Announcement of the publication of "Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy" by Edward A. Novak III
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Teaser: “Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy”
The center held even as the bankruptcy notices were filed, and public-auction announcements published and some people in the United States of America were forced to undergo these life-wrenching events and went about the business of starting over again, just like people who get divorced or survive serious illness.
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Nectar of the Gods, Part 2
In 2024, the artform, described as a sculpture, is being brought to a new locale. @DMDZona is a celebration of the refreshing virtues of DMD as well as the beauty of our nation’s southwest desert, focused on Arizona.
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“Mad Men” Characters, Ranked
Drew Magary’s ranking got me to thinking about how to rank “Mad Men” characters using a methodology. I designed a spreadsheet filled with lots and lots of numbers. Using IMDB’s database, I culled the names of 94 characters. I then assigned each character a 1-5 point score (5=highest; 1=lowest; 0=not applicable).
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Top 100 Issues That Keep Me Awake at Night
At the height of the pandemic in 2021, I identified the Top 100 Issues that kept me awake at night. The list has been revised to reflect my post-pandemic state of neuroses and insecurity.
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Natalie Boland Novak 1934-2014
Passed away on January 17, 2014, Natalie Boland Novak, retired nurse, devoted wife of the late Edward A. Novak, Jr., M.D., of Potomac Falls, Va.; devoted mother of Edward A. Novak III, of Greenbelt, Md.; and cherished grandmother of Anna Novak of Camp Hill, Pa., and Katharine Natalie Novak Allgood of Harrisburg, Pa.
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About Those Postcards
For one year, I wrote and mailed a postcard to a list of people that grew number 35. In each postcard, I recounted something I heard, saw, thought, or otherwise experienced the previous day. Why? Learn more...
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Greenbelt National Park: Destruction and Resilience
Earlier today, I walked the Perimeter Trail in Greenbelt National Park and was struck by the extensive damage both along the trail and in the interior of the park.
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Teddy Kennedy at IKEA
In the hallway for the restroom, a normal-looking, angry suburban dad with gray, curly hair and wearing a power-blue rugby jersey passing in the opposite direction suddenly turned his attention to me and asked rather pointedly, “Would you be interested in portraying Teddy Kennedy in a movie?”
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Two Labels I Wish the Mainstream Media Would Stop Using
God bless the headline and chyron writers, journalists and editors, and political pundits and observers. You have difficult, complex jobs that are important for the smooth functioning of our democracy. Or republic. Whatevs. Also, bless your hearts.
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Ed Novak’s Harrisburg
On December 2, 2018, I performed a one-time only monologue, “Ed Novak’s Harrisburg” at Harrisburg Improv Theater. Thank you to Anna Novak and another member of the audience who shared video evidence of this performance.
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That Funny Feeling (Boomer Version)
A baby boomer's interpretation of Bo Burnham's ode to generational angst.
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Nectar of the Gods, Explained
"Nectar of the Gods" is a celebration of the refreshing virtues of Diet Mountain Dew as well as the beauty of our nation’s capital region.
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Christmas in the Room
Song by Sufjan Stevens. Performed by Third Ed Novak
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“Diet Mountain Dew” [Yet Another Version]
Diet mountain dew, baby, New York City Have you ever seen a girl so pretty? Do you think we'll be in love forever? Do you think we'll be in love?
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Goodbye, Pandemic Ed
As the pandemic hit the East Coast, my barber shop closed. At the same time, people began to improvise masks. I vowed not to cut my hair again until an efficacious vaccine was running through Dr. Fauci’s and my veins. I was able to amuse myself in many ways, among them my "art project": creating a monthly “Hair and Mask Update” on social media.
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God is a Middle-Aged Woman
“God is a Middle-Aged Woman” was originally recorded by Ezra Furman and the Harpoons in 2007. Ezra Furman was 21 years old. This song always astonished me, partly because of the youth of its composer and partly because of its depth and wisdom.
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Nobody Took Your America Away: Labor Day 2010
If your fair town cannot hold a parade this Labor Day, you can enjoy Greenbelt, Maryland's parade from 2010. What a celebration of all that we share. In the midst of everything, it's just a joyful reminder that no one took your America away. It's always been here, if you just open your eyes.
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Novak Agonistes: A Remembrance of Things Past
It was interesting to learn on New Year's Day in 2016 about a mobile phone app called 1 Second Everyday, which was invented by Cesar Kuriyama. This app allows you to record a 1-second video each day and create a mashup along a timeline: a week, a month, a season, or, in my case, the entire year of 2016.
Ed Novak Reads Excerpts from “The Coronavirus Chronicles”
Author Ed Novak reads excerpts from short stories collected in "The Coronavirus Chronicles."
How to Order “The Coronavirus Chronicles”
Kindle e-book from Amazon here (free with Kindle Unlimited!) Paperback from Amazon here. Paperback from Barnes & Noble here. Paper from Books-a-Million here. Overseas Booksellers Paperback in the United Kingdom from Waterstones here or Foyles here. Paperback in Australia from Booktopia here or Readings here. Paperback in Sweden from Academy Bookstore here. Paperback in Italy … Continue reading How to Order “The Coronavirus Chronicles”
Why I Ring the Revere Bell to Free DC
Six days after the federal takeover of DC, we began making nightly climbs up several flights of narrow, dimly lit stairs into the bell tower of All Souls Church to make noise. Our instrument is the Revere Bell, cast 200 years ago by Joseph Revere, the son of Paul Revere.
“The Coronavirus Chronicles” Captures Memories, Feelings of Pandemic in Eight Short Stories
From the author of Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy comes a collection of short stories exploring the effects of pandemic on everyday lives, the frustrations that lovers and friends navigate in their searches for fairytale endings, and the impact of time and memory on our perceptions of happiness.
How to Order “Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy”
How to buy "Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy"
About “Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy”
“Confessions of a Lapsed Altar Boy” is the generation-defining story of a baby boomer named Nathan Hale Plunkett who steadfastly believes that he will be successful, if only he can choose the path for his success and fight off the distractions of the women in his life.
Third Ed Novak 