We are in Matera, Italy today to attend the 6th annual Women's Fiction Festival. Matera is an ancient city that was originally a series a caves carved into a limestone hillside. We are staying in one of the Sassi (stones) districts. The festival was kind enough to name me the recipient of their 2009 Baccante award for best women's fiction for The Lace Reader. I am honored to be here with such wonderful women (and a few good men) in such a magical place. More later. Ciao!