Diva/Cassone (Paperback) | Released: 21 Apr 2013

In their seventh publication (a reproduction of their first volume of poetry with selected new works), Antonio Cassone breathes new life into the original work and shares even more insights about life and paying tribute to special people in the author's life. The book covers a wide array of topics. Nature, divas, friendship, toxic relationships, politics are covered in this work. Throughout are various selections about diverse forms of love - being in it, discovering it, losing it, desiring 'thug' passion and the ecstatic heat from it, fatal lust and even the death of love itself. Included is a mini-collection, "The FLIP Series," along with a few individual ones about a gay man's desire for a 'straight' or heterosexual man in their life that he can't 'be with' and the repressed feelings that go with it - in order to save face and at least have a friendship. As is custom with Cassone's previous works there are many tributes. The living tributes are to an NBA basketball player, a MMA fighter, several legendary entertainers from Detroit's female impersonation circuit, a lady who is like a second mother, a couple of impressive past co-workers, the Performers Awards of Detroit & Cassone's friend for nearly 30 years, Diva Kingsley. There are also several tributes to those who have passed on including friends, parents of friends who inspired the writer and a "very dear one" with a back story from the author's blog. Finally, Cassone's commemorative 9/11 poem, Tears Shrouded in Shards of Debris, also along with a back story article; a comedic piece about The Milk Man, contemporary women, a sermon and a visit to Hell cement the variety of this collection. It is rounded out with a couple of answers to where it all comes from (the inspiration) for the artist. Born and raised in Detroit, now living in Fort Lauderdale, Cassone brings you this collection of poetic works as a "heart-piece" from the gracious writer to you, their ever accepting and growing readership.
About the Author: ANTONIO CASSONE, originally from Detroit, is an accomplished author, photographer and entertainer with a career enriched with many diverse projects since 1988. He has produced, performed, written and co-directed two major, award-winning plays; the semi-autobiographical "The Ashley Correspondence" in 1993 and "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" in 1995 at 1515 Broadway in Detroit's theatre district. Cassone performed in Patrick Burton`s masterpiece "Punk" and produced/performed/directed eight "Extravaganza's" in the `90s, which were fashion/variety shows and several spoken-word recordings including, "No Measure," an audio play about victim-survivors; "Miranda Davison," an audio play about his career as a female impersonator/illusionist/entertainer and "Diva/Cassone," his first poetry cd. ANTONIO CASSONE is also, most recently, an accomplished author with six books to his credit. DIVA/CASSONE (2006) (no longer in print), a book of poetry and LOOKING THROUGH THE NAKED WINDOW (2007), book one of his memoir series are published through Publish America. OPENING THE NAKED WINDOW (2008), book two of the memoir series and THE NAKED WINDOW: EXPOSED/REVELATIONS (2009), books three and four of the memoir series were released as a combo through Create Space, along with BLUE SKY: ...WRITINGS FOR STEVEN AND OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE LOVED FOR SO LONG (2010), a third volume of poetry (with some prose) RAMBLINGS FROM THE RAGGED EDGE (2013) and DIVA/CASSONE: A COLLECTION OF POETRY - THE RECONSTRUCTION EDITION (2013). CASSONE has over 150 poems published on various poetry websites and has been honored numerous times for his works by The International Society of Poets. He was nominated for Poet of the Year from Famous Poets in 2005. He has also been published in numerous poetry anthologies from The International Library of Poetry and The Iliad Press. He currently resides in South Florida and is penning the rest of his memoirs NAKED WINDOW book series, another poetry collection and has a variety of spoken word and video projects in the works. He also started the Cassone2007 channel on YouTube with the 'web reality series' GETTING READY, which is now in its 18th season and you can also find select spoken word recording/slideshows of works from TEARS AND THUNDER, DIVA/CASSONE, THE ECSTASY and BLUE SKY to name a few. The channel also has select slideshows of Photography by Cassone.