Introduction

My next collection of short stories, Punch Lines (Potential Books, 2022), is among other things an examination of various meanings and uses of comedy punch lines in our lives from the hilarious finish to the painful heartbreak or the political message. Punch Lines’ catchphrase is the thin line separating jokes and tears. My anthology is made up of examples of short stories that successfully balance that tightrope between jokes and tears. Punch Lines will be out later this year. Neither Mr. Gibbs nor I could resist an April 1st joke.