Laura Morelli

The first time I visited Venice as a wide-eyed teenager, I knew I was supposed to go home with Murano glass, but I had no idea why.

All I knew was that I was whisked to the famous “glass island” on an overcrowded, stinky boat. I waited behind two dozen tourists to pay an exorbitant price for a little glass fish—what a bewildering experience!

Still, it was the artistic traditions of the world that lured me to travel and inspired me to pursue art history. Today, my mission is to EDUCATE, ENTERTAIN, and INSPIRE with the stories of art history, both real and imagined.

Join me at lauramorelli.com to read a free story, take an online art history class, or to learn more about my work. Thank you!

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LAURA MORELLI holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University and is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling historical novelist.

Laura has taught college students in the United States and Europe. She is a longtime trusted guide in the world of cultural travel and authentic shopping, known for her Authentic Arts guidebook series that includes MADE IN ITALY and other guides. She has been a columnist for National Geographic Traveler and Italy Magazine, and has also developed lessons for TED-Ed.

As a historical novelist, Laura's passion is bringing the stories of art history to life. Her debut novel, THE GONDOLA MAKER, was one of the first independently published novels to earn a starred review in Publishers Weekly; it went on to win an IPPY Award and Benjamin Franklin Award. THE PAINTER'S APPRENTICE was a finalist for the 2018 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards grand prize, and was an Editor's Choice in the Historical Novels Review. THE GIANT won an IndieBrag Medallion. THE NIGHT PORTRAIT was a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestseller and book club pick at Costco, Target, Veranda, and Hudson News. THE STOLEN LADY, Laura's latest historical novel, follows the Mona Lisa from 16th-century Florence to World War II France.