Books and Biscotti

Celebrate Italian Heritage Month with readings from local authors. Free biscotti and coffee will be provided. Event organized in partnership with the Association of Italian Canadian Writers.

Books & Biscotti will also include a mercato: nineteen authors, all members of the Association of Italian Canadian Writers, will have tables set up throughout the lobby where they will be able to promote and sell copies of their books.

Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli is an award-winning author in several genres, Rosanna Micelotta Battigelli was born in Calabria and immigrated to Canada with her family at three years of age. Along with her award-winning books La Brigantessa and Pigeon Soup & Other Stories, Rosanna has had six romance novels published with Harlequin/Mills & Boon (Harper Collins) and two children’s books published with Pajama Press. Her latest publications are Product of Italy, Made in Canada: An Immigrant’s Love Letter to Food, Family, and Resilience (Latitude 46 Publishing) and Co-Editor of Mum’s The Word, Unique stories that will surprise you. (Guernica Editions) Rosanna lives in Sudbury, Ontario.

John Calabro was born in Sicily and grew up in France. He has been an educator, publisher, cultural entrepreneur, and published author. Bellecour, published in 2005 by Guernica Editions was named by the Globe and Mail as one of the top 5 First Fiction in 2005. The Cousin came out in in 2009 with Quattro Books, its French translation, Le Cousin, published by Lévesque Editeur in 2012, was shortlisted for a GG in Canada. An Imperfect Man was published by Quattro Books in 2012. Laura’s Uncovering was published in 2024 by Ekstasis Editions. Bellecour was reprinted by Raspa Editions in 2025

Domenico Capilongo’s work has appeared in several national and international literary magazines. His first book of poetry, I thought elvis was Italian, was short-listed for the 2010 F.G. Bressani Literary Prize, and his hold the note collection was long-listed for the 2011 ReLit Award. His latest book of poems, 1972, won 3rd Place in the 2024 Pier Di Cicco Poetry Award, and in 2024 he won the Premio Italia Radici Nel Mondo International Literary Competition for his short story "Semi" ("Seeds").

Caterina Nella Cotrupi is an Italian-born Canadian writer, translator, and literary critic. She holds a degree in law and a PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Toronto. Nella has worked as a lawyer and as a professor of literature and law. Her publications include Northrop Frye and the Poetics of Process, and the forthcoming bilingual collection, LA POESIA DI CAROL SHIELDS. Nella has published numerous essays, poems and short stories and was a finalist for the Winston Collins/Descant Prize for poetry.

Rosina Fazzolari is currently working on her debut novel. She presented her work at the Conference of the Association of Italian-Canadian Writers in September of 2024, and at the Accenti Conference in P.E.I in June of 2025. One of her short stories was published in Accenti Magazine in November of 2025. As a second-generation daughter of Italian immigrants, Rosina’s storytelling currently focuses on the Italian-Canadian immigrant experience, including reverse immigration.

Elio Iannaci is an award-winning writer, interdisciplinary scholar, poet and arts reporter for The Globe and Mail. He has contributed to more than 80 publications worldwide, including Vogue Italia, The Hollywood Reporter, Maclean’s, The Toronto Star, and IN magazine. His Master’s thesis, Queer-Diva Collaboration in 20th Century Popular Music, was nominated for a Governor General’s Gold Medal. Some of his most notable profiles include Sophia Loren, Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Joni Mitchell and Beyoncé. In 2017, The Writer's Trust of Canada asked Iannacci to be a juror for the Dayne Ogilvie Prize, a literary award dedicated to emerging LGBTQ2IA+ authors. His literary own work can be found in books such as Here and Now: An Anthology of Queer Italian-Canadian Writing Volumes 1 & 2, Dolly on Dolly: Interviews & Encounters and an upcoming anthology of Italian-Canadian writing titled The Nuances of Love.

Darlene Madott has written ten books, including Winners and Losers (2023), and her forthcoming book, Closing Ceremonies includes a story short-listed in the inaugural Nona Heaslip “Best Canadian Short Fiction.” She has been shortlisted for the Carter V. Cooper Short Fiction Award three times, as well as being a frequent finalist for Accenti Magazine competitions, among others.

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