Attempting to make sense of her life, and change her sad disposition to a happy one, the author of In the Backyard: Relearning the Art of Aging, Dying and Making Love seeks out the help of her in-house therapist/husband, Dr. George Nemeth. The accredited psychologist's answers to the big questions provide a compassionate and humorous backdrop on to how to seize the day and not give up hope when faced with the nasty realities of poor health and unrealized aspirations.

Mary Melfi was born in a small mountain town south of Rome. In 1957, at the age of six, she immigrated with her family to Montreal, Quebec where she attended local English schools. She received a B.A. in English Literature from Concordia University and a Masters of Library Science from McGill University. Since completing her studies in 1977 she has published over a dozen books of critically-acclaimed poetry and prose. Her first novel, Infertility Rites, was published by Guernica Editions in 1991; it was later translated into French and Italian. Doubleday Canada published her children's fantasy book: Ubu, the Witch Who Would be Rich. In 2009, the author's memoir, ITALY REVISITED: Conversations with My Mother, was published in Canada. In 2012 it was translated into Italian by Laura Ferri and published by Iannone Editions under the title, Ritorno in Italia, conversazioni con mia madre. Also a playwright, Mary Melfi's works for the theatre have been workshopped in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Her two full-length plays, both comedies, Foreplay and My Italian Wife were published by Guernica Editions in 2012. Noted for her black humour, wry wit and imaginative style, critics have suggested that this author manages "not only to make us laugh, but also think." She received the Giornata Internazionale Della Donna Award in 2010. In-depth reviews of her published works can be found in William Anselmi's book entitled: Mary Melfi, Essays on her Works (Guernica Editions, 2007). Mary Melfi presently lives in Montreal.

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