DiFranco ’14MFA Publishes Novel Inspired by Underground Music

May 10, 2018 • Jen Retter

Daniel DiFranco ’14MFA, a graduate of Arcadia’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, published Panic Years, a novel that draws on his lifelong exploration of music and the trials of artistic pursuit.

Panic Years follows the fictional band Qualia and its bass player, Paul, as the bandmates soldier through gig after gig. Employing deadpan humor to examine the claustrophobic grind of life on the road, DiFranco reflects on his own experiences of breaking into the underground music scene with his band, Those People.

Since graduating from Arcadia in 2014, DiFranco has published fiction in Smokelong Quarterly, MonkeyBicycle, LitroNY, and Drunk Monkeys. He’s taught English and music classes at Multicultural Academy Charter School for 10 years.

A launch party for Panic Years will be held on Friday, May 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Grey Towers Castle. The novel’s official release is scheduled for August.

18ssalumnicreative writingmfa in creative writing