Orna O’Reilly will be no stranger to our regular blog readers. The author of one of our favourite blogs about Italy, we had the pleasure of interviewing Orna back in 2018 when we quizzed her on several aspects of her life and travels in Italy. An interior designer for over 25 years, Orna came to our attention through her fantastic blog – Orna O’Reilly: Travelling Italy – but since then, she has added more strings to her bow and she is now the author of two extremely enjoyable novels, both set in Italy. So 3 years on from our original interview, we thought we’d catch up with Orna to tell us more about how she has spent the last 3 years in Puglia.
First and foremost, we asked Orna how she had been over the past 18 months and how she had coped during the recent pandemic.
Like everyone else, I found the pandemic stressful. Luckily, I live in the Itrian Valley of Puglia among the olive groves, so my husband, Tom, and I were able to walk close to home when the limitations were strict. Otherwise, we’d drive to many of the local beaches, which were completely deserted, and bring a picnic lunch to eat among the dunes. It was our way of ‘eating out’. We have both been double vaccinated, as have all our closest friends and family and we have been extremely careful.
So, what’s the story behind your new novel āIn the Shadow of the Olive Treeā?
“In the Shadow of the Olive Tree” was somewhat a continuation of my previous book, “The Blonde in the Gondola”, which was set in Venice. This new novel is mainly set here in the olive groves around Ostuni. I have always had a germ of an idea for a good story about someone who comes home, only to find that there is someone else living in their home. I began writing it a few months before our first lockdown in March 2020, put it aside for a couple of months as I couldn’t concentrate, then continued at a rapid pace, losing myself completely in the story, which has several twists and turns that kept me entertained. Whether it was because of the effects of our strange circumstances or not, it has ended up more of a psychological thriller than a romance, which quite surprised me and my readers. It wasn’t what anyone was expecting…least of all me!
How do you create your characters?
My characters are completely fictitious, at least as regards to how they are involved in such a sinister tale, but many are drawn from appearances, characteristics and foibles that I note in people I meet and know in real life.
How did it compare versus writing āThe Blonde in the Gondolaā?
Writing “In the Shadow of the Olive Tree” was a more straightforward process than “The Blonde in the Gondola”. It is better structured and perhaps slightly more polished.
Can you tell us a bit about the setting for your latest novel?
The White City of Ostuni, and its surrounding countryside, is probably the main setting of the book. My two heroines are Irish, so I have described life here through their eyes for accuracy. My impressions of the Itrian Valley are probably wildly different from those of the Italians who live here, so I have tried to respect this inescapable fact. I did this the same way that my previous book’s heroine was an interior designer from Dublin, who ended up in Venice, as I did myself.
For those who’d like to explore the setting of the novel for themselves, then this 3 bedroom villa in Ostuni would provide the perfect setting for your Puglia holiday.
Do you have plans for a third novel?
As my new book ended with such a terrifying cliffhanger, I have been asked to write a sequel, which is underway. Who knows where it will end up, but it starts out in Puglia once more.
For those who have not visited Puglia before, what would your must-see places be for those exploring Puglia for the first time? Any top tips on what to see and do in Puglia?
Puglia for me consists of walking along the meandering trails down along the Ostuni coast, except in July and August when they are too hot and crowded. Then we stay at home by the pool. We also love to explore the olive groves to check out all the old, ruined trulli – those quaint, traditional cone-shaped houses – and generally enjoy the beautiful countryside. As far as I am concerned, apart from the natural beauty, there are many hill towns worth exploring: Ostuni; Cisternino; Locorotondo; Martina Franca are the four that come to mind. Alberobello is the most famous, where there are 1500 trulli and many tourists. Then there are the coastal towns of Otranto, Gallipoli, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare. Seafood restaurants galore; we love Savelletri the best, followed by Santa Sabina for a great lunch of fresh fish overlooking the Adriatic.
Finally, many people love Italy for its food. The team at Bookings For You think Puglia has some of the best food anywhere in Italy. For so many of us, lockdown gave us the opportunity to spend more time in our kitchens. Any top tips you discovered from your time cooking during lockdown?
I tried out so many new recipes during lockdown that Tom posted one on Facebook almost every single night for about three months He called it “What’s Burning Tonight” and referred to me as Chef 00! It was a huge challenge, but I cooked what was in season and, in all honesty, it’s a bit of a blur by now….apart from the ubiquitous banana bread, which was a great way of using up overripe bananas. I also discovered that you can put just about anything in a quiche!
If you want to dive into Orna’s books for yourself, then they are available to buy at Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble plus many more. Or head over to Orna’s blog – www.ornaoreilly.com – to find out more about Orna’s life and travels in Italy. She has promised us that, as soon as she is able to travel again, more new blogs will be forthcoming!
Or, if reading Orna’s book or blog has tempted you to explore Puglia for yourself, then take a look at the Puglia villa rentals available from Bookings For You.