Projects in Process
Three Things
This book is a followup to my first book, What I Learned from Cancer. Having had a year to mull over the content and to speak to many people in many contexts about what I actually learned, it is time to complete the project. It will follow and expand on the talking points that I use in readings, keynote addresses, and church sermons, specifically my three major thesess around disease and personal crisis: I am not my disease, community is better than isolation, and wholeness is more immportant than physical health.
I am well into this project and expect to launch a Kickstarter early in 2016 to see a release in spring of 2016.
This book is a followup to my first book, What I Learned from Cancer. Having had a year to mull over the content and to speak to many people in many contexts about what I actually learned, it is time to complete the project. It will follow and expand on the talking points that I use in readings, keynote addresses, and church sermons, specifically my three major thesess around disease and personal crisis: I am not my disease, community is better than isolation, and wholeness is more immportant than physical health.
I am well into this project and expect to launch a Kickstarter early in 2016 to see a release in spring of 2016.
Their Way: Reflections on the Camino de Santiago
I am not sure what this project is going to be. I envision it to be at least a series of articles but I am hoping that it will be a book, and it may end up a short video documentary. I have a few friends who have traveled the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage in Spain. Comments from the latest couple to walk it made me ask, "Why do this?" and "What did you learn?"
I am going to start with video interviews asking questions like: "Why did you want to?" "What did you expect?" "What was the journey like?" and "What have you learned in the aftermath?"
I am not sure what this project is going to be. I envision it to be at least a series of articles but I am hoping that it will be a book, and it may end up a short video documentary. I have a few friends who have traveled the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage in Spain. Comments from the latest couple to walk it made me ask, "Why do this?" and "What did you learn?"
I am going to start with video interviews asking questions like: "Why did you want to?" "What did you expect?" "What was the journey like?" and "What have you learned in the aftermath?"
An Anthology of Writing by New Manitoba Authors
As protégés of eminent Manitoba author Jake MacDonald (Juliana and the Medicine Fish, Houseboat Chronicles, In Bear Country, and Casting Quiet Waters to name a few), his writing group is embarking in a project designed to show Manitoba (and the world) what we can do. Submissions will be made by many in the group, some of whom are published and others who are unpublished Manitoba authors. This group includes such writers as Rick Ranson (Bittersweet Sands), Kittie Wong (The Raven Sonata), David Connors (The Girl in the Boots), and Shelley Penziwol (From Asessippi to Zed Lake, A Guide to Manitoba's Provincial Parks). A few other authors (including but not limited to Wendy MacDonald, Wayne Rose, and people who I should remember but do not because I am a dope) will also be included in the collection. My submission includes a story (Requiem) in which my, now defunct, Honda Civic plays a major role. For those people mentioned who have not heard about this project yet, all I can say is "Get writing, folks!"
As protégés of eminent Manitoba author Jake MacDonald (Juliana and the Medicine Fish, Houseboat Chronicles, In Bear Country, and Casting Quiet Waters to name a few), his writing group is embarking in a project designed to show Manitoba (and the world) what we can do. Submissions will be made by many in the group, some of whom are published and others who are unpublished Manitoba authors. This group includes such writers as Rick Ranson (Bittersweet Sands), Kittie Wong (The Raven Sonata), David Connors (The Girl in the Boots), and Shelley Penziwol (From Asessippi to Zed Lake, A Guide to Manitoba's Provincial Parks). A few other authors (including but not limited to Wendy MacDonald, Wayne Rose, and people who I should remember but do not because I am a dope) will also be included in the collection. My submission includes a story (Requiem) in which my, now defunct, Honda Civic plays a major role. For those people mentioned who have not heard about this project yet, all I can say is "Get writing, folks!"
An Anthology of Writing by People with Chronic Illness and Pain
I was asked to submit a chapter for this book. My submission, Your Best Advocate, will be published in 2016 along with a host of fantastic writing by other people will chronic illness and pain.
I was asked to submit a chapter for this book. My submission, Your Best Advocate, will be published in 2016 along with a host of fantastic writing by other people will chronic illness and pain.
An Anthology of Writing by Manitobans of Italian Ancestry
I did a reading at the Caboto Centre in Winnipeg. After that event I was approached by a professor of Italian, French, and Spanish studies at the University of Winnipeg to contribute to an anthology that he is putting together. My submission, Between the Pixels reflects on my great-grandfather's journey out of Italy and the things we can and cannot know about history, even the history of our own families.
I did a reading at the Caboto Centre in Winnipeg. After that event I was approached by a professor of Italian, French, and Spanish studies at the University of Winnipeg to contribute to an anthology that he is putting together. My submission, Between the Pixels reflects on my great-grandfather's journey out of Italy and the things we can and cannot know about history, even the history of our own families.
Past Calls Future
I started this project late in 2014 as I was ruminating over the question of familial destiny and personal choice. So, I began to research my family history. This project is both an investigation into my own family and our stories, some from Italy and others from the United Stated and Canada, as well as a quest to philosophise over a universal question, that of how much we can deviate from the destiny which our families have set into motion on our behalf.
I started this project late in 2014 as I was ruminating over the question of familial destiny and personal choice. So, I began to research my family history. This project is both an investigation into my own family and our stories, some from Italy and others from the United Stated and Canada, as well as a quest to philosophise over a universal question, that of how much we can deviate from the destiny which our families have set into motion on our behalf.
Tables: A Fringe Play
I've often thought of doing a fringe play based on the content of my book, What I Learned from Cancer and from the keynote adresses and other speaking that I do around its themes. Since I have a good framework for what this might look like, I figure it will be relatively easy to turn this into a one-man play (haha, he says naively).
I've often thought of doing a fringe play based on the content of my book, What I Learned from Cancer and from the keynote adresses and other speaking that I do around its themes. Since I have a good framework for what this might look like, I figure it will be relatively easy to turn this into a one-man play (haha, he says naively).
Real Fear
My first work of fiction. This book asks, and answers, the question, "What if someone who feeds on the fear of others met someone who had no fear?"
My first work of fiction. This book asks, and answers, the question, "What if someone who feeds on the fear of others met someone who had no fear?"
Projects Completed
Dennis Maione keeps bumping up against cancer. First diagnosed with a colorectal tumour as a graduate student and young newly-wed, he thought his subsequent victory over the disease would set him up for a straight run at life. A decade later, however, he found out he carried a cancer gene. And a short while after that, fifteen years after his first diagnosis, the entrepreneur and father of three faced a recurrence of colon cancer, the second round exacting a higher toll than the first.
In illness, Dennis wrestled a strong enemy through protracted periods of doubt, confusion, and pain, but also with grace, wit, and humour. What I Learned from Cancer is the author’s first memoir and work of creative nonfiction, chronicling cancer, genetics, and medicine, but mostly hope. Insights into the soul of a cancer survivor abound throughout the book’s three parts: first, its compelling and often surprisingly funny narrative; second, its reflective essays, wherein Dennis presents lessons learned as thoughtful reflections to his younger self approaching cancer for the first time; and third, its basic introduction to the disease we all hear mentioned so often, structured as conversations with a doctor. The book introduces a rich array of community members who supported Dennis, the many physicians—good and bad—who attended him, and assorted villains and heroes throughout, in the unlikeliest of places.
What I Learned from Cancer was released in September 2014 by Prompters to Life. It can be purchased from the Prompters to Life webstore or from their Payhip eBook publishing site.
In illness, Dennis wrestled a strong enemy through protracted periods of doubt, confusion, and pain, but also with grace, wit, and humour. What I Learned from Cancer is the author’s first memoir and work of creative nonfiction, chronicling cancer, genetics, and medicine, but mostly hope. Insights into the soul of a cancer survivor abound throughout the book’s three parts: first, its compelling and often surprisingly funny narrative; second, its reflective essays, wherein Dennis presents lessons learned as thoughtful reflections to his younger self approaching cancer for the first time; and third, its basic introduction to the disease we all hear mentioned so often, structured as conversations with a doctor. The book introduces a rich array of community members who supported Dennis, the many physicians—good and bad—who attended him, and assorted villains and heroes throughout, in the unlikeliest of places.
What I Learned from Cancer was released in September 2014 by Prompters to Life. It can be purchased from the Prompters to Life webstore or from their Payhip eBook publishing site.