FICTION
Racism in America: Past, Present, and Future
Two life-long friends from New York—whose love for each other is threatened by their growing political differences—visit the Deep South.
Don’t Ask Her Why
Simmering racial tensions—deep in the background of their relationship—boil over when a jealous boyfriend pulls off the bed-sheets to determine if an infidelity has, in fact, occurred.
Lions in the Bronx
When the wife of a New York City cop is honored by Barack Obama for her community work, the couple discovers something surprising about the nature of their love—and the role of fear in their lives.
Moments of Doubt
A darkly comic coming-of-age novel about a young tennis pro’s entanglement with three women—one he’s supposed to marry, one he wants to marry, and one whose already married to a Jewish gangster.
Brothers
In a crowded deli in mid-town Manhattan, two brothers discuss their current struggles with life, love, and the difference between corned beef and pastrami.
Lovers and Heroes
Committed to living with a “higher consciousness,” a young couple wonders if their intense sexual connection embodies their love for each other—or is a substitute for it.
Victor and Violet
An African-American man deeply involved in New York City’s drug underworld is determined to give his sister a better life, which means forbidding her relationship with a “boy on the block.”
Released
An African-American woman struggling to leave her troubled past behind is about to marry a wealthy white man when she learns that her former boyfriend—a drug-dealer from the old neighborhood—is out of prison. And wants to see her.
The View from Above
An older brother injured in a bomb blast at a radio station in Nicaragua returns home to Chicago, where he must face his brother living with the woman he still loves. (Play excerpt)
Wherrrre’s Johnny…?
A journalist tries to write a profile about a retired talk show host who has disappeared from public life to reconnect with his high school sweetheart.
The Analysis of a Superhero
Shortly after 9/11, a disoriented Clark Kent reveals his true identity while seeking treatment from a psychoanalyst, resulting in profound changes for both the doctor and patient.
I and Thou
Enthralled by the philosophy of Martin Buber, two college students struggle with their cultural differences, their undeniable lust, and their budding love.
HUMOR & SATIRE
Assisted Living
When his mother refuses to move into a facility for the elderly, a middle-aged man decides he would like to live there himself.
Diagnosis of a Teenager
Two wealthy parents who want to know “what the hell’s wrong now?” take their teenage son to a therapist offering psycho-educational testing—and party entertainment.
Panic
When her teenage daughter buys her a smartphone, a nervous mom downloads an app that promises “to sense problems in the home before they occur.”
Thank You for Calling
Featuring an “interactive database with up-to-date information from the world’s most renowned experts in everything,” a fully automated suicide prevention hotline tries to save the life of a young woman struggling with technology.
Love Conquers All
A man who identifies as a woman falls in love with a woman who identifies as a dog, and their trans-gender/trans-species relationship thrives.
My GPS, My Love
Grateful that he finally knows the direction of his life, a young man decides he wants to marry his global positioning system.
MEMOIR & ESSAY
Love and Money
A son realizes—too late—the true significance of money, and how much his father loved him.
The Art of Failing
An old Jewish story reveals the deeper meaning of a New Yorker article published by the biographer of Saul Bellow.
The Language of Men
On the day of his father-in-law’s funeral, a young man hopes to overcome their years of estrangement by holding an imaginary conversation sparked by a book on the shelf in the dead man’s bedroom.
Police Shootings In Perspective
Effective criminal justice reform should focus on issues other than the number of police shootings, which are far fewer than many civilians think.
Fight Racism, Improve Policing: Volunteer with the NYPD
A teacher urges “antiracist progressives” to heal the divide between police and civilians by volunteering to be an auxiliary officer. (PDF above; online journal here).
© Walter B. Levis