Q&A With Kimberley Lovato 

I had the pleasure of reading the children’s book Pisa Loves Bella by Kimberley Lovato! I am also very excited about doing this Q&A with Kimberley too! Kimberley is also the author of Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves, a culinary travel book about the people and food of the Dordogne region of France. Kimberley was also part of the contributing writer team for National Geographic’s Great Outdoors USA. Kimberley is also a freelance journalist whose articles have appeared in National Geographic Traveler, Virtuoso: The Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, AFAR, AARP, Hemispheres, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Ciao Bambino and CN Traveler, among others. Her personal essays have appeared in anthologies such as The Best Women’s Travel Writing. 

Q: Kimberley, would you please give a brief description of Pisa Loves Bella? 

A: Sure, and thanks for having me, Bianca. Pisa Loves Bella: A Towering Tale of Kindness stars Bella, the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, who overhears some unkind words about her appearance and changes herself in a drastic way. But thanks to her community and a good friend, she realizes that what people loved most about her was when she was just being herself. On the surface it seems like a book about Pisa, Italy, and its famous tower, but folded in is a tale of kindness, friendship, and self-acceptance. 

Q: Did a trip to Italy inspire you to write Pisa Loves Bella? 

A: Well, Italy is inspiring, and my husband is from an Italian family, so we have spent a fair amount of time there. But I’d say travel in general inspired the initial idea but a book about being kind to others, and yourself, was the ultimate goal, so I combined the two and Pisa Loves Bella was born.

Q: What lessons & emotions do you hope children learn & feel after reading Pisa Loves Bella?

A: First and foremost, I want kids, parents, and teachers to get a lot of joy out of reading this. The rhymes and Italian words are fun to read out loud and over and over. It would be wonderful if my book sparked curiosity about Italy, travel, and learning a new language. Lastly, I also hope Pisa Loves Bella fosters discussions about what it means to be kind and a good friend. Words can really be hurtful, even seemingly small ones. But they can just as easily be used to spread kindness and compassion too. It’s a choice we make every day, and I hope this book helps kids and adults ‘lean’ into that idea.

Q: Will your next book also be a children’s book similar to Pisa Loves Bella or will it be something different this time around?

A: I’d love to write a book featuring the Eiffel Tower as the main character. I’m working on it, but not sure about the reality of publishing another picture book. I am also working on a Middle Grade novel that has nothing to do with Pisa or Paris! Writing fiction is completely new to me and for now I am thoroughly enjoying the process.

Q: What’s it like having your work appear in National Geographic Traveler, Virtuoso: The Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, AFAR, AARP, Hemispheres, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Ciao Bambino & CN Traveler?  What’s it like having your personal essays appear in The Best Women’s Travel Writing? 

A: Being a travel journalist for the last 20+ years has been the privilege of a lifetime. I’ve met some of my closest friends, written for some amazing editors and world-class publications, and have had the opportunity to travel to all corners of the world, where I have met people, I now call friends. It is still a thrill to see my byline. To have my personal essays chosen to be included in prestigious anthologies like The Best Women’s Travel Writing is pinch-me kind of stuff for a writer. Personal essays are challenging and sometimes fraught with emotion so it’s extremely gratifying when an editor recognizes the work and considers it worthy.

Q: What’s it like being a freelance journalist and what advice would you give anyone wanting to pursue being a freelance journalist?

A: Freelancing is a grind. It’s a commitment. It’s a hustle. It requires tenacity and thick skin, and it’s only getting harder as many magazines have closed, editors are now freelancing alongside me, and pay rates are dismal. To anyone who wants to pursue this as a career after accepting those truths, I usually offer three pieces of advice:  1. Be a writer first. There are many travel writing classes, conferences, and books out there on what it means to be a travel writer and what a good travel story is. 2. Look at your own backyard. As much as we love to take far flung trips, the places we live are likely full of quirky characters, history, food traditions, etc., and you don’t have to spend a lot to find a great story.  3. Read the work of writers you admire and ask yourself what you like about it, why it resonates, and how you can do the same with your words.

Q: Where are your favorite places you’ve travelled to? Hope to travel one day?

A: Full confession: I can be a creature of habit when it comes to travel. I love returning again and again to places I love, and one of them is France. I’ve been a Francophile since I was a child and have been traveling there for decades. I have a small pied-a-terre there in a little village by the sea, and it is my heart’s home. Antarctica was astonishing. I traveled there on assignment and was utterly inspired every day by the land and seascapes. I’ll be heading to the Galapagos Islands in February, which has been a dream trip of mine for a while. We are going as a family, which makes it extra special. Japan is high on my list too. I don’t want to go for just a week though, I want to go for three months! Ha! So, trying to figure that out is a little trickier. 

www.kimberleylovato.com