Today I realized the odd array of books my walls project has compelled me to read. The titles currently on my desk include, among others: a collection of translated verse by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, Borderlands/La Frontera by Chicana Feminist Lesbian Writer Gloria Anzaldúa, the Rough Guide to Morocco and Cyprus, An Index of Deaths […]
Scott Nicol on the wall
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
Author Scott Nicol penned an excellent opinion piece on the U.S. border wall in a recent edition of The Christian Science Monitor called “Costly fence on US-Mexico border is effective – only in hurting nature.” In two pages, Nicol manages to expose the folly of the barrier in terms of its cost in both dollars […]
February
24
Mark Thomas: Extreme Rambling
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
British comedian and activist Mark Thomas recently walked the entire length of the West Bank wall created a stage show and book out of the experience. I admit I don’t know Thomas’ work – and that the idea of mining the Wall for comedy makes me a little nervous – but this sort of performance […]
A reason to do this
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
I presented a short talk about writing creative nonfiction at the Calgary Public Library this weekend. The talk involved a lot of my regular shtick which I’ve officially cannibalized enough. I realized this when, after my talk in the theatre lobby, I heard one of the audience members say: “It was good, but repetitive. I’ve […]
December
23
In progress: San Diego, Tijuana, and the bars of Tucson
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
The bulk of my time along the US-Mexico border last month was spent doing research for my Walls book. However, I also managed to collect material for a few stories I am writing for Up!, the in-flight magazine of Westjet Airlines. This is much lighter fare than my walls work, but after a month among […]
A publisher for ‘Walls’!
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
I’ve known this for a few months now, but this morning I finally signed the contracts and can now make the ‘official’ announcement: In the Shadow of the Walls – my book-in-progress about my travels along walls, fences and barriers around the world – will be published in Canada by Goose Lane Editions. Goose Lane […]
December
06
“Memento Mirmy” is online
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
My profile on ‘rogue taxidermist’ Mirmy Winn is now online on The Walrus Magazine‘s website. Mirmy is the Vancouver artist I met in the fall who creates compelling work with, among other things, unloved mounted weasels and human bones. I will never forget the smell of the human skull she let me hold. The story […]
“Fatherhood” is online
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
My story about becoming a father, which I’ve mentioned ad nauseam on this blog, is now online in its entirety. Find it here.
December
03
Wall of Sadness
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
This afternoon I will leave America’s southern borderlands and cross the northern frontier into Canada. I am going home. My month here in southern California and Mexico has been rich in terms of research for my walls book. I haven’t done any new writing for this project in months now – I needed to gather […]
December
02
To the Migrants’ Shrine
posted by Marcello Di Cintio
Christianity is thick on the borderlands, and I’ve spent much of my time here among people of faith. Jesuits ran the Comedor de los Migrantes in Nogales. All three of Tucson’s migration activist groups – Humane Borders, The Samaritans, and No More Deaths – originated out of faith-based groups. Mark Adams, a Presbyterian Minister, runs […]
Elsewhere 