Dear Santa, In "The Perfect Happiness", you have quotes that start every chapter, and at the end of the story Jack writes a book "In Search of The Perfect Happiness". Have you ever considered writing a book with these quotes and others? My friend and I enjoyed those quotes and thought they would make a really nice coffee table book. I have also enjoyed your "The French Gardener". My favorite so far as I am also a gardener as well and dream of such gardens from your book. Looking forward to reading more of your books as I have only just discovered them. With much appreciation for your lovely stories, Pamela
Dear Pamela, thank you so much for saying such nice things about my books. I have thought of writing a book about The Perfect Happiness and have already bought the domain name for internet...just in case - I'd love to write a spiritual book, exploring happiness - I know it's been done to death, but we're all after the answer! Thank you so much for taking the trouble to write. If you get your hands on my other books, I hope you enjoy them too - If you liked The French Gardener, you may like my next one, comes out next year, but it's in the same vein...Haven't got a title yet, though. My very best wishes, Santa
Hi firstly I would like to thank you for your books, which are both enthralling and magical- in transporting us to beautiful parts of the world, nd introducing us to such interesting people. your descriptions encaputre the beauty and yet enable us to understand the troubles which each country is experiencing. But I was sadly disappointed in the content of The Affair- where was the depth of the story which you have so wonderfully given us in your previous books- after reading The Affair, I re read Meet Me Under the Ombu tTree and the difference was immense. After discussing the book with several of your very keen fans- we would appreciate a return to your more traditional style of writing- Looking forward to your next publication with great interest.
Dear Densie, thank you for your email. You'll be happy to know that the next book is back to my usual genre...it's called The Artist who Came To Stay and is based in Tuscany in the late 1960s and Devon, on the coast of England, in the present. Big Love, mystery and hopefully the best ingredients I could pull from Ombu and The French Gardener - I'm hoping it's my best as I've just changed publishers and wanted to give my editor something special. I appreciate your opinion and won't let you down again - I just wanted to do something different - I have now got it out of my system! Best wishes to you and your friends and thank you for your honesty. X Santa
hi, my name is tamika gunther i am thirteen and live in qld, australia and i loved your book (meet me under the ombu tree) it was better than any book i had ever read and i tell everyone about it. i was better than harry potter and twilight put together. but i do have a question. whay did you make the ending so bad? i really wanted them to be together. i cried through the whole thing. oh and how do you come up with ideas for the book and make it so interesting?
Dear Tamika, thank you for your email. I'm sorry I made you cry and that the ending felt wrong to you. I'd love to have made them run off into the sunset together, but it just didn't feel credible. After all, they both have children and would break up two families and hurt so many people. Could they really build their happiness on the unhappiness of those they love? Could Sofia feel a sense of belonging in Argentina after all that has happened? I'm not sure..but I might surprise you and write a sequel.... I come up with ideas by looking at life - it's really very simple! Thank you again for your interest. Best, Santa X
Hello Santa I have read 9 of your books I just need to read The Affair to complete. I have ordered it from my local library and I look forward to it. I have actually bought the previous 9 books and have just finished re-reading The French Gardener this afternoon. It has been lovely weather here in Yorkshire the past few days and because of the warmth I got even more into the storyline than the first time I read it. Please continue to write, I have to admit when I start one of your novels I really can't put it down! I have not found another author that grasps my attention like you do. Sofia,Santi,Rita, George,Alba,Federica,Joy,Mischa,Anouk, Coyote,Celestria, Miranda, Jean-Paul and Ava etc etc Oh what joy you have brought to my life. Please do not stop writing! In your books I can escape the tortures of domesticity and the state of this country as it is now and how it is affecting my family. Thank you. Kim
Dear Kim, your email is wonderful and I'm so grateful for your praise and honoured that what I write is capable of bringing you happiness and distraction! Thank you. I have just finished my next, The Artist who Came To stay - based in Tuscany and Devon and hopefully drawing the best from Ombu and The French Gardener....It's big love, mystery and written on a big canvas - it comes out next year. I'll never stop writing, I just hope I can keep it up and not let my standards slip! Thank you for loving my characters, I love them too! People are endlessly fascinating.....My very best wishes and thank you! X Santa
In The Affair you start each chapter with a quote, are these actually taken from a book or are they ones which you have created yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found the quotes very appropriate. Many thanks and keep on writing.
Dear Clare, thank you for your interest. Some of the quotes I made up, like 'people treat you according to how you allow yourself to be treated', because I learned that from a very unhappy relationship many years ago, but some I found in books from great philosophers and spiritual teachers. I adore pondering life and read a lot of esoteric books so I enjoyed weaving that into my novel. Thanks for enjoying the book. My best wishes, Santa X
Santa, I wish to let you know that I loved your books. I'm an argentine girl and I live in Bs.As (you maybe know my school, Northlands?). I was amazed with your knowledge about the aregentine pampa. My question to you is; how did you get to know argentina? Did you stay in "Capital Federal"? and, did you enjoy your trip to Bs. As? I'll be pleased to read your answer, sencirely Sofía Mengoni.
Dear Sofia - I lived in Argentina with the Soldati family (alot of the girls went to your school!) when I was 19 - that was a long time ago, in 1989. I spent a year teaching their children English, their youngest is called Sofia and their son and the children's father is called Santi. I fell in love with your country, language and the people. In fact, it made such an impression on me that my first 4 novels are based there and in Chile. My mother was born in BsAs, her mother was anglo argentine, and I grew up with loads of stories. With the Soldatis I experienced the best of the pampa, asados, polo and the most charming, charismatic people..I was very fortunate. I have been back many times. I long to return - in fact I don't think a day goes by when I don't think about it and miss it!!! COMO LA EXTRANO! It's the most beautiful country in the world! (Shame they didn't win the world cup, I was supporting Argentina, by the way!) Thank you for writing! Saludos desde Londres! Santa
