Lehigh Valley, PA — Independent author J.A. Marz is seeing early momentum for his latest novella, It’s Sauce, Not Gravy!, which recently reached #1 Hot New Release on Amazon in the Tuscany Travel category and has appeared alongside its predecessor, Ciao, Amore Mio…The Tale of Gabby and Gio on Amazon Best Seller lists.
The sequel continues the story of Gio, Gabby, and the Tuscan agriturismo La Terre Felice, first introduced in Ciao, Amore Mio. What makes the response notable is not only the category ranking, but reader behavior: fans of the original novella are finishing Book One and returning directly for the sequel, creating the kind of series momentum rarely seen in independent fiction.
“As a writer, there’s no greater reward than watching readers come back for more,” said Marz. “This story was always meant to be about place, the food, family traditions, and the ties that keep pulling us home. Seeing people return to Tuscany with these characters has been incredibly meaningful.”
It’s Sauce, Not Gravy! deepens the emotional and narrative threads of the original, blending intrigue, relationships, legacy, and Italian atmosphere into a continuation that invites readers back to a world that already feels familiar. The series’ crossover success in the Tuscany Travel category reflects how closely the fictional setting mirrors real Italian locations, appealing to both fiction lovers and armchair travelers.
Marz, a healthcare marketing and branding strategist by profession, brings a unique lens to storytelling, combining character-driven fiction with strategic real-world settings that give the books a sense of lived-in authenticity. He lives in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, and draws inspiration from Italian heritage, food, and the idea of place as a central character.
Both Ciao, Amore Mio…The Tale of Gabby and Gio, and It’s Sauce, Not Gravy! are available in paperback and Kindle formats through Amazon and major booksellers, with wide distribution via IngramSpark.
About J.A. Marz
J.A. Marz is a healthcare marketing and branding strategist, content consultant, and author whose work lives at the intersection of story and strategy. His Tuscany-set novellas explore love, loss, legacy, and the desires that define human connection. He lives in the Lehigh Valley, PA, and is never far from a good espresso, a family recipe, or a well-told tale.
