Thanks for stopping by Roma to Sonoma!
I lived in Italy for a decade while I studied at UniversitĂ di Torino, worked as an attorney for FENDI in Rome, educated lawyers on Fashion Law, and pursued writing as a creative outlet. Now I’m a full-time writer living in Sonoma County. I’ve supplemented my love of Italy with a newfound love for California.
While I was living abroad, San Francisco and the California wine country were my go-to American vacation spots. Every time I visited, I fell more in love with the fantastic climate, laid-back vibe, and picture-postcard views of vineyards nestled among hills and valleys. This affinity led to my decision to move here post-Italy—the lifestyle punctuated with the clinking of celebratory glasses—that didn’t hurt either.
I’ve traveled to 51 countries and 50 US states, writing about lifestyle, wine, and travel along the way. I’ve been a ghostwriter, in-house copywriter, Italian-to-English book translator, celebrity reporter, hotel and restaurant reviewer, publicist, travel guidebook writer, and contributor to foreign and domestic newspapers and magazines. All of the writing on this site is my own.
I’m working on my first novel, The Search for Varsalona, based on my search for the true story of a 19th-century Sicilian outlaw. The investigation involved living in Sicily for months and spending long days studying 100-year-old handwritten police records at Palermo’s Archivio di Stato. I explored abandoned castles, secret mountain passageways, and cliffside caves with the help of a sweet 95-year-old World War II hero known to everyone as Zio Peppino.
When I’m not searching for bandits or typing away at the computer, I’m being led around wine country by a five-pound rescue dog named Rocco, my self-appointed bodyguard and delicious bundle of love.
Layne Randolph, Roma to Sonoma
