Maria Famà is the author of six books of poetry.  Her latest collection, Mystics in the Family, was published by Bordighera Press.

Her award-winning work appears in numerous publications and anthologies.  Famà has read her poetry throughout the U.S. and on National Public Radio.  She appears in the film documentaries “Prisoners Among Us” and “Pipes of Peace.”  In 2006 she was awarded the Amy Tritsch Needle Award for Poetry.  A Philadelphia resident, Famà teaches English at DeVry University.

Robert Viscusi, president of IAWA, will read from his newest work, epic poem Ellis Island, published by Bordighera (www.ellisislandpoem.com.)  It is also being issued in bilingual editions by an Italian publisher. Viscusi has published numerous essays on Italian American literature and culture, including "Breaking the Silence: Strategic Imperatives for Italian American Culture," which became a manifesto for IAWA. Viscusi is a poet, novelist, essayist, literary critic, and public speaker.  He teaches English at Brooklyn College, CUNY, where he is also the Executive Officer of The Ethyle R. Wolfe Institute for the Humanities.  His books include Astoria: A Novel, which won an American Book Award;  Buried Caesars, and other Secrets of Italian American Writing; and poetry collection A New Geography of Time.  Viscusi has been a fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute.

            IAWA’s November reading takes place on November 9 at Cornelia Street Café with featured writers Peter Covino and John Trause; on December 14, Gerry La Femina and Bordighera Prize Winner Joanne Monte will be featuring at Sidewalk Café.

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 held every second Saturday of the month at Cornelia Street Café on odd months and at the Sidewalk Café on even months. For membership information, please visit www.iawa.net .  To learn more about IAWA, also visit the Italian American Writers Cafe blog at http://www.i-italy.org/bloggers/italian-american-writers-cafe

Contacts:

Maria Lisella, IAWA Board Member and Co-curator

Phone: (718) 777-1178

Email:  [email protected]

Amy Barone, IAWA Board Member

Phone:  (646) 942-4972

Email:  [email protected]