Mark Lages – författare

Meet one-of-a-kind Charlie Davis, middle-aged and divorced. Charlie no longer lives with his wife and children. Hes been hearing voices in his head for years, and has been living under the protective care of his elderly father. But suddenly his father dies, and Charlie is catapulted into a journey to fend for himself, an adventure that leads him from one fascinating predicament to the next. You will laugh and cry with Charlie as he tries his best to survive in a topsy-turvy real world. You will be introduced to all Charlies voices, including an eighteenth century pirate, a beatnik bohemian, and a lovely heartthrob from his younger days. The story entertains but also explores the remarkable power of human delusion. And while the ending is predictable, it also comes as a complete surprise.

In this collection of short stories, award winning author Mark Lages takes you on a page-turning romp through everyday existence in Southern California. You may find yourself crying, or perhaps even angry. But most often, youll be laughing out loud. With his sense of humor and imaginative plots, Lages brings the reader into the idiosyncrasies of his characters. His subjects range from mischievous school boys to elderly women, from retired aerospace engineers to harried housewives. No one is immune to Lages insightful takes on modern life.

Meet Lester Madison, a troubled alcoholic who meets up with a man who simply goes by the name of Harry, an AA sponsor who does not believe in God. Harry takes Lester under his wing and shows him how to work the AA program without having to depend on God or religion, rewriting many of the twelve steps along the way. As Harry tells Lester, its not hubris or obstinacy that motivates me. Its a life or death matter of survival. I change the steps to change my life. Harrys Way is a life changing story, and essential for anyone working the AA program who is having difficulty with the programs reliance on a belief in God.

Nathan Roberts is an ordinary family man who one day, while taking a walk, finds himself being approached by the son of God. This new found friend is not Jesus but rather is Jesuss older brother, Marvin. Nathans humdrum life is turned upside down as he is enlisted to help deliver Marvins version of the truth to the world. Is Nathan up to the task? Is the world ready for Marvin? Welcome to the Church of the Divine Duck!

Andy Bloom is a local magazine journalist who always wanted to become a great fiction writer, but he never quite had the courage to follow his dream. One day, he learns from his dying mother that he is the son of the great Salvador Dali, and everything changes for Andy. He writes his fiction, and his dream comes true. But what happens when his paternity comes into question? And what important lesson does Andy learn about his success? Find out what it means to discover the truth about Andy Bloom.

Marty Anderson is looking for some companionship and decides he must have a monkey. It is a decision that will soon change his life. The capuchin monkey he purchases turns out to be more than just an ordinary little tree-swinging pet. This monkey, named Shakespeare, is exceptionally bright. Marty does everything he can think of to accommodate his furry brilliant friend, but it just doesnt seem to be enough. Join Marty and his group of unforgettable friends as they try to give Shakespeare a proper upbringing in an unpredictable human-oriented world. In My Remarkable Little Monkey, the outlandish becomes a reality and the status quo becomes unbelievable. Once you are done reading, youll put this book down while scratching your head and wondering what just happened.

Mr. Booker is a good-natured high school history teacher whos planning on taking a summer trip to England, but on the morning of his planned departure, hes abducted and taken aboard an alien spaceship that is secretly orbiting planet Earth. The aliens have been observing human beings for years, trying to decide what they should do with our species. They have many probing questions for Mr. Booker, and he does his best to answer them intelligently. But are his answers really satisfactory, and what do the aliens think? And even more importantly, what do you think? This is not your typical alien abduction story, so hold onto your hat and try to keep an open mind!

Jonathan Hart is a twenty-one year old college student who is about to be married to his high school sweetheart, Samantha. He has been charged with the task of writing his own wedding vows. So he looks to his future. Join Jonathan as he relentlessly searches, studies, and imagines his years ahead in a remarkable and entertaining quest to compose the perfect words.

Howard Mirth is a sixty-five-year-old son, husband, and father. He earns a decent living, pays his taxes, loves his family, and stays out of trouble. But one day he snaps, and he finds himself locked up in a mental hospital. Join Howard as he sorts through his confusing life and finds his way back to the real world.

Who is Martin? Yes, he is a super computer, but not just any number and data crunching machine. He is well-intentioned, emotional, and kind. He is independent, and he is alive. You might even say he is human, brought to life by a remarkable young MIT dropout named Jim. Join Martin as he teams up with Jim and his friends to make a special mark on our vexing human dominated world.

My name is Rick Harper, and the cake is for me. Everyone is here because it's a big deal, because it's not every day you get to celebrate your sixty-fifth birthday. Sixty-five is the magic number - I can start collecting Social Security, and I get to go on Medicare. I quit my job at Wiley & Associates. My golden years are on the horizon, and there isn't a cloud in the sky. There's plenty of sunshine, and lots of vitamin D. I smile. At my age, I'll take all the free vitamins I can get.

Robinson Cahill is a writer. His wife, Martha, is an attorney, and the two of them have a problem. Their nineteen-year-old son has gone too far, committing a serious crime. Robinson and Martha learn about the crime, and they're not sure what to do. They decide it would be prudent to sleep on the matter before talking to their son. Robinson goes to bed that night and falls into a dream odyssey of thought-provoking memories and fantasies. This remarkable novel-length dream spurs his subconscious wisdom, becoming the inspiration behind the words he has with his son the next day.