Workshop Publishing Archive : University of Dayton, Ohio

The Intuitive Author (12-30-24): Tiffany Yates Martin has written a survival manual for writers, The Intuitive Author: How to Grow and Sustain a Happier Writing Career.
Trouble Island (12-30-24): Sharon Short's newest novel, Trouble Island, is generating considerable buzz, earning a spot on The New York Times' list of the best mystery and suspense novels for December.
Royal Roots (11-17-24): Our stories can heal us, transform us and help us reimagine our lives. No one knows that better than Patricia Wynn Brown, whose newly released memoir, Royal Roots, is a primer in how to tell your story with vulnerability in the quest to find the truth and a peaceful reconciliation with the past.
Your Forties Are Over (11-14-24): Your 20s, 30s and now 40s are over. Permanently it seems. You have been a walking, talking, working human for decades now. You’ve eaten your vegetables (or not), nourished and been nourished by family and friends, and even have learned mindfulness.
Who Loves You Best (11-02-24): Marilyn Simon Rothstein describes her fourth novel, Who Loves You Best, as "a contemporary family comedy that features mothers, daughters and way too many grandmothers."
Catch You Later (10-30-24): One impulsive decision changes the lives of two best friends forever in Catch You Later, a powerful, new novel of suspense by Jessica Strawser. It debuted as an instant USA Today bestseller, as did her last novel, The Last Caretaker.
Barbie IRL (10-30-24): Humorist Kristen Mulrooney provides an hilarious reminder that even the most flawlessly presenting dolls have issues of their own in Barbie IRL (In Real Life): Honestly Same.
From My Funny Bone (Hopefully) to Yours (10-04-24): Garret Mathews has published a free humor book, From My Funny Bone (Hopefully) to Yours, a collection of 46 columns.
Poised (10-01-24): "You might think a debut novel about a chain-smoking surgeon in training getting wrecked by her chauvinist bosses doesn’t sound funny, but you’d be wrong," says Cheryl Bailey about her new book, Poised.
I'm Still Here: A Dog's Purpose Forever (09-08-24): Through lyrical free verse, Cathryn Michon's beautifully illustrated book, I'm Still Here: A Dog's Purpose Forever, celebrates the eternal bond between humans and their canine companions, capturing the joy of simple pleasures and reminding us that love never dies.
Oh, No, Not the Home (09-08-24): Peggy Rowe, who's written three New York Times' bestsellers since turning 80, will soon release another humorous memoir, Oh No, Not the Home.
101 True Tales from the Terminal (08-27-24): Desiree Miller's anthology, 101 True Tales from the Terminal, was inspired by a social media post she wrote about her fun interactions in Atlanta's airport as she awaited her flight to Dayton, Ohio, to the 2022 Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.
On Being Jewish Now (08-07-24): The prolific author, podcaster and entrepreneur Zibby Owens has edited a timely anthology, On Being Jewish Now: Essays and Reflections from Authors and Advocates. All proceeds will benefit Artists Against Antisemitism.
Beneath the Surface (07-16-24): In Maryann Rodrigues’ debut book, Beneath the Surface: A Memoir Exploring Intuition and Following Your Own Lead, she entertains readers with tales from her New England childhood, family observations and the intuitional guidance and that gave her direction.
Wash Your Brain (07-16-24): Wash Your Brain: Stories. Laughter. Yoga. Life. is a rollicking ride through an off-kilter world. Donna Debs' collection of bite-sized stories will make you laugh, think and wonder if it’s time to give brainwashing — however you do it! — a whirl.
Devil's Defense (07-14-24): Devil's Defense melds Lori B. Duff's 30 years of legal experience with her knack for dialogue and observation of the human condition to give readers a courtroom drama filled with realistic action that will make you laugh as often as cry out with righteous indignance.
God is in the Odd, the Ordinary, and Outside Church (07-13-24): L.A. McMurray’s debut book, God is in the Odd, the Ordinary, and Outside Church, explores more than meets the eye. A wildly determined Irish Catholic, McMurray pursues heaven’s playbook to ensure she and her family evade the heat of Hades.
Go Ahead and Laugh (07-11-24): Go Ahead and Laugh: A Year of Almost Completely Not Made-Up Stories is Barbara Scharfenberg's first book, though she's been weaving words and telling tales for decades.
The Bulgarian Training Manual (07-11-24): Ruth Bonapace's comic novel, The Bulgarian Training Manual, lampoons our culture of fitness, fad diets, self-improvement and internal yammering. Elle magazine named it a 2024 top summer read.
True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver (07-10-24): Written for caregivers of parents and spouses, True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver is a funny but brutally honest collection of essays from award-winning author Cindy Eastman. It releases in September from She Writes Press.
Never, Never, Hardly Ever (07-08-24): Never, Never, Hardly Ever, Kelly McKenzie's coming-of-age memoir, chronicles a "mother-daughter story of antiques and antics."
Bummer Camp (07-07-24): In Ann Garvin's new novel, Bummer Camp, two sisters scramble to save their family’s legacy in a funny, huge-hearted novel about grandiose plans and summers.
Kid Pro Quo (07-07-24): Art Linkletter's Kids Say the Darndest Things is the inspiration for Lorraine Ray's Kid Pro Quo, which takes the concept to a new century, with a new population, and adds a twist of serendipity.
Harriet Hurry-Up and the Oh-So-Slow Day (07-06-24): What child doesn’t get fidgety when they have to wait? In her new children's book, Harriet Hurry-Up and the Oh-So-Slow Day (Kregel Publishing), Allia Zobel Nolan introduces readers to an impatient little girl who thinks everything is moving way too slowly until God helps her to live in the moment.
Herman Nature (06-06-24): When Herman Rabinowitz's identity was stolen, he bought a Harley, reinvented himself as Paco and, along with other off-the-grid bikers, formed the Bedouins. When Paco decides to get his identity back, he must first navigate a worldwide web full of fake Hermans. After that comes the tricky part.
Footnotes From the Most Fascinating Museums (05-17-24): If you love museums, this book is for you. Bob Eckstein's Footnotes from the Most Fascinating Museums is a love letter to museums and museum-goers. It's chock-full of whimsical illustrations and stories.
Do I Know You? (05-08-24): A lively blend of personal narrative and popular science, Do I Know You? is the story of one unusual mind’s attempt to understand itself — and a fascinating exploration of the remarkable breadth of human experience.
Christopher Bennett and the Mystic Beetle (05-08-24): Pawky Publishing has recently published Robert Curreli's first two books, the coming-of-age story, Christopher Bennett and the Mystic Beetle and the biting satire, Winston Case and the Plans Gone Awry.
I Will Not Be Ignored (05-07-24): Ed Friedman's debut book, I Will Not Be Ignored, offers a humorous take on the author's thinking about current wisdom and personal experiences.

Happy Wife, Happy Life (12-23-23): Creators Publishing has released a collection of the top hits from Tracy Beckerman's syndicated column in a new book, Happy Wife, Happy Life: Confessions of a Suburban Mom.
What the Farm (12-12-23): First-time author Mary Conway Sullivan didn’t plan on owning a farm, starting a blog or writing a memoir, What the Farm: Poignant & Profane Stories from My Unplanned Life.
The Good Humor Man (12-11-23): Nationally syndicated humorist Jerry Zezima has published his seventh book, The Good Humor Man: Tales of Life, Laughter, and, for Dessert, Ice Cream.
My Above Average Colon (12-07-23): Whether she's being held hostage at a timeshare presentation, eating an excessive amount of cookie batter or stalking the neighborhood kid who stole her exercise ball, January Ornellas’ sharp wit and raw vulnerability will have you laughing out loud as you read My Above Average Colon.
The Wishing Bridge (11-22-23): Booklist describes Wade Rouse's newly released Christmas novel, The Wishing Bridge, as "a heartwarming holiday tale sure to please readers who want a gentle, cozy Christmas read in the vein of a Hallmark movie."
The Last Caretaker (11-22-23): Jessica Strawser's latest novel, The Last Caretaker, is an empowering, harrowing story of a woman reeling from her divorce who takes a job as resident caretaker on a nature reserve — only to discover her new home doubles as a safe house for an underground network that helps women on the run from abusive men.
Joke in a Box (11-22-23): New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake's Joke in a Box provides a gateway into the craft of joke writing and construction, with modular prompts designed to help you see the world in a more playful and inventive way.
Rounding Third (11-12-23): Marcy O'Brien writes with an eye for detail and a gift for putting the reader right there in the scene with her in her debut book, Rounding Third: A Warm and Funny Collection from a Talented Storyteller.
Zuri the Zebra and the Seasons of Giving (10-27-23): Andrea Gelfuso's children's book, Zuri the Zebra and the Seasons of Giving, illustrates how generous kids and mischievous animals bring attention to the excesses of the holidays.
The Advice Columnist (10-10-23): The Advice Columnist, Janie Emaus’s debut women’s fiction book, was published by Sage Publications.
When Being a Superhero Ain't So Super (10-03-23): Mathew Klickstein's essay, "When Being a Superhero Ain't So Super," will appear in Power Up: Leadership, Character, and Conflict Beyond the Superhero Multiverse.
Satan Talks to His Therapist (10-03-23): In Satan Talks to His Therapist, Melissa Balmain explores the lighter side of dark times. Playful yet poignant, her poems perfectly capture our human fallibility and comedic sense of importance.
The Weight We Carry (09-24-23): A heartbreaking and emotional story of the toll that health crises can have on an entire family, Christina Consolino's newest novel, The Weight We Carry, reminds us of the fine line between reliance and independence, tending and mothering, and love and obligation.
Broken Things (09-24-23): Lori B. Duff's newly published novella, Broken Things, is a tale of friendship and loss.
Spook the Magic Kitten (09-24-23): In Dean Norman’s new children’s book, Spook the Magic Kitten, Spook is a black kitten who hates to fly on a broomstick. When he falls off and is found by a young girl, it becomes a wild time for the girl and her family.
Blank (08-22-23): Zibby Owens, a champion for writers, is set to release her hilarious debut novel, Blank, in early 2024.
Pouf! (08-07-23): Lou Clyde's play Pouf!, an “uplifting” comedy with big hair and even bigger laughs, has been published by Dramatist Play Service.
Mighty Gorgeous (07-18-23): Amy Ferris believes all women deserve to speak their truth, to be heard and seen, to awaken to their own greatness. That's the wisdom behind her new book, Mighty Gorgeous: A Little Book About Messy Love.
There's No Coming Back From This (07-15-23): Ann Garvin's newest novel, There's No Coming Back from This, revolves around a woman who stows away on the set of a major motion picture and has to solve a crime to keep her secret. Honest, endearing and unabashedly fun, Garvin has a special gift for writing about women who do too much in a world that asks too much from them.
Morning in This Broken World (07-15-23): Katrina Kittle's poignant novel, Morning in this Broken World, launches Sept. 1. Bestselling novelist Adriana Trigiani describes it as "a novel that celebrates love and hope and why we matter to one another."
Live Free and Hike (07-12-23): Linda Magoon's travel memoir, Live Free and Hike: Finding Grace on 48 Summits, is a story of courage and self-discovery.
Never Burn Your Moving Boxes (07-10-23): Jolyn Young's debut book, Never Burn Your Moving Boxes: A True Tale of Real-Life Cowboy Wife, is out.
World Peace Is an Inside Job (07-10-23): University of Dayton graduate Michelle Warren wrote World Peace Is an Inside Job as a labor of love. She believes world peace is only possible if we cultivate inner peace within each of us.
Augusta (07-06-23): From the author of Walking Home: Trail Stories, Celia Ryker's Augusta is a gripping historical fiction based on the true, against-the-odds story of her grandmother.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Well THAT Was Funny (07-05-23): After attending the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, Juliann Wetz-Jones decided to try her hand at humor writing. The result: a piece in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Well THAT Was Funny.
The Jon Boat Years (07-01-23): Jim Mize has published his fifth book, The Jon Boat Years: And Other Stories Afield With Fine Friends, Fair Dogs, a Shotgun, and a Fly Rod.
Peeling Away the Façade (06-30-23): Lee Reinecke's memoir, Peeling Away the Facade: The Long Shadow of Child Abuse, has been released as an ebook and in paperback.
Wild, Beautiful and Free (06-22-23): From award-winning author Sophfronia Scott comes Wild, Beautiful and Free, the story of one young woman's bold journey to reclaim her birthright and carve out her own place in a world that tells her she doesn't belong.
Fast Fallen Women (06-22-23): Fast Fallen Women includes 75 previously unpublished pieces on the topic of the ways in which women fall — whether they reach the boundaries of their lives and take flight, whether they stumble, or are pushed over the edge. The anthology is edited by Gina Barreca.
Famous in a Small Town (06-21-23): Viola Shipman's heartwarming novel, Famous in a Small Town, is a "Good Morning America" June pick.
Writing That Gets Noticed (06-20-23): It's not always easy for writers to get their work published. That's why Estelle Erasmus wrote a new guidebook, Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published.
Party Like It's 2044 (06-15-23): In Party Like It's 2044, Joni B. Cole offers a joy ride through a collection of eclectic essays that lands smack on the sweet spot between soul searching and social commentary, between humor and heft.
Vulnerabilia (05-06-23): James Vito Palazzolo has published his first novel, Vulnerabilia, a dark comedic novella weaving genres of mystery and literature.
Burnt Gloveboxes (04-27-23): Author and humorist Gina Ramsey has published her debut book, Burnt Gloveboxes: Embracing Life When It Goes Up in Flames.
The Frugal Editor (03-07-23): The third edition of Carolyn Howard-Johnson's The Frugal Editor: Do It Yourself Editing Secrets, includes new information on topics that change quickly in the English language and publishing worlds.
Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls (01-05-23): Easter Eggs and Matzo Balls (Sky Pony), the latest picture book by Janie Emaus, is a humorous and endearing story for children that blends Christian and Jewish traditions in a family that celebrates both.

Heavenly Headbutts (12-29-22): After she lost three aging cats in the space of a year and a half, Allia Zobel Nolan needed a resource that could soothe the gut-wrenching loss and elicit a glimmer of hope. She couldn’t find what she was looking for, so she wrote the book herself.
The Sweet Spot (12-17-22): "Warm." "Witty." Big-hearted." Those are just a few of the descriptions from advance readers about Amy Poeppel's newest novel, The Sweet Spot.
The Little Encyclopedia of Jewish Culture (12-03-22): Oy! Mathew Klickstein has written an amusing and informative encyclopedia of all things Jewish.
Start More Than You Can Finish (11-05-22): In Start More Than You Can Finish (Chronicle Prism), writer, artist and entrepreneur Becky Blades offers a powerful new mindset: acting on more ideas makes us happier — and reveals our highest creativity.
The Amazing Baby Name Book (08-16-22): Amy Ephron and her daughters, Anna and Maia, have collaborated on The Amazing Baby Name Book, a wonderfully curated collection of imaginative baby names.
The Lucky Generation (08-14-22): Dean Norman's The Lucky Generation is a "lighthearted, humorous account of a man who, if granted one wish, would wish that every generation could be as lucky as his."
The Complete Book of Cat Names (08-02-22): New Yorker cartoonist Bob Eckstein has published a hilarious book, The Complete Book of Cat Names (That Your Cat Won't Answer to, Anyway).
Vacuuming in the Nude and Other Ways to Get Attention (07-25-22): Peggy Rowe is at it again, this time giving a hilarious inside look at her writing career in her third book, Vacuuming in the Nude and Other Ways to Get Attention. The other two, both published after the age of 80, were New York Times' bestsellers.
See You at San Diego (07-20-22): Mathew Klickstein's See You at San Diego is being hailed as the comprehensive chronicle of Comic-Con International (and modern geekdom itself).
Blackout (06-28-22): Publishers Weekly calls Erin Flanagan's new novel, Blackout, "a gripping psychological thriller . . . Flanagan keeps the reader guessing to the surprising climax. She remains a writer to watch."
The Perfect Neighborhood (06-28-22): Liz Alterman's newest novel, The Perfect Neighborhood, will be published in July in the U.S. as well as the UK.
The Time Traveling Matchmaker (06-20-22): In The Time Traveling Matchmaker (Wild Rose Press), the latest book by Janie Emaus, love takes on a new meaning when soul mates are brought together through time and space.
Write Without the Fight (05-14-22): Julia Roberts' new book, Write Without the Fight: Master Your Creative Process to Write with Ease and Satisfaction, helps writers prevent procrastination and writer's block.
How to Be Ridiculous: 28 Tips for a Brand-New You! (05-11-22): Heather E. Schwartz's latest book, How to Be Ridiculous: 28 Tips for a Brand-New You!, is billed as a handy humor guide that allows readers to shed their professional demeanor and harness their "unique weirdness."
I Buried Paul (05-06-22): Bob Spitz, author of The Beatles, says novelist Bruce Ferber "has captured lightning in a bottle, chronicling a generation’s obsession with the Beatles" with his newest book, I Buried Paul.
Raising Jess (04-16-22): Vickie Rubin's book, Raising Jess: A Story of Hope, tells of a family changed forever by the birth of a child with special needs and their courageous decision to choose hope.
Crazy to Leave You (04-05-22): Crazy to Leave You, Marilyn Simon Rothstein's newest book, delivers a heroine readers will root for and an inspiring tale of second chances.
Lost and Found in Paris (03-07-22): Lian Dolan invites readers to journey to Paris for an art history treasure hunt "told with wit, style and a touch of intrigue."
Gals Guide Anthology: Women of History (03-03-22): Angie Kink's chapter, "Limber as a Rag," will appear in Gals Guide Anthology: Women of History.
Loving You Big (03-01-22): In Loving You Big, Leah Witman Moore recounts how she learns to balance the joys and sorrows of her life as she navigates between wig-clad dance parties and the painful loss of loved ones. This powerful and poignant memoir teaches readers to celebrate every small victory, savor every chaotic moment and recognize the profound impact of a kind word.
You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility (02-28-22): The paperback of Annabelle Gurwitch's You're Leaving When?
The Good Left Undone (02-27-22): Adriana Trigiani has published her first children's book, The House of Love, and her newest novel, The Good Left Undone, will be published this spring.
The Next Thing You Know (02-27-22): Publishers Weekly says Jessica Strawser "spins a magical tale of love and loss in her wildly unpredictable latest (novel)," The Next Thing You Know. It's her fifth book.
The Echoes (02-27-22): The Echoes, Jess Montgomery's highly anticipated fourth novel in the Kinship series.
Whereabouts Unknown (02-27-22): Meredith Doench's fourth thriller.
Scenes from Isolation (02-22-22): Cathy Guisewite's new book, Scenes from Isolation, was created when Cathy lifted her head from the ice cream carton during pandemic lockdown long enough to start dumping some of her angst on paper.
Fast Fierce Women (02-20-22): Fast Fierce Women: 75 Essays of Flash Nonfiction, edited by Gina Barreca, will showcase the work of at least 10 writers affiliated with the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.
Eating Salad Drunk (02-16-22): Comedy greats have come together to pen funny haikus for Gabe Henry's new book, Eating Salad Drunk. It's described as a “perfect gift for any fan of humor as an escape from our dystopian present.”
One for the Ageless (02-03-22): In his sixth book, syndicated humorist Jerry Zezima looks at life through rose-colored glasses — for which he doesn’t even need a prescription.
Storytellers' True Stories About Love (02-03-22): A story by Chicago writer and storyteller Julie Danis is featured in a new book, Storytellers' True Stories About Love.
Dear Dana (01-22-22): Amy Daughters wrote all 580 of her Facebook friends a letter — then wrote a book.
Dare to Live (01-15-22): At the age of 92, Lori Mansell published her first book, Dare to Live: Finding Joy at Any Age. She found inspiration — and encouragement — at the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop.
Champagne for One (01-15-22): Foreword Reviews says Rebekah Iliff's new book, Champagne for One, "turns myths about solitude on their head."
Fight Naked (01-15-22): Kathy Thorson Gruhn's funny book, Fight Naked, is the second in a trilogy. She pens funny books as one way of handling the grief of losing her husband of 43 years.
So You Need to Decide (01-12-22): Mathew Klickstein's new audio book with Beth Lapides, So You Need to Decide, will be released by Recorded Books, the largest audiobook publisher worldwide.

Mouths of Garden (12-28-21): In Barbara Fant's newest poetry collection, Mouths of Garden (Sundress Publications), she describes resiliency — especially that of Black people who uplift communities ravaged by racism, illness, domestic abuse, police brutality and toxic omission.
Mixed Company (11-14-21): Jenny Shank's new short-story collection, Mixed Company, details the life-changing encounters that can occur when people from a diverse array of financial and racial backgrounds meet in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Knocked Down (11-04-21): Award-winning author, journalist and editor Aileen Weintraub writes a brand-new, tug-at-your-heartstrings memoir titled Knocked Down that you won't want to miss.
Don't Postpone Joy (09-20-21): Through a window of real stories, Minnesota author Mary Farr’s fifth book, Don’t Postpone Joy, invites readers to walk with her on the holy ground of shared experiences.
One Heart with Courage: Essays and Stories (09-11-21): Teri Rizvi's debut book, One Heart with Courage: Essays and Stories. All proceeds will benefit the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop endowment fund.
My Modena (09-04-21): Andrea Gelfuso Goetz's new book, My Modena, a Year of Fear, Laughter, and Exhilaration in Italy, details the delightful confusion of living in a town that made every task hilariously frustrating, but every walk a journey into Italy's fascinating past — and thrilling present.
How to Make Mistakes on Purpose (08-23-21): Laurie Rosenwald's newest book, How to Make Mistakes on Purpose, "gives you a way to zig while everyone around you can only zag."
So Good to be Bad (08-23-21): Mathew Klickstein's playful middle-grade audiobook, So Good to Be Bad: A Really Bad Middle-Grade Reader for Really Good Kids; or, A Really Good Middle-Grade Reader for Really Bad Kids, will be released by Blackstone Publishing.
This Band of Sisterhood (07-22-21): Westina Matthews edits a new, groundbreaking book, This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith and the Church.
Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?) (07-19-21): Julie Vick's debut book, Babies Don't Make Small Talk (So Why Should I?), is billed as a humorous advice book for introverted parents.
Centennial Farm Family: Cultivating Land and Community (06-14-21): Amy McVay Abbott, a longtime columnist and humor writers, turns her attention to family history in her new book, Centennial Farm Family: Cultivating Land and Community 1837-1937.
The Witch Demands a Retraction (06-04-21): Melissa Balmain puts a grown-up, contemporary — and hilarious — spin on fairy tales in her new book, The Witch Demands a Retraction: Fairy Tale Reboots for Adults.
Barking at the Moon (06-03-21): At times hilarious and heartwarming, Tracy Beckerman's newest book, Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble, speaks to life’s challenges, and to mothering children both human and furry.
Read, Laugh, Repeat (05-06-21): Author Becky Povich's story, "A Bittersweet Victory," is included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Read, Laugh, Repeat.
The Lightmaker's Manifesto (02-16-21): When you care deeply about the world, light can seem hard to find. But when your activism grows out of your joy — and vice versa — you begin to see light everywhere. Karen Walrond helps people learn how to unearth their passions and gifts in her new book, Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy.
The Seeker and the Monk (02-13-21): What if we truly belong to each other? What if we are all walking around shining like the sun? Mystic, monk and activist Thomas Merton asked those questions in the twentieth century. Writer Sophfronia Scott is asking them today in The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton.
A Million Reasons Why (02-11-21): Jessica Strawser's newest novel, A Million Reasons Why, is "a fascinating foray into the questions we are most afraid to ask," says Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author.
The Stills (02-11-21): With compassion and insight, Jess Montgomery weaves a gripping mystery and portrait of community in The Stills, the powerful third novel in a series.
Rewrite the Stars (02-11-21): Christina Consolino's debut novel, Rewrite the Stars, is described as an honest, moving portrayal of life and love that reminds us how much of our happiness lies within our own grasp.

Melody's Magical Flying Machine (12-09-20): Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop speaker and author Elaine Ambrose released her 12th book called Melody's Magical Flying Machine.
Southern Mae O’Naze (11-30-20): Wanda Argersinger's newest book, Southern Mae O'Naze, has arrives in time for the "holidaze."
Black Dog, White Couch, and the Rest of My Really Bad Ideas (11-29-20): Dawn Weber's newest book, Black Dog, White Couch, and the Rest of My Really Bad Ideas,” is a laugh-out-loud confessional.
The Elements of Stress (11-29-20): Bob Eckstein and Michael Shaw's The Elements of Stress: And the Pursuit of Happy-ish in This Current Sh*tstorm is a parody of The Elements of Style, perfect "for anyone who has had it up to here."
Point of Pines (11-20-20): Unlike Steve Bluestein's other books, Memoir of a Nobody and Take My Prostate…Please, Point of Pines has no comedy in it.
Swing, Batta (11-19-20): Garret Mathews has written a 32-minute audio play, Swing, Batta, about a ragtag team of 9-year-old baseball players whose prankster coach believes kids' baseball should be fun. Along the way the players learn a bit about being a team.
A Dog's Perfect Christmas (11-11-20): W. Bruce Cameron's latest feel-good book, A Dog's Perfect Christmas, is being hailed as "the ideal holiday read."
Who's Publishing What: The Fire Slayers (11-10-20): PJ Braley's debut novel, The Fire Slayers, blends science fiction with love, friendship and a bit of horror as it tracks the evolution of an underground brotherhood whose only mandate is to survive at all costs.
The Detective in the Dooryard (11-08-20): Tim Cotton, whose Facebook postings for the Bangor, Maine, police department often go viral, has written his first book. Many of the stories will leave you chuckling, some will invariably bring tears to your eyes, but all will leave you with a profound sense of hope and positivity.
Out of My Mind (11-01-20): With short essays and playful drawings, Leslie Miklosy takes the reader on a journey of discovery in Out of My Mind: Quotations that Delight, Dazzle, and Confound.
You're Leaving When? (10-25-20): "Erma Bombeck meets Dorothy Parker in this topical and often laugh-out-loud funny take on our modern malaise." That's how Kirkus Reviews describes Annabelle Gurwitch's newest book, You're Leaving When? Adventures in Downward Mobility.
The Other Side of the Wall (10-18-20): Looking for a magical gift for young readers? Bestselling author Amy Ephron's The Other Side of the Wall is now available in paperback.
A Time to Seek (10-03-20): With wisdom, reverence and grace, Susan Pohlman delivers a lyrical meditation on midlife and motherhood while traveling the cobblestoned streets of Italy in her new book, A Time to Seek: Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality at Midlife.
God Made Us Just Right (09-10-20): Allia Zobel Nolan's newest children's book, God Made Us Just Right, uses whimsical questions from baby animals to help parents explain to children why they were born with certain characteristics.
Why a Cat Is Still Better Than a Man (09-10-20): What are the 101 reasons a cat is better than a man? Allia Zobel Nolan reprises one of her most popular books for a new generation of cat lovers.
Latkes for Santa Claus (09-07-20): In Latkes for Santa Claus, a humorous and endearing picture book by Janie Emaus, Anna is excited that Santa will be visiting her house for the first time, and she wants to leave Santa a treat that blends the holidays her new family celebrates: Christmas and Hanukkah.
Everyday is a Saturday (08-13-20): Award-winning humorist Jerry Zezima’s newest book, Every Day Is Saturday: Sleeping Late, Playing With the Grandchildren, Surviving the Quarantine, and Other Joys of Retirement, has been described as “a funny look at life after work, a cheerful guide to making it through a lockdown, and — best of all — an enduring love story.
The Daughters of Erietown (06-11-20): Hidden desires, long-held secrets and the sacrifices people make for family are at the heart of this powerful first novel by the popular Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Connie Schultz.
I Tried To Change so You Don't Have To (06-25-20): Loni Love has written an inspiring, hilarious memoir, I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To, about learning to resist the pressures of conformity, love yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws and unlock your true potential. Now cohost of Fox’s The Real and SiriusXM’s Café Mocha, Loni hasn’t taken the typical path to becoming America’s favorite straight-talking girlfriend and comedian. She was not the child of Hollywood legends and she never wore a size 00.
Alexa's a Spy and Other Things to Be Ticked off About (04-29-20): Syndicated humor columnist Dorothy Rosby has published her third book, Alexa's a Spy and Other Things to Be Ticked off About, Humorous Essays on the Hassles of Our Time. Dorothy calls the book "part comical call to arms and part tongue-in-cheek tirade." Essay topics range from spammers and scammers to clutter, litter and uncivil discourse. Her work has appeared for 24 years in publications across the West and Midwest.
Ghosts of Harvard (04-29-20): In Francesca Serritella's psychological thriller, Ghosts of Harvard, Cadence Archer arrives on Harvard's campus searching for answers about her brother, a schizophrenic genius who leapt from his dorm room window the year before. Then she starts hearing voices… "Ghosts of Harvard is written with a masterly, focused hand, belying the fact that this is Serritella's debut novel. The pages burn with frenetic energy and are peopled by memorable, compelling characters.
The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com (04-28-20): Applying her wit and humor to marriage and family life, award-winning columnist Lisa Smith Molinari shares her real-life family's humorous coming-of-age story, from marriage through raising kids to empty nest, in her first book, The Meat and Potatoes of Life: My True Lit Com. Since the pandemic has cancelled book launch events, she's "pivoted" and is recording amusing "Ponderings From the Pantry" videos as part of a virtual launch.
The Sweeney Sisters (04-28-20): With the rise of at home DNA tests, we've all heard stories or had our own experiences uncovering family secrets - sometimes good, maybe a little sad, and occasionally secrets that should have remained just that. In her new novel, The Sweeney Sisters, Lian Dolan delivers a brilliant and entertaining story about books, love, sisterhood and what makes up a family, tapping into the zeitgeist of 23 and Me, Ancestry.com and the surprises we can discover in our DNA.
Good Grammar Is the Life of the Party (04-15-20): Curtis Honeycutt, writer of the weekly humor column "Grammar Guy," made his debut with this book. It aims to make grammar approachable and entertaining. The author, who makes big claims in his book, truly believes that good grammar can make anyone's life better.
About Your Father (04-04-20): Peggy Rowe is at it again - this time giving a hilarious inside look at growing up Rowe, both before and after Mike's rise to fame. Mike describes About Your Father as "a heartwarming book that's going to make the country smile."
Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People Be Funnier (03-22-20): With his tender, funny memoir of four decades in the business, Alan Zweibel traces the history of American comedy. Zweibel started his comedy career selling jokes for seven dollars apiece to the last of the Borscht Belt standups.
The Worrywart's Prayer Book (03-17-20): Do you obsess about everything from global warming and bridge collapses to wrinkles, failure and the return of polyester? And now are you biting your nails (keep your hands away from your face) because of COVID-19? The second edition of Allia Zobel Nolan's The Worrywart's Prayer Book can help you cope.
Practice, Practice, Practice (03-07-20): Daniela V. Gitlin's memoir, Practice, Practice, Practice: This Psychiatrist's Life, gives readers a fly-on-the-wall view of therapy sessions along with actual transcripts of what's going through her mind as she's working, living and saving the day (or trying to).
What I Like About You (02-29-20): Allia Zobel Nolan's newest book, What I Like About You: A Book about Acceptance, teaches children to accept and celebrate the worth of others, no matter where they come from or what they look like. The book is a sequel to the bestseller and Mom's Choice Award title, What I Like About Me: A Book Celebrating Differences, a popular children's book about self-esteem.
Laughter is the best medicine (02-18-20): January Gordon Ornellas is a comedy writer who writes about everything from colonoscopies to triathlons (equally painful). Her triathlon story, "Rookie's Triathlon Lessons," appeared in the Los Angeles Times (June 22, 2019). Two of her other stories, "Gobble, Gobble" and "Almost Taken," will be published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Laughter is the Best Medicine (April 2020).
Drug Tested for Being Happy (02-04-20): In her book, Drug Tested for Being Happy, Kathy Thorson Gruhn takes actual events throughout her life, and in an Erma Bombeck fashion, tickles your funny bone. Whether she tries to teach her hamster to run on an old 33 RPM album or finds herself in predicaments that most people find unbelievable, she comes out smelling like a rose. A speech pathologist for 35 years, she has been telling stories since she was a young girl.
The Other Side of the Wall (10-18-20): Looking for a magical gift for young readers? Bestselling author Amy Ephron's The Other Side of the Wall is now available in paperback.

The Hollows (12-07-19): Historical mystery writer Jess Montgomery's newest book, The Hollows, is the second offering in the Kinship Historical Mysteries. The Hollows promises to be another engaging page turner. In the heart of Appalachia in Ohio in 1926, an elderly woman is killed walking along the tracks.
Dancing from the Inside Out (11-13-19): To an observer, University of Dayton graduate Westina Matthews has mastered the art of reinvention, but she begs to differ. "I wouldn't call it reinvention," says Matthews, who traded a fast-paced corporate executive life in Manhattan for a quieter one of reflection, prayer and writing along the Wilmington River in Savannah where she lives with her husband, Alan.
Looking Back at Elyria (11-04-19): Author Marci Rich combines journalism, historical research and memoir to look back at her hometown with love in her new book, Looking Back at Elyria: A Midwest City at Midcentury. Readers needn't have grown up in Elyria to appreciate her book. "The universal appeal of its writing, and the kinship of its storytelling, will invite readers to engage in their own time-traveling," says the publisher, The History Press.
As Long As It's Perfect (10-30-19): Lisa Tognola's debut novel, As Long As It's Perfect, was published by She Writes Press in October. Kirkus Review calls the book "an entertaining read" and "an enjoyable tale about a wealthy couple who learn that building a house is more than they bargained for."
Just Because I Used to Could... (10-09-19): Lisa Batten Kunkleman, a former guidance counselor turned writer, has published Just Because I Used to Could…Life Stories and Beyond, a collection of wise, witty and heartfelt stories.
Very Modern Mantras (09-15-19): Dan Zevin's hysterical book, Very Modern Mantras: Daily Affirmations for Daily Aggravations, features a collection of tongue-in-cheek chants for those everyday moments that drive us insane.
If You Did What I Asked in the First Place (09-14-19): Named "Atlanta's Funniest Lawyer," Lori B. Duff is a national award-winning author of four humor collections, including If You Did What I Asked in the First Place. Foreword Clarion calls her new collection of laugh-out-loud stories "bold and unapologetic" and "light and fun, useful for unwinding after a busy day."
What's Your Story? (09-10-19): Margot Leitman's latest book, What's Your Story? A Workbook for the Storyteller in All of Us, is filled with brainstorming ideas for developing fully fleshed-out stories - whether you want to give a memorable toast, nail a business presentation or perform onstage. A leading expert in the growing field of storytelling, Margot is a five-time winner of The MothStorySLAM.
The Frugal Book Promoter (09-05-19): The Frugal Book Promoter by Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been a must-have book for authors since its 2004 debut as a text for her UCLA Extension Writer's Program class in book marketing. Modern History Press is now publishing the third edition sporting a new cover, a bibliography, a reference and complete update.
Teacher Tattletales (08-07-19): Lee St. John's newest book, Teacher Tattletales and Other Southern Shenanigans, debuted at No. 1 in business and professional humor on Amazon. Lee says she tried really hard not to follow in her parents' footsteps to become a teacher, "but she was sucked into the education vortex anyway."
Suddenly Stardust (07-26-19): Joanne Brokaw's newest book, Suddenly Stardust: A Memoir (Of Sorts) About Fear, Freedom & Improv, is a quirky recounting of how improvisational theater changed her life. "If there was a land called I Could Never Because I'm Afraid, I would be the queen," writes Joanne.
Never Argue With a Wiener Dog: You'll Lose! (07-17-19): Diane Pascoe's second book, Never Argue with a Wiener Dog: You'll Lose!, is filled with 44 true stories guaranteed to tickle the funny bone or touch the heart.
The Way We Work: On the Job in Hollywood (07-08-19): Bruce Ferber's anthology, The Way We Work: On The Job In Hollywood (Rare Bird Books), provides a window into the skill sets and the insanity that make movies and television tick. "The collection is an often humorous, sometimes horrifying, testament to the talent and grit required of those who choose a career in entertainment.
Life Seemed Good, But.... (05-08-19): Richard Bell has published Life Seemed Good, But.…A Collection of Short, Quirky Stories. A portion of the sales will benefit cancer research. Many of the stories come from Bell's magazine column, "Modern Fables," published in Wassup Local Magazine in Lake County, Illinois.
Reconciliation of the Heart (04-19-19): Reconciliation of the Heart: Memoir of Mary Clista Dahl: A Healing Journey to Joy, Love and Compassion is "framed around a life of joy, love and compassion."
The Ultimate Cartoon Book of Book Cartoons by the World's Greatest Cartoonists (04-07-19): Renowned cartoonist and writer Bob Eckstein is editor of the newly published The Ultimate Cartoon Book of Book Cartoons by the World's Greatest Cartoonists. He describes the book as both an "exuberant collection of cartoons" and "an enthusiastic love letter to books and bookstores."
Puttin' on the Dog and Gettin' Bit (04-07-19): In Barbara Taylor Sanders' newest book, Puttin' on the Dog and Gettin' Bit, she "pokes fun at party poopers, cooking disasters, entertaining mishaps, over indulgence, diet failures, senior moments and never measuring up to Martha Stewart, not matter how hard you try."
Maybe Kevin (04-02-19): Brian Kiley, head monologue writer for Conan O'Brien, has published his second novel, Maybe Kevin (HumorOutcasts Press). He's also the author of The Astounding Misadventures of Rory Collins. He has been nominated for 16 Emmy Awards and he is the winner of the 2007 Emmy Award for Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series.
Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault (03-31-19): For 34 years, Cathy Guisewite bonded with millions of women and their mothers "in our dating, dieting and dreaming years" through her popular, iconic comic strip "Cathy," which appeared in 1,400 newspapers at its peak. With the publication of Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault: Essays From the Grown-Up Years, she fulfills her lifelong dream "to express more than what could fit into the boxes of a comic strip."
Table Talk (01-27-19): Canadian humorist Colleen Landry, author of Miss Nackawic Meets Midlife, has teamed with Chris Helgason on a new cartoon strip, "Table Talk." "We hope to post weekly and share insights into the life and delusional mind of a middle-aged woman searching for the big time (Miss World obviously!!)," she says.
Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law: A Practical Handbook (01-22-19): Linda Tashbook describes her new book, Family Guide to Mental Illness and the Law: A Practical Handbook, as "a clear and handy reflection of real issues that families deal with - just as Erma Bombeck's columns were. It explains common legal issues in plain English and demonstrates how families can help a loved one with mental illness to navigate through legal situations.

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop

Workshop publishing archive

Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop