“A powerful dual-narration of fierce love, loss, and redemption that addresses some of the most controversial issues of our contemporary society: the limits of medical intervention, the right to die according to one’s terms, euthanasia, the value of universal health care, the responsibility and burden of caring for the disabled in a ruthless world where success doesn’t contemplate any weakness.” Arianna Dagnino, author of The Afrikaner California Sister will force you to think hard about who has the right to choose.” Barbara Conrey, USA Today Bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye

“Fluidly transitioning between past to present and back again, Gloria Mattioni pits the silent desire of one sister against the needs of the other in a story that is both breathtakingly beautiful yet fearless in flaunting the ugly realities of life and death. A deeply touching and heartfelt narrative.” David Francis, author of The Great Inland Sea, Stray Dog Winter and Wedding Bush Road A poignant story of caring and coping and of growing apart and healing together, deftly traversing California to Italy and back. “In California Sister, Gloria Mattioni explores sibling love and navigating family, distance, and desire. It’s a heart-wrenching tale of love, sacrifice, and sisterhood.” Julee Balko, author of The Things We Keep Anyone who has ever been a caretaker or lost someone they love should read this book. “This novel moved me to tears in the best way possible. She’s also an avid hiker who finds her solace in nature, a worshipper of waves and Italian cooking. She’s a proud member of the Authors’ Guild and a volunteer with the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She shares her home with her husband, a skittish rescue dog and the occasional strays she picks up to find them a forever home. Raised in Milan, Italy, she moved to California in 1992. She has been a storyteller since she learned to form complete sentences and became a professional writer at eighteen. Gloria Mattioni is the author of several books and a long-time magazine contributor. Would her non-verbal sister want to go on struggling, damaged as she is, or end her suffering? Forsaking her career, Claire hardly leaves her sister’s side, refusing to give up the hope of healing.It takes an exhausting and lonely year for stubborn Claire to listen to her silent sister. Claire is faced with a dilemma impossible to solve.

They may be different, but have remained close despite the distance. Her sister, Ondina-now walking on the edge of death or a severely limited life-is wise, cautious, and sociable. Claire is a gritty decision-maker, a lone wolf who values freedom above all else. Claire Waters, an Italian mystery writer living in Los Angeles rushes to Italy after her older sister’s devastating brain-hemorrhage, determined to restore her health-or help her die with dignity. A story of fierce love and heartbreaking grief.

California Sister by Gloria Mattioni