I met cook and author Amber Guinness in 2019 while doing research at her family's 18th-century Tuscan farmhouse, Arniano for my book "A Room of Her Own." For several magical days I took photographs and conducted interviews for a chapter about her work and life, along with those of her sister Claudia and mother, interior designer extraordinaire, Camilla Guinness.⁠ ⁠ Some months later, Amber told me she was hoping to write her own book and after introducing her to Kirsten Abbott at Thames & Hudson, her dream took flight, resulting in "A House Party in Tuscany - Recipes, Stories and Art from Arniano". It's a cornucopia of 75 recipes, seasonal menus and feasts, superb cocktails (thanks so Amber's fabulous hubby Matthew Bell), Italian wine suggestions and lists of pantry staples. It even has a recipe for making a painting!⁠ ⁠ Amber weaves her personal stories throughout the book's pages. There are vivid descriptions of her early life growing up in Italy to English parents who loved great food and entertaining. She also shares the heartbreak of losing her father, Jasper Guinness in her early 20s. "I had to find my way in a world without him, which I ultimately did through cooking, art and sharing the beautiful home he and my mother had built on a Tuscan hilltop with our guests on the Arniano Painting School."⁠ ⁠ The visuals are as rich and varied as Amber's text. Alongside my photos are exquisite expressionist landscape and still-life paintings by William Roper-Curzon, images by Saghar Setareh, (who jumped in when restrictions made it impossible for me to travel to Italy), murals, oil paintings, and tapestries, and a tiny framed work by Amber's uncle, Hugo Guinness. ⁠ ⁠ This sumptuous tome is now days away from officially launching in London and I can't wait to get on the plane tomorrow to go and help celebrate! ⁠ @amberguinness @thamesandhudsonau @thamesandhudson Paintings in this image by @willropercurzon @kirsten_abbott @camillaguinness @arnianopaintingschool @villaarniano @debkaloper @labnoon @alice.adamscarosi @pvpr White bowl by @astierdevillatte @manonbisboutique Photo © Robyn Lea for #ahousepartyintuscany by #amberguinness