Small Business — Thomas Trebitsch Parker

Ten pounds overweight and banned from his favorite bakery. Foiled at tennis by the obnoxious Rosenthal. Nearly arrested as a not-so-innocent bystander at a traffic accident. Helplessly alone at the helm of his small business. Martin Fassler's in trouble.

Martin Fassler's life begins to collapse when his partner, Ed Blair, announces: "I'm having an emotional difficulty. I can't be counted on." And the rest of the staff? They've disappeared with Blair, to produce the mysterious Italy Presentation. 

Antic confusion ensues as Fassler races around San Francisco Shooting promotional footage, writing copy, and desperately telling clients, "It's being taken care of." Meanwhile darker, equally comic disturbances beset him on the home front: Joyce won't marry him, his ex-wife won't leave him alone, and Popsie's bypass may go in the next frantic round of Palm Springs golf. To top it all off, someone's photographing Fassler, tapping his phone, following him. As the conspiracy (if it is one), closes in, Fassler carries Joyce off to Florence in pursuit of Blair and the Italy Presentation. The result? A richly comic, poignant novel about success and failure, in business and in life.