La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z

(Hardback)

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Description

The Big Picture

La Dolce Vita University (LDVU) offers considerable market potential and extendibility as a book franchise, but also ultimately as an entire lifestyle, entertainment and educational brand.

Purchaser / Reader Prospects

La Dolce Vita University should be a book of broad and perennial interest both domestically and overseas (particularly in the U.K., Canada, Japan and China). It could sell as either an impulse or planned purchase to any of these prospects:

A.
gift givers for any of the above

Targeting-wise, LDVU has numerous advantages since there are myriad Italian travel, heritage and language teacher affiliation groups, organizations and businesses that can be marketed to and with whom alliances can be forged. Below is a sampling of initial possibilities.

Marketing Alliances / Speaking Engagements / Special Distribution Opportunities

Italophiles, the Italian-American community and heritage groups National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) the largest and most influential; one of the Board Members is close to the author's family National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW). The author is an active member and friendly with the Founder and Chairwoman Emeritus Dr. Aileen Sirrey; NOIAW is headquartered in NY but there are local chapters in all major cities on the east coast Westchester Italian Cultural Center (founded by Genovese Pope) the author is well connected there and has done culinary programs for them in the past and they will surely be willing to sponsor an event to promote LDVU Similar opportunities in Philadelphia area (through the author's friends and family contacts - she was born and raised in Philadelphia and her extended family resides there)

Other prominent Italian-American heritage organizations with large local chapters in the NE corridor, Chicago and West Coast; these include: The Order of the Sons of Italy (OSIA) The Italian American Studies Association (IASA) Museo Italo-Americano, San Francisco

The author has two degrees of separation from Lidia Bastianich, Mario Batali, Stanley Tucci (his mother has written advance praise for the book already) and Chaz Palmiteri.

B. Bulk Sales
Companies (and their US Importers and Distributors) with brands mentioned in the book, such a Nutella, Amaretto, Lavazza Caf, Fragelico, Nonini Grappa

C. Educational Venues and Opportunities
Other adult / continuing education venues
- For example, the author is tentatively scheduled for an LDVU presentation and book signing at Main Line School Night in Philadelphia as part of their Spring 2018 offerings they mail a catalogue to 70,000 high income suburban Philadelphia residents (their Italian language classes are among their most popular)
- The author is also tentatively scheduled for an LDVU presentation and book signing at Chappaqua Library as part of their Spring 2018 calendar of events (this is a surprisingly large venue that attracts major speakers). She is well known in the community, having owned and operated one of the areas most popular restaurants for nearly a decade.
- Italian language schools, e.g., in NYC, Scuolo Italiana Parliamo where LDVU can be used for educational enhancement and/or translation content - Supplemental resource for high school Italian classes ideally to become part of the lesson plan the essays would lend themselves brilliantly to translation assignments - Preliminary exploration has shown that Italian language teachers are well networked here in the US as well as in Canada and Australia; the author has some reasonably good connections here.

C. Channels of distribution beyond traditional and independent bookstores
College bookstores

Website / Photo-Newsletter Blog Ongoing Platform for Building and Reinforcing an Audience Relationship LaDolceVitaU.com( and LDVU.com)
PostcardsfromtheBoot.com
A co-venture between LDVU and the boutique tour company Cicilismo Classico which has an existing mailing list of 36,000+ subscribers. The author continues to maintain an email relationship with close to 3,000 guests from her former restaurant (which closed in June 2016) who are looking forward to her next venture the upcoming publication of this book.
Postcards from the Boot will take the form of a photo-newsletter/blog; over time she hopes to take paid advertisers
She anticipates hiring an experienced book publicist (Kelly Leonard) to help with LDVUs digital marketing program
La Dolce Vita University "Brand" Extensions
Bring La Dolce Vita University to Life
Syndicated 5 minute mini LDVU program (already in preliminary discussions on this)
La Dolce Vita U Tours in alliance with an existing operator
Theatrical / musical adaptation

Reviews

Praise for La Dolce Vita University The titleLa Dolce Vita Universitycaptures the great virtues of this reader-friendly book perfectly: its delicious and educational at the same time, which each virtue reinforcing the other. Dulce blended with utile, as the great ancient Roman poet Horace recommended. This book sustains that combination masterfully. Its is a complete delight to read, but (as a professor of Renaissance literature for many decades) Im happy to report that the authors know their stuff. The research is careful and the analysis is intelligent and witty. I learned amazing new things about dozens of topics Artemisia, Burano, Casanova, Dante, and onward through the alphabet to zanni. La Dolce Vita University also seasons lots of popular myths with just the right number of grains of salt. Its written in prose as clear, bright, crisp, and lively as a spring morning in the Dolomites. Add to that graceful but also playful prose, the talent of skilled story-tellers, and its no wonder that the entries stay so fascinating. La Dolce Vita University makes me crave a return to Italy, and helps me daydream that Im already there. Like an ideal platter of antipasti, its made of deliciously varied bites you can pick your way through. If you want or want to give a friend an appetizer that will rouse up a hunger for the glory and festivity of that wonderful place and its no less wonderful culture, this book is perfect. Robert N. Watson, PhD Distinguished Professor of English, Associate Vice-Provost for Educational Innovation, UCLA Imagine it as a dessert course of dark chocolates, filled with exotic fruits and nuts, packed with her parents' knowledge and love of history and art, her grandmother's epithets, and her own wisdom and wit, Italian, American, global. The chocolates are alphabetically listed, described and presented beautifully, and offered as something to dip into as you wish. You open it, choose the one you think you will like best, then another, and another. Suddenly its gone. Because Carla wears her scholarship lightly, you don't feel over full, but what a feast! Denise Scott Brown FAIA, Int. FRIBA and Robert Venturi FAIA, Int. FRIBA Excellent! Bravissima! Delightfully informative, a book to enrich any readers life with a greater appreciation of Italian cultureeven in everyday experiences here at home, from visiting an art museum to dining in a local Italian restaurant, or from cooking for friends and family to the usage of common expressions and words. Not to mention, it might just inspire you to hop on a plane! Commendatore Professor Carlo Sclafani SUNY Distinguished Professor and Former Chairperson of the Modern Languages Department at Westchester Community College Carla is the consummate Italian. Mille grazie for sharing your extensive knowledge, insights and fascinating little-known backstories with such affection and humor! Joan Tucci Author, The Tucci Cookbook An enlightening, entertaining guide to the history behind so much of what we love about Italian cuisine and culture. As a chef and cooking enthusiast I enjoyed the variety of information and perspective on the Italian and Sicilian culture. From antiquity to today, reading this special history written with color and style is a pure joy for the food aficionado and any lover of Italy. You wont want to miss reading through any part of this book. Chef Bert Cutino, CEC, AAC, HOF, WCMC Co-Founder/COO, The Sardine Factory Restaurant, Cannery Row, Monterey, CA La Dolce Vita University is an authentic full immersion in Italian culture, history, art, traditions and more. Fun, funny and informative. Brava! Cristiano Bonino Founder, Food, Stories, Trave1 An obvious love of all things Italian is evident in every essay of this quirky, delicious, and absolutely delightful book. From A to Z topics are peppered with insights, memories, fun factoids and the intrigues of history. Whether you are a seasoned globetrotter or an armchair-traveler, La Dolce Vita University will inspire you to dig deeper into the magic and allure of Italia. Tara Coniaris Secretary, Board of Trustees at Katonah Museum of Art The enthusiasm that Carla brings to her work is unmistakable and contagious. La Dolce Vita University merits many students and readers who share a passion for Italy. Comm. Stefano Acunto Hon. Vice Consul, Republic of Italy I believe that most rewarding travel experiences are those that engage the senses and enrich you emotionally and intellectually. Reading La Dolce Vita University is a great armchair vacation that captures the essence of Italy. This is the one book to read before visiting Italy or to put you in the mood for your next one. Lauren Hefferon Founder & Director Ciclismo Classico and Travel Vision Journeys

Author Bio

Carla Gambescias passion for Italy began earlywith her mothers love of the Renaissance masters and her fathers discourses on Italian geniuses of every calling. In the ensuing decades she has toured every region of Italy (often by bicycle) and immersed herself in its astonishing array of cultural treasures. In recent years Carla has combined her passion as an Italophile and writer with her skills as a career marketer and branding expert, acting as a consultant to and a collaborator with boutique tour operators. She conceived and co-led the Giro del Gelato bicycle tour, winner of Outside magazines Best Trip in Western Europe. In 2008 Carla founded Via Vanti! Restaurant & Gelateria, in Mount Kisco, New York, with the ambition of creating a unique environment and dining experience that would enable guests to feel as though they had stepped right into Italy. Via Vanti! quickly won plaudits not just for its innovative Italian cuisine, extraordinary gelato (named Best Gelato Shop in New York) and dazzling jewel box interior but also, under Carlas direction, for its active program of culinary and cultural events. It is Carlas conviction that all of us, regardless of our inherited ethnicities, share an inner Italianthat part of our nature which is most expressive, festive, spontaneous and funjust waiting to be unlocked. La Dolce Vita University: An Unconventional Guide to Italian Culture from A to Z is the natural outgrowth of Carlas work and play in both the restaurant and boutique travel industries, as well as a lifelong love affair with the land of her ancestors.