Andrew Armstrong was born and raised in a small town in upstate New York. He has been both a journalist and public relations practitioner. He is dedicating his website to the memory of his father and mother, William and Ellen Armstrong, “Without whom I would be nothing, literally as well as figuratively.”
Books for Download
Rapunzel Saves the World
Who is Rapunzel? She is -- according to the cat herself -- a 3500-year-old feline, originally from Egypt, but now living in a New Jersey town with her new owner, Emily Ellenbogen. Emily is 11 years old, an only child, slightly spoiled and impatient, who sometimes needs Rapunzel to set her straight. Together they and a streetwise Egyptian boy named Farish Fanoush – also known as Double F -- use the Magic Mouse of Imhotep to rescue earth from a global catastrophe. ‘Rapunzel Saves the World’ is both exciting and amusing, and we invite you to enter its pages.
Digital Download - $1.50
The Vanishing
The creator of this book is also pleased to offer a mystery, ‘The Vanishing.’ It concerns the real-life disappearance of the American poster artist Ethel Reed, who went to Ireland in 1898 and wasn’t seen or heard from after that. In my story Ethel Reed’s uncle hires a young Harvard professor, an Indiana Jones type named Charles Corbin, to find out what happened to his niece. Romance and adventure – and a solution – ensue. We’re sure you’ll enjoy this book as well.
Digital Download - $1.50
Cartoons
Andrew Armstrong, author of ‘Rapunzel Saves the World’ and other works is also an artist/cartoonist, with more than one hundred cartoon sales to magazines, including Reader’s Digest, Parade, Better Homes and Gardens and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Featured below are 20 of what he considers to be his funniest efforts – enjoy!
Short Stories
Although Andrew Armstrong enjoys writing about magical cats and disappearing artists, his first and greatest love remains the short story. He has sold stories to Golf Digest, Catholic Digest, The Golfer and Woman’s World (mini-mysteries), and another story, ‘The Damsel and the Dragon,’ recently appeared in an online publication, October Hill. The subject manner of his stories runs the gamut from fantasies to comedies to drama. Some of what he considers to be his best work appears below.
Bastet - It was the marriage counselor who had suggested they go to Egypt. “You’ve been to Paris, London, Rome....Hawaii too, I think you said.” Barbara Craig nodded. “Why not Egypt, the land of the pharaohs and the sphinx? Ride a camel, cruise the Nile, see Cairo. You might fall in love all over again.”
Not likely, thought Barbara; we’re bored and.....READ MORE
Keeper of the Sun - What I am about to tell you contradicts natural law, but what, after all, is natural law? Just the present limits of our understanding. I have led a life not much different.....READ MORE
The Damsel and the Dragon - I’d gone to the public library to check my email, and was surprised to find, on the sign-in sheet, the names of Sister Verhoff and Sister Edwards....READ MORE
The House on Forever Street - Something was wrong, so terribly wrong: where were his golf trophies? For that matter, where was the chest of drawers they rested on? And his bookcase, and his Guinness beer glass? More troubling.....READ MORE
Framed - Where to?” asked Sergeant James Mincher as he slid into the driver’s seat of the squad car. “The Hitchcock Art Museum,” replied Detective Antoinette.....READ MORE
Five Million to One - It was the kind of item the Associated Press picks up and sends out as a news brief: ‘Man Loses Control of Car, Kills Uncle in Head-on Collision.’ And all across the country husbands and wives read it to each other over breakfast.....READ MORE
Foursome - She swiped her Metrocard in the turnstile and pressed cautiously against the restraining bar, half expecting it to jam (it had done so once, leaving a large bruise on her thigh)....READ MORE
Witchina (for the younger set) - Ask Bridget Batson if she believes in ghosts, werewolves or vampires and she’ll say, “Absolutely not.” Ask her if she believes in witches, and you may get a different answer....READ MORE
Poems
Andrew Armstrong, author of ‘Rapunzel Saves the World’ and ‘The Vanishing’ has twice won regional poetry contests, and his poem, ‘What Would Earth Be,’ was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by the editors of October Hill magazine. That poem and others can be found below.
What would Earth Be? What would earth be, without the moon to keep it company? And what would man see, without the moon for measurement?
The stars are distant and unknowable; the earth too close, too familiar.
The moon in its fullness is geometrical....READ MORE
Bat in the House How did you get in, and how will you get out?
Quite rude of you to intrude and fly about
Flinging your shadow against the white walls,
Exploring every room, acrobatics in the hall.
Yet I frightened you more than you ....READ MORE
Voyager They thought it was an accident, And took it as a tragedy
But the balloon left my hand because I wanted it to.
No silliness about giving it its freedom,
It just seemed the right moment to let go
The children were upset; they didn’t realize...…READ MORE
Commuters The railroad station, fast in the foggy arms of autumn, Looms like salvation to these bundled-up pilgrims.
The smallest of talk, and then silence; steaming coffee cups in hand,
They watch the sun play peek-a-boo with the horizon...….READ MORE
Ice Walking in March Ice is thinnest where ice begins, near shore, and here ice first gives up its grudging attachment to the land, breaking with finality behind me
The ice, though wide, feels as skinny as a tightrope,...….READ MORE
The Two Bridges This bridge was built by dead men’s hands
And on a mint-green day in spring
Phantom masons have returned
To shout and swear and sing
And wielding ghostly trowels …… READ MORE
To Robert Burns You Highland bards give me a pain,
With your ‘maun,’ and ‘lave,’ and daft ‘thy-lane.’
While you ponder, “What’s the reason?”
It’s a fact my tail is freezin’
‘tis true it was a drafty home,
But a mouse can’t live inside a poem.....READ MORE