This is something I should have posted a long time ago – a guide to how to say some of the names. I’ll save the more esoteric ones for later. Right now, let’s focus on the leads:
Cangrande della Scala — kahn-GRAHN-day DELL-ah SKAH-la
Scaliger, Scaligeri — SKAHL-eh-jer, skahl-eh-JERR-ee
Cesco — CHESS-koh (shortened from FranCESCO)
Montecchio — mon-TECH-ee-oh
Capecelatro – CAP-ech-ell-AUT-roh
Katerina — CAT-er-een-ah
It’s the Scaliger that still hurts to say. I spent two years saying, "SKAHL-eh-ger," and that gets into your head. But think Jerry, not Gary – Scali-jerry. I know – but I figure the Italians know what they’re talking about – it’s their language, after all.
Sales are going well, and it’s fun to hear the buzz as people begin to read it. For my part, Jan and I just sent off our TV pilot to a few readers, and we’re settling back into life in Chicago – lots of time at the beach, and cleaning the house after two months away. So it’ll be a few days before I start seriously hitting the internet again. But last night I dove back into book three – the title for that one is definite: FORTUNE’S FOOL. Right now the title for book two is leaning towards THE FALCON’S LURE, but we’ll see. After all the to-and-froing on the title for MV, I am girded for more of the same.
Cheers, and hope the August heat is not charring you all.
DB
