This is a translation of the full interview published in Italian on:
“Coffee Stains on My Books” is an evocative title, suggesting a strong connection between writing and everyday life. How did the idea for this collection come about, and what does it represent for you?
“Coffee Stains on My Books“ is a collection that has grown over time, intertwining verses from different periods. The coffee stains represent imperfect yet authentic traces, symbols of the marks that life leaves along its path. The poems in the collection form an intimate dialogue with oneself, giving voice to thoughts and feelings often hidden within the folds of daily life.
In your poems, you explore various facets of creativity. What personal experiences have most influenced your writing?
My writing reflects the many “lives” I have lived—studies, moves between cities and continents, professional experiences, parenthood, and the joys and challenges of everyday life. Each context, often complex, has taught me to capture the nuances of thoughts, emotions, and relationships. Even the most silent or difficult-to-define experiences become fragments of poetry.
Your book explores a wide range of emotions and states of mind. Is there a theme that you feel particularly close to or one that challenged you the most during the writing process?
One of the most challenging themes was the emotional ambiguity related to motherhood and the balance between personal and professional life. Poems like “Eve Works in Secret” and “Eve and Lilith” give shape to this duality. Love was also a challenge: it is present in the collection, but not explored in all its facets. While writing this book, love was still an evolving theme for me in terms of poetic expression, and I will continue to delve into it in my future works.
Your poetic imagery seems to paint emotions on paper. What are your main sources of inspiration?
Inspiration comes from observation—thoughts, emotions, behaviours, changes. Literature, mythology, philosophy, and art provide a constant backdrop, a kind of scenery, but often, it is the small things that spark new poetry: a conversation, a shift in perspective, a hidden corner of thought. I believe poetry is present in every fold of daily life—it just takes courage to see every situation with fresh eyes. Human experiences do not always conclude with a reassuring moral; personal growth often develops through layers of struggle. Only in hindsight can we see the light of that journey, and it is from that light that many of my verses are born.
What would you like readers to take away after reading “Coffee Stains on My Books“?
I would love for readers to find in my words a safe space, a place to linger without rush. A brief oasis of thought amid the constant flow of information in daily life. I would like the poems to be read spontaneously, perhaps while drinking a coffee or before going to sleep, and to leave a subtle trace, a spark of reflection that lingers even after closing the book. I do not seek to provide definitive answers in my verses, but I hope that those who read them will feel less alone in their thoughts, vulnerabilities, and emotional nuances.
Thank you, Stefania, for sharing your inner world with us and guiding us through the emotions and inspirations that shaped “Coffee Stains on My Books.” Your sensitivity and keen perspective on reality remind us of the importance of embracing emotions and creativity without fear of leaving marks—just like coffee stains on a notebook full of dreams. We are certain that readers will find profound reflections and rediscover the authentic value of words and emotions within your pages.
