Chuck Ayers – författare

He blusters and grumbles. He rants and raves. He tries to outgun the school kids chasing after the bus on his route.  But in his heart, Ed Crankshaft has a decent streak a mile wide. Patiently explaining death to his grandson Max. Comforting his friend Ralph as Ralph''s wife descends into Alzheimer''s. Thrusting flowers and candy at his son-in-law on a nearly forgotten wedding anniversary. The star of the hit comic strip Crankshaft is a gentle soul stuck in a cantankerous mood.With a supporting cast that includes Ed''s two daughters, Chris and Pam; Pam''s husband, Jeff; and their kids, Max and Mindy, Crankshaft appeals to families everywhere who steadfastly deal with intergenerational cares and conflicts. As one critic said: "Crankshaft is a witty, thoughtful commentary on the trials and tribulations of today''s senior citizens." But, of course, Crankshaft is so much more. The strip''s approach to Alzheimer''s generated countless letters and e-mails, as did Crankshaft''s near-death illness. Hilarious and clever, honest and moving, Crankshaft both keeps readers laughing at the curmudgeon''s pranks and pondering life''s real meaning in this collection, Your Favorite...Crab Cakes! It''s a balancing act that''s rarely attempted in the comics—and with Crankshaft, it works admirably.

"Stories told in comic strips aren''t generally intended to be book-length narratives, but, on occasion, a story rises above the rest of the work and marks itself as something special. [Roses in December] is one of those stories." - from the Preface

Since its debut in 1987, Crankshaft has engendered reader loyalty and affection with its wry wit, engaging storylines, and identifiable characters. Created by Tom Batiuk and drawn by Chuck Ayers, the strip offers plenty of humor but also tackles serious issues like adult literacy, school violence, and the challenges of aging.

Roses in December is a touching collection of two Crankshaft storylines of characters who find themselves dealing with the incurable condition of Alzheimer''s disease. First, Ed Crankshaft''s best friend Ralph is confronted with the trauma of his wife Helen''s worsening Alzheimer''s. He never knows if the love of his life will recognize him on those days that he visits her at Sunny Days Nursing Home. Ralph and Helen''s love story unfolds with humor and heartbreak.

In the second story arc, Crankshaft''s neighbor Lucy McKenzie also exhibits symptoms of Alzheimer''s and eventually is moved to Sunny Days Nursing Home by her sister Lillian. The fourteenyear struggles of Lucy, Helen, and their loved ones are elegantly told, preserving their dignity and reminding us that sometimes a sense of humor can be our greatest possession during life''s trials.

Through the deceptively simple medium of the daily comic strip, Tom Batiuk and Chuck Ayers address the profound effects of Alzheimer''s disease in a thoughtful and occasionally humorous way. Roses in December includes a resource guide for caregivers, patients, and practitioners.