Author:

Let me introduce myself:

My name is Francesco Cugini, I was born in Bergamo in 1981 and I have always had a deep passion for writing and reading. Ever since I was a child, I have found refuge in books, a parallel world where I can live a thousand different lives, explore distant lands and be inspired by unforgettable characters. This passion, which has grown over time, has led me to become an independent author in the self-publishing sector, a choice that allows me to freely express my creativity and share my stories with readers without constraints.

My favourite novels belong to the adventure genre, with a particular fondness for those set in Africa, a continent I consider almost a second home. I love it not only for its extraordinary cultural richness and breathtaking landscapes, but also because I had the opportunity to get to know it and experience its authenticity during the several years I spent as a volunteer with the Montfort Missionaries in Malawi.

I am also passionate about science fiction and travel novels, genres that allow me to explore the infinite possibilities of the imagination and investigate the relationship between man, destiny and the unknown.

I am an avid reader of the works of Wilbur Smith, Clive Cussler and Christian Jacq, authors who have profoundly influenced my way of storytelling, thanks to their ability to blend action, adventure and historical rigour. I must also mention the great masters of classical literature such as Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain and Jules Verne, whose works have helped shape my romantic and adventurous view of the world.

Each of my novels is born from a mix of unbridled imagination, careful research and, often, personal experiences. I believe that plausibility is the key to making a story compelling, which is why I devote a lot of time to documenting and studying the environments, cultures and languages I intend to describe.

To write Sol Dorado: The Treasure of the Deep, for example, I conducted extensive research at several local Cuban tourism institutes, gathering detailed information to make the Caribbean setting authentic. In addition, my experience as a diver allowed me to realistically describe the atmosphere and sensations of the underwater world, offering the reader an immersive and credible experience.

In the novel Cacciatori di destini (Hunters of Destiny), however, I wanted to go further, integrating into the text some words and passages in the Athabaskan language, spoken by the Northern Tutchone tribe, a native population belonging to the First Nations of Canada and North America. This linguistic choice is not accidental, but stems from a desire to pay tribute to their culture, their legends and the deep spiritual connection that these peoples maintain with the earth and the spirits of nature.

For me, writing is not just a creative act: it is a journey of discovery, a way to better understand myself and the world around me. Every story I tell represents a new adventure, a challenge and, above all, a bridge between reality and imagination. Through my novels, I hope to convey to the reader the same curiosity, wonder and desire to explore that have always animated my life.