About Me
I was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1954 to Bartolo Santamaria (of Filicudi, Italy) and Nancy nee Testa (born in Lipari, Italy). I was raised and educated in Sydney. After finishing school I attained a Diploma of Teaching and a Bachelor of Education later going on to teach English and Music (and a variety of other subjects) in high schools.Eventually I moved onto teaching English to adult migrants and finally, in the same industry (the AMEP – Adult Migrant English Program) I worked in Educational Management for the last full time years of my education career.
Apart from my love of passing on knowledge, I always had a great love of music, and I was in no small way drawn towards playing the very same piano that my mother bought with her first wages earned. I still have that piano today. Music has always been a part of my life. I could not even half imagine writing this book without it somehow featuring!
Now, in semi-retirement, I am still writing music and poetry in English and in the Filicudare dialect which I so dearly love, all of which I hope to share with others not too far down the track. I am also currently co-writing a set of literacy books for children.
I have enjoyed a great deal of international travelling over the years, and in all, my life has been wonderful in many ways. “The Secrets of the Pebbles” is my first serious piece of writing.
I am most proud to be pioneering a whole new concept in reading through the poetry, music, photos and story in “The Secrets of the Pebbles”. My great hope is that somebody will discover the great richness and possibilities for this story and its music in a movie! Lofty thoughts…but I do love to dream!