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In a time when we could all use a dose of inspiration, Above and Beyond Cancer, the new book out from Drake Community Press, is just what the doctor ordered. Oncologist Richard L. Deming teamed up with professional photographer Dylan Huey to produce a collection of more than 100 voices and scores of stunning full-color photographs that illuminate the difficult journey of a cancer diagnosis and the opportunity it provides for profound personal transformation.

 

Unique to this 171-page collection are excerpts from the narratives of cancer patients, survivors and caregivers who joined Dr. Deming on mountain treks he has led since 2011 to some of the world’s most breathtaking altitudes, including Mt. Everest Base Camp, Machu Picchu, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the High Himalayas and Mt. Kailish in Tibet. Down from the mountain, contributors reflect in heartfelt, often unexpected, ways about the shock of a diagnosis or summoning resilience, interspersed with moments of humor, camaraderie and spiritual uplift. Huey’s photography captures the alternately magnificent and formidable peaks and valleys of the physical journey as well as the inner journey these travelers have undertaken –a glimpse of emotion crossing the face of a tired hiker, or a stirring moment of compassion between two former strangers.

 

“With a brain for science and a heart for the humanities,” writes Des Moines Register columnist Courtney Crowder in her review of Above and Beyond Cancer, Dr. Deming, “skillfully combines themes of grief, survival, reconciliation and love in this simply extraordinary new collection.”

 

All revenue from book sales will support cancer prevention and health & wellness programming across the state of Iowa. Click here for more information.

This book was made possible by generous funding from donors. View the full list here.

“Writing with … The Press produces attractive full-color, illustrated editions serving a community readership on issues of concern to Iowans, partners with Iowa organizations to promote positive interaction and community betterment, and provides students with practical knowledge of book editing and production with a cross-disciplinary and collaborative focus.”

A unique small-press publisher since 2014, the Community Press is a two-year curriculum based publishing  and community engagement experience that includes students and faculty from several academic disciplines, along with a selected non-profit partner with a story to tell about their mission. 

“Writing With” emphasizes the collaborative nature of our Press; all campus and community stakeholders serve as contributors to the production process. We are all students in some form and teachers in another, negotiating across boundaries of community and cultural background toward a common goal.

We share the purpose of producing beautifully researched, written, and designed publications that serve a community readership on issues of concern to Iowans. In addition, our books raise several thousands of dollars in support of the organization with whom we partner.

Meet our community partner!

Meet our community partner!

The Iowa Environmental Council is an organization that raises awareness and advocates for the environment in Iowa. They have partnered with the Drake Community Press to help with the process of putting together our book about environmental injustice in Iowa.

  • KNOW YOUR ROOTS: Environmental Justice in Iowa featuring Carolyn Finney 5-8 PM, Thursday, April 6, 2023 Hosted by Drake Community Press, Iowa Environmental Council, and Susan Glaspell Writers & Critics Series, Drake University   Goal & purpose of our event: To gather interested students and community members from all backgrounds for learning, story sharing and constructive action around environmental justice......

    25 March, 2023

  • With three new DCP-related courses starting at Drake and two freshly hired interns (Welcome Aanika, Leah and Autumn!), we’re excited to work towards everything we have planned in 2022.Spring Semester CoursesThree DCP-related courses started this spring. Professor Dian Nostikasari returns to our project to teach a class on Environmental Justice, Professor Lisa West’s class explores Environmental Writing, and Professor Don......

    10 March, 2022

  • When I registered for Introduction to the Drake Community Press, I didn’t know what to expect. I was excited to be part of the publishing process and to hold a book I helped create, but I knew almost nothing about the Drake Community Press or how a small press like this one would function differently than a traditional press. Nevertheless,......

    19 December, 2021

  • Our interns Gabbie Melms, Gable Thompson, Lizzie Deal, and CJ Younger helped out at IEC’s Pro H2O Fundraiser on Thursday, September 16. They spoke to members in the community passionate about water conservation in Iowa. Here’s what they had to say: “[ProH2O] is a fun combination of educational programming and a cocktail party. We try to put those two things together......

    05 October, 2021

  • On June 4th, I and other members of the Drake Community Press had the chance to experience Mainframe Studios’ First Friday event featuring the works of Dylan Huey, the photographer for Above and Beyond Cancer. Dylan’s showing was scheduled for last June in concert with the book launch; its derailing was one of many things we missed during the height of the......

    13 September, 2021

  • In March, the Drake Community Press branched out into a new medium: audio. We combined intern CJ Younger’s interviewing skills with video intern Gable Thompson’s editing skills to record the first episode of our new podcast, Speaking With. As publishing expands across new modes and platforms, podcasting is a great way to share our process and history with readers. It’s......

    22 April, 2021