Bio

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Anne Calcagno grew up in Rome, Italy, and now makes her home in Chicago. Bilingual and a dual Italian-American citizen, she has built a writing career that spans literary fiction, short stories, and travel writing.

An award-winning author of literary fiction and short stories, Anne has never limited herself to a single kind of storytelling. Her books include Pray for Yourself, a collection of short stories, and Love Like a Dog, a coming-of-age novel exploring family, compassion, and the complicated bonds between people and animals.

Her affection for animals has also played an important role in her writing. While volunteering at an animal shelter with her daughter, Anne saw firsthand how many pit bulls were struggling to find homes, often because of misconceptions about the breed. Her family eventually adopted a pit bull puppy named Qalilah, who brought them fifteen years of joy. The experience inspired Anne to tell a story that she hoped would touch readers' hearts and perhaps change a few minds along the way.

Beyond fiction, Anne has written extensively about travel, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and other publications. She was also the editor of Travelers’ Tales: Italy, an award-winning collection that reflects another side of her literary interests.

Anne’s literary accomplishments include the James D. Phelan Literary Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and two Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowships. Love Like a Dog has received several honors of its own, including First Place for a First Novel at the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and a bronze medal for Great Lakes Regional Fiction at the Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Anne teaches creative writing in the MFA and BFA programs at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives with her husband and their dogs, Indigo and Jojo, who generously allow her to write and teach when they have nothing more pressing for her to do.