Press Release

Gloucester Native Pens Mystical Odyssey

When Joe Danna was asked how he felt after self-publishing his new book, he said, “I felt relieved as though it was a long and successful psychotherapy session. Not only because of the mental/emotional release it brought, but also because after two years of researching the chaotic world of publishing, I was long overdue for a break. Traditional publishing firms weren’t interested in my queries, and there were so many “self-publishing” scams out there waiting to take my money that I decided to start my own publishing company. The book was important to me. If it helps even one person then it has served its purpose.”

Joe says what started as a 500-word short story assignment gained its own momentum and evolved to a 52,000-word narrative. The story begins in the late 1950s in his old neighborhood, which he says was “a casualty of urban renewal” in the mid 1960s. He hopes the early chapters speak to the people who remember the Gloucester of past decades, particularly those who lived along the waterfront in the neighborhood that once surrounded the Fitz Hugh Lane House. But he warns that the theme of his story is far from reminiscing about the good old days and remembering historical landmarks. This is passionate writing about serious topics; even poignant at times, yet it manages to incorporate a degree of humor for balance. Above all, the material is exceptionally thought provoking.

“The Narrow Gate: A Journey Through Identity, Belief, and Perception”, is a fictional account of his tumultuous young life through the character of Salvatore DeSanti while growing up in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

“It had to be fictional,” Joe says. “Salvatore has an inter-dimensional experience in a parallel reality. I did that for dramatic effect, to add flair to the conveyance of the message; otherwise, there would have been a lack of color, which is another way of saying I didn’t think people would care to read dry non-fiction about my ideas, beliefs, and life experiences.”

The book alludes to substance abuse and the toll it has taken since the heroin invasion of early 1970s Gloucester. Appropriate to such grievous occurrences, its overall theme escalates spiritually during his otherworldly journey, with a focus on core identity and lessons on the dynamics of belief. The book acts as a showcase to display forgotten truths while depicting reasons behind inequality in an all-inclusive universe. The difference between man-made religion and spirituality is brought to light with his belief that there can be no separation from what we call God.

Joe’s writing is visionary, and an interfacing of his most personal experiences with the truth he found within himself through the help of metaphysics, which is a study of the fundamentals of thought and natural laws of the universe.

“My only concern is that some people may think this is a drone about my past misfortunes. But it isn’t a “poor me” type of book. The book is about solutions. I survived fear-based religion and substance abuse myself. I must have something helpful to say.”

“The Narrow Gate: A Journey Through Identity, Belief, and Perception”, is available in Gloucester at Walgreen’s, The Common Crow, The Building Center Gift Shop, Dogtown Book Store, and The Bookstore on Main Street. In NH the book can be purchased at Earthward in Amherst, Annie’s Bookstores, and Headlines in Nashua. Also available  from www.jpdanna.com and Ingram distributors.

Bio: Joe Danna is a Rosicrucian (AMORC) and long-time bodyworker certified in neuromuscular therapy. He currently resides in New Hampshire where he runs two injury clinics. His next book is in the making.