriptions of love and loss are dead-on. Make sure you’ve got a hankie nearby when you reach the mid-point of this book. Still, the story is told with such compassion and care for the characters that you can’t help but love them. This would be a wonderful book to share with a child who might be coping with loss.
  Brava to Carmela Martino on a beautiful tale.
  (And for those of you wondering: yes, I understood all the Italian words in the story. I didn’t need to peek at the glossary in the back once. 🙂 )

Word Count