Joltin’ Joe Dionisio
DURING AN EXTENSIVE literary career, Joe Dionisio has authored, edited, ghostwritten, co-authored and served as research editor for dozens of books.
In New York, as managing editor of PBC International Publishers, he guided myriad upscale coffee-table books distributed by the prestigious, Park Avenue-based Rizzoli International Publications. For many of the tomes — whose topics included design, architecture and style — Dionisio also acted as ghost author.
His worst failure at PBC, naturally, was not securing a book deal with “Seinfeld’s” Kramer, and his coffee-table book about coffee tables.
One publishing niche that Joe embraces is as a ghost-author. For many writers, doing the hard work but letting a client
He also worked for several years as an assistant to Elaine Steinbeck — widow of literary titan John Steinbeck — at her Steinbeck Book Fair, an annual summer fixture in the Hamptons.
Among The Media Maven’s most rewarding literary projects, “The Sporting Life” indulged his affinity for history. It was a biography of Irving Rudd, the press agent who represented boxer Muhammad Ali and Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson.
Dionisio relished the privilege of collaborating with Rudd, a beloved Runyonesque promoter from Brooklyn, and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His colorful book went behind the scenes with the two most influential African-Americans of the 20th century.
accept public acclaim for your words is as appealing as flossing a stranger’s teeth. Yet Joe excels at ghosting, even if it means reducing his ego by two hat sizes.
Combining his love of literature with his favorite sport, Joltin’ Joe has often edited or co-authored books on the National Hockey League.
Stan Fischler, left, one of America’s most prolific authors — over 100 books and counting — with his protege Joe Dionisio
Elaine and John Steinbeck
THE STEINBECK BOOK FAIR: OF MICE AND PEN
LONG AFTER the 1968 death of novelist John Steinbeck, his widow Elaine honored his legacy by creating a book fair in conjunction with Southampton College.
As a PR Director at the College, Joe Dionisio worked with Elaine to make her annual “Meet The Writers” fair a literary staple that feted Kurt Vonnegut, Lanford Wilson, E.L. Doctorow, Edward Albee, and other publishing giants.
Its venue, the Benson Art Gallery in Bridgehampton, was a stone’s throw from Steinbeck’s home in Sag Harbor. The soiree marked the unofficial launch of summer in the Hamptons.
Joe guided many tributes to the author of “Grapes of Wrath,” “Of Mice and Men” and “East of Eden,” including the college’s “Steinbeck Project," its Steinbeck Writer’s Room, and its Steinbeck Award.
THE MEDIA MAVEN
Books
Judging By The Cover
A sampling of Joltin’ Joe Dionisio’s literary work (except where precluded by an NDA) as an editor, author, ghostwriter, and research editor:
THAT’S
ENTERTAINMENT:
The Graphics of Showbiz
(PBC International)
THE SPORTING LIFE:
The Duke & Jackie, Pee Wee, Razor Phil, Ali, Mushky Jackson and Me
(St. Martin's Press)
DESIGNING FOR HUMANITY:
Award-Winning Designs Meeting People’s Changing Needs
(PBC International)
THE SUBWAY:
A Trip Through Time On
New York’s Rapid Transit
(H&M Productions)
CALIFORNIA
DESIGN
(PBC International)
DESIGNING FOR MUSIC
(PBC International)
20TH CENTURY
HOCKEY CHRONICLE
(Prospero Books)
CLIO AWARDS:
A Tribute to 30 Years of
Advertising Excellence
(PBC International)
RED LINE:
The Soviets in the NHL
(Simon & Schuster)
NEXT STOP GRAND CENTRAL:
A Trip Through Time on New York’s Metropolitan Area Commuter Railroads
(Boston Mills Press)
ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN:
Architecture Technology
(PBC International)
CHAMPIONS:
The Making of the Edmonton Oilers
(Prentice-Hall)
HEROES & HISTORY:
Voices from the
NHL’s Past!
(McGraw-Hill)
RESTAURANT DESIGN
(PBC International)
BARS, NITECLUBS &
TAVERNS
(PBC International)
THE SUBWAY AND
THE CITY:
Celebrating a Century
(National Learning Corp.)
GREAT NEWSPAPER
GRAPHICS
(PBC International)
THE BEST OF
NEWSPAPER DESIGN
(PBC International)
THE BEST OF
NEWSPAPER DESIGN 2
(PBC International)
THE BEST OF
NEWSPAPER DESIGN 3
(PBC International)
OFF SIDE:
Hockey from the Inside
(Methuen Paperbacks)
BREAKAWAY 87-88:
The Hockey Almanac
(Totem Books)
BREAKAWAY 88-89:
The Essential Viewer’s Guide to the NHL
(HarperCollins Publishing)
THUNDER AND
LIGHTNING
(Prentice-Hall/
Capricorn Books)
CLUBS AND RESORTS:
Designing for Recreation and Leisure
(PBC International)
CONFESSIONS OF A
TROLLEY DODGER
FROM BROOKLYN
(H&M Productions)
INTERNATIONAL
HOTEL AND RESORT
DESIGN
(PBC International)
INTERNATIONAL
HOTEL REDESIGN
(PBC International)
GREAT MENU GRAPHICS
(PBC International)
À LA CARTE:
A Tour of Dining History
(PBC International)
INT’L DIRECT MARKETING:
Communication
Graphics & Design
(PBC International)
INT’L LANDSCAPE DESIGN:
Architecture of Gardens, Parks, Playgrounds & Open Spaces
(PBC International)
WORDS TO THE WISE
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
Groucho Marx