Thank you to Love Bytes for hosting me again! An American in Venice in out today! I have a special blog post with mini biographies for you to get to know the characters. Meet Giovanni and Tom!

About Giovanni:

Giovanni stands tall and slim at 6 feet even. He has dark brown eyes and shoulder length black hair that is most often in a ponytail. He is half Japanese and half Italian; his mother met his father while she was visiting Venice as a tourist. Giovanni and his older sister were both born in Italy, but their parents moved them to the States when they were children. The family returned to Venice when his grandfather passed away, so his parents could take over the family restaurant, Pizzeria del Ponte. His mixed background was a source of angst, especially during his teenager years in Venice. Nowadays, he wishes he could spend time in Japan with his grandparents and reconnect with his Japanese roots.

Currently in his late twenties, Giovanni continues to work at the pizzeria. He is a passionate and conflicted man. He is fiercely loyal to his family, but at the cost of his own ambitions. Instead of pursuing his dreams of traveling and becoming a chef, he works hard to keep the family business going. When it comes to love, he isn’t shy about flirting or declaring his intentions when he is interested in someone. He is easily affectionate and expressive, but on the flip side, he can be quick to offense and stubborn.

Regarding Tom:

Tom is 5’11”, with hazel eyes and short light brown hair. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and was an eighties kid who grew up with Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He describes himself as a nerd, with the academic background to match. Tom has his PhD in Biochemical Engineering. He is brilliant when it comes to his work, but when it comes to matters of the heart, he isn’t quite as skilled. He tends to be careful and somewhat shy. He can also be oblivious when someone is flirting with him. No one would ever accuse Tom of being impulsive. His lack of spontaneity is what led to the downfall of his last relationship.

Tom’s life had been following an orderly path; he studied hard in school and worked during the summers. After graduate school, he immediately went to work for a new start-up. Tom was still working at that same startup when he was blindsided by the loss of his job during company layoffs. He thought he was safe as one of the most senior employees. Everyone expects Tom to hunker down and look for a new job right away, but he surprises them all when he decides to use his severance pay to travel. Then again, Tom was always too poor or too busy to get away. Now in his thirties, he finally has chance to do his version of backpacking through Europe, with nicer accommodations.