WINNER OF THE GROLLO RUZZENE FOUNDATION PRIZE
When Chris travelled from Sydney to Dublin, he never dreamed his life was about to change forever. There he meets Daniela - one L, smile as you say it to pronounce it correctly - and it's amore at first sight. Before he can say si, he's uprooted to follow her to her sun-kissed hometown of Andrano, Puglia, tucked in the heel of southern Italy.
The whitewashed houses, olive groves and cobblestone lanes are beautiful, but soon Chris is getting to grips with everyday Italian life. There's infuriating bureaucracy, an anarchic road system and - biggest challenge of all - Daniela's mamma, who's determined to convert him to the Catholic faith and build an extension on her house where the couple might live la dolce vita.

Chris Harrison is a London-based journalist and English teacher. He has written for many publications, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Courier Mail and Sports Illustrated. A keen sportsman, he is also a qualified aerobatics pilot. Head Over Heel was the winner of the Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize. Visit www.chrisharrisonwriting.com