Dennis Palumbo ~ Writer and Psychotherapist

There's a really nice article about Dennis Palumbo (M.A., M.F.T.) in the most Spring 2010 Pitt Magazine for alumnae of the University of Pittsburgh.

A couple of years after graduation Dennis packed up and headed for Hollywood where he spent a year sending out film scripts and trying to get comedians to let him write jokes for them. Nothing happened.

Then he got his big break. He was hired to write an episode of the television series The Love Boat, and that led to job as a staff writer for Welcome Back, Kotter. "In 1982 he graduates to the big screen, cowriting an acclaimed film script for My Favorite Year starring Peter O'Toole."

At that point, rather than pursue the movies, Dennis changed course and got a graduate degree and became a psychotherapist. He specializes in treating those with artistic problems, which he uniquely understands.


NOW: He continues to write - blogging for The Huffington Post and recently published a book called Writing from the Inside Out dealing with the creative process. He also has a collection of mystery stories cleverly called From Crime to Crime. In August his first crime novel, Mirror Image, which is set in Pittsburgh, will be in bookstores.

THEN: Dennis Palumbo was in The Man in the Dog Suit for Characters East in Pittsburgh with me in May of 1971. I played Mrs. Louisa Stoddard. I don't remember who Dennis played.  I have always thought it odd that I was involved with this play twice in my lifetime although Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn played the leads on Broadway originally so maybe the play had more to offer than I could perceive. 

Honorable Bandit

Back on December 30th, I wrote about the Citizen Patriot newspaper interview with author Brian Bouldrey, who grew up in Jackson. Since I promised to write about his new book Honorable Bandit: A Walk Across Corsica, today I signed on to the Jackson District Library website and discovered to my dismay that they don't own a single copy! Luckily Jackson participates in the statewide catalog so I was able to request the book from Bloomfield Township Township Public Library. Anyone with a Jackson District Library card can use this incredible resource. Called MeL or Michigan Electronic Library, it provides access to free online resources like tests and tutorials, genealogical databases, ebooks and online courses. There are resources for children and older students too.

Adam Gopnik - Writer & Essayist

There can't be too many people named Adam Gopnik running around out there so I felt compelled to do a little research. It turns out that Mr. Gopnik is a writer, essayist and commentator best known perhaps for his work which has appeared in The New Yorker magazine since 1986.

You can read more about Mr. Gopnik and his writings at Wikipedia.

NOW: Adam Gopnik writes book reviews for The New Yorker.

THEN: Adam Gopnik was in a play, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates at the John B. Kelly Playhouse in the Park in Philadelphia, with me. I was Hans Brinkers' girlfriend. I think he was Hans Brinker's little brother.

Six Degrees of Separation

Today's local paper carried an interview with author Brian Boldrey, whose new book Honorable Bandit: A Walk Across Corsica" is a memoir of his journey across the Mediterranean island of Corsica in 2004." Check out his hip website for more information.

What's interesting about this book to me is that it's "part travelogue, part memoir and part history."

Today Brian teaches creative writing at Northwestern University, but back in the late 70's, when he was in high school, he was a lowly student page and I was a lowly assistant at the Jackson District Library. Even then Brian evidenced a desire to see more of the world. It was also obvious that he had a pretty good sense of the absurd and humorous. I plan to take the trip with Brian this year. I'll let you know how it turns out.

This made me consider all the folks I have known who went on to write books while I was running libraries. Expect to hear more about them.