On November 7, 2005, PublishAmerica, LLC released Allen Parker's second book, "A Mouse Among Us, and other critters". Known for his off beat humor and wit, he has delivered another of his trademark short story collections aimed at everyone’s funny bone.
Allen Parker is a native of Virginia. He resides in Chesterfield County in the central park of the state with his wife and son. His use of local traditions, language, and locations add a realistic flavor to the book's setting. His characters are molded from the red clay that inhabits much of Virginia.
When asked what the key elements develop his brand of humor, Parker suggested that it was the small part of each of us in the characters. He suggested that there was a little piece of the accident-prone Chester in every person. We could laugh at the straw man that really represented our own failings.
"A Mouse Among Us" is a continuation of his successful first effort, "Nudist Among Us", starring the ever clumsy Chester, his lovely wife Karalyn, and their faithful son, Ajay. His mixture of poems, letters, and stories breaks away from the traditional short story volumes and allows the reader a variety of venues to receive his brand of slap-stick humor.
In "Nudist Among Us", Chester, Karalyn, and Ajay are a Christian nudist family living in a small conservative southern community. The interaction between these two worlds develops friction of the funny kind. Sparks and laughs are generated by the mixture of these to elements. A Mouse Among Us continues this storyline, but with the addition of mice, dogs, alligators, and green pea soup.
Contained in the midst of the myriad of stories, letters and other bizarre writing is what the author describes as the shortest published poem, "Dogs!". Although disputed by some, the poem is a lively look at the common habits of dogs.
Released this month at a suggested retail price of $12.95, the book can be purchased from the publisher's web site, www.publishamerica.com or through most online bookstores. Further details on the book and ordering information can be found at www.publishedauthors.net/allenparker. Nudist Among Us is a PublishAmerica release, Nov. 2003. A Mouse Among Us is a PublishAmerica release, Nov. 2004.