Hey I’m Tyler
A rugby player, coach, cybersecurity salesman, cryptocurrency entrepreneur, stonemason, politician, and writer, from Columbia, Connecticut.
Tyler suffers from Bipolar Disorder, and his rugby career has been marred by the very rare and traumatic ruptured patellar tendon, twice. His first book, released in January, 2025, is called, The Maniac with No Knees, and is an exciting memoir, that dives deep into the severity of his mental illness. It was a Best Selling New Release on Amazon and featured by over 60 media outlets.
Tyler’s second book, a collection of short stories and essays called 99 Stories and a Broken Pen, is currently in the editing stages and is scheduled for release in late 2025.
Tyler also writes life stories, or extended obituaries to preserve memories of elders or the deceased, in a twenty-page book with pictures. If you're interested in this service, please click the “Work with me” button below or scroll down to the Life Story Book Service for more information.
What happens when a rugby star loses his knees—and his mind?
How far can mania take you, before you’re forced to face the truth?
In The Maniac with No Knees, Tyler Kania takes readers on a raw, unfiltered ride through his journey with undiagnosed Bipolar I Disorder.
From rugby fields to the edge of the Grand Canyon, from building a cryptocurrency start-up to coaching a women’s rugby team to victory, Tyler’s manic adventures push every boundary. Along the way, he uncovers a major tech scandal, survives run-ins with the Boston Mafia, and even attempts the unthinkable—before landing in a mental hospital, where he finally begins to heal.
Tyler’s story is both brutally honest and often darkly humorous. Living with Bipolar I Disorder and two rare rugby injuries, he brings a unique perspective on mental health, resilience, and self-discovery.
The Maniac with No Knees is a testament to survival and finding meaning in the madness. Tyler’s wild journey may just change how you see your own life, and the struggles we all face.
The Maniac with No Knees
★★★★★
”An instant classic and voice for mental health!”
★★★★★
”A truly beautiful book by an outstanding new author.”
★★★★★
"Courageous and inspirational dive into the mind of mental illness"
★★★★★
"Honest, Personal, and Gripping"
Life Story Book Services
Most of the world’s best stories disappear with the dead. Our beloved family members and ancestors lived lives about which we know very little. Grandkids never learn the challenges and successes of their bloodline. Obituaries provide us with nothing more than a person’s name, hometown, occupation, and the people they left behind. The legacies of the bold and beautiful are quickly forgotten.
But what if they weren’t? What if a best-selling author partnered with elders and families of the deceased to write a 5,000-word life story book (plus pictures) for loved ones to pass down and preserve memories for generations to come?
Tyler Kania’s mission is to change the way we think about obituaries, family lore, and legacies. Tyler works to preserve the lives of those whose stories would otherwise be lost.
Partnering with Tyler means that you have the power to dictate what belongs and what doesn’t. He is comforting, delicate, and careful when it comes to discussing grief. He won’t write anything that you wish to keep out, and he will essentially be ghostwriting the life story that you, your family, and friends hope to tell.
Tyler is an accomplished author who has published a popular memoir, written a collection of 99 short stories, and collaborated with families to bring to life the experiences of people from diverse backgrounds who are either running out of time or are no longer with us.
If you or someone you know, perhaps with little time left, or is otherwise deceased, would like to have a life story book for remembrance and to serve as a family keepsake for many years to come, please reach out.
Samples and References are available.
Rates:
Five Interviews = 20-page Life Story (two pages of photos). Includes complimentary copies of the book for each person interviewed. - $2,199
Each additional interview - $150
“words cannot express my gratitude to Tyler for the gift he has given to me and all those who are blessed to read his story of my son, Drew. When your child passes away and everyone is there for the funeral and the weeks to follow it’s all a blur. If I had to do it all again I would keep a journal but grief didn’t allow that for me. I met Tyler at our fundraiser in honor of my child but didn’t have the capacity to understand who Tyler really was. I remember one year he shared with my sister and I briefly his struggles and I won’t forget that. Fast forward to this wonderful man willing and wanting to tell Drew’s story As a mom you never want your child forgotten-what a gift of kindness, love and understanding Tyler gave me . Tyler was patient with me during our conversation as you can imagine it was not easy for me. I love to talk about my son more than anything but to have Tyler ask such questions, I knew he really wanted to know more of Drew’s life. I am grateful for his patience with a grieving mom and although it’s been 9 years since my loss I am so raw. He was gentle in his questions but inquisitive and made me smile as I revisited so much of the past. Now with this book almost ready for publishing I cannot say enough how grateful I am to read my sons story. It’s funny too because reading other family members and Drew’s best friend responses to Tyler questions : I cried but laughed and smiled as I hear their personal stories too. We all learned a lot from this book. I am forever grateful! Thank you Tyler!”
Sign up for my Newsletter
This newsletter is my outlet to share short stories, updates on new book releases, promotions, extended obituaries, and other upcoming writing projects. I'm Tyler Kania, author of the best-selling new release The Maniac with No Knees, and this is where you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at everything I'm working on.
Coming Soon!
This is a collection of 99 one-page short stories and essays, tailored to appeal to readers who don't have the time or attention span to read a full chapter all at once. Some stories are completely fictionalized, others are honest accounts from my life.
While many of the passages are evocative accounts of mental illness, suicide, and addiction, other stories are more wholesome and lighthearted, touching on subjects like coming-of-age, friendships, sports, and adventures. In between, you'll also find essays on politics, culture, and society, that will hopefully inspire you to think differently.
Its safe to say that a collection of 99 stories must be comprised of a variety of different subjects. In other words, there's something in here for everyone.
Pre-order today.
“It’ s said that 75% of suicides are men, but I've read enough Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath to know that women are not exempt.
At times I've felt destined to become another statistic, an unremarkable life forgotten, a footprint in the sand, washed away by the tide. Not a semblance of ever existing, aside from the transitory thoughts of a few intimates.
I found solace in my proximity to charging cables - just about anything would do for asphyxiation. It was a comforting respite to glance at my laptop charger and know that my pain could be relieved in 45 seconds or less.
One time, I wrapped it around my collar and pulled, as long as I could stand. I looked up and out of the window as the late afternoon sun of early spring began to poke itself out from behind a great big cloud in the most aesthetic way. It was so trite. I rolled my eyes, something of the serendipitous sort, so much so I cracked a smile for the first time in a while.
I loosened my grip and dropped the cord. Such an overdone cliché but, like a Bell Jar reference, I swear it was true. My face was an intense shade of blue.”
The Maniac with No Knees - Tyler Kania
Get in touch
Are you interested in collaborating, staying in touch, or sharing your thoughts about my book? Or maybe you just need someone to write to? Feel free to reach out—I’ll do my best to respond as soon as possible!
