‘From Dublin’s media-world to Europe’s opera houses, love will find its song’
– One More Time
One More Time by Fidelma Kelly is described as ‘a literary love-story set in the world of international opera…it explores the conflicting forces of passion and permanency, excitement and security, romance and responsibility‘. It is Fidelma Kelly’s third novel and is published by Poolbeg Press (March 2024).
Praise for One More Time:
‘A witty and well-characterised romance contrasting the glamour of international opera with family and responsibility. Brilliant and seductive.’ Historical fiction author, Maybelle Wallis.
‘Beautiful writing and crisp, clever dialogue. The struggles of an artist living out of a suitcase reminded me of my own life in the business.’ Opera Singer, Majella Cullagh.
Today I am delighted to bring you an extract from One More Time which I do hope you enjoy. You will also find below additional details about the book, Fidelma Kelly and that all important purchase link.
[ About One More Time ]
When Isabelle Ryan met Italian conductor Rico Parisi while on holiday in Sicily, her Dublin colleagues believed nothing would come of it. They were wrong.
It was the start of a passionate connection that would see the couple grace the ornate opera houses of Europe for many years as they snatched moments together from busy parallel lives.
But sometimes, love isn’t enough to fulfil life’s ambitions. Rico desires a permanent post with Isabelle by his side to share the ups and downs of artistic life over dinner at home.
Home is also very much on Isabelle’s mind, but where exactly that home will be, she has yet to decide.
Will their passion defeat the challenges of distance and separation? Or will one – or both – find an easier route to happiness?
[ Extract ]
Chapter 21
Nice, March 2007
He was standing behind several besuited ‘meet and greet’ drivers clutching placards with their customer’s names. They had often joked that he should prepare an elaborate flash card to welcome her the next time he met her off a fight.
But it was just discreet Rico – sans placard – in his black wool coat and flat cap who locked eyes with hers as she waveringly chose a direction to plough her luggage through as she exited the automatic doors.
‘Gioia!’ He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, kissing her ear, her cheek, her neck. ‘You’ve changed your hair: cut it differently.’
‘Do you like it?’
‘I do. It’s . . . very structured. Very French.’
‘Well, I’ll fit in so.’
‘Tesoro, you’d fit in anywhere. Come! Give me that big bag.’
They crossed to the taxi-rank, where a snaking queue of black shiny cars waited with no punters to service. they hopped into the first one.
‘So unlike Dublin where you’d queue for ages for the privilege of getting into any old taxi that happened to turn up!’
‘The public transport here is too good. Most people wouldn’t consider the expense from the airport unless they’re going somewhere out of the way.’ Rico leaned forward and gave the address to the driver.
‘Are we in the same place as last year–’
‘Same idea – an aparthotel. But a better class of one. I must be moving up in the world!’
Isabelle smiled and snuggled into Rico as near as the seatbelts would allow.
‘I’ve dinner booked for nine at Franchin since you liked it so much last time. We’ll just drop your bags and go straight there. God, I’ve missed you! It seems much longer than four months.’
‘That’s because of all your travelling in the meantime – Oz particularly.’
‘Maybe. But I didn’t do the tour – just Sydney and a couple of performances in Brisbane.’
The taxi glided in and out of lanes on the palm-tree-punctuated boulevard that was the main artery in to the heart of Nice.
‘Are there always so many festive lights up–’ Isabelle commented.
‘Carnival has just ended, but they’re all still lighting. They don’t seem to take them down from year to year.’ He leaned forward to speak to the taxi-driver. ‘Eh, excusez-moi, you could turn left here. You can’t cross the Prom later at the junction we need.’
‘D’accord.’
‘It’s not far now,’ Rico told Isabelle. ‘Just up the road from where we were last time – central for all the restaurants.’
‘But we don’t need to go out every night – that’s why you have the apartment.’
‘Don’t worry. We won’t. Tonight is an exception. I have a bit of news.’
*
Later Chez Franchin, in the pause between main course and dessert, Rico leaned across the table and took Isabelle’s hand.
‘Tonight’s meal – is – an anticipatory celebration of what I hope will be an important job offer made to me tomorrow.’
‘Oh?’
‘Yes. After the morning rehearsal, I meet with the opera house management and the person from the city council responsible for appointments. It’s really an interview for the Music Director’s job, beginning this September.’
‘That’s fantastic! So you’d be based in Nice . . . all the time?’
‘Well, not the whole time, but yes, I’d be contracted to deliver a set number of performances each season and assist in the planning of the others I wasn’t conducting.’
‘But how do you know they’re going to offer it to you if you haven’t been interviewed yet–’
Rico just smiled as he repositioned the plate with his crème caramel. ‘Isabelle, this is Nice. Negotiations go on casually for months before anything official happens.’
‘Wow! So this is a big deal. how long’s the contract for?’
Rico frowned as he spooned the flan into his mouth. ‘Three years, renewable.’
‘That’ll be a huge change for you—’ Isabelle paused as their coffees and the bill arrived precipitously via the patron who gave the impression he was eager to hurry up the remaining stragglers. She reached under the chair for her handbag to fetch a card to pay.
‘And a change for you too – I hope,’ Rico continued. ‘I wanted to ask – Isabelle, what are you doing – I’ll get this!’
‘No, please, let me pay tonight. In honour of your work success.’
The waiter had no hesitation in arriving promptly with the machine and she inserted her card. ‘When you’re appointed, you can pay for everything for the rest of the week!’
‘Well, let me just get the job first.’ He swallowed down his coffee, looking as if he was going to say something else but instead gestured to the waiter that they’d have their coats from the rail. ‘Andiamo?’
‘Andiam’.’
One More Time ~ Purchase Link
[ Bio ]
Fidelma Kelly is from Dublin, Ireland. Linguist, opera aficionado and dog-Mammy to a very bold Border Terrier called Leo. She has worked in education, opera, public relations and property. An English Literature and French graduate of Trinity College Dublin, she also holds a M. Phil from TCD. She speaks French and Italian fluently and has spent extended periods in both countries, in particular in her beloved Sicily. Her earlier novels Sweet Lemons (Poolbeg Press, 2021) and Because He Loved Her (Poolbeg Press, 2022) both feature the island of Sicily as a setting.
She has contributed health and property features to the Irish Times and social commentary features to the Sunday Business Post Magazine.
Previous work has been shortlisted for the RTĒ Radio 1 Francis MacManus Short Story Award. She was a winner in the Irish Writers’ Centre Novel Fair competition in 2017 and has been a finalist in the Memoir and Personal Essay category at Write by the Sea Kilmore Quay Literary Festival in 2021 and 2023. One More Time her third novel, was published by Poolbeg in Spring 2024.
Website: www.fidelmakellyauthor.com
Instagram: @fidelmakelly
