Bestselling author Sandra Montanino chatted with Digital Journal’s Markos Papadatos about her novel “The Weight of Salt.” Montanino, a member of the League of Utah Writers, has won numerous awards for her short stories. Her first novel, “The Weight of Salt” won The Outstanding Fiction Award at the Southern California Writer’s Conference. Recently published, it’s a historical romance that takes place in the early 20th century and is inspired by the life of her grandmother, Angelina.

It weighs heavily on the Italian immigrant expression and introduces the reader to the world of Italian culture, their ancient beliefs, and superstitions. It also opens the door to the tragedies, hunger, and suffering and their powerful ‘yearning to breath free’ and determination to come to America.