If you’re in search of short story collections to dive into this summer, The Perfect Fig by S.M. Walker should top your list. In this week's episode of the Flavor of Italy podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sharon Walker, the English-born, Italy-based author behind this charming and thoughtful work. With a cover featuring luscious figs—my favorite fruit and one I grow myself—this book caught my attention before I read a single page. It turns out that the stories inside are just as irresistible.
Short Story Collections with Italian and English Flavor
The Perfect Fig: Short Stories from England and Italy is Sharon's second of three published short story collections, preceded by The Wife in the Wardrobe and followed by The Woman Who Married a Fish. Sharon has lived in Italy for over 35 years and currently resides in Liguria after a stretch in the lesser-known but stunning region of Basilicata. Her stories, while rooted in fictional worlds, are peppered with cultural references and emotional truths that make them universally relatable.
What sets The Perfect Fig apart from many other short story collections is its format: each story is followed by a short author’s note offering real-life inspiration or clarification. This unusual but welcome addition gives readers a peek behind the curtain, blending imagination with lived experience. It's a reminder that fiction often blooms from tiny seeds of reality—and sometimes from figs.
You can find her books here:
A Journey to Short Fiction
Sharon's path to becoming a published author is as endearing as her stories. Though she dreamed of writing from an early age, life took her in many other directions: raising a son, teaching, translating, editing, and earning a degree in English journalism and cinema. But her imagination never left her. Encouraged by friends on Facebook who enjoyed her bite-sized posts, Sharon finally gathered her short writings into what would become her debut collection.
The first collection was written during a sweltering summer in a hilltop hamlet in Basilicata. Armed with notebooks and fueled by pre-dawn quiet, she wrote in secret, sharing early drafts only with the woman from whom she rented her apartment. Her son, a cinema student, cobbled together a cover and helped publish it on Amazon. To Sharon’s surprise, The Wife in the Wardrobe shot to number one on Amazon’s charts, even surpassing Margaret Atwood for a few days in Italy.
Why Short Story Collections Are Perfect for Summer
Short story collections are often overlooked in favor of longer novels, but they might be the perfect summer read. Whether you're at the beach, riding a train, or simply carving out a few moments of peace in a busy day, a short story offers the satisfaction of a full narrative in a fraction of the time. Sharon’s stories are ideal for this format—sometimes witty, sometimes dark, but always full of insight and emotion.
As Sharon explained during our conversation, writing full-length novels never suited her creative style. Her storytelling emerges in short, vivid bursts. In fact, her short stories could be considered "flash fiction" by definition, though she jokes that older readers found the term confusing or suggestive, preferring simply "short stories."
The Magic of Memory and Fiction
One of the themes that emerged in our discussion was memory—how it shifts, how we edit it, and how fiction sometimes captures it more truthfully than facts. Sharon and I both shared how childhood memories can feel dreamlike or even surreal. Her stories tap into this emotional terrain with subtlety, reminding us that reality and imagination often cohabitate.
From Basilicata to Liguria: Writing with a Sense of Place
While Sharon's stories are not travelogues or location-specific, readers will find hints of Italy and England throughout her work. A fig tree, a house in a Ligurian town, a dysfunctional relationship over pasta—these details paint a world that is at once familiar and distinct. Although Sharon admits she didn’t set out to write about place, her life in Italy quietly informs her narratives. Her upcoming novel, still in the editing phase, may dive more deeply into the geography of her beloved Liguria.
Why You Should Read "The Perfect Fig"
There are countless short story collections available, but Sharon Walker’s The Perfect Fig is particularly well-suited to summer. The writing is accessible yet literary, emotionally resonant yet light enough to read in one sitting. The author’s notes at the end of each story add a layer of intimacy and authenticity. Whether you devour the book in one day or savor it story by story, it will leave you reflecting on the small, curious details of everyday life.
The stories speak to the universal human experience: longing, joy, disappointment, and the unpredictability of memory. And the fig—sensual, sweet, and full of symbolism—is the perfect metaphor to tie it all together.
More Summer Reads from Flavor of Italy
If you’re compiling a reading list, here are more excellent short story collections and novels to enjoy this summer, all featured previously on Flavor of Italy:
- The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier – Dive into Venetian glassmaking and a multigenerational tale:
- Dante’s Garden by Teresa Cutler-Broyles – Inspired by the mysterious Bomarzo Monster Park:
- The Broken Madonna by Anna Lucia – A suspenseful narrative set in Atina southeast of Rome:
Each book offers a unique lens into Italian culture and storytelling, making them excellent companions to The Perfect Fig.
So grab a sunhat, a cool drink, and your favorite lounge chair, and let Sharon's short story collections transport you through Italy and beyond—one page at a time.
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