ROSSI, Hozy (Joe) 1965-

PERSONAL: Born 1965. Education: University of Hawaii, B.A., 1987; Washington University, M.A., 1997.

ADDRESSES: Home—San Francisco, CA. Office—1045 Sansome St., Ste. 304, San Francisco, CA 94111.

CAREER: KHET, Honolulu, HI, producer/writer; Manoa Center for Oral History, Manoa, HI, field interviewer; eNature.com, San Francisco, CA, news producer.

AWARDS, HONORS: Discover Great New Writers selection, Barnes and Noble, for Appointment with Il Duce.

WRITINGS:

Appointment with Il Duce, Welcome Rain Publishers (New York, NY), 2001.

Contributor of poetry to anthologies, including Bamboo Ridge, and the University of Hawaii's Hawaii Review.

SIDELIGHTS: Hozy Rossi spent three years working on his first novel, Appointment with Il Duce. It is the story of Beppe Arpino, a poor, young Italian boy who becomes a talented cellist under the guidance of Father Vincenzo, but who would rather be a dentist. After Father Vincenzo mysteriously dies, Beppe goes to Naples to pursue a career in dentistry. He apprentices with Dr. Puzo, who is an eccentric man, and he falls in love with Angelina Perelli. As Beppe grows older the fascists gain power in Italy, and he finds himself having to take sides. Reviewing the novel for Booklist, Kathleen Hughes claimed, "Appointment with Il Duce is an enjoyable and often silly, but quick and satisfying read."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, April 1, 2001, Kathleen Hughes, review of Appointment with Il Duce, p. 1454.

Publishers Weekly, May 21, 2001, review of Appointment with Il Duce, p. 81.

OTHER

Honolulu Star Bulletin,http://starbulletin.com/ (January 30, 2002), Gary C. W. Chun, "One Quote Leads to a Quirky First Novel."

New York Times on the Web,http://www.nytimes.com/ (October 7, 2001), William Ferguson, review of Appointment with Il Duce.*