Daughter of Italian immigrants, Michelina comes from a colorful family of animated storytellers. She grew up surrounded by art, food and characters.

Michelina started her career as an advertising art director at eighteen years old. Winner of Cannes, London's International Best, New York Festivals, Effie, Golden Trailers among other recognitions, Michelina has worked with New York City’s top advertising agencies and has developed national campaigns for Coca -Cola, Procter and Gamble, Continental Airlines, IBM and many others.

Michelina left her post as Senior Vice President, Group Creative Director at D’arcy Worldwide advertising in 2000 to pursue her passion for writing and filmmaking. She has written novels, screenplays and has written and directed several short films, some of which were featured on the Internet and in short film festivals. She published The Magic Paintbox, a children’s book, in 1991 and two novels, Grace of the Clouds (2002) and The Road To Jude (2004). She has been a guest on New York’s radio talk show Everything Goes and was a guest speaker at the September 11th memorial service in New Jersey. Both novels have recently been named finalists in the Hollywood Spiritual Film and Entertainment festival.

Michelina Pagano is listed in Marquis’ Who’s Who of American Women. She is a native New Yorker and lives in Manhattan with her husband stand-up comic Tony Parente and their Jack Russell Terrier Benny.

Biography provided by the author, November 2004.