Biography – June Finnigan
English Author, Writer, Columnist, Lyricist, Weekly Blogger and Rock Singer
My mother, born to wealthy middle-class parents and my father, a Romany Gypsy, met in Woolworth’s coffee bar just after the Second World War. Despite all objections from my maternal grandparents they eloped and as anticipated the union turned out to be a horrible mismatch. I was conceived in a Devon field and born the following June in the local midwife’s cottage next to Exmouth railway station. Ever since I have had a fascination for steam trains and the open road. Compulsive reading in the 50’s included ‘The Famous Five’ and ‘Swallows and Amazons’. I also read copious library books about the Resistance in France and wanted to be a secret agent. In the 60’s I read the Bible from cover to cover, then Erich Von Daniken’s ‘Return to the Stars’ put religion into a better perspective. I have always been fascinated by the Ancient Egyptians and the Aztecs, Incas & Mayans and read a lot of science fiction including Aldous Huxley and H.G.Wells.
My Father, The Assassin is my first published novel, an attempt to put the ghost of my father to bed and to satisfy my thirst for adventure. My second novel The Bolivian Connection continues the adventures of Joanna Wilde. I have recently completed the third book in the series, The Italian Connection. Currently, I am working on the fourth book in the series called “Assassin’s List” and takes Joanna on yet more exciting covert missions!
Update – I have recently published a short story called The man in Black, which is also available on Amazon. It is just a 20 page thriller set in London’s theatre land.
I live with my man, my love interest and best friend, and have a daughter and two grandchildren and write my stories in a beautiful converted monastery farmhouse, overlooking the Chianti Hills in Tuscany, where a glass of local wine is always in easy reach.
I am available for book signing events, interviews and talks.
Email june.finnigan@virgin.net
Visit my author site at June’s Official Website
The Rock Chick Band
The Rock Chick Band was formed in 2010 and boasts some of the best rock musicians in Italy. I am the lead singer/vocalist. The band reforms every June and performs a private guest-only concert in the Tuscan hills, invites can be obtained by writing to june.finnigan@virgin.net We perform cover songs from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and some current songs that I particularly like.
Follow my weekly blog about Life in Tuscany www.junefinnigan.wordpress.com and my monthly column at ExpatFocus/Italy www.expatfocus.co
Writing in A Tuscan Villa with a glass of Chianti in easy reach – very envious!
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Thank you Browney for liking my blog and I do hope you will buy my latest novel.
go to
http://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Father-The-Assassin-Finnigan/dp/1481904396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358800225&sr=8-1
Ciao june
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Great to discover your blog./doug
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Thank you Doug, Do click on ‘follow’ and you will get my weekly updates from Tuscany.
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Hi June – thanks for checking out my blog. I’ve just been looking through yours and am really enjoying it so far. Your descriptions of the Tuscan countryside are wonderful! And I’ll definitely be buying your novel too!
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Ciao Buon Amico
Grazie mille. If you enjoy the book, please return to amazon and ‘like’ it. Even better right a review which should even further improve my following! I am just trying to figure out how to put my Twitter button on my site – something about pasting in my html? I’m going to have to ask my man about this one….. I am enjoying your site too!
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Thank you for following my blog ! 🙂 Happy that you like it 🙂 what an interesting blog you have 🙂 for sure will be back here 🙂 have a nice day 🙂
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Thank you for your kind comments. My blog out weekly, I hope you continue to enjoy them. June x
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Having a glass of wine within reach made me smile …. make that Chianti with a view of Tuscan hills made me envious. May I ask the town?
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Ciao Frank, Thank you for your interest in my blog. We are in the countryside mid-way between Florence and Siena.
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Ciao! That’s a part of the province I don’t know well. I’m in the US, but my grandparents on both sides are from near Lucca. I still have an aunt and first cousins there.
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Ciao Frank, a lovely city and one of our favorites. We are an hour and a half away, but worth every mile for a visit!
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Keep up the good work, June!
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I’m doing my best Stuart!
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June, I just discovered you. I’ll be back again and again.
Have you found any interesting answers to this: “I would love to hear from any of you who live on the Tuscan coast. We adore Chianti, however, if we could be persuaded to a region near the coast that offers similar rolling hills, vineyards and olives, and not too touristy, we may be tempted.”?
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let’s add campania, basilicata and calabria to the above query, please.
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Ciao thelmascudi, Thank you for that. Someone else has suggested Piemonte. I will take note of your suggestions. If we did move, it would not be for a year or so.
Salute June
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Hi June,
The introduction of gay marriage in Italy will take a while yet, although things are definitely on the move. Piano piano, come si dice.
I have question, as you are a writer with experience of the Italian life: would you be prepared to proofread a draft translation of my book from Dutch to English about our emigration adventures? I published it last year with positive reviews from Dutch readers and now want to make it available to the international public. A Dutch to English translator is doing the draft and I just want a final check from a native English speaking person.
I am curious to whether you would be interested,
Cari saluti
Stef
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Ciao Stef, firstly bravo on the completion of your book. Unfortunately I have to say no to your request as it is a very time consuming thing to do, and time is something I do not have these days. I wish you well and thank you for following my blogs. I will certainly like to read the finished article when it is published, so keep in touch.
Salute June
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I hope you don’t mind me contacting you, I am getting married next june near Certaldo and I am trying to do all the planning myself to keep costs down but as i don’t speak italian it can be challenging! I was interested in your post as looking to arrange hair and make up for my wedding and also hair for 6 bridesmaids! I wondered if you had an email address for your contacts above so I could see whether they would be interested? Thanks very much!
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Ciao Megan
How nice to hear from you. I can recommend my own hairdresser and beautician, they are seperate people, however, they do not have a word of English! But how can I ignore such a request, particularly as you are getting married just down the road in my home town?
Write to me at june.finnigan@virgin.net with your dates and timing of everything. I will be happy to organise this for you in return for your buying my two books, that I will be pleased to sign for you. Will you be here on 25th June as you would be welcome to come to my private rock concert party in my garden?
I look forward to hearing from you. Salute June x
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Just a thought, did you want a rock band for your wedding?
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June, I lost track of you since my query of 22 november 14. any chance of setting up a newsletter bot to see that your new posts arrive in our mailboxes when we are so lost in the ozone? thank you, thelmascudi
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Ciao Thelma
So sorry, just realised that I did not reply to your message. I’m not sure what you mean, I’m probably also up there in the ether. Please explain. June x
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June, I think somehow it has been solved. I now get an email when you post; it’s the reminder I need. thank yhou
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That’s good news, enjoy x
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