Michael Pellegrino: Hollywood’s Elite Entertainment Agent, Producer, and Content Creator Takes Us Into His World

By Tammy Reese | Monday, April 21, 2025 | 10:00 AM EDT

In the world of entertainment there is no question that Michael Pellegrino is definitely one of the best of the best. Michael Pellegrino is a prominent figure in multiple creative communities and has immense pride in being a voting member of the prestigious Recording Academy, a recognized member of the esteemed Writers Guild of America, and an esteemed member of the Authors Guild. He has worked with and his clients are some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry ICE-T, CoCo Austin (ICE-T’S wife) The Jackson family, the late producer Ed Pressmen who gave us great movies like Wall Street and The Crow, and the late Paul Eckstein who gave us Narcos and The Godfather of Harlem. Michael also represents the world renowned celebrity Iron chef/TV personality and author of 6 books Cat Cora, and multi Grammy winner, Emmy winner, MTV, and VMA award recipient and Oscar nominated producer/director Nicole Ehrlich. Nicole Ehrlich has worked with Lady Gaga, Blink 182, Snoop Dogg, and has worked with everyone from David Geffen to Jimmy Iovine just to name a few.

In our exclusive interview today Michael Pellegrino who has a profound respect, passion and true love for the written word, will talk about his personal life, his health struggles, and his relentless journey to create his long time in the making project for his greatest creation The Authors World.

Tammy: So Michael first off its wonderful having an opportunity to interview you again. I truly love talking with you and your passion for your industry, please tell us about The Authors World.com and your incredible vision and the creation of this amazing project.

Michael: Well, let me start off by thanking you, Tammy for having me and I always enjoy being interviewed by you, it’s always such a pleasure speaking with you as well. As you know I started out on this wild journey to create The Authors World in the beginning of 2001. When I first came up with the concept for The Authors World, times were different and the internet was just starting to make a change in the way we communicated with each other and the way we did business. When I first started about how The Authors World would even work Facebook didn’t even exist yet, there was no YouTube yet and Amazon was just starting to really take off. So now it’s finally my chance to make a difference in the world.

Guys like Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos really have inspired me to keep my dreams of creating my concept alive. It doesn’t matter what your opinion of these men are, the fact is they changed the landscape of how we live our lives and do business, that’s just the truth and I personally don’t get into all the political stuff, I admire both Mark and Jeff because of their incredible vision and ability to make it happen.

So now its my opportunity to make my vision come to life. I am creating a global platform for a global community in hopes to change the literary world. It’s crazy to think that it has taken me over two decades to make my dream of The Authors World to come to life.

Tammy: Why has it taken so long for your journey and dreams to create The Authors World, and what can we expect?

Michael: Life has a way of throwing you unexpected curve balls and putting up obstacles that you could never imagine would happen to you. This is when life defines you and we find out who we are deep down inside of ourselves. I have had some very dark moments in my life and I had to persevere and overcome those horrible dark moments.

Sometimes I have felt like this has been an incredible test from God. I have truly been tested to the breaking point in life and I mean that with my whole heart. I have had choices to either keep moving forward and figure it out, keep fighting, or just give up. Fortunately for me I don’t know the words quit or give up it’s not in my DNA, but the truth is I have had moments in my life where I have asked myself is this really worth it? I have literally looked into the mirror and said to myself I would rather fail trying then to wake up one day and say I wonder what would have happened if I never gave up. Anything in life that is worth something of greatness is never going to just come to you easily, if that was the way life worked everyone would be doing it. I am a true believer that I control my destiny not someone else. I believe it was St. Augustine of Hippo that said life is predestined (bullshit). People who have changed the world with their invention or creativity have all at one time or another in life have been laughed at or people thought they were crazy but they didn’t let that negativity stop them. That is what separates the doers from the talkers in the world, these people made their own destiny.

To really be a true creator of something great you need to think outside of the box. I get it, its scary and you will have doubters and haters. I have been told many times that I am just wasting my time creating The Authors World.com and I am crazy for spending my money and time. Maybe I am crazy but personally I know I am going to be extremely successful and if not at least I had the guts to take a chance.

In life, the answer is always going to be ‘no’ if you never ask the question. Like the old saying goes there is no great reward without taking a great risk. That’s exactly what I am doing because deep inside of me I know that The Authors World is worth the risk.

I came into this world fighting for my life and I intend to keep fighting and make The Authors World.com a game changer. I am very serious when I was born in Chicago, I literally had pneumonia and the doctors didn’t know if I was going to make it. But here I am alive at 21 years old (lol) and still fighting. I have faced countless health issues but I have never given up, we will discuss my health later.

Let me give you a little understanding of what to expect from The Authors World. The Authors World has many different layers to it, that’s what makes it so special and a game changer. Things have changed drastically when it comes to technology and how we now engage with each other.

In today’s climate, especially since COVID, people are longing for reconnection with each other. Unfortunately brick and mortar are basically a thing of the past. Technology is the future, a long time ago Jeff Bezos said that he was launching the world’s largest book store. Well my name is Michael Pellegrino and I am launching the world’s greatest literary project that will change the literary industry. The Author’s World allows connection through a favorite book, participation in sessions of a book discussion and our podcasts with our favorite authors, access to publishing houses, and worldwide marketing platforms for the writer, the publisher, the author, and the most important people of all the readers, audience/ the users.

The Authors World ultimate goal is to create a global community for all authors and readers to be able to connect with each other. One of the biggest things that I want to accomplish is to give authors a new platform for their voices to be heard. This includes the many talented new authors of the world that haven’t been truly successful yet. There are so many talented writers in the world but the old system in the literary world has not granted these incredible authors a voice or for their work to be read or heard. The Authors World will give the new generation of authors the opportunity to show the world what they have to offer. At the same time, it will give established authors and publishers the ultimate opportunity to showcase their works in a world where technology rules but people interactions still exists. I want the readers to have a community of their own after all they are the core of the foundation.

The Author’s World is the next Facebook, Amazon, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok all rolled into one. We are currently in the process of creating a multilevel platform that has never been done before. It is really fitting for today’s climate. The Authors World will impact the world in a way that is definitely positive, different and the perfect time for it to unfold.

It is the ultimate multilevel platform for all the world to share interactions, opinions, and provoke discussions. It will impact the world to more openness, more connection, and more meaningful discussions for change. I want the written word to keep up with the new generation of readers and technology. Just think about what I just said, that’s just the first layer of The Authors World. Wait until you see what we have in store for every market, its very impressive if I may say.

Tammy: Wow Michael this is absolutely incredible what you have built. When will you finally start launching The Authors World.

Michael: We will be launching our weekly podcast first, on May 15th this year. We have an amazing lineup of some of the biggest and most amazing celebrities in the world who have written books, screenplays, music, musicals and so much more. Make sure you go to TheAuthorsWorldPodcast.Com.

Tammy: So Michael I know that you are definitely a very private person but you mentioned some of the challenges that you have faced and I understand that its difficult to talk about some of your health issues but perhaps you can tell our readers about what you have been going through and yet you have never given up on this incredible project l, and you keep creating and working with your clients. I really think your story will inspire others.

Michael: Thank you Tammy for your kind words. Yes the truth is I have faced countless health issues throughout the years and I am a very private person. I consider myself to be a reclusive person. Not because I suffer from social anxiety but the facts are I really like my space and when I write or I am creating I must be alone with my thoughts. The other issue is I would probably be considered a broken person deep down. Many people have let me down in my life when I really needed them the most so I have built a pretty big wall and I do have an issue with trusting people. The one person that never lets me down is the guy in the mirror. I guess that’s why I keep my distance from people in general. As for the core of my health issues I have been through a lot. I have faced countless battles with cancer, I have had four (4) major back surgeries since 2017 and unfortunately none of them worked. They are considered failed back surgeries. My entire back has been fused and is filled with metal. I suffer from chronic pain, plus I have suffered two heart attacks and a small stroke, and recently I have been told that I need a complete knee replacement and a complete shoulder replacement. Sadly many of my health issues earlier in my life, I had to face alone.

So it would be safe to say that I am a very guarded person. But yes I find solitude in my work and I think that all of my hardships have made me a stronger person and a great agent. I just love creating and making deals, it’s like a natural high when I close a big deal. My advice to anyone reading this is take all the negatives in your life and anyone who has ever told you that you can’t and use that as fuel for fire. If you truly believe in something, don’t stop believing in yourself. Use all of the pain and hurt people have given you and let it make you Invincible. The greatest revenge in life is success.

Tammy: Wow! Michael that is an incredible journey you have been on so far. I know that it was difficult to talk about some things but I think you are absolutely inspiring.

I know you have several big shows and films you are currently working on but What are some of the latest and upcoming projects you are involved with at the moment that you would like our readers to be on the lookout for besides The Authors World?

Michael: Actually, I’m really happy you asked that question. First I am still the exclusive agent and my agency has been packaging the film Mr. Irrelevant, a film written by Oscar winner Terry George and produced by David Rubenstein, Ken Atchity and Nicole Ehrlich. Also I have a new book that will be coming out very soon. I had the opportunity to work with the late Bob Carter, the father of the lead singer of Backstreet Boys Nick Carter and the father of the late music legend Aaron Carter. Bob contacted me years ago and asked me if I was interested in writing his whole life story of the Carter family and his personal life.

After almost a year of phone conversation with Bob he asked me to come to Florida were he was living with his new wife Ginger Elroy Carter and we started working on the book. It’s titled “The Confessions of Bob Carter The Truth Shall Set You Free.” I have spent 3 years of my life just interviewing Bob and becoming friends with him up until his own death in 2017. The story is absolutely just incredible and the best part of the whole book is Bob Carter doesn’t hold back he lets the reader deep into his soul and heart. I became friends with Bob and he was a very kind man. When I was interviewing Bob we would record everything on audio (tape recordings). Sadly, Bob and 3 of his children have also passed away. It’s an intense read but it also gives you an incredible look inside the life of the Carter family. The book will be coming out during the summer of 2025.

Tammy: Michael what advice would you give our readers that would like to be in the entertainment industry or just even start their own business?

Michael: There are no guarantees in life and we never know when today is our last day. So my advice is stop making excuses for why you are not chasing your dreams. You only live once so make each day count and live life to the fullest. Go after your dreams and make your own destiny. The worst thing that can happen is you fail trying and if that happens get up and learn from your mistakes and keep trying. The worst thing you can do is wake up in 20 years and wonder what would have happened if you never gave up. Live life with no regrets!

Keep up to date by visiting https://theauthorsworld.com/

About Tammy Reese

Owner of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media, Tammy Reese is an award-winning writer and journalist best known for landing major interviews with Angela Bassett, Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, Laurence Fishburne, Geena Davis, Billy Porter, Morris Chestnut, Nelly, Mona Scott Young, Giancarlo Esposito, Luke Evans, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Connelly, Joseph Sikora, Meagan Good, Leon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Phylicia Rashad, Omar Epps, Courtney Kemp, Vivica A Fox, Ryan Coogler, and so many more.

She is a proud member of ForbesBLK as well as New York Women in Film and Television.

Other articles by Tammy Reese in Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine.

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