The Shepherdess of Siena

The Palio is such a vivid and intense tradition — I wonder what drew Linda Lafferty to use it as the backdrop for this story. Was it the history, the culture, or something personal?

Her desire to break free from tradition felt so real and inspiring. I’m curious whether others saw her as a symbol of broader themes of independence.

The details of Siena’s landscape and customs felt authentic, but I wonder how much research went into making it resonate emotionally without overwhelming the narrative.