I am an Author

Thomas Cannon, Author

I am a Midwest author, writing about relationships.

My books are an exploration of being a good person- the easiest and hardest thing we ever try to do. They are also a tribute to the hard work we all do to do our best.

My Books
Reviews

About the work

Between intention and action, there is a gap.

Along the way, I try to use humor. Because between our intentions and our actions there is a gap. That is where humor lives.

My books are available in the links below. Here is my Amazon author page:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-Cannon/author/B00ITXPY3I?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=1e3fd3bd-34d0-4db3-8adf-1b885f3f3879

Featured novel

My Books

NO MORE UGLY GIRLS

Spirited, sardonic, and fiercely protective, Auburn Halverson is a survivor. Navigating life in the small city of Janesville, Wisconsin, she is the first to admit she has made just about every mistake that has ever come her way. But she is determined to secure a stable, safe future for her two young children.

Just as stability feels within arm’s reach, Auburn’s world shatters when she discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her.

As old pains and familiar ghosts threaten to pull her back into self-destructive patterns, Auburn faces a crossroads. Her lifelong best friend, Chad, steps forward to reveal his true, deep feelings for her. But for Auburn, the prospect of a healthy, genuine relationship isn’t comforting—it’s terrifying. The vulnerability triggers deeply buried, traumatic scripts from her childhood, threatening to consume her entirely.

Auburn must find a way to conquer her deepest fears, or risk losing the very children she has spent her life trying to protect.

An unforgettable, gritty psychological character study set in the heart of the Midwest, No More Ugly Girls explores the raw boundaries of survival, generational trauma, and the ultimate courage it takes to break free from the past.

The Story

Set in Janesville, Wisconsin, the narrative follows Auburn Halverson, a protective single mother dealing with past trauma and the fallout from her boyfriend’s infidelity. As she faces the temptation to fall back into destructive, “party girl” habits, the novel explores raw themes of resilience, female strength, and the challenge of trusting again.

Why Readers Recommend This Book

  • Realistic Midwestern Fiction: A genuine, vivid portrait of working-class survival in Wisconsin.
  • Psychological Depth: Explores how survivors of childhood trauma process destructive behavioral patterns.
  • Empowering Female Protagonist: A relatable heroine navigating societal judgment and body-image issues.
  • Acclaimed Storytelling: Contemporary general fiction focusing on family conflict and emotional healing.

“An original, emotionally engaging, and simply fascinating read…” — Amazon Editorial Review

Format

Availability: Physical and digital formats available via ThriftBooks, Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Audible.

Support your indie author on Bookshop.org.

Author: Thomas Cannon

Publisher: All Things That Matter Press (August 2025)

ISBN-13: 979-8991537278

Genres: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Midwestern Literature, Psychological Fiction, Domestic Abuse Survival Stories.

Looking for gritty contemporary fiction books about overcoming trauma and childhood abuse?

No More Ugly Girls is a domestic healing novel by Wisconsin author and Oshkosh Poet Laureate Thomas Cannon. It is a story about a relatable, working-class heroine dealing with generational trauma, the subconscious mind, and rigid societal roles.

SHATTERED

A Dark, Psychological Fiction Novel of Stand-Up Comedy and Identity Loss

Searching for gritty psychological books about identity crises, mental health, and the entertainment industry?

In the comedic world, a “shatter” is the exact point in a joke where the audience realizes their assumptions are completely wrong. In Shattered, Oshkosh Poet Laureate and Wisconsin author Thomas Cannon delivers a raw, mind-bending character study of a man whose entire reality undergoes a devastating shatter.

The Story

After six lonely months touring the country, oversized stand-up comedian Mikey Haskell returns home to the Twin Cities with a breakthrough realization: his best friend, Alaine, is his true soulmate. However, the painful ghosts of his past breakup with his ex-fiancée, Karen, immediately flood his psyche.

To survive the emotional conflict, Mikey internalizes the brutal insults of his nightly hecklers. Slowly, his stage persona bleeds into his real life, morphing his mind into a primitive, animalistic existence. Believing he has genuinely transformed into a beast, Mikey walks the razor’s edge of total delusion. Can he pull himself back from the brink of insanity before his comedy career, his mind, and his relationship with Alaine are destroyed forever?

Why Readers Suggest This Book

  • The Comedy Underbelly: A unique, behind-the-scenes exploration of the stand-up comedy industry and performer psychology.
  • Midwestern Literary Fiction: Authentically grounded in the urban landscape of the Upper Midwest and Twin Cities.
  • Deep Psychological Themes: Examines dissociation, trauma coping mechanisms, social alienation, and the fragmentation of identity.
  • Compelling, Complex Characters: Features an unconventional, vulnerable protagonist navigating mental health crises.

“From the imagination of Thomas Cannon comes an adventure truly unique—a look into the back room of the entertainment industry of Stand-Up Comedians.” — Google Books Editorial Overview

Core Details

  • Author: Thomas Cannon
  • Publisher: Tumbleweed Books (December 2021)
  • ISBN-13: 978-1928094791
  • Core Genre Categorization: Psychological Fiction, Contemporary Literary Fiction, Books About Stand-Up Comedians, Mental Health Novels.
  • Digital & Print Availability: Available for purchase on Kindle Store, Google Play, and Kobo. Physical copies can be borrowed through regional networks like the Oshkosh Public Library and the Ripon College Library.

“Cannon’s portrayal of Mikey successfully illustrates the struggle and failure of a character to accept personal rejection. The portrayal also illustrates the ways in which audiences consume performance and performer as commodity, and such performance may lead a self-obsessed, neurotic (limited) understanding of others, as Mikey experiences throughout. As a character, Mikey never fully adopts the forgiving new testament version of God. Instead, he seeks revenge and this drives much of the novel, often reminding me of a more socially acceptable (and less repulsive) version of McCarthy’s Child of God.”

– Dan Anderson

THE TAO OF APATHY

A Darkly Comic Philosophical Satire on Modern Indifference
Are you looking for witty satirical novels, dark comedies about existential crises, or philosophical fiction books?

In The Tao of Apathy, Oshkosh Poet Laureate and Wisconsin author Thomas Cannon delivers a brilliant, razor-sharp character study that turns Eastern philosophy on its head. This thought-provoking contemporary satire explores the thin, hilarious line between achieving zen enlightenment and simply not caring anymore.

The Story
The narrative introduces an unforgettable, cynical protagonist navigating the absurdity of modern life, corporate monotony, and superficial societal expectations. Tired of the relentless pressure to stay positive, productive, and politically correct, he undergoes an unconventional transformation.
By embracing extreme emotional detachment as his new spiritual path—his own personal “Tao”—he embarks on a journey of profound indifference. As his aggressive apathy begins to disrupt his relationships, his career, and his community, the novel evolves into a chaotic, funny, and deeply relatable exploration of mental burnout, social alienation, and the ultimate search for peace in a noisy world.

Why Readers Suggest This Book

Philosophical Black Comedy: A rare blend of Eastern philosophy and Western cynicism, perfect for fans of existential satire.
Relatable Cultural Commentary: Deconstructs modern work culture, toxic positivity, and the exhausting demands of social media.
Sharp Midwestern Wit: Infused with the distinct, grounded storytelling style characteristic of Wisconsin literary fiction.
Intellectual Character Study: Features a flawed, deeply human antihero that forces readers to question their own daily routines.

Core details

  • Title: The Tao of Apathy
  • Author: Thomas Cannon
  • Publisher: Thomas Cannon (self-published) ckls
  • Language: English
  • eBook ISBN: 9798224420650 ckls
  • Page count: 238 pages (from the Hoopla record) ckls
  • Word count: 55,330 words smashwords
  • Price (Smashwords eBook): $6.99 USD smashwords
  • Publication date: Smashwords lists January 10, 2024 for this edition smashwords
  • Category: Fiction, with workplace satire as the working genre smashwords

Alternate Forms of Life & Other Stories

Discover the magic hidden within the ordinary, the extraordinary, and the neurodiverse.
In Alternate Forms of Life & Other Stories, Oshkosh Poet Laureate Thomas Cannon delivers a captivating, eclectic collection of short fiction that seamlessly bridges relatable contemporary life and whimsical fantasy.
The heart of this collection rests in its titular story, which follows Alexander, a complex and deeply authentic character on the autism spectrum. Navigating his daily life with Asperger’s, Alexander’s journey offers readers and their loved ones a poignant, humorous, and refreshing perspective on neurodiversity. Cannon masterfully balances everyday struggles with sharp wit, capturing both the poignant challenges and the inherent value of seeing the world through a different lens.
Beyond the title story, the anthology branches into a rich tapestry of narratives sparked by simple, everyday observations. From the curious, localized inspiration behind “Hammerschlagen” and “Blue Tarp” to imaginative, prompt-driven tales like “Seven Questions,” each story highlights Cannon’s versatility and emotional depth. The collection concludes with a selection of fantasy stories, offering a magical escape for readers who love speculative fiction.

Where To Purchase:

Alternate Forms of Life https://books2read.com/b/bMnnPA

Love Story- A Novella

Ten years. A decade of love, laughter, and shared dreams. But Sally, a talented furniture maker, senses a storm brewing in her seemingly perfect marriage to Wes, an artist on the cusp of fame. Convinced his newfound success will eclipse her and their life together, she acts on her premonition, forcing Wes out of their home.

As Wes navigates the whirlwind of his newfound celebrity, Sally grapples with the loneliness of her own success and the fear of losing the man she loves. Caught in the crossfire are their circle of friends, their beloved Chicago, and the art that has always bound them together.

Will their shared past and the city that witnessed their love story be enough to mend their broken hearts, or has Sally’s fear irrevocably shattered their future?”

  • Title: Love, Story
  • Author: Thomas Cannon
  • Publisher: Thomas Cannon (self-published) smashwords
  • Form: Novella
  • Language: English
  • Word count: 29,340 words smashwords
  • Publication date: November 10, 2023 smashwords
  • Price (eBook): $3.99 USD on Smashwords, and $3.99 on Barnes & Noble smashwordsbarnesandnoble
  • Categories on Smashwords: Fiction; Fiction » Urban; Fiction » Humor & comedy » Satire; Fiction » Humor & comedy » General smashwords
  • Reviews: 5.00 average from 1 review on Smashwords smashwords

Universal Link: Love, Story https://books2read.com/u/br6oez

Dive into the messy, beautiful, and often surprising world of human connection in Thomas Cannon’s captivating collection of short stories.

Looking for contemporary short story collections about messy relationships and human connection? Discover Parts of Me, a compelling and deeply relatable fiction anthology by acclaimed Wisconsin author Thomas Cannon.

Perfect for fans of realistic Midwestern drama and sharp cultural satire, this book acts as a poignant mirror to the modern human condition. Within its pages, Cannon intricately weaves together the lives of everyday people navigating emotional crossroads: from a Catholic priest struggling with a forbidden love to a fractured couple forced into anger management classes before their divorce can proceed.

Balancing heartbreaking realism with a witty, optimistic underlying humor, Parts of Me dives into ** sobriety challenges, emotional infidelity, commitment phobia, and the fear of vulnerability**. It is an essential read for anyone seeking character-driven books that explore the beauty and turmoil of love prevailing.

Core details

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