BIOGRAPHY OF ELISABETTA DAMI

I was born in Milan in 1958, and I have been working in publishing for over forty years. I started very young, at the age of eighteen, right after finishing classical high school, in the editorial office of Dami Editore, a publishing house founded in the 1970s by my father, Piero Dami. During those years, I took my first steps in children’s publishing and discovered that my true calling… was writing!
Since then, I have written hundreds and hundreds of books, but my passion for literature has always remained as vibrant as it was on the very first day!

In the year 2000, I created a new character, Geronimo Stilton, a mouse journalist whose adventures continue to captivate children all over the world.
Statistics confirm that Geronimo’s books, published in Italy by Edizioni Piemme Mondadori, have been translated into more than 50 languages and distributed in over 130 countries worldwide.
The adventures of Geronimo Stilton were born when I discovered I could not have children. At that moment, I sought a new way to express my desire for motherhood and began volunteering in pediatric hospitals.
This is how his first adventures came to life: to bring a smile to sick children.
From the beginning, his stories were meant to be adventurous (to keep their attention alive) but also humorous (to cheer them up in the hospital wards), and most importantly… they conveyed many positive messages, offering not only smiles but also hope and courage!
They were, are, and will always be stories written from the heart… to touch the hearts of young readers!
Since then, Geronimo has become famous worldwide, but even today, he continues to uphold the same fundamental and universal values—simple yet precious: loyalty, honesty, sincerity, solidarity, kindness, friendship, peace, respect for oneself and others, respect for the elderly, family, and school, and respect for institutions and the law.
In this way, I achieved my greatest dream: to become a mother… because today, I feel like the mother of millions of boys and girls around the world!
Beyond ethical values, I enjoy sharing with my young readers a love for adventure and sports, which inspire my books—for example, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or running the New York Marathon.
I have a deep love for animals and traveling to untouched natural environments, like the magnificent Dzanga Sangha National Park in the Central African Republic. Respect for the environment is always a recurring theme in my books.
Many of my stories are inspired by my personal experiences: travels and encounters with diverse people from various cultures and traditions, with whom I love to connect and share through dialogue and mutual listening… in friendship!

Following my love for nature, I have also written other books, always featuring the voices of animals.

For example, Così Parlò Lupo Blu, a timeless adventure in nature that speaks to the hearts of both young and old, with a wolf as the protagonist.

In memory of how Geronimo was born, I continue to alternate my work as a writer with social engagement, to which I dedicate much of my time: I enjoy meeting my young readers in schools to share with them a love for books.
I founded the Geronimo Stilton Foundation, which focuses on health and education projects for boys and girls in Italy and around the world.
Even today, whenever possible, I visit pediatric hospitals to bring hope but also a smile to sick children.

I have been a speaker at various conferences and debates promoting culture and values, with engagements both in Italy and abroad. I often travel internationally to promote Italian cultural projects, following the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
I am currently serving my second term as a National WWF Councilor and am involved in various environmental conservation projects.
I am a member of the Ethical Council of Terre des Hommes and the board of the Fondazione Ospedale dei Bambini Buzzi. I am an Ambassador for Zecchino d’Oro-Antoniano Onlus and collaborate on several Franciscan projects, such as the Mensa di Via Farini in Milan, which is part of Operazione Pane.
I also support Associazione Amici per il Centrafrica Onlus (humanitarian projects in the Central African Republic) and the Cooperativa Sociale Il Granello – Don Luigi Monza (initiatives for supporting individuals with disabilities).
Amidst all these commitments, I always carry my laptop with me because there are always emotions to note down, remember, and share!
My dream is to help new generations grow and guide them in discovering fundamental values!
For my dedication to educating children, I was awarded the title of Commendatore della Repubblica Italiana in 2022 by decree of the President of the Republic.

But let’s get back to Geronimo Stilton…

I love all animals, but I always was fascinated by mice, because they have a special creativity and intelligence… and like me, and like children, they are utterly curious!