Giovanna Capone is a poet, fiction writer, playwright, editor, and filmmaker. She was raised in an Italian American neighborhood near the Bronx, whose strong immigrant influence still resonates in her life. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2014, Bedazzled Ink published her first full-length book, In My Neighborhood: Poetry & Prose from an Italian-American.

Giovanna’s play Her Kiss, was produced and performed to sold-out audiences in San Francisco by Luna Sea Women’s Performance Project, in their first drama festival. She also co-edited two anthologies: Hey Paesan! Writing by Lesbians & Gay Men of Italian Descent, and Dispatches from Lesbian America: 42 Short Stories & Memoir by Lesbian Writers. She also guest co-edited two issues of the lesbian literary journal Sinister Wisdom, one on Italian American women #41, and one on Lesbians and Class # 45.

Giovanna lives in Oakland, CA where she has worked as a public librarian in city and county libraries. She has taught poetry and creative writing to children and teens, through California Poets in the Schools.

Recently Giovanna has been working on a documentary film, an exciting new direction. The focus is on the Italian immigrants in Oakland, CA, their Italian social clubs, and the significance of these clubs in helping to retain a strong cultural identity in America. Her film is called: Finding the Italians: A Granddaughter’s Journey. It’s being produced through her independently established company, Capone Productions: Making Films that Make Change.

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