Punk Party and Other Accounts of Mischief

A collection of stories that mix Christmas, diamond heists, Hollywood, and love—lost and found.

Set in 1984, Punk Party is the coming-of-age story of a man whose coming-of-age should have happened much sooner. His journey weaves together a Chevy Chevette, beer league hockey, a restaurant with a mouse problem, and a girl who is clearly out of his league. Bit Player chronicles a B-level television actor willing to do anything for film glory, and the agent who can make it happen—for the right price. The short fable, The Man Who Never Had an Original Idea, is the unfortunate account of a laborer whose foray into storytelling leads to a hilarious, but tragic, result. And finally, Johnny Sidney, Police Detective and Last Call at the Crusader Lounge: Two stories separated by thirty years, they recount the misfortunes of a one-armed police detective and his faithful partner, and the evil corporation that separates them both from what they care about the most.

Punk Party and Other Accounts of Mischief is available now.

Short Story | 16,000 Words | 2020

Part of the 2021 release, Punk Party and Other Accounts of Mischief.

Jake Keltner’s rise to fame would be spectacular. A brash, bright light in the firmament of Hollywood’s young leading men. Oscar’s golden light would shine upon him. Agents would kneel before him. Women would unashamedly throw themselves at him.

At least that’s the way Jake pictured it.

Now, after two years of bit parts and bad choices by an inept agent, Jake has had enough, and is taking control of his destiny. But what Jake Keltner is about to learn is that the only starring role he’ll ever attain is the one he plays in real life: the handsome, young hotshot doomed to sabotage a sure thing by taking an ill-advised shortcut to the top.

Short Story | 13,000 Words | 2019

Part of the 2021 release, Punk Party and Other Accounts of Mischief.

“Erin pulled a note from her pocket and dropped it in front of me. I unfolded it and my blood ran colder than the ice at a Blackhawks hockey game. Not that new United Center Arena ice, mind you. I’m talking about that old Chicago Stadium ice. Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita ice. I didn’t have to read word one. It was the handwriting. Handwriting I hadn’t seen for thirty-five years. The handwriting of my old partner, Johnny Sidney … the handwriting of a dead man.”

Novella | 42,000 words | 2019

Part of the 2021 release, Punk Party and Other Accounts of Mischief.

Set in 1984, Punk Party is the coming-of-age story of a man whose coming-of-age should have happened much sooner. His journey weaves together a Chevy Chevette, beer league hockey, a restaurant with a mouse problem, and a girl who is clearly out of his league. Some of it happened. A lot of it didn’t. Some of these people are real. But not entirely.