"Lu Bummularu" by Rocco Spano

4/21/2024

The potter tells us the story of Selinunte 628 B.C.

Debut Amazon author, Rocco Spano introduces us to his delightful historical fiction tale, “Lu Bummularu”:
The peculiarity of the book lies in the fact that each chapter is introduced with a poem, which is a nice peculiarity and makes an impact on the reader due to its short nature. A way that splits between short story, poem and novel.
Another striking feature are the illustrations inserted throughout the story.
The story is set in the happy and glorious period of ancient Greece in 628 B.C. in Selinunte and speaks about an object made by the young craftsman Obelius. An object handed down until the 1960s. Bummulu comes from the Greek word 'bombùlion' meaning vase. It would therefore be the story of the creation of a simple container to keep water and wine cool and the adventure of life in Selinunte.
It is a sea voyage from Greece to Sicily, where Obelius with his family and other Megareans set up a new colony under the name of Selinos. This name is due to the smell of celery when arriving there. A fictional tale that describes the dream of realising a new agricultural-commercial polis through the union of everyone's strength to help the community. A book that revives the beauty of ancient Greece in Sicily.
The story begins from Megara Nisea, Greece, with some misadventures during the journey and the landing at the spot pointed out by the oracle. Obelius goes on talking about the construction of Selinunte after three groups of men have explored the area. The hero continues talking about his adventure in Greece and the Olympic Games, life in Selinunte, his family's work and a dire foreboding
What does this book give you?
The story is in a variety of exciting genres, from fiction to history - making reading fun and you feel relaxed.
This book is good for people with not a lot of time to sit down and read. You can read a chapter a day and I think that’s the best way.
If you are an avid reader you can read it all in one go, because the historical content is told with simplicity, abundance of detail, which captivates you and transports you emotionally.
Why not for students, they will learn ancient Greek history in Sicily and Sicilian traditions.
Learning a foreign language is always a challenge. Being constantly exposed to the language one aims to master is the best way to speed up the learning process. It’s not just by listening to a language that you get to learn it. Reading has also been proven to be a very effective way to learn a foreign language as it helps everyone to become familiar with the proper grammar use, the rhythms, forms and rules of the language. The story is fluid, continuous and filled with a variety of helpful vocabulary combined with a grammatical richness.
The best way to learn a new language is by reading, and in this book you will find yourself turning page after page to get to the end of this captivating story that will engage your mind and help you improve your English language.
This book for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to A2-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference, this story will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress while reading.
What does this book give you?
· This story Is an exciting genres, from fiction to history-making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary
· Controlled language at your level, to help you progress confidently and improve your speaking ability
· Pleasure! It's much easier to learn a new language when you're having fun, and research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration.

I love historical fiction and I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It differs from many other books because it has simple illustrations and short poetry that precedes each chapter.
Another thing that sets this book apart from many other historical fiction books is that the story is a vehicle to share detailed information about life during a glorious part of ancient Greek history.
The author does a marvelous job of pulling off this trick. The story is pleasant to read and the details of daily life, commerce and customs are quite interesting.
I enjoyed this book a great deal and give it 4.7 stars.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Bummularu-potter-Selinunte
https://www.goodreads.com/-lu-bummularu-the-potter-selinunte

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/roccospano71
https://www.facebook.com/rocco.spano.792
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rocco-spano
http://roccospano.blogspot.com
https://www.instagram.com/rocco.spano.792

Tags: Italy, Italian, Sicily, Sicilian, pottery, history

Copyright © 2024 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction.

61 Comments

Rocco Spanò

4/23/2024 03:24:21 am

Why selinunte? because not everyone knows that Selinunte is the largest and best preserved Greek territory.
I chose a simple boy to tell the story of Selinunte because he created something that not everyone knows.

Mark

4/23/2024 07:54:43 am

Hello Rocco. Welcome to the Word Refiner channel. Thank you for hiring me to promote your book. I enjoyed the story.

You live in Greece, 6 hours ahead of me in Florida, USA.

Here is the first question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio. We appear to be of a similar age.

Rocco Spano link

4/23/2024 09:45:04 am

Sorry, I live in Sicily. Selinunte is not far from my town, Mazara del Vallo.
I am 70 years old just on 20 April, that's why I was on holiday. I used to teach English. I liked working on the Erasmus Project because teachers and students can meet everywhere in the world. During the Erasmus Project with a Spanish school about history, I started to like Sicilian history and that's why I write historical novels.

4/23/2024 09:50:32 am

Happy birthday, Rocco. My birthday is in September.

That makes a lot of sense. Sicily and Italy are beautiful places.

New questions.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer?

What kind of work do you do if you are a part-time writer? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

4/23/2024 10:17:15 am

I used to teach English, and I retired in 2019. During the pandemic, I started writing this historical novel and "Lu Bummularu" tells the story of Selinunte 628 B.C. This is my first one and it is in English, Spanish and Italian. I am working on my second historical novel. I like going around on holiday, so I am not a full-time writer. I like gardening also.

4/23/2024 12:16:50 pm

Congratulations on your retirement! Gardening and traveling are wonderful activities to pursue.

Historical fiction is my third favorite genre to read, right behind science fiction and fantasy in that order. I think cozy mystery is my fourth favorite genre to read.

New questions.

What is your favorite genre to read for pleasure?

Has writing changed the pleasure of reading for you? If so, how?

4/23/2024 01:55:49 pm

When I used to teach English, I read all the short stories in English before my students so that I could ask them questions afterwards. Now, I read all genres of books except horror, but historical novels are my favorite genre. Reading helps us stay young longer, at least mentally. This happens because reading stimulates our mind.

4/23/2024 01:59:14 pm

A good teacher asks the students questions to help them develop their critical thinking skills. It's not always easy to wait for them to answer.

New questions.

Why do you write?

How has writing changed your life?

4/23/2024 04:32:29 pm

Many peoples of the Mediterranean Sea conquered Sicily and made it great with smaller or larger contributions. Sicily, an island located in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, has always been a land known for its port of entry and commercial exchange.This Is what I wrote at the beginning of my book. I like writing because I love my Sicily and its history fascinates me. I am passionate about writing to let people know about our traditions, habits and customs.Writing did not change my life.

4/23/2024 05:03:06 pm

Sicily has a fascinating history that goes back a long way, I have no doubt. I love learning about the histories of different peoples around the world. As people and citizens of Earth, we are far more alike than we are different, excluding the language barrier.

New questions.

Does your work, past or present, have any influence on your writing?

Who was the first person to inspire you to write?

4/24/2024 06:28:13 am

Yes.My past work influenced me on my writing.
Once a tourist asked me how to get to Agrigento from Mazara. I asked if he had visited Selinunte and he replied that he didn't know Selinunte. This was the reason that pushed me to write this story

4/24/2024 08:14:49 am

I like your story. That is an unusual inspiration to write, in one way. Many authors know who inspired them to write, frequently a family member or a teacher is the original source.

I regret that I will probably never get to visit Sicily. My wife's health precludes any foreign travel.

New questions.

Have you ever seen a UFO or UAP, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

4/24/2024 09:22:03 am

I have never seen a UFO or UAP, unidentified aerial phenomena.
I do not remember how many drafts my book went through before publishing, but a lot of friends read my book and they liked It and wrote me to publish It.

4/24/2024 09:46:15 am

I am sorry for your wife, but It is a pity you cannot visit Sicily. During my honeymoon my wife and I were in New York for a month.

4/24/2024 04:31:15 pm

Thank you, Rocco. My wife and I visited New York City about 20 years ago. It was a fun trip.

4/24/2024 09:58:36 am

I haven't seen a UFO either. Though my sisters have told me that we saw one as a child, but I have no memory of that.

That is nice that friends encouraged you to publish your book.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

How many drafts did the cover go through?

4/24/2024 10:12:13 am

My oldest daughter designed the cover but I do not know how many drafts the cover went through.

4/24/2024 11:06:52 am

You have a talented daughter.

New question.

At first glance, the cover seems obvious, but I frequently miss a detail or two. What do the elements on the cover represent?

4/24/2024 02:42:52 pm

On the top there Is the temple of Hera in Selinunte and in the center there is the potter, the main character.
The archaeological park of Selinunte is today considered the largest and most impressive in Europe: it extends for 1740 square km and includes numerous temples, sanctuaries and altars.

4/24/2024 03:32:09 pm

That is a big archaeological park. Many structures that survived the ravages of time and multiple wars.

I studied architectural history in 1974, preparing to study for architecture. While I never got my degree in architecture, I got a good education during that summer when I was backpacking all over western Europe.

New questions.

Was it hard to come up with the title?

What was the process?

4/24/2024 04:10:18 pm

Not at all, It was my dream to write a story with a simple boy who tells a great story rich in cultural traditions.

4/24/2024 04:29:41 pm

Okay. You certainly achieved that goal.

New questions.

Are you planning to continue writing?

If so, what kind are you thinking of?

4/25/2024 11:05:34 am

Yes, my second historical novel is ready but only in Italian, so before I publish it, I would like to translate it into English. It Is set in Mazara, my town, in 1492. Guess what it is about.

4/25/2024 11:09:58 am

Wonderful. Writing and publishing more books is important for sales in the long run.

I learned a rhyme in elementary school, it went something like this: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." My guess is you are writing about the famous mariner, Christopher Columbus.

New question.

Who will do the translating for your new book?

4/25/2024 12:36:21 pm

My book will not be about Columbus. During that period, Sicily was controlled by the king of Spain. The book is set during the Spanish Catholic Inquisition.
I will translate It and when I finish, I will ask you for proofreading help.

4/25/2024 12:50:22 pm

I forgot about the Inquisition. What a terrible time in the history of humanity and Christianity. So misguided and so human.

I look forward to working with you on your book.

New questions.

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI, Artificial Intelligence?

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books? I am not including research in this question because most of the major browsers have embedded AI in the browser.

4/25/2024 01:39:02 pm

No, I did not use Al and I will not use for the future. As you can see my words are simple and not elaborate.

4/25/2024 01:45:45 pm

This is a relatively new question in my list of questions. Your answer mirrors that of all of the authors I have asked so far. I think one or two have said it was handy in their research but that was the extent of usage.

I have used it a little bit to reword a few of my tweets but that is the limit of my usage.

AI has some usefulness in many areas, but I don't think it will ever match human expression.

New questions.

Have you encountered a troll reviewing one of your books? Someone who leaves an ugly, negative review meant to hurt the writer.

How did you handle it?

4/25/2024 02:33:23 pm

No, never, even my first Italian edition in 2022.

4/25/2024 03:00:02 pm

Count yourself lucky, many authors have had that unfortunate experience! Frequently, it's easy to tell the person hasn't even read the book. Normal people will notice that and discount anything the troll says. The important thing is not to engage or talk with the troll.

I have told many authors that a negative review is not the end of the world, it can validate the good reviews. There has never been a book written that is universally loved and never will be.

New questions.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

Have you done any public speaking?

If so, will you be doing more in the future?

4/25/2024 05:31:12 pm

Yes, I know negative review Is not the end of the world.
At seven years old, before going to school, I delivered bread to the shops. After two years I worked for a shoemaker. When I was in high school, I went to Germany in the summer to work to support my university studies, in addition, of course, to the grape harvest on the family vineyard, in September.
I have done public speaking, but at school, not only my school, because I went around Europe for Comenius project. I Hope to do more in the future.

4/25/2024 05:18:36 pm

You started working at an early age. My first real job was picking strawberries for a commercial farm in the neighboring town. I was 11 or 12.

Many authors fear public speaking, it is refreshing to meet someone who is not afraid to speak in public.

I had a severe stammering problem during my school years. I learned a secret that takes away the fear of public speaking from a Dale Carnegie course. The secret is to only speak about something that you know a lot about. For most authors, their books are what they know more about than any other person. An author is the expert about their book.

New question.

Among present or past family members and friends how many are or have been writers or authors?

4/25/2024 05:36:41 pm

Only a school colleague Is a writer.
She has already written two novels only in Italian

4/25/2024 07:07:11 pm

Sometimes the writing bug runs in a family and sometimes it doesn't.

New questions.

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?

4/26/2024 05:41:35 am

No, there is not anyone.
not very well. I noticed that people download my ebook, buy ebook and paperback but they don't write reviews.

4/26/2024 09:21:08 am

You may yet be an inspiration for someone.

Your experience mirrors that of other authors. The struggle for reviews is real. It seems that only one or two percent of readers leave a review.

Here is a copy-and-paste link for a blog that might have some useful information to help get more reviews: Create The Biggest Audience For Your Book https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2022/07/18/reach-readers-book-marketing

New questions.

What is your favorite food and beverage?

Have you ever gone through the query process?

Were you seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers and why did you choose that path?

4/26/2024 10:46:12 am

I like pasta, pizza and wine.
I have never gone through the query process.
I wanted to publish my book on KDP because if I sell my books I earn more. The first edition paid me 1.50 euros per copy.

4/26/2024 10:57:26 am

I like those foods also. Actually, I like almost every food I have come across. There are only a few foods I don't like.

I think you made a wise choice to self-publish. You keep control of your books and keep all of the profits. One downside is that you must contract out whatever you can't do yourself. You are also responsible for promoting and marketing your books. That is true for nearly every author whether self-published or traditionally published. If you remember that you have a business as an author and your books are the product, you will do well.

New questions.

How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

Have you ever seen a ghost or had some other type of supernatural experience?

4/26/2024 11:54:46 am

I do not know how my book compares to a book published by a major publisher.
I have ever seen a ghost or had some other type of supernatural experience.

4/26/2024 12:24:39 pm

It is a good idea to keep an eye on the books in your genre to see what others are doing. Fashion and presentation changes frequently to catch the attention of the readers.

New question.

There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

4/26/2024 12:48:14 pm

Sorry, I don't know about practices in publishing.

4/26/2024 02:08:36 pm

There are many different scams aimed at authors. There are people who promise the moon, take a lot of money and deliver nothing. Whether it be covers, promotion and reviews, or publishing. There are also people who pretend to be agents or employees of big-name publishers, movie production companies and videos such as Netflix. There are also people who run contests and take as much out of a person's wallet as they can.

I have recommended to writers that short story writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer improve their writing skills. I do have a warning, there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet, others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links for on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.

New questions.

Is there a book that causes strong emotions to come up no matter how many times you read it?

Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?

4/26/2024 02:41:29 pm

War Horse. Also my students liked It very much.
I read It more than once.

4/26/2024 06:07:37 pm

It looks like a nice book. I am sure I would enjoy it also.

New questions

Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Can you read a book as a reader or only as a writer now? As a writer, I mean with a critical eye examining the parts that make up a good novel, conflict, characters and dialogue, to name only three.

4/27/2024 09:35:17 am

My favorite book was Cuore by Edmondo de Amicis.
Yes, I never stop reading. I read just to learn something new and keep my mind alive. Reading is an activity that involves different areas of our brain, stimulating and strengthening them. Improves memory, concentration, creativity.

4/27/2024 09:40:06 am

I am a lifelong reader also. I learned to read before the first grade. A retired schoolteacher lived behind us and I sat on the white, picket fence while she opened the universe to me. I love reading still.

New question.

If you could ask every person, who has read your book, only one question what would you ask them?

4/27/2024 09:46:29 am

I think it Is a simple question.
What did you like most about my book?

4/27/2024 12:03:38 pm

That is a good question. It's similar to what many other authors have chosen.

New question.

Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

4/27/2024 01:13:19 pm

Writing has a healing component for me. Because when I start writing I feel relaxed.

4/27/2024 02:35:13 pm

Quite a few authors have a similar response, they have a good feeling when they have had a good writing session.

New question.

I don't know how long an author in Italy owns their copyright but a copyright in America lasts for 75 years after the author's passing. Do you have a plan for all of your books in your will?

4/27/2024 02:49:57 pm

I would like to answer with a smile.
I do not have a plan, in Italy everything automatically passes to the heirs.

4/27/2024 07:02:40 pm

That was easy. Maybe the next one will be a little bit harder.

New question.

Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

4/28/2024 09:00:33 am

it is important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters because it
helps readers gain understanding and perspective from different view points, as well
as providing an opportunity for them to escape from the 'real world' for a while.

4/28/2024 10:44:22 am

The idea that characters are not only one way needs to be true for readers to understand them. People are multi-dimensional and have depth with many layers. Characters should also. Even an antagonist should be the same way. A good antagonist thinks he is the good guy in the story unless the antagonist is quite insane.

New question.

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

4/28/2024 12:04:11 pm

No, never. I did not know about It.
It Is a good idea I Will do It.

4/28/2024 12:51:50 pm

Some authors get together virtually and encourage each other to make the goal of a 50,000-word first draft by the end of November. They share their daily progress and work hard to win. Every writer is competing against themself, not other writers.

New question.

What reality show, current or not, would you like to be on?

4/28/2024 04:07:53 pm

Sorry, I do not like reality show.
Can I choose a talk show, so I can speak about my book?

4/29/2024 09:26:00 am

I understand your feelings about reality shows, most of them are too weird for me and I avoid them also. I love talking about books and that is why we are here.

Last questions.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

4/29/2024 09:51:03 am

I am just a writer.
When I finished the first, I just add a few words to flesh it out and I cut something I did not like.

4/29/2024 10:11:10 am

Like many other authors.

Thank you, Rocco, for being a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. I have enjoyed our chat a great deal. I appreciate you hiring me to promote your book.

Until next time, keep on writing.

4/29/2024 10:48:26 am

Think you, Mark. It was a pleasure to work with you. You are a big book promoter.
I'll keep in touch for my next book.

"Lu Bummularu" by Rocco Spano

The potter tells us the story of Selinunte 628 B.C.

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