Diana M. Grillo is an award-winning short story author and playwright. She grew up in a struggling Italian immigrant family while living in a wealthy suburb of Westchester County, New York. The neighborhood’s substantial wealth and social status starkly contrasted with her family’s, leaving Diana feeling like she never quite belonged. She became a mother at a very young age and worked her way through college while raising a son and a daughter. The sharp socio-economic contrasts of her youth growing up with her Italian immigrant father, and her tenacious journey into adulthood, have inspired much of her work. Her realistic grasp of family struggles is worth celebrating.

Her short story collection, An Accidental Murder and Other Stories, winner of the 2021 Firebird Book Award, is available on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. In addition, Diana’s speak-up talk radio interview can be found on her website, shortstoriesbydiana.com, and in the speakuptalkradio.com authors series. Diana has adapted her short story “An Accidental Murder” into a stage play. Diana has had three full-length First Look play readings on stage at The Theatre Artist Studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has also written nine ten-minute plays. Her 10-minute play, “The Package,” was performed at last year’s Studio’s Summer Shorts.

After graduating with a B.S., Diana worked as a paralegal and social worker. Now retired, she lives in Cave Creek, Arizona, with her husband, where she continues to write short stories and stage plays. Diana is a member of the Arizona Authors’ Association, an Artistic member of the Theatre Artists Studio,
Scottsdale, AZ, and a member of the Dramatist Guild.

Diana adapted her short story, “An Accidental Murder,” into a full-length play and had a reading of the play at the NYU Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò, 24 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011 on November 17, 2025.