A Book for Anyone Who Has Ever Dreamed of Starting Over

This is the true story of a couple who left California, retired from their work in Silicon Valley and the University of California, and moved to a small, isolated valley where time seemed to stand still. They bought and reconstructed a ruined farmhouse in the Italian countryside, but rebuilding the farmhouse is just one part of their adventure. The real story is about the lure of Italy--the food and wine, the seasons and storms, the history, culture, and art, the festivals and traditions, the land and its field stones and above all, the people.

In addition to recounting the finding and reconstruction of the farmhouse, the intimate stories in this book reveal surprising, funny, and profound experiences of daily living. Above all, The Field Stones of Umbria is about those small gifts in life that are handed to you, which--if you take them--can change you forever.

About the Author:
Nina Hansen Machotka has worked as a technical writer and marketing communications writer for 30 years. She has published academic articles and technical manuals, and she plans to write several novels. Nina resides in Umbria, Italy, with her husband, the painter and writer, Pavel Machotka.