COVID-19 The Italian Reading Space - Week 7 of lockdown

Dear friends,

We're coming to the end of week 7 of lockdown in Italy and it's been another week of juggling teleworking with the household chores and family complaints. How was your week?

My week started in a good way. I was happy to be at home which has given me the possibility to continue with my writing while I'm doing my full-time job at home. I've been able to find time during the day to get some writing done and I really like this new way of working.

I schedule my day starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. with work, writing, breaks, exercise and leisure. It's important to take the time to break away from what we're doing in order to keep the mind and body healthy.

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, we invested in an elliptical machine which I use ever second day. I like to exercise in the morning and I've found a good balance of alternating my days with the elliptical machine and postural exercises. This has kept my body and mind fit while staying at home.

It's not easy being at home with the family when we're not used to it. We're normally out most of the day at work or university, so it was a real challenge when we needed to stay home without going outside. Our daughters stay in their own rooms and study, listen to lessons online, and video chat with friends. Is this our future?

We're not sure how long this lifestyle will continue but it's important to find a happy lifestyle. Work is important but so is spending quality time with the family. This pandemic has slowed us down and given us the possibility to sit around a table and talk, play games or watch a film together. When was the last time we did this? We live such a fast paced life that we forget to slow down and enjoy the moments with our family, create memories that will last a lifetime.

Well, we're about to start week 8 of the shutdown and I wonder how far we are from the sci-fi films we watch at the movies. We're already wearing masks. There are three things we need to protect in order to live well. Air, water, and earth. Let's be thoughtful of our choices in life so that we live a good life and we give future generations a chance to survive.

If you haven't read my previous posts, all my #ebooks (pen names included) are #FREE during the COVID-19 pandemic with the #authorsgiveback campaign. You will find the links below to download my ebooks.

Stay home - stay healthy - stay safe!
#noistiamoacasa

Buona domenica ragazzi.
Grace

Author Grace Kagni (adult romance novels): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/GraceKagni

Author Rita Gracie (adult romance novellas):  https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ritagracie

Author K. Gracie (young adult romance novels): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kgracie

COVID-19 The Italian Reading Space - #NOISTIAMOACASA

COVID-19 The Italian Reading Space #FREE #ebooks

Dear friends,

Italy's has started week 6 of its lockdown and Easter has come and gone in a way we never dreamed would be possible. It was the first time in history that we were in our own homes and not gathered around the table with family and friends.

To help everyone stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic, I joined the #AUTHORSGIVEBACK campaign in March by placing ALL my #ebook novels for #FREE for a short period. The campaign has now been extended until May 20th, 2020. I am pleased to announce that ALL my ebooks will continue to be FREE until May 20th, 2020.

Join my Italian Reading Space by downloading my FREE ebooks, pen names included, on the links below. Learn about the Italian culture and our lifestyle, and understand what #MADEINITALY is all about.

DID YOU KNOW how Italians have truly stood out during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Two engineers and a doctor from Brescia, Italy, transformed a scuba diving mask into a mask for respirators.

The Beretta weapons' factory made the valves needed for the modified scuba diving masks.

The largest hospital camp in Europe was built by the Alpine Brigade of the Italian army.

Giorgio Armani and Calzedonia make doctors' single use sterile gowns.

Ferrari of Maranello, Italy design respirators.

Gucci and Prada make masks for the public.

Bulgari and Ramazzotti make hand sanitisers.

Chef Cracco cooks at the Milan hospital.

There was a flash appeal of 300 voluntary doctors for a task force. Over 1,500 doctors responded.

Then there was a flash appeal for 500 voluntary nurses and 8,000 responded.

THIS IS WHAT TRULY MAKE ITALIANS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD!

Stay home, stay safe, and stay healthy.
#NOISTIAMOACASA

Grace

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If one of my books has touched you in any way, then please be kind and leave a review on your favourite platform. A writer ceases to exist when he is incapable of touching the reader's heart.

Download #FREE #EBOOKS under the gender you desire until MAY 20th, 2020:

Author Grace Kagni (adult romance novels): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/GraceKagni

Author Rita Gracie (adult romance novellas): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ritagracie

Author K. Gracie (young adult romance novels): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kgracie

COVID-19 - The Italian Reading Space - #FREE #ebooks

Dear friends,

Italy's at the end of week 3 of its lockdown and it's taken a little adjusting to be confined to a 100sqm flat with my husband, two young adult daughters and dog. It was a challenge in the beginning, but we've finally found a happy routine that balances our lifestyles.

I remember thinking not too long ago how great it would be to work shorter weeks and have longer weekends. Never would I have thought that we would be confined to our homes with serious restrictions with heavy fines to go outdoors. I've always been a nature lover and not being allowed to go further than 200m from my home for essential groceries or medicine has made me think about life in a huge way.

I've always taken for granted the simple things in life, such as taking a walk when it's a beautiful sunny day. I miss my walks and I miss going hiking.

Since I've had to stay indoors, it's given me the possibility to do the things that I've always said I'd do when I retire. I have a daily routine that is flexible depending on how I feel, but I've been really good at keeping to the routine.

To start, I wake up in the morning when the sun shines through my window. It's great not having to wake up to an alarm. I have a leisure breakfast and then read my work emails. I might read a little or watch a little of a Netflix series for about an hour until I feel the need to exercise. We bought an elliptical machine that has been our lifeline. It keeps our body and mind fit while we're confined to our home. I'm not a sporty person and yet, after a week with the machine, I'm doing a 40-minute workout while watching Netflix. It's great and I'll be sorry when it'll be time to go back to work :(

Then I'll check my emails again before having a quick shower. If there's nothing urgent on the emails, I'll take my time and relax in a hot bath with scented oils or salts. It's something I've never really had time to do so I'm starting to enjoy the time at home.

Once I've had lunch, I sit down at my computer and work during the afternoon. If I'm not disturbed by anyone, I'll be able to write quite a bit but being at home with the family (and beautiful dog) there are always interruptions.

I'm sort of juggling two novels at the moment. Finishing the third novel in an adult series while writing a stand alone young adult novel.  It's amazing how much we can do when we have all the time in the world while we're stuck indoors. Don't look at it as being stuck. Look at it as the possibility to do what you never have time for before.

After writing, my afternoon finishes with making bread, purifying water (less plastic bottles), and deciding what to make for dinner.

My day goes smoothly because my family is with me but it makes me mindful of those that are alone. Reach out to friends and family who live alone. Call or video chat with them because it makes a huge difference to keep the connection with the outside world.

My heart goes out to those who don't have a happy family life. Domestic violence increases in this environment so if there is anyone who you know who may be having a difficult time at home, reach out just to say hello.

If you haven't already downloaded my free ebooks (pen names included), below are the links to my free novels to help you get through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stay home, stay safe, and stay healthy.

Grace

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Download FREE novels under the gender you desire:

Author Grace Kagni (adult romance novels): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/GraceKagni

Author Rita Gracie (adult romance novellas): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ritagracie

Author K. Gracie (young adult romance novels): https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/kgracie