Two years ago today, I was preparing for a month-long stay in Italy to research the life and family of my cousin, Padre Gaetano Catanoso. A year ago today, I had just completed the first draft of my book and sent it on to Cassie Jones, my editor at William Morrow/HarperCollins. Today (the day actually arrived!) my book has its release across the United States and Canada.

And tomorrow, the first newspaper story on my book appears (May 21) in The Herald of Cape May County, where I am from. It can be seen online here. Writer Jim Vanore did a great job.

It has been, and continues to be, a wonderful journey.