Morina Syverson, Gilda: - Gilda Morina Syverson, artist, poet, writer and teacher, was born and raised in a large, Italian-American, Catholic family in Syracuse, New York. Her heritage is the impetus for the memoir My Father's Daughter, From Rome to Sicily. Gilda's story was a Novello Literary Award Finalist previously entitled Finding Bottom, An Italian-American woman's journey to the old country. An excerpt was published in Topograph, New Writing from the Carolinas and the Landscape Beyond. Gilda's award winning poems and prose have appeared in literary journals, magazines and anthologies in the United States and Canada. Her commentaries have been aired on Charlotte, N.C.'s public radio station. Gilda moved to Charlotte, after having received an MFA in Fine Arts from Southern Illinois University. She has taught in the creative arts for over 35 years and teaches memoir classes and workshops for Queens University of Charlotte, The Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius, and in various other locations. Her fine art has been exhibited regionally, nationally and internationally. Her angel drawings and prints are in a number of collections throughout the United States, Canada and Italy. Gilda lives outside of Charlotte, with her husband, Stu. Connect with Gilda at www.gildasyverson.com and on Facebook.