007 Travelers interview: Marco Donna

Marco Donna

Who: Marco Donna
When: 20 September 2015
Bond connection: Marco writes books about Bond

Photos: Marco Donna´s album



1. Please introduce yourself
I’m a Secret Agent in love for action, exotic locations, beautiful women, sophisticated drinks and kiss kiss bang bang… but often this is only in my dreams. Real life is, perhaps, less interesting but you can find something on my site www.marcodonna.it where I define myself like an absolute beginner thriller writer.  









2. How long have you been working with your books?
My first book was published in 2011: “10 piccoli racconti” (Edizioni del Faro) was the result of years of little novels published previously on internet. Now I’m publishing “Spectre a Roma” (Delos) the result of a few months job, included a 4 days week end to visit all the "SPECTRE" (2015) locations in Rome.

Marco Donna´s earlier book DALL’ITALIA CON AMORE (Edizioni del Faro, 2012)

3. Have you ever met Bond stars?
If you have, who? If you have not, who do you want to meet the most?
Yes, I have met the wonderful Caterina Murino (“Casino Royale”, 2006) very kind with fans in the unforgettable night of 26th of January 2007 to open the new Omega Shop in via Monte Napoleone in Milan. It was an emotional meeting, with her, available to chat with me for a few minutes (until the bodyguard started beating me… I’m joking, of course).

Marco Donna and Caterina Murino

I interviewed Jeffery Deaver and Sebastian Faulks, two James Bond book authors and I have described these three Bond stars meeting in my book “Dall’Italia con amore” (Edizioni del Faro, 2012). The book had the preface of another 007 writer, Raymond Benson. I know him in a wonderful event organized in 2005 at the Admiral Hotel in Milan (007 clubhouse and museum of James Bond memorabilia). In other two events in this place I have met Shane Rimmer (actor in “You Only Live Twice” (1967), “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971) and “The Spy Who Loved Me”, 1977) and Gabriele Ferzetti (actor in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, 1969).

Jeffery Deaver and Marco Donna

For the ebook “Spectre a Roma” (Delos, 2015) I have interviewed Roberto Malerba, the line producer of the Italian part of “SPECTRE” (2015). In 2007, during a signing session to promote his album “Carry on”, I have talked with Chris Cornell the singer of the “You Know My Name”, title song of “Casino Royale” (2006). I think that’s all I remember about my Bond stars meetings.

4. Your favourite Bond actor? (leading male role)
Of course I love Sean Connery movies but, maybe, it’s the most obvious answer. The atmosphere of the first three films of the series was absolutely extraordinary.  But, if I have to choose only one I say Daniel Craig because I love the latest movies and I think he is the closest to the character idea of Ian Fleming. For the same reason I like a lot Timothy Dalton: he was a wonderful Bond actor but at the wrong time.

5. Your favourite Bond film?
“From Russia with Love” (1963) was the movie which approached better the novel by Ian Fleming. In more recent time I think the screenwriter of “Casino Royale” (2006) has made a wonderful job to adapt and modernize a not simple novel for the big screen.

 6. Which is the best place where you have traveled so far?
It’s a very difficult answer because I love to travel and I love all the places I have visited. I choose one in the context of the James Bond locations and it could be Iguaçu falls (“Moonraker” (1979) location) between Argentina and Brazil. It is a huge place with wild landscapes and the wonderful power of the nature causes gentle rainbows in terrific vertical falls of water. Amazing.


Marco Donna at Villa Balbianello (Italy)
which is a Bond location from "Casino Royale" (2006).

7. Which is the place where you would like to visit but have not yet been?
The ESO Hotel at Cerro Paranal, the accommodation for Paranal Observatory in Chile (“Quantum of Solace” (2008) location). It is a complex journey that sooner or later I would do, attracted by an extreme nature and an unique experience in the world.