AUTHOR BIO

I am a native of Santa Monica, California and a first-generation Italian-American. My parents were born in Sicily and immigrated (separately) as children to the United States in the early 1900s. Both my dad's family and my mom's settled in Nebraska (Omaha and Lincoln) before moving on the Southern California where my parents met.

I attended parochial grade and junior high school in Santa Monica, before entering the seminary as a ninth grader to study for the priesthood. Not a good idea, as everyone agrees today, but that's the way it happened, and I don't regret the decision I made at that early age. Twelve years later, I was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood and served in a number of parishes in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

I began to write professionally after leaving the active ministry, first publishing a set of three nonfiction books and several magazine articles. When I decided to try my hand at fiction, I found the doors to publication much more difficult to pry open. Finally, my first novel, A Love Forbidden, came out (1996), followed by Finding Isabella (2000). Circles of Stone (2005) was my third novel and represents my second exploration into the mystery and miracle of international adoption and the heartwarming, often heart-wrenching personal and family issues related to it. In March 2005, Genesis Press/Kensington published I'll Paint a Sun. Now these have been followed by the 2007 publication of Down a Narrow Alley, the sequel to Circles of Stone.

In 2007, I have begun an association with The Newkirk Group as a Senior Consulting Specialist.

My two sisters, Natalie Middleton and Toni DiModica, are both extremely talented women. Natalie enjoyed a long career as a lyric soprano, after singing her first operatic lead at the age of 13. 

After raising a family and performing on stage, TV and films, Toni is now enjoying her grandchildren and working on her golf game. Check out her SimplySicilian website. 

One of my nieces, Natasha Middleton, is a remarkably gifted choreographer and is currently Artistic Director of the Media City Ballet. I'm very proud of her.

I am married and have two adult daughters. I enjoy residing and writing in the San Francisco East Bay Area.

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Last update:
March 22, 2007