Marina Fiorato Explained

Marina Fiorato is an Italian English designer, actress, film producer and author.

Early life

Fiorato was born in Manchester,^[1] with a Venetian father, but was raised in Langcliffe, North Yorkshire.

She studied history at Durham University, before specialising in the study of Shakespeare for a Master's at the University of Warwick.^[2] On completing her degrees, she studied art and worked for a period as an illustrator and film reviewer.

Career

Film and artworkFiorato co-produced and starred in the award-winning short film Devilwood (2006), and also appeared in The Wrong Blonde, An Ideal Husband (both 1999),^[2] Maybe Baby (2000) and Tuesday (2008).^[3] She also designed tour visuals for bands such as U2 and The Rolling Stones and for films including .^[2]

PublicationsFiorato's first novel, The Glassblower of Murano (2008), was written in bookshop coffee-shops so that she could research the Venetian setting. It was rejected by numerous publishers before being accepted by Beautiful Books Ltd. and becoming an international success.^[4] Two years later, Fiorato's The Botticelli Secret (2010) earned a large advance.^[5] Her other works also have an Italian theme or setting.

Family life

Fiorato is married to filmmaker Sacha Bennett^[1] and they have two children.

Bibliography

As Marina Fiorato

• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . The Glassblower of Murano . 2008 . Beautiful Books . 9781905636242.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . The Madonna of the Almonds . 2009 . Beautiful Books . 9781905636433.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . The Botticelli Secret . 2010 . Beautiful Books . 9781905636808.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . Daughter of Siena . 2011 . John Murray . 9781848545618.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . The Venetian Contract . 2012 . John Murray . 9781848545618.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . Beatrice and Benedick . 2015 . St. Martin's Griffin . 9781250077134.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . Kit . 2015.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . Crimson and Bone . 2017.

Notable US editions

• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . The Daughter of Siena . 2011 . St. Martin's Griffin . 9780312609580.
• Book: Fiorato, Marina . 2 . The Venetian Bargain . 2012 . St. Martin's Griffin . 9781250042958.

As M. A. Bennett

S.T.A.G.S.

• S.T.A.G.S. (2017)
• DOGS (2019)
• FOXES (2020)

Other

• The Island (2018)

Notes and References

1. Monica Bottino, "La scrittrice inglese che ama il Rinascimento genovese", il Giornale, 25 November 2011
2. http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/cravenfeatures/dalesfolk/4032948.Best_selling_writer_Marina_happy_to_be_back_in_town/ "Dales Folk: Best-selling writer Marina happy to be back in town"
3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278421/ Marina Fiorato
4. Javier Espinoza, "Faces in the News: Art Imitating J.K. Rowling: Marina Fiorato was inspired by the Harry Potter author to write her novel in cafes, and it's now a best seller", Forbes.com, 9 December 2008.
5. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7730731/Marina-Fiorato-novelist-who-wrote-in-cafes-earns-250000-advance.html "Marina Fiorato: novelist who wrote in cafés earns £250,000 advance"