I have wanted to write a book about spirits for so long. As a young novelist I didn’t risk writing about something so unconventional; I was too busy trying to get it right. After eight novels, published in over 20 languages and doing well in America, I felt it was time to dig inside my heart and write for myself.
I have seen spirits for as long as I can remember. They were simply part of my reality growing up and I never thought to mention them to anyone. They were shadows who wandered around my room at night, regardless of me. In my teens I shared my experiences with my father, who is a deeply wise and spiritual man. We shared books and spent long car journeys back to boarding school discussing life after death and reincarnation. I read everything but was frustrated reading about other people’s experiences. I knew that I couldn’t progress by reading alone, but didn’t know how to move forwards. Then I met an old friend who introduced me to a wonderful, gifted woman called Susan Dabbs. Primarily a healer, she is a medium, clairvoyant and psychic as well as a warm and big-hearted woman. She immediately suggested that she develop me. I leapt at the chance to be taken in hand by such an inspirational woman. She taught me how to meditate and together we have been on some incredible adventures.
I know that we don’t die, but return home from where we came. I have seen spirits with my own eyes, among them my own grandmother who has appeared to me on about three occasions looking young, radiant and happy, filling the room with her love. I talk about life after death with my friends and people I meet, it was natural that I should want to share my experiences with my readers. I want those who have lost to know that their loved ones are still with them, that they can come and visit whenever they like, that the one thing they will want to communicate is that they are well and happy and Home.
While I was writing this book the little son of dear friends of mine suffered an inoperable brain tumour. A very special spirit, he was only meant to be here for a short time. In those few precious years he touched everyone who met him with a rather extraordinary wisdom, irrepressible humour and boundless love. He is now Home.
I dedicated The Italian Matchmaker to him.
