Who Do You Think You Are?: Reflections Of A Writer's Life

by Joseph Torra

In Who Do You Think You Are? Reflections Of A Writer's Life, Joseph Torra, ponders his thirty plus years as a poet, novelist, editor, publisher, and teacher. With both pathos and humor, Torra discusses the challenges he has faced as an author, husband, parent—and, as a person who struggles with bipolar disease. He shares stories and insights growing up in a working class Italian-American Boston suburb, literary and other artists who have influenced him, painting, music, addiction, the publishing scene—past and present—as well as the importance of mentorships and community. Who Do You Think You Are?, a courageous and frank portrait of an author, benefits all readers who hope to pursue an artistic career of any form. "Torra's characters speak in an almost poetic cadence," said Boston Magazine. And Charlotte Innes of the Los Angeles Times wrote, Torra "Offers an intricate, sympathetic, sometimes outraged, always graceful commentary on the larger world."

Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2021

About the author

Torra was raised in a working class, Italian-American home in Somerville, Massachusetts. He was editor of the literary journal "lift". He has been a lecturer in creative writing at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Reviews

[Vincent DiGirolamo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what a successful writing career looks like: doubt, despair, neglect, abuse, side jobs, and a shelf of daring books produced in the face of all that. Who Do You Think You Are? is a testament to a writer's stubborn faith in his gifts and the importance of a sustaining community of fellow artists, made not found. Plus it has a beautiful cover.