A Matter of Degrees

A dirty trick played on an Italian inmate of a World War Two internment camp has far-reaching consequences for Louis Baroni, opening the door to the Mafia and blighting the rest of his life, despite the fact that he achieves his ambition to become one of the leading shoe designers and manufacturers in the world.

Louis Baroni's mistress, Francella designs the shoes - Baroni Butterflies - which make him famous and introduces him to the Utopian world of the Greek Sporades Islands. But Louis can never escape his past. His illegitimate children complicate his life and not surprisingly his marriage. Connie never forgives or forgets. And, lurking behind the scenes are the Sicilian Mafia who have scores to settle.

A smooth operator, working out of Milan, he has a long way to fall. His gay son, Sam, a former London City broker, tries to pick up the pieces, but Louis is worried about his blood-line.

This is no shallow love story. Love triangles abound, drug smuggling and other crimes add spice, and emotions run high. Connie's intense jealousy is likened to a bubbling volcano and there are numerous metaphors re: volcanic activity and literary references throughout. A tantalising succession of sub-plots and surprises right up to the end.

From Girl Friday to general manager, Jenny Scott has pursued a career in marketing and public relationsspanning 35 years. Starting out in the advertising and publicity department of a UK manufacturing company, she moved on to become press officer for South Yorkshire County Council, followed by nine years as an executive with a major PLC in the finance sector. More recently Jenny has assisted and advised hundreds of entrepreneurs and expanding businesses in government-sponsored enterprise initiatives.

Jenny lives with her husband in Yorkshire.