ENDPAIN Interview: The Weirdness of Parkinson's Disease

The formidable Julia O'Malley interviewed me for the Los Angeles based media site Endpain. The interview came out almost too well. Elegant design, superb photos, and penetrating questions from Julia  make my replies seem almost coherent, and thoughtful.  You may judge for yourself here.

"My Degeneration" My book About Coping With Parkinson's Disease is Now Available

My advance copy of "My Degeneration"

Finally, after what seems like, and actually was years in the making, The Penn State University Press has released my "graphic narrative" of what it's like to be forced to deal with Young-Onset Parkinson's Disease. What's more, you can order it at a sale price right now. I hope that this book will be a comfort and inspiration to my fellow people with Parkinson's. And I hope it will be a provocation to consider how best to respond to this indefatigable disease that affects all parts of life as well.

So please read it and let me know what you think. Otherwise I'll be forced to rely on the words of people like Bill Bell, co-founder of the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, who was kind enough to write “Peter Dunlap-Shohl once again brings his unique art to the table to help educate, illustrate, and demonstrate life, hope, and strength on his journey with Parkinson’s. Creative and insightful, this book reflects all of Pete’s greatest qualities, including his constant work to help and educate all those in the PD community, patients and care partners alike.” Or Tom Kizzia, Author of the riveting "Pilgrim's Wilderness" who had this to say “The world made fresh by a Parkinson’s patient with a wonderfully sensitive and cocked eye. He tells the tale of his fast-changing reality with compassion and wicked humor, leaping from one crazily inventive work of art to the next. Never more acute than when examining his own mind-set, Peter Dunlap-Shohl leads us from diagnosis and despair to the high ground where he could compose this lucid, moving book. A miracle, in a way—and a triumph.” Heck, you could read this book for the blurbs alone!

As far as I can tell, this is the only book of its kind on Parkinson's available in the known universe. Here is a sample page from the second chapter "Learning to speak Parkinson's "

Blog You Are Reading RIGHT NOW Named One of 15 Best Blogs on Parkinson's Disease for 2013

In accordance with our journalistic imperative to bring you the latest, most important news about PD and in no way driven by my vast ego and need for approval, I would like to graciously announce the following...(ahem)... Healthline editors recently published their final list of the top Parkinson's blogs on the web for 2013 and Off & On: The Alaska Parkinson’s Rag made the list. You can find the complete list at http://www.healthline.com/health-slideshow/best-parkinsons-blogs (in no particular order).


We don't know jack about Healthline, but they certainly must have researched thoroughly to have found this teeny tiny blog crying in the wilderness. Among others mentioned in the top 15 are the Parkinson's Disease Foundation's "Parkinson's Insights'', "Positively Parkinson's" by Bob Kuhn, Kate Kelsall's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" and "Foxfeed" from the MJ Fox Foundation.

In addition to citing the content of "Off and On" they also praised the author's "Quirky" creativity. When reached for comment, blog producer Peter Dunlap-Shohl replied "Quirky? The hell with that, I'm a full-blown, stage five, certified eccentric!" At which, he terminated the interview using a can of bear spray. Fortunately for us, we were interviewing him by telephone, and were unhurt. Dunlap-Shohl, however was heard coughing and cursing loudly and quirkily on the other end of the line. We offer him our congratulations and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Washington Post Interviews Obscure Cartoonist from Far, Far Away, and Famous Cartoonist Nearby About Parkinson's Disease

The Public Relations department here at Off and on and Frozen Grin Industries would be remiss if they did not call your attention to this and, more important, this poignant interview with master cartoonist Richard Thompson, whose Parkinson's Disease emerged as he was right at the top of his game. Thanks to Michael Cavna for his perceptive and wide-ranging look at how Parkinson's affects those it afflicts, and how they deal with it.