Calder's Last Gasp
Publisher: Tucumcari Press
Published: May 30, 2023
ISBN-13: 9780939122691
Description: Birdman of Tucson

Too often (professionally-written) back cover blurbs are annoyingly deceptive. The peeps who are paid to compose these bait & switch “gems” (that’s exactly what they are), have no qualms about offending the potential reader’s intelligence (so long as said blurb sells books). You won’t find that here. Boiled down, this is what the tale entails. 

Calder, a middle-aged man living by himself, gives his new tv set away (to break free of his addiction to it). In an effort to fill the void in his humble digs he decides to pick up a parrot at the local pet store. Instead of the bonding that he was receptive to and expected to take place, his life is turned into a certified nightmare. 

Following a month’s worth of assaults by this evil freaking “lovebird,” he takes it back to the shop, but then inexplicably risks life and limb to recover it. 

Will he or won’t he? And should he get it back, will the protagonist find himself emitting his last gasp as a result? The heartbreaking denouement awaits between the covers.