Barnes & Noble, along with the Columbus Citizens Foundation, announced this week that more than 100 Italian-American authors will be marching up Fifth Avenue in New York City during this year’s Columbus Day Parade.
Chairman and Founder of Barnes & Noble, Leonard Riggio, was named Grand Marshal of the 73rd Columbus Day Parade and created the theme for this year, “A Celebration of Italian-American Authors.”
He invited Italian-American authors from across the country to participate in the parade and received an overwhelming response. The full list of authors includes bestsellers like David Baldacci, Lorenzo Carcaterra, Nelson DeMille, Wally Lamb, Lisa Scottoline, Gay Talese, Adriana Trigiani and more.
In addition, Barnes & Noble will hand out 50,000 copies of The Constitution of the United States of America with the Declaration of Independence for free at the parade.
“I have long held the belief that Italian-American writers have received little recognition for their contribution to America’s literary heritage, and that’s why I am so pleased to honor these 100 plus authors who will be marching with me in the parade,” said Riggio.
Angelo Vivolo, President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, had this to say: “The Columbus Citizens Foundation is so honored to have Leonard Riggio as this year’s Grand Marshal in our 73rd annual parade. His celebration of Italian-American authors and his creation of this year’s Parade theme are both clear indications of the Parade’s intention of celebrating Italian-American culture and achievement.”
Here’s a full list of the 100 authors who will join the parade:
Filomena Abys-Smith | Rina Ferrarelli | Paul Paolicelli | ||||
Lauren Acampora | Luigi Fontanella | Enrico Pellegrini | ||||
Marisa Acocella Marchetto | Marisa Frasca | Valerie Pepe | ||||
Kim Addonizio | Jamie Freveletti | Peter Pezzelli | ||||
Danny Aiello | Marc Gallicchio | Felice Picano | ||||
J.J. Anselmo | Fred Gardaphé | John Positano | ||||
Michael Ausiello | John Gennari | Dr. Rock Positano | ||||
David Baldacci | Catherine Gigante-Brown | Stanislao Pugliese | ||||
Gina Barreca | Edward Giobbi | Rossella Rago | ||||
Maria Bartiromo | Joe Giordano | Marianna Randazzo | ||||
Lisa Marie Basile | Daniela Gioseffi | Michelle Reale | ||||
Raymond Bean | William Giraldi | Karen Rinaldi | ||||
Sheryll Bellman | Mary Giuliani | Nicholas Rinaldi | ||||
Elizabeth Bettina | Alex Guarnaschelli | Richard Rinaldo | ||||
Eugenia Bone | Connie Guzzo-McParland | Gianni Riotta | ||||
Louisa Calio | David Hajdu | Mark Rotella | ||||
Alisyn Camerota | Ann Harson | Joseph Salvatore | ||||
Philip Caputo | Bridget Kinsella | Tom Santopietro | ||||
Lorenzo Carcaterra | Jerry Krase | Jill Santopolo | ||||
Mary Carlomagno | Wally Lamb | Julie Scelfo | ||||
Michael Carosone | Annie Rachele Lanzillotto | Sal Scognamillo | ||||
Mary Ann Castronovo Fusco | Loretta LaRoche | Lisa Scottoline | ||||
Olivia Kate Cerrone | Maria Laurino | Francesa Serritella | ||||
Jeff Cicletti | Anna Lawton | J.R. Sharp | ||||
Gabriele Corcos | Joseph LoGiudice | Jim Shephard | ||||
Wendy Corsi Staub | Susan Lucci | Steven Sorrentino | ||||
Andrew Cuomo | Lorraine Mangione, PhD | Jerry Spinelli | ||||
Tony Danza | John Marchese | Helene Stapinski | ||||
Stefano De Angelis | Angel Marinaccio | Linda Stasi | ||||
Anthony DeCurtis | Donna Masini | Gay Talese | ||||
Robyn Stein DeLuca | Mike Massimino | Karen Tintori | ||||
Nelson DeMille | Maria Mazziotti Gillan | Joseph Tirella | ||||
Rachel Guido deVries | Tom Mendicino | Bill Tonelli | ||||
Rocco DiSpirito | Roland Merullo | Adriana Trigiani | ||||
John Domini | Mario Mignone | Joanna Valente | ||||
Dianne Durante | Paul Moses | Richard Vetere | ||||
Louisa Ermelino | Liz Mugavero | Dan Yaccarino | ||||
Ed Falco | Caroline Nastro | Robert Zweig | ||||
Helena Farrell | Rosemary Novellino-Mearns | |||||
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