Author Larry Gross is offering up a "word stew" of sorts-in his words, a mishmash of stories. Some of the stories are fiction, some are real life and some are a mixture of both. The subject matter varies and covers a wide variety of topics-all the way to a troubled neighbor cutting herself to Gross actually getting stuck inside an elevator. It covers silly visits to Walgreens and stray cats in the neighborhood where he lives. One story talks about an alcoholic father trying to come to terms with his life. Another story covers the issues of a homeless man trying to get back on his feet and yet another piece talks about a bug hanging out in an apartment. The variation of these stories is why Gross has found a dedicated following for nearly 20 years. A reader seldom, if ever, knows what to expect from him. "Mishmash" is his fifth book.