March’s Book: Sushi and Sea Lions 

Genre: Women’s Fiction (heavy romance) 

Author: Rachel Corsini 

Character: Daniela Verdi 

Pronouns: she/her 

Willa Drew: What should I call you? Do you prefer a nickname?

Daniela Verdi: Hi. I’m Daniela but everyone calls me Dany. So that’s fine. 

WD: Hi Dany. Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today. Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey? 

D: It’s five o’clock somewhere right? A pinot grigio would be amazing right now. 

WD: I like your thinking. One Pinot on the way. While we wait, tell me a little about yourself. 

D: This is always a hard question for whatever reason. Anyway, I’m a ballerina…well I was. Whatever, I won’t get into that. I love books. All the classics and of course love stories. Who doesn’t love a good love story? A hot cup of coffee in the morning is the best! I love nothing more than to spend a day at the zoo, looking at the animals and enjoying the scenery. I’m also a little obsessed with my cat Regi. She’s a tuxedo and she has pink toe beans and she is the cutest thing ever. Is this what you wanted to know? I get told I talk a lot sometimes, but I get excited about a lot of things. 

WD: You’re doing great. We love all the tea here. Where do you live? 

D: I used to live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but now I’m stuck here in Queens, where I grew up. I guess it’s not so bad, I just never thought I’d be back here. 

WD: Stuck? What brought you back to Queens? 

D: I used to be a famous ballerina, but…something happened. I had to give up my place in the city and now, I’m here. It’s not so bad. I’m in grad school and serving pizza to ravenous middle schoolers. Though, I could always ask Ms. Nettie if I could teach at the dance studio. I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. 

WD: Teaching sounds fun. On Monday morning, are you excited to go to work, or are you sad? 

D: I started excited to go to school, but now I’m struggling. The work is tough. Being in an education program is no joke! Especially with an English concentration. I have so much work to do all the time, but I guess the end goal is more important? 

Don’t get me started on being a pizza waitress. Plus side, I get pizza. Down side? I smell like garlic all the time and now I hate pizza! 

WD: Oh, unfortunate side effect of the job. What are some of your other likes and dislikes? 

D: I love the sea lions at the zoo! I could watch them for hours. I’ve been known to bark back at them on occasion. There is nothing better than a burger and fries from the local dive bar. I love to dance! I don’t think that’s a surprise, but when music comes on I can’t help but move to the beat. It makes me so happy. I’ve been told I’m a hopeless romantic, but I just think life is beautiful, even when you’re in the middle of the broken parts. It's how you put them back together that counts, right? 

WD: That’s a great philosophy. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be? 

D: I’d be a ballerina again…it was always my dream and I got it and then…it was gone. 

WD: Is not being a ballerina your greatest fear? 

D: It used to be. But I’ve lived through that already and it didn’t kill me…so I think it would be never being loved. Loving someone is easy but being loved back? That’s hard. 

WD: Speaking of love? Is there someone special in your life? 

D: Well, there is this guy…he’s my brother’s best friend, Vincent. I never thought that he’d ever be interested in me, but now I’m not so sure. He gives me this look sometimes and I think, maybe? He has a great butt too. 

WD: Ooh I like the sound of Vincent. Brother’s best friend you say. That can be tricky. 

D: My brother and I have recently gotten closer since I moved back from the city. My brother invited me to his birthday party and Vin was there. We danced together and I dunno…maybe something? He has the dreamiest blue eyes and did I mention the dimples? Okay, I need to stop. 

WD: Besides your brother, tell us about someone important to you? 

D: Does Regi count? She’s my cat. I’ve had her since I moved into my first apartment. She is the best kitty in the whole world and very particular about who she lets pet her or cuddle her. Hmm, she really likes Vin… 

WD: Oh, that’s a good sign. Cats are very smart. And picky. Regi sounds like a cutie. Are you happy we know your story? 

D: Yeah! I really never thought I’d be here explaining my life like this, but I hope that you learn something from my story, mostly about finding what you need and learning to love who you are. 

WD: Is there anything you want to say to your fans? 

D: I have fans? I mean…I know I do. I have ballet fans, but regular me fans? I guess I’d say, thanks for all of your support. 

WD: Can we look forward to reading more of your story? 

D: There will be a little more of me coming up, but really my best friend Tricia is the star of that book. Maybe you could talk to her sometime? 

WD: Ooh, we’ll have to set something up. I think that might be a ravenous mob of youngsters after pizza so I think our time is up. Thanks for chatting with me. Good luck with Grad school. And let us know if you start teaching at the dance school. I might be inspired to take a class. 

D: You have to! Dancing is so much fun.

If you’d like to read Dany’s story and find out more about what happen with Vincent, connect with Rachel on Instagram and on her newsletter. 

About the Book 

When a career-ending injury and a messy breakup send prima ballerina Daniela Verdi back to Queens, New York, she fills her days with countless distractions: meaningless sex, pinot grigio, and video games.

It takes a chance meeting with her brother's best friend, Vincent LaBate, for her to remember who she was before the stage lights and distractions of the Upper West Side. She's convinced that Vincent could never love a girl like her: broken, insecure, and stumbling her way through life. What Daniela didn’t count on is that Vincent is as scarred as she is after divorcing his cheating wife and going through an equally messy child custody fight. Soon enough, old vulnerabilities rear their ugly heads, opening a crack in Daniela’s perfectly imperfect romance. 

As Daniela and Vincent's relationship develops, will Daniela learn to accept that a dream life isn't all it's cracked up to be?