Hey I’m Tyler
Tyler Kania is a bipolar rugby player, coach, cybersecurity salesman, cryptocurrency entrepreneur, stonemason, civil rights activist, and author from Columbia, Connecticut. Tyler is a suicide survivor and has experienced the anomalistic trauma of sequential ruptured patellar tendons.
Tyler’s first book, The Maniac with No Knees, is an exciting memoir that follows his journey with undiagnosed bipolar I disorder through an eclectic series of mania-driven mis-adventures that ultimately land him in a mental hospital. This book was published in 2025 and was named a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards in the Grief / Hardship category.
Tyler is currently working on a second book, a composite novel called The Fables of Frog City which consists entirely of one-page short stories that follows a fictional descendent of Theo Van Gogh and his group of friends in Eastern Connecticut, coming-of-age as they navigate the grief of an untimely death.
Since January 2026, Tyler has pivoted his platform from standing up for people with mental illness, to standing up for everyone that is oppressed. Some of his essays have been published in national newspapers like The Washington Times, gone viral on Facebook or published in various Connecticut media outlets. Tyler hopes to use his voice to garner wider attention across the country and he is committed to fighting tyranny as a civil rights activist for all marginalized groups.
Tyler also writes life stories, or extended obituaries to preserve memories of elders or the deceased, in a 20-30 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"
Most of the world’s best stories disappear when we die.
Great-Grandparents 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 5,000-7,000 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 sensitive topics. 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 indie award nominated author who has successfully collaborated with elders and their families, and friends to bring to life experiences that should not be forgotten.
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.
Life Story Book Services Starting at $650
25 to 30 page professionally written Life Story Book
2 pages of photos included
5 interviews with the subject
10 complimentary copies
Add-ons:
Additional subject interview: $50 each
Additional copies: $9 each
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.
The Fables of Frog City is a composite novel consisting wholly of one-page short stories that follows the athletic but shy, DJ Van Gogh, and his best friends Mufasa DeJesus and Bosco Jenkins throughout their adolescence and into adulthood as they grapple with mental illness, addiction, love, and mortality in a tumultuous place called Frog City, Connecticut.
As of January 3rd, 2025, the book is about half-finished, with no known release time yet. Given the complicated nature of this book’s structure, I expect it to take close to a year to complete.
Coming Soon!
The Fables of Frog City
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!
