Providence’s Diane Josefowicz Releases L’Air du Temps (1985)

After 14 years of not getting anything sold, I now have two books out in the world,” jokes Providence-based writer Diane Josefowicz. L’Air du Temps (1985) is the sophomore novel, following up on the success of her debut Ready, Set, Oh. Plus another collection of short stories, Guardians and Saints, is due in 2025.

“It took me a while to get published, but now that it’s happening, I’m excited,” says Josefowicz. “I was surprised and moved that so many people responded to Ready, Set, Oh and how many people related to it being set here. People love Rhode Island and have such a good feeling about it. It’s such an advantage to be able to write stories that take place right here in the littlest state.”

L’Air du Temps (1985) has a special meaning to the author. She’s been writing about the main character, Zinnia Zompa, for years, looking for a way to tell her story. “She’s really close to my heart. Zinnia, the narrator, is trying to figure out things in her life that don’t make sense,” says Josefowicz.

When Zinnia explores the murder of a childhood neighbor, she realizes that there’s much more to the situation and her own family’s involvement. “For many of us, there is so much that we don’t know – and we don’t know we don’t know. Zinnia is discovering things about the world and her own life that are frightening.”

Josefowicz hopes people welcome Zinnia into their hearts and want to read more of her adventures, many of which have already started as short pieces ready to be published. She shares that people expressed such enthusiasm over her first novel set in the Ocean State because they live here, visited, or they’re just familiar with the history and type of characters that make it so special.

In addition to her novels, Josefowicz has published a number of short pieces and co-authored two histories of Egyptology with Jed Z. Buchwald: The Riddle of the Rosetta and The Zodiac of Paris. She appreciates Rhode Island’s robust community of creative artists and connects with others through organizations like the Association of Rhode Island Authors and LitArts RI where she teaches Flash Saturdays, working with participants on perfecting their shorter pieces of fiction, where brevity is key.

“Before I had books out, I used to worry about not having a book out. It feels good to have them in the world for people to read and share and respond to.” Learn more at DianeJosefowicz.com