Sally Sontheimer was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the
Great Eastern Deciduous Forest meets the Great Plains. Perhaps this is why
she was always interested in the interface between people and their environment.
She did a Master’s degree in Forestry at Duke University, where she
met her future husband, Lucio Micheli.
Having moved to Rome in 1986, she continued working on conservation issues
in developing countries. In 1990, she published her first book, which looked
at the crucial role women play in managing natural resources. In 1994 she
began working for the FAO, travelling widely and working with local experts.
When Villa Madreselva came back into the Micheli family in 1987, Sally became
a passionate gardener and an all around do-it-yourselfer as her contribution
to restoring the house. In 2002, she left her FAO job to spend more time with
her two children and to fulfil an old promise to herself – to write
about the unexpected challenge of adapting to a new life in Italy.
Last year she organized her first workshops at Villa Madreselva and opened
the doors to paying guests in order to share this very special place with
others. The house has been her writer’s inspiration, and she hopes that
its lovely views and the quiet, sweet energy in the garden will open your
writer’s heart and mind.
:: Sally and Niala :: Your
hostess :: Your writing coach ::
