ROCKFORD, Ill., December 10, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sabina Giovanotti is a single, middle aged waitress in her family's Italian cafe in Chicago's Little Italy. She's surrounded by a huge, caring family, but all the things she thought she'd have by now have passed her by. However, in author Karla Clark's new lighthearted novel, Between Courses: A Culinary Love Story (now available through 1stBooks), Sabina's life changes forever.
With four sisters and 13 nieces and nephews, she's the best aunt around. Sabina spends her days pouring coffee and joking with the regulars and spends her nights playing with her sisters' kids. In her younger days, she had planned to marry her childhood sweetheart, Vito Salina, but he was tragically ripped from her life a week before their wedding. Now, 18 years later, she's coping with the fact that her life hasn't turned out as planned.
On Sabina's 40th birthday, her parents surprise her with the news that they want her to take over the restaurant. They're ready to retire. Fate has incredible timing, and just as Sabina's settling into the idea that she is destined to run the family business alone, love strikes.
An entertaining, heartwarming novel about love and marriage in its many forms, Between Courses brings together the love of a big family, the delicious recipes of rustic Italian culture, the value of loyalty and forgiveness and a message: one can't wait around for love; one has to go looking for it.
Clark comes from a large Italian family in Rockford, Ill. She grew up among her family's many businesses: grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries. She holds a degree in journalism, has worked as a freelance writer and is currently working as a pharmaceutical representative. She lives in Rockford with her husband and their two sons.
ABOUT 1STBOOKS The oldest and most successful print-on-demand and eBook publishing company of its kind, 1stBooks was founded in 1997 and has helped more than 16,000 people worldwide realize their dreams of becoming published authors. For more information, visit, www.1stBooks.com .