Paolo Georgio Loberti

My writing sits at the intersection of ancestral memory and observing people. I usually begin by drawing from the rich oral histories passed down by my family elders, and sometimes by retelling the vivid dreams I have about them or people I have never met. Add to that the profound, resilient narratives I witnessed during my decades as Rhode Island’s AIDS Director, along with my training as a social and behavioral scientist. I also can’t forget my time spent as a waiter and short-order chef in an Italian restaurant when I was younger. These experiences provide me with ample material to craft characters who feel real and relatable.

For more than thirty-five years in public health, I have asked why people do what they do. Now, through historical fiction, I ask, “What if people behaved this way?” By twisting the accepted timeline, I use the freedom of fiction to challenge the past and spark a lively discussion about who we are today. It is my way of turning history into a conversation. While my future books will not all be historical fiction, they will use similar techniques to encourage readers to read more, study more, and explore the nuances of human behavior and relationships more deeply.