Reviews

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI
July 9, 2011

Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories

by Larry Moran

5.0 out of 5 stars

A thoughtful and captivating read, very highly

recommended

As your perceptions screw with you, it’s hard to decide what’s right and what’s wrong. “Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories” is a collection of short fiction from Larry Moran who provides a collection of stories of people taking unusual paths through life. From horror movie situations and impossible choices, to going too far to win the hearts and minds of others, disasters impossible to avert, and much more. “Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories” is a thoughtful and captivating read, very highly ecommended.

The Iron Mountain (MI) Daily News
May 16, 2011

Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories

All about Indiana from Larry Moran
By REGINA M. ANGELI – Books Writer

“Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories” is a collection of short stories by Larry Moran. (AuthorHouse, 338 pages, http://www.authorhouse.com)

The opening story is a heartwarming piece about a typical Hoosier high school boy’s fantasy of heroics on the basketball court in hopes of impressing the beautiful Donna Sandiwald. In a critical fourth quarter game against his team’s archival, his “hoop dreams” fall terribly short.

After a little diversion into the realm of the supernatural in “The Death of Sadie Wilson,” the author lightens things up with “The Mysteriously Missing Murder,” a humorous little piece about an ambitious crime fighting journalist, Brad Reilly, who attempts to solve a murder and rid his town of political corruption.

Readers of a certain age may spot elements of the bumbling news hound, Luther Heggs, the character played by Don Knotts in the movie “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken” in this yarn about a clueless investigative reporter.

“Sons” is a harrowing story about a father’s desperate life-or-death decision in the manner of “Sophie’s Choice” during a home invasion.

In the foreword, the author describes short stories as being the “desserts of literature” and his collection, “Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories,” will leave the reader ready for another course of stories from Larry Moran.

Bowie (MD) Blade
Friday, April 22, 2011 at 11:09 am

Hoosier daddy? Local author provides ‘tasty meal’ for readers

By JAKE LINGER
Staff Writer

“Short stories are the desserts of literature,” according to author Larry Moran. TheBowieresident recently released Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories, an endeavor originally not meant for bookstores and e-book readers.

Moran retired in 2004 from the federal government, and it was then that he decided to revisit some of the short stories he penned over the years, mostly meant to be put in book form for his children to enjoy. Now the book is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and it may be purchased in hard cover, paperback or e-edition.

“I love to write, I just love it,” said Moran, a former sports and crime reporter. “I wanted to make (this book) a tasty meal for the reader.”

Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories really has a little bit of something for every reader — humor, fantasy, suspense, mystery, mortality, science fiction, loss and betrayal.

The book begins with “Hoosier Hysteria,” a humorous story reminiscent of the 1980s TV show “Wonder Years.” In fact, if the reader listens intently, the sound of a narrator’s voice might be heard leading the tale along.

“I was actually a marginal athlete just like the character in the story,” said Moran. One of the funniest — and most embarrassing — moments of “Hoosier Hysteria” really happened to a young and charming Moran.

“The scene at the skating rink was actually a true story,” he admitted. “I actually did flip over a railing while trying to impress this girl with how fast I could skate.”

“The Mysteriously Missing Murder” pits an ambitious crime reporter against a town’s mayor. Judging from Moran’s write-what-you-know approach to his stories, the reader should expect to experience a little bit of the author’s life in the book.

“That reporter (in “The Mysteriously Missing Murder”) is basically me,” said Moran, who cited his favorite aspects of writing to be plot and character development. “A lot of stuff is based on real stories. I just try to make them more interesting.”

Moran’s writing career began early in life when he and his brother Howard would exchange stories and give each other feedback. He claims he has known since age 6 what he would do with his life, even if every so often he changed his mind on what career field he would pursue.

“I’ve changed my decision along the way,” said Moran, who first wanted to be a baseball player and then a baseball writer. “I always have a goal.”

“Loved Ones,” which could easily have been narrated by former “Twilight Zone” host Rod Serling, will leave the reader wondering how serious he or she might consider family. Imagine knowing your exact time of death, but not having family at bedside to wait out your final moments. The sci-fi twist of “Loved Ones” will surprise the reader, but it would be fair to caution that symbolism is the key to comprehending the final few paragraphs.

“The most important things in our lives are family and friends, and (the main character) came to that conclusion,” said Moran. In regards to the story’s ending, explained Moran, “hard-core science fiction readers may not like that story, but I was trying to go for an interesting twist, to have the reader think about their life and the things they have experienced in their life.”

The author’s foresight also bears mention. In his story “Next Time by Fire,” which was written in 1973 sans an update to include the BP oil spill from 2010, visions of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks onNew York Cityare evoked.

Moran crafted an intelligent and reader-indulging group of short stories and, for anyone who sifts through Hoosier Hysteria, Sons, and Other Stories, there is more from where those tales came. Because he had to choose from between 40 and 50 stories for inclusion in the book, Moran soon plans to begin a blog which will be dedicated to the art of writing, but will also give fans a chance to take in some of his other short stories.

Every author has some sort of knowledge, or advice, to impart on budding writers. Moran offered advice but not about how to write or even about what topics to confront.

“When I was a journalist,” said Moran, “there would be times I’d wake up at 2 in the morning and think, that would be a good idea for a column.”

So for future writers: “Write all those things down. Twenty years from now when you have more time, you’ll have” those ideas.

In addition to Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online, Moran’s book is available at http://www.authorhouse.com.