Sipping with Me

One Year on Substack: Grazie Mille

Last July, I embarked on a personal writing project—a creative way to complement my pastimes and reflect on life here in Tuscany. Writing gave me great joy, allowing me to pause, shape the flow of experience, and crystallize fleeting moments. Looking back, I can see how it revealed deeper layers of meaning woven into everyday life.

None of this would have been possible without the Substack app that made it easy to publish and share—introduced to me by my friend Francine from Quebec City. She played an instrumental role at the beginning of this journey, and reading her weekly blog encouraged me to try it for myself.

Although I love telling stories and sharing anecdotes, I’m not a professional writer and don’t always find it easy to put words on paper the way a trained writer might. What I did know was that I wanted to share my experiences here in Tuscany—and perhaps tell stories that meant something to me.

And now for the honor roll. Special gratitude goes to my girlfriend Emi—who handed me my very first topic when I was searching for a subject to write about. She was always the first to read every draft and give her honest, constructive criticism.

Dependable and precious support also came from my friend Loretta. I sent her my “final” drafts on the Wednesday or Thursday, and week after week, she returned them with edits, comments, and suggestions. Her writing skills gave my newsletters the clean finish they needed—and her encouragement meant more to me than she probably realizes.

My creative process followed a rhythm: coming up with the idea, choosing photos, editing, and finally sending it out Saturday morning for my followers to read. That routine became a part of my life.

When I first started, I never imagined I’d reach 100 subscribers—but I hit that number within the first few months. Since then, the audience has kept growing, averaging about 30 new subscribers a month and over 3,500 views per month. Here are the top five:

· Secret Tuscany: 851 views

· Via Francigena: The Walk That Led Me Home: 817 views

· Meet me in Rome: 764 views

· Retreat, Reflect, Reconnect: My Monastery Experience: 728 views

· Italy: Some Assembly Required: 700 views

On a personal level, I’ve loved hearing from readers. I’ve reconnected with people I hadn’t spoken to in years, and made new friends along the way. When I did not hear from one of my regulars for a while, I’d catch myself wondering if they were okay. A tight knit community has taken shape, and I hope it will continue to grow and evolve—even if my newsletters will not appear each week (or maybe they will!).

I’ve started working on a book inspired by these weekly writings. Of course, you may have guessed the title: Sipping Italy with Tino. It will include some of my—and your—favorite pieces from the newsletter, along with new stories I’ve been saving behind the scenes. I’m excited to see where it all leads. And since this is my first experience publishing a book, I’d welcome any ideas, tips, or just words of encouragement. I’d love to hear your input.

Above all, I want to thank you, the reader, for following along and taking an interest in my writing. Without your presence and support, I likely would have stopped very early into my venture.

A presto,
Tino