Books
Biography
Russo Shanidze is a Georgian-American writer, poet, storyteller, and literary presenter whose work celebrates the power of literature to connect people across cultures, languages, and generations.
Her love of poetry began in childhood. She memorized poems from an early age and began writing her own at the age of eight. Although life eventually led her away from poetry for many years, she never stopped searching for something deeper. Looking back, she realizes that poetry had quietly been following her throughout her journey, waiting patiently until she was ready to embrace it again. Today, she sees poetry not only as an art form but as a lifelong companion.
Russo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Studies and Television Broadcasting from the University of Westminster in London. Her professional career in international television broadcasting and production strengthened her skills in storytelling, communication, and creative expression, all of which continue to influence her work today.
She is the author of the poetry collection A Hummingbird's Reminder (2019), the novel A Hummingbird's Nest, the memoir A Hummingbird's Awakening (2021), the children's picture book The Marvel of My Hands. Her work has also been featured in Adelaide Literary Magazine.
Beyond writing, Russo is passionate about sharing poetry through live presentations and public programs. She is the creator of The Universal Language of Poetry, an interactive cultural and literary presentation that invites audiences to journey through world poetry in its original languages while discovering the universal human experiences that unite us all. Through storytelling, literary history, and live recitations, she demonstrates how poetry has helped people across civilizations express love, hope, courage, longing, loss, and the search for meaning.
Russo also enjoys inspiring young readers through children's literature and has been invited to present storytime sessions at local preschools, where she shares her books and encourages children to discover the joy of reading, imagination, and storytelling.
She believes that poetry is one of humanity's oldest and most enduring art forms—not because it tells us what to think, but because it reminds us what it means to be human.
Russo lives in Los Angeles, California, where she continues to write, present literary programs, explore nature, and discover the world's poetry one language at a time.
Publication
Adelaide Literary Magazine
Life Never Stops Dancing
