IAWA: Prose, Poetry, Politics and Unsung Heroes Featuring Gil Fagiani, Stephen Siciliano Saturday, May 9 at Cornelia St. Cafe

Gil Fagiani has published seven collections of poetry. His latest book, Stone Walls (Bordighera Press), focuses on his realtionship with his father growing up in Stamford, Connecticut. This fall Guernica Editions will publish Logos, which chronicles Fagiani’s experiences in a South Bronx drug program in the early 1970s. Fagiani was the subject of a New York Times article by David Gonzalez, ,“A Poet Mines Memories of Drug Addiction.” 
 
An independent scholar, translator, essayist, short story writer, and poet, his translations have appeared in such anthologies as Poets of the Italian Diaspora, edited by Luigi Bonaffini and Joseph Perricone; and Italoamericana: The Literature of the Great Migration, 1880-1943 (Fordham University Press). He curates the Italian American Writers Association’s reading series, and is an associate editor of Feile-Festa: A Literary Arts Journal.
Los Angeles-based Stephen Siciliano will read from his latest novel-manuscript, The Goodfather, which tells the life story of the marvelous and radical congressman Vito Marcantonio from the perspective of la famiglia Fortunato who lived down the street from him in East Harlem. New York-based pianist and composer Peter Dizozza will play piano.
A journalist, scriptwriter and a script reader for the Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency, he is a correspondent for Bloomberg BNA, Los Angeles Business Journal and is managing editor at Downtown Los Angeles News. He co-founded and edited the Spanish-language weekly, La Otra Orilla (The Other River Bank) in Seville, Spain. His adaptation of Jodi Picoult's novel Change of Heart is set to be filmed later this year. Visit his blog at highwayscribery.blogspot.com
                     IAWA’s (iawa.net) series is the longest running literary reading at Cornelia St. Café;  on even months, IAWA-East is held at Sidewalk Café.  The Vito Marcantonio Forum, is an educational organization dedicated to disseminating and sharing knowledge of the life and work of Vito Marcantonio (1902-1954). vitomarcantonio.org 
 
 
Event kicks off with Open Mic readings of five minutes.
COVER: $8 CONTACT: www.corneliastreetcafe.com; or 212-989-9319.
DIRECTIONS: By Subway, A, B, C, D, E, F, and M to West 4th St. or 1 to Christopher St.-Sheridan Square
Press Contact: 
Maria Lisella, IAWA Board Member  Phone: 718-777-1178 Email: [email protected] 
 
Since 1991, IAWA has given voice to writers through its literary series every second Saturday of the month.  IAWA East is held even months at Sidewalk Café and IAWA West continues at Cornelia Street Café on odd months.
 
Next Readings
June 13: Susan Lembo Balik and George Guida @ Sidewalk Café
July 11: Joseph Luzzi and Fred Misurella @ Cornelia St. Café
August 8: Louisa Calio and Carole Giagrande @ Sidewalk Café
Sept. 12: Nancy Caronia and Edvige Giunta @Cornelia St. Café
Oct. 10: Maria Mazziotti Gillan and Michael Palma @ Sidewalk Café
Nov.14: Bob Agnoli and Tommy Fucaloro @Cornelia St. Café
Dec. 12: Premiere of Student Partners Night @Sidewalk Café
 
Follow IAWA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/italianamericanwritersassociation