Ada Rizzo

Ada Rizzo (born April 23, 1960) is an Italian writer, poet, translator, cultural promoter, and counselor. She is known for her work in literature and cultural advocacy, and has published several novels, poems, and articles that address themes such as human rights, gender violence, and psychological well-being.
==Early life and education==
Rizzo was born in Sicily, Italy, to Giuseppe Rizzo and Franceschina Elìna Pettignano. She was raised in a family that valued traditional roots, optimism, and creativity, developing an early interest in art, psychology, and cultural engagement. Rizzo studied at the Technical and Commercial Institute Argentia in Lombardy, where she received her bachelor’s in commerce. 
Rizzo began her career at IBM Italy. After a 30-year career at IBM, she transitioned into writing and cultural promotion, combining her passion for art, literature, and psychology with humanitarian work.
==Career==
Rizzo began her literary career in 2021 with her debut novel Volevo il tacco dodici? (Did I Want Twelve Heels?), an autobiographical work that earned her an honorable mention at the Intercontinental Literary Award "Le Nove Muse." Her subsequent novels include Iris Ali di Vetro (2022), addressing eating disorders; Novanta Battiti al Minuto (2023), a story on heart transplantation that won the Cygnus Aureus International Literary Prize; and Ventiquattro Carati (2024), which explores gender-based violence. 
Rizzo has been widely recognized for her poetry, which often centers on themes of gender violence, human rights, and peace. Her works have been translated into English, Spanish, Polish, Greek, and Bengali, and featured in several esteemed international literary magazines and anthologies, including Atunis Galaxy Poetry, Life, Contemporary Italian Poetry, Our Poetry Archive, European Poetry, Sindh Courier, Saubarna, Whispers Across Languages, Raven Cage, USA Humanist Anthology, Humanity Magazine Global, Orfeu.AL, Literary Barcelona Magazine, Autumn Poetry Magazine, Wordsmith International Editorial, The Raft of Dreams Literary Magazine, Alessandria Today, and Carlos Zemek Arte e Cultura, MulherArte”, “Pen Craft”, “Shristi”, “Friendship of People Magazine n.10 “, “Christmas Poetry Magazine”, “Paz na Tera”, “Sarnolata.
Rizzo has participated in anthologies and international literary projects, including Arte senza frontiere (Art Without Borders), a collection of works by 36 poets advocating peace and human rights. Her poem Nel silenzio del mondo (In the Silence of the World) is featured in this anthology. She will also participate in the forthcoming ComPar Poesia 2025, a global project involving 350 writers to celebrate women’s artistic contributions.
She has also contributed as a translator, bringing works by international poets and writers to Italian audiences. Her translations include Devdoot the Angel by Sudhakar Gaidhani and The Great Warrior Klisania and Trifilia by Agron Shele.
She has also translated the works of poets such as Shoshana Vegh, Tasneem Hossain, Rexhep Shahu, Kareem Abdullah, Serkan Engin, and Zainul Husain. Additionally, Rizzo has written prefaces and introductions to two prestigious international poetry anthologies scheduled for publication in 2025 by Agron Shele.
As an editor, she curated the poetry collection "Atoms of Parallel Universes" by Alessandra Ciaralli.
Rizzo serves as the Director of Communications and Italian Delegate for the Panorama 2025 International Literature Festival and is an honorary consultant for The Chair of Women, an initiative promoting gender equity and human rights through cultural reform.
She is also a regular contributor to Alessandria Today, an Italian and international media platform with over 125 contributors and a global readership of approximately 2.5 million. Her articles focus on cultural promotion, literary analysis, and advocacy for human rights and social justice.
In addition to her literary work, Rizzo is a life counselor with a humanistic-relational approach, a mindfulness facilitator, and a dedicated humanitarian. She volunteers in Kenya for six months each year, where she engages in humanitarian projects with Karibuni Volunteer Organization.
==Bibliography==
* Volevo il tacco dodici? (Did I Want Twelve Heels?) – 2021
* Iris Ali di Vetro (Iris Wings of Glass) – 2022
* Novanta Battiti al Minuto (Ninety Beats per Minute) – 2023
* Ventiquattro Carati (Twenty-Four Carats) – 2024
* Zoè e il Palloncino Arancio (Zoè and the Orange Balloon) – 2024
Anthologies
* Arte senza frontiere (Art Without Borders) – 2024
* Whispers Across Languages – 2024
==Awards and recognitions==
Awards
* Honorable Mention – "Le Nove Muse" Intercontinental Literary Award (2021)
* International Prize for Peace and Defense of Human Rights – Italy (2023)
* Civic Merit Award for Solidarity and Inclusion of People with Disabilities (2023)
* Cygnus Aureus International Literary Prize (2024)
* Solidarity Award for Art and Civic Commitment (2024)
* International Outstanding Woman Recognition (2024)
* Certificate of International Recognition: Letter of Peace (2024)
* Best Influential Personality (2024)
* International Prize for Literary Art – "To Say No to Violence Against Women: Il Canto di Dafne" (2024)
Recognitions
* Certificate of International Recognition – Letter of Peace, for her literary contributions to the international promotion of culture, human rights, and peace.
* Award for Literary Contribution – Recognized by the International Journal of Language and Literature in America for her significant contributions to global literary discourse.
* Certificate of Art and Literature (2024) – Granted in America for her cultural contributions to art and literature on an international scale.
==Personal life==
Rizzo is married to Patrizio Liberato Ricci and has one daughter, Jennifer Valentina Ricci. She divides her time between Italy and Kenya. Her interests include art, music, cooking, and psychology.
==Gallery==
==References==
==External links==
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Category:1960 births
Category:Italian writers
Category:Italian people
Category:Poets
Category:Translators