Who wouldn't love an escape to Italy right now? While an overseas trip might not be in the cards, some of Philadelphia's finest writers are ready to transport you there—no passport required.
Hosted by Julianna Forlano of the Italian American Writers Association (IAWA.net) and set in the heart of Philadelphia's former Italian district, this special evening celebrates Italian heritage, storytelling, and community. A diverse lineup of local writers will share poetry, prose, and memoirs that capture the beauty, struggles, and enduring influence of Italy on generations of Italian Americans.
With humor, heart, and a touch of nostalgia, these writers will bring Italy to life through personal and historical narratives, evoking its sights, sounds, and flavors without ever leaving the city. Whether you're a lover of literature, a seeker of cultural connection, or simply in need of an escape, this promises to be an unforgettable night of storytelling, camaraderie, and Italian flair.
Join us and let the journey begin—no bags, no tickets, just words that transport.
Suggested $5 Donation
A Writer's Party Readers:
Kirsten Keppel is a 2017 Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum semifinalist for her documentary Ringraziamenti: The Saint Joseph's Day Table Tradition. She is a member and past videographer of the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of Washington, DC, and has been a regular contributor to Ambassador magazine of the National Italian American Foundation since 2015. Her poetry has appeared in Mediterranean Odyssey, The Chesapeake Reader, and Lombardi Voices. Her creative nonfiction has been published in The Paterson Literary Review. A descendant of Molisani great-grandparents, Kirsten lives in Washington, DC and teaches French at Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland.
Julianna Forlano is a writer, professor and transformational personal coach. All of her work is in service of facilitating the inner liberation of her clients or communicating her own journey to personal freedom. Ms. Forlano teaches writing and communication at Montclair State University and storytelling at The Media Theater in Media, PA. Her writing can be seen in the anthologies Letters to the American Voter and Letters to President Obama, (Skyhorse Publishing) and outlets such as the Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, Sirius XM radio and more. A former drive time radio host on WBAI 99.5 FM in NYC, Julianna's podcast Olive on the Apple Tree delves into life, politics, culture, and her evolving Italian-American identity, blending poignant storytelling with political and cultural commentary. A Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW), her coaching practice has been helping people find and live from a place of authenticity and power for more than 20 years. Find her at JuliannaForlano.com.
Maria Famà is the author of nine books of poetry. Her work appears in numerous publications and has been anthologized. Famà has read her poetry in many cities across the United States, read one of her stories on National Public Radio, co-founded a video production company, and recorded her poetry for CD compilations of music and poetry. Maria Famà did her undergraduate and graduate work in History at Temple University. Famà's poems were awarded the 2002 and 2005 Aniello Lauri Award in Creative
Writing, the 2005 Amy Tritsch Needle Award for Poetry, and the Petracca Award for Poetry in 2018. In 2018, Famà won the Second Prize in the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards She appears in the film documentaries ""Prisoners Among Us,"" ""Pipes of Peace,"" and ""La Mia Strada: My Way"" reading her poems. Her latest books of poems are: Trigger, published by Bordighera Press in 2024, The Good for the Good, published by Bordighera Press in 2019; Other Nations: an animal journal, published by Pearlsong Press in 2017, and Mystics in the Family , published in 2013 by Bordighera Press. Maria Famà lives and works in Philadelphia.
Marilyn Paolino collects family stories and cookbooks. Early in her career, she was a newspaper reporter who accepted all the leftover assignments. She spent more than 20 years working in public relations. Her work has been published in various literary magazines and business journals. She lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband who knows anything he says may end up in her stories. Currently, she divides her time between writing short stories and volunteering at her indie nonprofit bookstore.
Maria Ceferatti is a music teacher and writing instructor in the Philadelphia area. In 2019, she earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Rosemont College. In addition to teaching elementary, middle and high school music, Maria is the music director for Acting Without Boundaries, a theater group for children and adults with physical disabilities. Her short stories, poems and essays have been published in Apiary Magazine, Paterson Literary Review, Schuylkill Valley Journal, Main Street Rag, Antigonish Review and The Best of Philadelphia Stories, among others.
An Academy of American Poets winner, Maria Giura is the author of Celibate: A Memoir (Apprentice House Press) and What My Father Taught Me (Bordighera Press). Her writing has appeared in New York Quarterly, Prime Number, I-70 Review, Presence, Liguorian, Midstory, (Voices in) Italian Americana, and Lips among other publications. Maria has taught writing at multiple universities including Binghamton, where she earned her PhD in English. She currently teaches memoir writing for Casa Belvedere Cultural Foundation. Instagram @marigiurawrites, Fb and mariagiura.com.