Adriana Trigiani

Adriana Trigiani is a multifaceted creative force with a rich and varied career spanning over two decades. Based in New York City, she has worn many hats, from bestselling author and playwright to television writer and producer, film director, screenwriter, and entrepreneur. Her prolific writing career began in 2000 with the publication of her debut novel "Big Stone Gap," which was later adapted into a major motion picture that she both wrote and directed. Her credits also include the award-winning documentary "Queens of the Big Time" and the 2018 film "Then Came You," starring Craig Ferguson and Kathie Lee Gifford. Trigiani also adapted her novel "Very Valentine" for Lifetime Television, which premiered in June 2019, starring Kelen Coleman and Jacqueline Bisset.

Aside from her work in film and television, Trigiani is an accomplished author. Her books, which include the best-selling Big Stone Gap series and the Valentine trilogy, are published in 36 countries and often appear on The New York Times Bestseller List. Her stand-alone novels, such as "Lucia, Lucia," "The Queen of the Big Time," and "Rococo," reflect a diverse and dynamic writing style. Trigiani's book "The Shoemaker's Wife" is particularly noteworthy as it is based on the lives of her grandparents after emigrating to America from Italy. Her novels have been featured on NBC's Today Show, and she has been profiled on CBS Sunday Morning and appeared on The View and Good Day NY.

Trigiani is not only a creative powerhouse but also a dedicated educator and philanthropist. She co-founded The Origin Project, an in-school writing program in Appalachia that serves over 1700 students in Virginia and has received several awards, including citations from the Virginia Council for the Humanities in 2018. Trigiani has lectured at New York University and the New School for Social Research. She has been a commencement speaker and received honorary degrees from several institutions, including Emory & Henry College and Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana. Trigiani's commitment to the literary community is further evidenced by her role as the host of the Library of Virginia Literary Awards for over 11 years.