Featured writer Marisa Frasca is a scholar, poet, writer and translator.

Frasca's work has appeared in such literary journals and anthologies as Adanna Journal, VIA-Voices in Italian Americana, Arba Sicula, Journal of Sicilian Folklore and Literature, Sweet Lemons 2, Poetry in Performance and Feile-Festa.
       She was a Riggio Writing Fellow and scholar at The New School where she earned a BA in Creative Writing and is completing her MFA in poetry at Drew University.  Born in Vittoria, Italy, Frasca co-founded Magia Imports where she designed and merchandised children’s designer clothing that was distributed throughout North America.
       Award-winning writer and professor Judith Vollmer is founding editor of poetry journal 5 AM Magazine and author of five poetry books, including the most recent collection, The Water Books, from Autumn House Press.  Her poetry been garnered the Brittingham Prize in Poetry, the Center for Book Arts Poetry Prize and the Cleveland State Poetry Center Award.  Her poems have appeared in Poetry International, Agni, The Women’s Review of Books, Poet Lore, Cerise Press, Prairie Schooner and The Fourth River. 
    Vollmer has won Literature Fellowships from The National Endowment for the Arts and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, as well as residencies from the American Academy of Rome and the Corporation of Yaddo among others. 
A Pittsburgh resident, Vollmer is a professor of English and director of the writing program at the University of Pittsburgh and sits on the faculty of Drew University's MFA in poetry and poetry in translation low-residency program.  Her website is www.judithvollmer.com.

About Italian American Writers Association (IAWA)
IAWA aims to promote Italian American literature by encouraging the writing, reading, publication, distribution, translation, and study of Italian American writing. Since 1991, IAWA has given voice to writers through its Open Reading series at Cornelia Street Café every second Saturday of the month. For membership information, please visit www.iawa.net.  To learn more about IAWA, also visit the Italian American Writers Cafe blog.

Contacts:
Maria Lisella, IAWA Board Member and Co-curator
Phone: (718) 777-1178
Email:  [email protected]
Follow: @MLJourneys

Amy Barone, IAWA Board Member
Phone:  (646) 942-4972
Email:  [email protected]