The Mothers and Fathers Italian Association

Winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Non-Fiction! 


An omnibus collection of the most irreverent, funny, and longest-running column in the history of horror and dark fantasy! 


Monteleone has written about breaking in, breaking out, being successful, and being a failure. In addition to his many anecdotal adventures, he tells it like it is in the book biz, television, film, and popular culture. If you want the inside scoop on the genres you love, this is the book for you! An instant classic! 


“The Mothers And Fathers Italian Association, by Stokerwinner Thomas F. Monteleone collects the “MAFIA” columns this outspoken commentator of the Horror Field has published over 27 years in a range of genre publications, most recently Cemetery Dance. 


As his friend, Richard Chizmar says in the introduction, “Tom tells it like it is.” This provocative and amusing chronicle is a must-read for anyone interested in the ups and downs of the professional horror writer.” — Publishers Weekly 


“There are no dispassionate book reviews or critiques here; in fact, I’m not sure Monteleone can be dispassionate about anything. These are insider stories, pointed opinions, insights, speculations, ruminations, reminiscences, and diatribes. You won’t agree with him all the time, and at times he might well make you angry, but he will make you think about what he’s saying, one way or another.” —Chronicle 


In the MAFIA columns there is a sense of familiarity and personality. Reading them is like sitting around and talking to a person—a highly entertaining person at that. It is a comfortable environment, but it is also exciting because you never know what Monteleone is going to say (I mean, write). He pulls no punches and takes no prisoners. Following his example I will only speak the truth as I see it, and the truth is these MAFIA columns are great. It is the most fun you’ll have reading non-fiction all year. Highly recommended. —Flesh and Blood magazine 


Virtuoso fusions of humor, contempt, informed opinion, and anger, any one of Monteleone’s columns is likely to piss off a significant subset of its audience. Although one’s enjoyment of a particular column often depends on whether you are a target, they always manage to provoke thought. This is a great book! —Cemetery Dance magazine 


“Monteleone’s intention for his readers: ‘To kick back in your old clothes and smile a little.’ You should amend that to: laugh a lot with tears cascading down your face. Yes, he is that funny. Hilarious, emotional and opinionated, but, most of all, this is a book that you will want to read passages out loud to friends.” —CNN