Nothing Funny About an Old Man Laughing

About the Book

Easy money lures eight desperate people into an alliance with a wise guy on the make, his flaky girlfriend and his vengeance-seeking uncle.  Lurking into this scheme are:  Avo Hawkins, a disabled forester with an axe to grind; Sophy Brophy, lonely, vulnerable and still seeking Miss Right; and Jax Ropes, poet, cafe owner with a family who gets hunger pains.  Mix in Jax’ Uncle, Russell Borskee, ruined in the great sheet metal panic of 1996 and still in mourning; Rashad and Clytee Horninsh, snatch and grab artists with big score ambitions; Lyla Lawrence, former musical comedy star trying to put on a show; Hilda Westerberg, in love with live theater and Tony Schemetti, who has a love of his own; and Aiden Dwellinger, always in his dwelling, plotting the downfall of a former partner.  “Uncle, we’re going to scalp him one hair at a time,” Tony promises, and then sets out to do it.  Unfortunately for him, his crew have their own agendas which collide with his, creating a nifty mix of high-kicking comedy and drama that redefines the group’s battlecry:  “We’re not bathing.”

In the second story, attorney David Mims thinks he can cross a gangster and get away with it.  How wrong he is makes for a compelling drama.  By the time Mims “Gets It Right”, it’s too late.

An actor’s odyssey from childhood through years of wandering before he reaches stardom is a unique story based on fact.  Set against the backdrop of the Depression, World War Two and TV’s early years, “Eric Without Laughter” begins with an encounter between protagonist, his abuse father and the father’s .38 caliber revolver, and ends in the Peruvian jungle.

In “Family Money” a gambler encounters more than he bargained for in a gin rummy game that becomes a mission of mercy and betrayal.  

What the critics have said about Moskovitz’s “Welcome to Hellville”:  “This short story collection captures the spirit and tempo of my town.”  Sid Sewell, Editor and Publisher, Duseberg Guide and Tribune.

“Short stories of this caliber deserve to be widely read, appreciated and enjoyed.”  David Blankenboat, reviewer 98 Point Wonderful-FM, Duseberg’s leading FM station.

“Welcome to Hellville” was published by Xlibris and is available at:  www.x-libris.com or from Amazon.com, Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Jack Moskovitz

4161 Wakeley St.

Omaha, NE 68131

About the Author

Former disk jockey, retired civil servant, life-long Nebraska resident, Jack Moskovitz also fled Duseberg, and now lives happily in Omaha with his: “chubby tummy” for whom this short story collection is dedicated.