INTERVIEW
Tony DiGerolamo has been writing since childhood although not quite in the way most literary careers begin. ‘When I was in first grade, the school had a short story contest for a McDonald’s hamburger,’ he says, beginning his interaction with Global Despatch. ‘I kept winning until the school asked me to stop entering so one of the other kids could win,’ he adds.
It is the kind of origin story that feels strangely perfect for a writer whose work thrives on absurdity and chaos. Beneath the punchlines, however, lies something more enduring: decades of commitment to storytelling and relentless creative output.
Thirty Years in the Pine Barrens
For more than three decades Tony has immersed himself in the folklore of South Jersey, particularly the mythology surrounding the Jersey Devil. That fascination eventually evolved into The Pineys, a comedy-horror novella series centred on a family of hunters tracking the monstrous kin of the Jersey Devil through the wilds of New Jersey.
‘The Pineys books are kind of the culmination of that,’ he explains. Through the series he introduces readers not only to monsters and mayhem but also to the folktales and strange cultural textures of South Jersey itself.
The premise is deliberately outrageous. He describes the series as ‘Ghostbusters only with drunken hillbillies and guns in South Jersey.’ Yet behind the irreverence lies careful worldbuilding and long-term planning.
Building Stories Backwards
Unlike writers who discover stories entirely as they write, Tony often begins with endings. ‘Normally, I come up with an ending, then start at the beginning and work my way there,’ he lets on.
With The Pineys series specifically the process has become increasingly interconnected. While finishing one book, he is already considering the next so he can plant clues and narrative threads ahead of time.
Other projects operate differently. His Wokeistan series, for example, remained dormant until he recently discovered what the third installment should become. ‘Now I have to find time to write it,’ he remarks.
The Writers Who Lit the Fuse
Among the authors who shaped him most are Kurt Vonnegut, Hunter S Thompson, William Goldman, Frank Miller, and several others whose work blends sharp storytelling with distinctive voice.
‘I guess they inspire me because I feel good after a reading and then I want to create something kinda like that,’ Tony tells us.
These days, however, time for reading has become increasingly scarce. Writing, promotion, and production consume most of his hours.
The Night Shift
Tony writes late at night when distractions finally disappear. ‘At night, when the phone and the emails stop,’ he says, adding, ‘Very late with iced tea.’
The image feels almost cinematic: a writer hunched over scripts and manuscripts while the world sleeps around him.
Currently residing in Laurel Springs the 58-year-old author holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications. Unlike many writers who stumble unexpectedly into publication, he speaks with certainty when asked whether becoming an author was a conscious decision.
‘Yes.’
Writing, Politics, and Monk-Like Discipline
Outside fiction his interests orbit around politics, which he follows ‘like sports.’ He also creates YouTube videos, both as creative outlet and promotional tool.
‘I live like a monk and mostly spend time writing and selling my books,’ he says.
That discipline is perhaps unsurprising considering the sheer variety of projects attached to his name. Long before The Pineys Tony built an eclectic writing career spanning comics, television comedy, websites, and games.
Among his most recognisable credits are writing for The Simpsons Comics published by Bongo Comics, contributing jokes to Politically Incorrect hosted by Bill Maher, and scripting material connected to Space Ghost Coast to Coast.
He has also written for comic books, games, Comedy Central, and Cracked.com.
No Patience for Half-Hearted Writers
When asked what advice he would give aspiring writers struggling with rejection or poor sales, Tony responds with ruthless humour.
‘Quit. I do not need the competition.’
What follows is less comforting pep talk and more verbal provocation. He dismisses the fantasy of literary glamour and argues that genuine writers persist because they cannot imagine doing otherwise.
‘Many people do not want to be writers. What they want is a room full of people asking for their autograph and calling them clever,’ he says. ‘If you want to write, do it; push through.’
Then comes the line that perhaps encapsulates his entire philosophy: ‘WHY AREN’T YOU WRITING RIGHT NOW?!’
Life in Repetition and Controlled Chaos
His daily routine unfolds with relentless repetition. Writing scripts for The Webcomic Factory, organising signings at libraries and breweries, making YouTube videos, responding to freelance opportunities, and continuing work on The Pineys series all compete for space within a single day.
Somewhere in between come walks with the dog, dinners with his parents, and attempts to sleep before beginning again the next morning.
Four to six times a month he also conducts live signings to support himself financially.
Folklore, Humour, and South Jersey Madness
If there is one thing Tony wants readers to understand, it is that The Pineys was designed to be fun. Fast-paced, comedic, and unapologetically strange the books function almost like episodic television while remaining steeped in regional folklore.
Readers unfamiliar with South Jersey need not worry, he insists. The stories are accessible to everyone while still preserving the flavour of the place that inspired them.
For a writer who once dominated elementary school hamburger contests relentless productivity appears to have been the point all along.
Many people do not want to be writers. What they want is a room full of people asking for their autograph and calling them clever. If you want to write, do it; push through.
~ TONY DIGEROLAMO
ENGAGE WITH GD | Click on the cover image of the book you wish to read and buy yourself a copy right off the bat!