About
Christopher Castellani serves as Writer in Residence in the Department of English at Brandeis University. He concurrently holds faculty positions at the Warren Wilson MFA Program and Bread Loaf Writers Conference, and chairs YoungArts' Writing Panel since 2019. Previously, he spent twenty years in executive leadership at GrubStreet, founding the Muse and the Marketplace literary conference and developing artistic programs for diverse age groups.
His academic credentials include a B.A. from Swarthmore College, M.A. in English Literature from Tufts University, and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Boston University.
Castellani's work centers Italian-American and queer experiences through literary fiction and narrative theory. His acclaimed book The Art of Perspective revolutionizes creative writing pedagogy by dissecting point of view techniques. Novels explore immigration, family dynamics, and identity across generations with psychological depth and cultural specificity.
His publications reveal consistent thematic focus: Italian-American identity, queer narratives, and narrative structure. The trilogy (A Kiss from Maddalena, The Saint of Lost Things, All This Talk of Love) chronicles immigrant experiences, while Leading Men and the forthcoming Last Seen expand into historical and cinematic storytelling. Critical work bridges academic and creative writing communities.
Award highlights include:
- Guggenheim Fellowship in Fiction (2015)
- MacDowell Fellowship (2014)
- Massachusetts Book Award (2004)
- National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (2024)
- St. Botolph Club Artist Fellowship (2017)
- Barnes & Noble/Poets & Writers 'Writer for Writers' Award (2015)
Though specific advisees aren't documented, Castellani mentors thousands through GrubStreet, Warren Wilson, and Bread Loaf programs. His NEA fellowship supports Last Seen, while film adaptation of Leading Men by Searchlight Pictures demonstrates cross-medium impact.
Organizational leadership defines his career: founding GrubStreet's national conference, chairing YoungArts' panel, and collaborating with Searchlight Pictures on film adaptations. Current work in Provincetown and Boston continues his exploration of identity through literary innovation.
