The Shoeman Curse: A Family. A Manuscript. A Midlife Meltdown.

By Chris A. MacKinnon

Dusty Shoeman is a man on the brink-of madness, of revelation, and maybe even of literary fame. A construction worker by day and secret novelist by night, Dusty battles the chaos of teenage children, a strained marriage, and neighbors who redefine the word "pretentious." His only escape? A hidden manuscript about Janet, a grieving single mother navigating a surreal therapy that leads her through five mysterious doors in search of healing after the loss of her son. But when Dusty's private novel accidentally gains public attention, his carefully compartmentalized life implodes. Will his family support his unexpected creative side-or will they laugh him back into the closet? As Dusty's fictional world collides with his real one, he must confront the question: Can a man rewrite his own story, or is he doomed to live under the Shoeman Curse forever? With equal parts humor and heartache, The Shoeman Curse is a dramedy about family, failure, and the fragile art of starting over. Perfect for readers who love their laughs laced with tears, this novel-within-a-novel delivers a poignant punch that lingers long after the final page.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1069863750
• ISBN13: 9781069863751
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Chris A. MacKinnon
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"