MY BOOKS

When the COVID pandemic and a bullying old coach shatter their dreams of playing freshman high school basketball together, six BFFs manage to continue improving their games on a DIY driveway hoop. Suddenly the virus strikes down the varsity squad, opening the door for the frosh girls to come to Westside High School’s aid. To do so the BFFs will have to brace themselves against the pandemic, support a grieving friend, deal with social distancing and isolation, struggle with a conceited older teammate and the abusive coach. Good thing for them that teamwork, their deep friendship and magical basketball IQs are their best basketball superpowers! Only then, does Fate grant them a precious chance to hoop and, in an epic championship game, come to the rescue and win the game. Bring it on!
What is the secret of life and what does softball have to do with it? William seeks his dad’s advice, setting him off on a marvelous journey to one important season in a lifetime of seasons for his Dad’s adult recreation slow pitch softball team, the Willies. Old teammates and friends fill the line-up card to take their cuts telling William the complete team story. The game-by-game schedule includes pre-game festivities, game action, post-game barbeques and parties, all peppered with original song lyrics, softball-fare recipes – oh, yeah, actual softball – and some stuff you wish you just didn’t know about. In the end, just like William, you’ll find this is a tale of romance – a rollicking, nostalgic account of softball, family, and life; and discover that Slow Pitch Softball is More Than Just a Game.
Invisible Society Fables is a short story collection that takes a sincere look at being homeless. Homelessness has long been a major social issue and doesn’t seem to be going away. So many passersby choose to ignore the homeless, we move swiftly past, avoiding eye contact, literally sidestepping any possible connection, keeping those homeless people as invisible as possible. These tales use the storylines and morals of classic childhood fables and convert them to respectful, straightforward contemporary narratives, offering realistic glimpses into homelessness and illuminate the humanity of those who live it. These are their stories. Positive change can happen. Let these new fables show the ironies and intricacies of circumstance while reminding us that anyone can be homeless – neighbors, friends, family, me, you. In the end, who seeks to hide and who is truly invisible?
A hug can be such a simple thing. Hugs say hello, good-bye, thank you, missed you, sorry, here for you, we’re friends, stay warm, be well, see you later. But sometimes, if you give the hug at the perfect moment, with just the right sincerity and care, it might be that one, perfect miracle embrace that someone has needed and waited so long for without even knowing it. In Just Hug a Bubble (children’s fiction), The Boy believes he is so happy in his Bubble, but without the ability to reach out, to touch others, to hug . . . could he ever be truly happy? The Girl’s heartfelt gift gives him, and all of us, the whispered answer: a Hug filled with Compassion and Love. The best thing about Hugs? When you give one . . . you get one!
My Young Adult short story, “The Three Stooges” is in the anthology Oakland Noir, a 2017 addition to NY-based Akashic Books’ ground-breaking noir series. It stars three Oakland homeless young adults: Maurice, Lawrence and Champion—for you ol’ Three Stooges fans, that’s Mo, Larry and Champ for short. The three are losers in life . . . gross, dirty, hungry, but they’d rather spend whatever they can on drugs and booze. Their greatest pastime is to hang out, well hidden, to get wasted/faced/wrecked/whippy/get their dumb on and talk smack, preferable all at the same time. They talk like they don’t care, as if they’re in control, but all they really jones for is that ONE break that’ll get them off the streets. However, it’s not as if they’re going to work too hard to get that. Except this time, one of them receives one of those breaks; a golden ticket. Will his wish be granted or will he squander his opportunity for a new life, figuratively and literally?