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About
Tony DiCosta.com
The TonyDiCosta.com website
was created to acquaint you with the rather diverse skill set that
I bring to any communication project I tackle.
The
world of the self-employed entrepreneur is fertile ground in
which to grow one's innate talents—actually, it's grow or die. And for over thirty years, I have been
blessed to work at
what I loved.
The two
decades I enjoyed as the owner of an automotive mail-order
catalog business (and years of
studying the patron saint of copywriters,
Herschell Gordon Lewis) taught me the art of
writing copy. As a cataloger, I quickly learned that product photography
was also a requisite survival skill.
Years
spent building hot rods professionally earned me "expert"
status in the street rodding field, and automotive magazine editors
often asked me to contribute
tech articles (great free publicity for my company,
so I was more than happy to oblige). That led to paid
interview assignments, book chapters and monthly columns—I also photographed book and magazine covers. I took
the work seriously, and over time, gained
a reputation for reliability (see the
).
Strunk
and White's Elements of Style shared space on my
bookshelf with Richard Finch's Welder's Handbook, and
my years at Uppsala College in West Orange, New Jersey, finally
proved useful.
In the
1990s, the burgeoning internet marketplace beckoned with its own copywriting and
graphic design challenges. Almost before I knew it I had
segued from full-blown gearhead to computer jockey without
even trying. (Turns out a computer was just another
tool, after all.)
 With
the sale of my catalog company in 2002, I was free to seek
writing assignments from area newspapers,
local businesses and diverse magazines across the country.
Writing classes and conferences became a way
of life and my bookshelves began to sag with writing-related
titles.
To broaden my experience and fatten my clip
collection, frankly, I wrote for any non-automotive
publication that would hire me (Church
Libraries magazine, for example) and I wrote without pay for
charities who couldn't afford to (Haven of Hope orphanage in Bolivia).
To see my writing credits, please visit this site's
"Writing
Clips" pages.
I still
value my friends in automotive publishing, too (though I
don't write tech articles anymore). I've written
personality profiles and book reviews for magazines such as
Corvette Enthusiast.
I am
presently a Contributing Editor for Cruisin' Style
magazine and write a monthly book review for my "Builder's
Bookshelf" column. I have also served as editor
of the Automotive Magazine Advertising Association's
website.
My
photography is featured in almost all of my contributions.
It is sort of a "value-added" feature for editors, and they
have learned they can count on me for quality image services
and Photoshop®
work, including covers. (Please note: Except for the three photos I'm
in, I photographed all the images on this website.)
My years in the catalog publishing business have given me a
firm appreciation for the perspective of editors and
publishers. I understand deadlines and realize that
editors cannot fill their magazines' pages with excuses or
work that is less than professional. I go the "extra
mile" to ensure that those who hire me look good.
Personality profiles and interviews have become a specialty—probably
because I believe there is nothing more valuable or
fascinating than people.
To round
out my life and to remain active in the service/leadership
arena, I also serve in a paid capacity as Director of Family
Life Groups at Covenant Community Ministries in Fort Myers,
Florida.
 This full
and busy life would be hopelessly impossible without the
support of my sainted and long-suffering wife, Judy (my
biggest fan), and my incredibly understanding daughter,
Maria.
For taking the time to read
this, I thank you. If you click
here you'll return to the top of the
page where you'll find additional navigation choices.
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