Russo once preferred writing primarily about her personal experiences, but her horizons were broadened during her time as a college student. “I try to find ways to sync what is happening in the world with what is going on or has gone on in my life,” she said, describing her new works.
On Sep. 28, a member of Saint Leo’s Creative Writing team proved that she was among the “Best of the Bay.” Gianna Russo, the Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing, took home a Reader’s Choice Award for Best Local Poet. The award was presented by Creative Loafing: Tampa Bay.
Russo has been a member of the University’s Creative Writing department for seven years, but writing has been a major part of her life for far longer than that.
“I’ve been a writer since childhood. My parents were great readers and storytellers,” Russo elaborated. “I wrote poems all through middle and high school, but never showed them to anyone. In college, I finally met my first poet—another student—and began to call myself a poet.”
Russo previously took home the Critic’s Choice award for Best Poetry in Motion in 2011. She describes her more recent win as positively “thrilling.”
“I’m honored because there are a whole lot of terrific poets in the Tampa Bay area,” said Russo. “And because poetry is usually so much on the outskirts of American life, it’s just great to have it recognized at all.”
Russo has had several of her poems published, and many are also available through online literary magazines. One of her latest pieces will be published in a magazine called the “Green Mountains Review” and will be available on their website later this month. Some of her other works, such as her full-length poetry collection titled “Moonflower,” can be found on Amazon.
Though a little recognition is always nice, Russo’s main source of joy comes from the writing experience itself, not the awards.
“I know it’s a cliché’, but writing is a way for me to express myself,” Russo Said. “It’s also my way of contributing to our common humanity. That’s sounds kind of high-flown, I know, but it feels like truth.”
Russo encourages all of her students to follow their passions, whatever they may be. For aspiring writers, she advises them to “keep writing and keep reading.” To read some of Gianna Russo’s work, head to Amazon.com or stop by her office anytime. Be sure to check out her latest poem at http://greenmountainsreview.com/about-2/ when it goes viral later this month.
