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Healthcare Workers are the Real Heroes
Alone At The Hospital follows a cantankerous eighty-year-old as he wisecracks his way through doctors, nurses, hospital gowns, procedures, questionable meals, unwanted visitors, and two very long days away from home. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As I continue with the George Ivers series, I thought how humorous it would be to put this character who is a cross between Archie Bunker, Fred Flintstone and Mr. Magoo in a hospital where he’d undergo a variety of procedures and have humorous conflicts with the hospital staff.
Beneath the comedy, the book explores dignity, independence, family, gratitude, and accepting care. Which of those themes became most important to you as the story developed?
I would say independence as George valued being the one in charge, but found himself being directed by the hospital staff – causing him much angst.
Doctors and nurses are frequently on the receiving end of George’s complaints, yet the novel ultimately treats healthcare workers with considerable affection. What did you hope to convey about the people working behind the humor of hospital life?
Our healthcare workers are real heroes in the way they care for patients. My experiences have all been positive, and I wanted to recognize them by dedicating this book to them.
Is this the end of George Ivers’s adventures, or could his particular talent for turning ordinary life into chaos bring him back for another story?
This is the third book in the George Ivers series. They are fun to write and I am planning on more. Maybe a Halloween book with George. I only can imagine what he would get into. LOL
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When cantankerous eighty-year-old George Ivers is rushed to the hospital, he expects a quick trip home. Instead, he finds himself admitted and wisecracking his way through a number of unwanted medical procedures while battling wits with the doctors and nurses.
George, who’s part Archie Bunker, Fred Flintstone and Mr. Magoo, must also survive uninvited visits from quirky family members and friends whose attempts to help only make matters hilariously worse.
You’ll laugh at George’s predicaments, smile at the kindness of those who care for him, and perhaps even see a little of yourself in his unforgettable journey. Warm, witty, and wonderfully relatable, Alone At The Hospital is a celebration of the remarkable healthcare professionals who care for us when we need them most and shows humor can be the best prescription.
Alone At The Hospital
Bob Adamov’s Alone At The Hospital is a lighthearted comic novel centered on George Ivers, an 80-year-old Southport, North Carolina resident whose determination to handle a simple household task sends him from a wobbly stepladder to a hospital bed. George’s fall while inspecting a smoke alarm becomes the starting point for an increasingly eventful stay filled with examinations, procedures, nurses, doctors, unexpected visitors, and repeated assaults on his sense of dignity. Adamov establishes George quickly as stubborn, sarcastic, and convinced of his own competence, even when the evidence points in another direction. His explanation after falling, “I meant to do that,” captures the combination of pride and humor that defines him throughout the novel.
Much of the book’s energy comes from George’s running commentary on hospital life. Medical procedures that could otherwise make the story uncomfortable or clinical become opportunities for jokes, exaggerated comparisons, and verbal sparring with the people caring for him. His interactions with Nurse Retch are particularly important, since her stern efficiency gives George a strong personality to push against. The novel is highly episodic, moving from one test, meal, bathroom mishap, or interruption to the next, and Adamov relies heavily on dialogue to maintain its brisk pace. George’s complaints about gowns, hospital food, pain medication, medical equipment, and invasive procedures give the book the feel of an extended comic routine grounded in recognizable anxieties about being a patient.
The hospital stay also becomes a setting for a broader family comedy. Charlotte understands her husband well enough to challenge him without being overwhelmed by his dramatics, while Ethel and Bernie introduce an additional level of chaos. Bernie’s wheelchair excursion with George, Ethel’s exuberant visits, and several unfortunate encounters with hospital equipment expand the story beyond jokes about medicine and reveal how affection operates within this eccentric family. Beneath George’s irritation, his relationships are defined by familiarity and attachment. Even when he tries to remain hospitalized for an extra night simply to avoid Ethel and Bernie at home, his behavior feels less like rejection than another expression of the teasing, exasperated affection that shapes the family.
By the end, Alone At The Hospital brings its comedy back to the quieter concerns introduced at the beginning. George returns home to discover that his unsafe ladder has been replaced with a comically overprotected version, then settles outside with Charlotte and Snookums. That shift gives the book a warm conclusion and places the preceding mishaps in a larger context of aging, independence, family, gratitude, and care. George finally acknowledges, “We’re blessed,” a simple admission that carries weight after two days spent resisting nearly everyone trying to help him. Adamov has written a character-driven hospital comedy whose humor comes from one man’s stubborn refusal to surrender his personality, even when circumstances force him to surrender control. Its lasting appeal lies in the affection surrounding that stubbornness and in the recognition that being cared for can be frustrating, embarrassing, funny, and deeply meaningful at the same time.
Pages: 140 | ASIN : B0H8T8ZDJF
Odyssey in The Congo
Breakwater Bay follows a journalist who is headed to Madagascar for a diving vacation where he instead winds up sucked into a shady rescue mission in lawless Somalia. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
A video popped up on YouTube about a pushboat pushing 6 barges up the Congo River with 300 Congolese living in a shantytown aboard the barges. It captured my interest and I found myself researching The Congo for a possible story. It just took off from there.
How did you balance the action scenes with the story elements and still keep a fast pace in the story?
This book was a different style for me. It was more about the journey and the characters encountered on that journey. It was an odyssey in The Congo and beyond. I tend to write fast-paced stories, so it was easy for me to balance the elements.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Yes. The pushboats and barges on the Congo River were intriguing as well as the use of child slave labor in the illegal diamond mines. I also wanted the book to create awareness of this sad/abusive situation.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Emerson Moore and the direction of the next book?
I’m developing a book that’s centered on the Lake Erie islands. It’s in the early stages. I will be releasing Not Alone At Home, a humourous Thanksgiving tale, this fall. It’s a sequel to the successful Alone At Home. I’m currently writing a romantic mystery set in Southport, NC. It will be released next spring.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Investigative journalist Emerson Moore thought he was headed for sun-soaked relaxation on a diving trip to Madagascar. But when he crosses paths with a smooth-talking, down-and-out British reporter, everything changes. Sucked into a shady rescue mission in lawless Somalia with his old friend “Mad Dog” Adams, Moore soon finds himself deep in the heart of the African continent—on a journey far more dangerous than he ever imagined.
From skirmishes with Congolese militias to a harrowing expedition up the treacherous Congo River, Moore and his crew dodge corrupt security forces and bloodthirsty bandits. The deeper they go, the darker the secrets become—until they uncover a clandestine diamond operation near Kisangani that could shatter lives and fortunes.
As the chase takes them from the jungle shadows to the polished corridors of Antwerp, Moore discovers a chilling link between the illicit diamond trade and a powerful U.S. real estate empire. And when violence erupts back home in Put-in-Bay and Chincoteague Island, Moore must confront the terrifying truth before chaos spreads—and more blood is spilled.
High-octane, globe-trotting, and relentlessly thrilling, this electrifying adventure grips you from the first page to the last, perfect for fans of Nelson DeMille, Clive Cussler, and Brad Thor.
Breakwater Bay
Breakwater Bay throws you headfirst into an old-school, high-stakes adventure with plenty of attitude and grit. It kicks off with a mysterious body found in the trunk of a stolen Camaro, and then quickly pulls back the curtain to reveal a tangled backstory involving a globe-trotting investigative reporter, shady characters, hidden agendas, and some very sketchy rescue missions. The story shifts between Lake Erie and far-flung places like Madagascar and Somalia, where a journalist named Emerson Moore finds himself (once again) in way over his head. Alongside his buddy, the rough-and-ready Mad Dog Adams, Moore takes on everything from Somali pirates to drunken Brits with questionable motives.
Honestly, one of the first things that grabbed me was the pacing. Bob Adamov wastes zero time—Chapter 1 has a dead body in a trunk. And just a few pages later, we’re in Madagascar watching Moore and Adams get dragged into a so-called “rescue” mission that sounds more like a barroom tall tale than something you’d actually sign up for. The dialogue between characters—especially the dry, sarcastic banter between Moore and Adams—is a real treat.
Now, don’t get me wrong—this book is a total popcorn read. But what makes it rise above the average thriller is Adamov’s knack for creating vivid settings. He doesn’t bog it down with flowery prose—he just drops you in and lets the mood soak into your skin. That said, the story does flirt with chaos at times. When Moore and Adams agree to help a washed-up British reporter rescue a supposedly kidnapped teen, I couldn’t decide if I should roll my eyes or buckle up. Turns out, it was both. The whole setup was a con, but that twist made me laugh more than groan.
Gordy, the Brit. He’s infuriating. He lies, manipulates, and nearly gets everyone killed in Mogadishu. I wanted to throw him overboard right alongside Adams, who threatens just that at least twice. Still, I gotta admit, Gordy adds a touch of tragic comedy to the whole ride. The dude’s a mess, and maybe that’s the point. His wild, unreliable energy keeps things unpredictable, even if you spend half the book yelling at him in your head.
Breakwater Bay is one of those books you read for the ride. It’s for people who like their thrillers with exotic backdrops, lots of action, a sprinkle of absurdity, and characters who feel like your uncle’s crazy fishing buddies. It’s part mystery, part buddy comedy, part “what-could-possibly-go-wrong?” travelogue. If you’re a fan of Clive Cussler, or if you just want to kick back and follow a fast-talking reporter into mayhem, this one’s got your name on it.
Pages: 288 | ASIN : B0F2GG7LJ8
Archie Bunker, Fred Flinstone, and Mr. Magoo
Alone at Home follows an elderly man’s solo escapades and everyday misadventures while his wife is away, leaving him with just her cat for company. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I wanted to write another story outside of my mystery/adventure series. Being a fan of Home Alone, I thought a senior citizen version would be interesting, especially if I could craft a character who was a blend of Archie Bunker, Fred Flinstone and bumbling Mr. Magoo. I love cats and decided to center a relationship around conflict with the cat, the nerighboe’s 8-year-old grandson and a couple of well-meaning, but intrusive neighbors. It’s a hilarious romp in the beginning of the book, leading up to Christmas Eve when it turns serious.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Relationships and a haunting memory that contributed to the main character’s grumpiness. The actual twist takes place on Christmas Eve when it changes to a story of redemption.
This is a fun and entertaining novel. Did you have fun writing it?
This was an enjoyable book to write as I drew on real life, humorous experiences from friends and relatives as well as my own clumsiness. My own interactions with my grandsons made their way into the book.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Breakwater Bay will be out this spring. It’s a mystery/adventure primarily set in The Congo. Filled with peril, our protagonist, an investigative reporter, finds himself teamed up with an ex-Navy SEAL and a slippery-tongued British reporter as they fight disaster at every turn while trying to investigate a dark secret.
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His days are filled with hilarious mishaps, from a battle of wits with a cheeky seagull to the relentless interruptions by neighbors. George’s quest for peace is perpetually sabotaged by the precocious grandson of the lady next door among other uproarious incidents.
“Alone At Home” is a heartwarming story of redemption. As George grapples with a haunting memory, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery. It’s a Christmas classic in the making, peppered with wit, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Alone At Home
Bob Adamov’s Alone at Home is a delightful and heartwarming story that combines humor, nostalgia, and everyday misadventures into a tale of an elderly man’s solo escapades while his wife is away. Set in the charming, oak-lined streets of Southport, North Carolina, the book captures the small-town spirit and a protagonist’s stubborn yet endearing quest for independence. George Ivers, the crotchety octogenarian left to his own devices, inadvertently stumbles through a series of hilarious situations that highlight his aversion to change and his begrudging love for his wife’s cat, Snookums.
One thing I loved about this book is its sheer ability to make me laugh out loud. The scene where George inflates an old pool, only to lose a battle of wits against a smug seagull, had me grinning from ear to ear. It’s so relatable; we’ve all had those moments where something as simple as a bird or broken chair becomes an unexpected foe. The physical comedy in these scenes is top-notch, and Adamov’s writing really brings it to life. George’s antics with his mischievous neighbor’s grandson, Hudson, further add to the humor, especially the “brain freeze” ice cream race. These moments felt both absurd and believable—a testament to Adamov’s skillful depiction of everyday chaos.
The writing captures not only humor but also a sense of melancholy. Beneath George’s gruff demeanor lies a man grappling with aging and longing for his past vitality. It’s these tender moments that make George more than just a comical old man; they make him deeply human. Adamov’s choice to weave humor with vulnerability is brilliant, making the story much richer. It’s impossible not to sympathize with George, even when he’s scheming against the cat or his noisy neighbors.
I’d recommend Alone at Home to anyone who loves character-driven, slice-of-life stories filled with humor and heart. It’s a light, enjoyable read that reminds us to find laughter in life’s absurdities and appreciate the quirks of those we hold dear. For anyone who’s ever dealt with an unruly pet or meddlesome neighbor, this book is a must-read.
Pages: 124 | ASIN : B0DP1GQY47
