Novel set on AGISTRI, Greece
Talking Location With …. Cameron Capello – CHIVASSO (Metropolitan Turin)
1st August 2024
Talking Location With… Cameron Capello, author of I’ll Look for Your, Everywhere: CHIVASSO, metropolitan Turin, ITALY.
When I first conceived the idea of writing a romance novel, the only certainty was its setting: Italy. Did I know the plot or the characters? Absolutely not. But I knew that northern Italy was the perfect backdrop to capture the angst and tension I envisioned. Despite living in New York at the time, I was eager to escape the modern chaos of the city. I craved the antiquity of 14th-century buildings, standing strong and slightly worn. It felt fitting for Theo and Magdalen’s epic love story to unfold in a town steeped in such rich history.
I’ll Look for You, Everywhere is set in Chivasso, a sleepy village in the Piedmont region. Though it may seem lackluster compared to Italy’s more iconic destinations like Rome and Florence, to me, it was magical. It was quiet. It’s where my dad grew up, and when my sister and I finally convinced him to show us his hometown, I watched him become giddy with nostalgia, pointing out places he and his friends rode motorcycles or pilfered leftover focaccia (he regrets the stealing now). As we bumped along the cobblestone streets in a manual Jeep, I thought the city looked as if it had been dipped in sunlight. The patisseries, independent pharmacies, and family-run restaurants with uneven floors and loud locals beckoning you inside were enchanting. They weren’t trying to sell you anything; they just wanted to talk. To get to know you.
I soon realized that the people themselves were golden.
Several places in the story are real locations I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. One of my favorite scenes is when Magdalen’s best friend, Anika, drags her to the town’s only dance spot, which is a tennis club during the day. In reality, Tiruma Pi Fort Tennis is owned by my cousin, Ettore. Sadly, it doesn’t transform into a disco at night, but maybe the book will change his mind.
When I first visited Chivasso, my family was eager to show us Torino. It was raining heavily, and I could tell my dad was nervous about the weather. Flustered, he shrugged and said, ‘Want to see a mummy?’
I was thirteen. Of course, I wanted to see a mummy. We bought tickets to the Museo Egizio and spent the day exploring the oldest museum dedicated to Egyptian culture and artifacts. From that point on, I was mesmerized by Egyptian mythology and constantly thought about the incredible history and innovation of ancient Egypt. To this day, I still carry the teal scarab I bought at the museum gift shop. Afterward, when the sky cleared, we had a beautiful dinner at Al Pero Imbarco sul Po. To get to the dining area, you had to walk down creaky wooden steps the size of half my foot and wrestle through vines and stray branches. After a few scratches and a lot of bug bites, you arrive directly on the Po river. I was breathless. I thought, ‘Do these people know they’re eating in Heaven?’ It wasn’t Heaven, but another hidden gem of Italy that I’ll remember forever.
The story then moves to a third setting because I firmly believe that a tertiary location allows a romance to either bloom or wither away. Guess you’ll have to read the book to find out! Anika surprises the group with a weekend trip to Alassio, a small beach town on the western coast of Liguria, about two hours from Turin. This not only gave me an excuse for Magdalen and Theo to strip off their clothes in a socially acceptable way but also allowed them to test their romantic feelings in a place that didn’t feel as permanent as home does. If you ever visit Alassio, I highly recommend trying Alberto Marchetti Gelato—especially the cioccolato bianco al caramello e sale. But be warned, you might pass out from deliciousness.
To be frank, Alassio is a sexy city. With its many hidden alleyways, I could easily
picture Magdalen and Theo sneaking off while everyone else played volleyball on the beach. It felt like the perfect setting for a forbidden romance.
I’ll Look for You, Everywhere is my love letter to Northern Italy. Chivasso opened my eyes to a world of possibilities and endless pasta, and I’m not sure I could ever write a book not set in this fantastic country. Viva Italia!
Cameron Capello
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