A Comedy of Pretzels

When tradition twists with popular culture and lands on “people’s oral humor,” idealistic Reuben Lamberth finds himself in a mess. He is a young, progressive, inspired scholar teaching at a prestigious northeastern university, but his other unique self has another foot planted secretly in the world of standup comedy as Josh Sandburg. His stage name is a composite of ‘joshing’ and the renowned American poet Carl Sandburg. Neither his fully tenured professor wife Byrra who is enmeshed in a cabal of women’s faculty; his tough minor gangster-hood father Solly; his staid sociology chairperson and conventional colleagues; nor his tyrannical University President Jeremiah Brittle have any idea that he performs in comedy clubs as Josh Sandburg. Should he be outed, there is considerable doubt that he will be upgraded to the coveted position of tenure, and his marriage may suffer as well. Reuben wonders, Is it worth giving up academia and taking a flyer in the world of comedy culture? The finale in this novel reveals tantalizing internecine connections that land squarely the realm of people’s oral humor.

Chip Clementine and the October Surprise

When middle-aged, office accountant Chip Clementine is told he has breast cancer, his controlled life goes off-orbit as he gets to grips with his new normal. Ever the opportunist, Chip processes his shock and grief the only way he knows how – taking advice from those he trusts, finding new friends in the most unusual of places, having a little bit more fun at the office, pulling overnighters at work, brokering deals for those less confident, making money off of his mini-refrigerator, and, of course, signing up for a flash mob dance at his local mall. Laugh, cry and cheer with Chip as he navigates the spectrum of human emotion and drama at work with his cubicle colleagues on the 4th floor. Learn about Chip’s past before he entered the corporate scene. Be inspired by his personal but unconventional fitness program. Take heart when he confronts the IT guy with no social filters. Empathize when Chip’s eye twitch takes on a life of its own. Silently cheer with Chip when he finds the courage to connect with the lab technician in a moment of panic during a routine MRI scan that goes pear-shaped. Even a cancer diagnosis won’t stop Chip from giving you a little lift as he pays his dues and gets through his day, one annoying/embarrassing human interaction at a time.

The Zeta Factor

Over lunch, Dr Jack Broccoli learns from Dr Larry Faber, a friend from medical school, about an amazing drug he has developed called Ambrotine. It seems that it reverses aging and cures almost any disease. Larry needs experimental subjects, so Jack volunteers some of his own nursing home patients and the results are positive beyond all expectations. There are however, a few unexpected side effects.

Jack finds himself in trouble with his licensing authority and on the run from Pharmex, a ruthless drug company interested in the enormous financial promise of the drug. He also has problems caused by his generous desire to be of service to womankind. He falls in love with Karen but has to flee with her to an undisclosed location as a craze for Ambrotine sweeps the world…

Subway Rat

"I've often heard that there's a mysterious light at the end of a tunnel.
We are all in the tunnel together.
We move forward, not backward, thru places that cause us to stop and observe, feel and participate in what can help us travel to this light.
Random acts of kindness, a job we enjoy and trying to keep our mind, body, and spirit healthy are necessary to be on the right track in the tunnel.
The right track invites change.
Stop, take a look around.
See if this stop works for you. Enjoy its moments, take advantage of its opportunities or run from its dangers.
This subway rat sees this light, taking in this journey.
A subway is an unknowing place that challenges the imagination.
For this rat, the tunnel is the light."
                                             –Doug Hanulak

Laughing Out of Context

Mia, mother of her six-year-old son, Cody, strives to balance care and volunteering at Cody’s school the only way she knows how: by recuperating nightly in what she calls her escape room. Meditation and a little bit of solitude at night can fix some hectic mothering days, but sometimes a glass of wine is just what is needed for those extra challenging kids-tell-all no-filter moments.

With the family Dalmatian, Caesar, right by Cody’s side in mischief, Mia works overtime to dodge embarrassing public incidents, hoping her imaginary hats will finally work in making her invisible at just the right time. By getting weekly advice from her mom’s group, Mia realizes she’s not alone in this crazy, funny, and loving motherhood journey.

The struggle is real, and finding a better motherhood routine is right at the top of her list of things to do, before she tips over to the other side of the sanity line.