Ted Ringer

Hodgepodge,
Mishmash,
and Jumble

Writings and Drawings by Ted Ringer

A lively, literary collection of stories, poems, jokes, musings, and drawings for curious readers, big kids, small fry, and inquiring minds of all sizes.

Cover of Hodgepodge, Mishmash, and Jumble by Ted Ringer

What's Inside?

Hodgepodge, Mishmash, and Jumble is a book for readers who enjoy humor, imagination, literary playfulness, and a little surprise on every page. Inside, Ted Ringer brings together stories, poems, pictures, and startled musings in a collection that feels both wide-ranging and warmly personal.

This is not a book that stays in one lane. It wanders happily through tall tales, short jokes, poetic observations, odd turns of thought, and passages that look at ordinary life from an unexpected angle. The result is a reading experience that is funny, reflective, inviting, and hard to neatly categorize.

Readers will find a blend of wit, curiosity, and heart throughout the collection. From playful humor to thoughtful reflection, from brief poems to memorable scenes, the book offers something new each time you turn the page.

Why Readers Will Love It

  • A rich mix of stories, poems, jokes, and drawings
  • Original writing that is imaginative, funny, and thoughtful
  • Short pieces that are easy to dip into and enjoy anytime
  • A distinctive literary voice with warmth and wit
  • A great choice for readers who like humor, reflection, and surprise

A Book That Invites Curiosity

The pen is mightier than the sword, and easier to carry. More than that, it can create, imagine, and poke you in the ribs.

Within this hodgepodge are stories, pictures, and musings; tall tales, short jokes, and wide horizons. It is a book that invites readers to flirt with the unknown, uncover secrets, run into good friends, and be comforted along the way.

Featured Excerpts

From Deeper Than My Navel

"Seeing the world in a grain of sand or the miracle of life in the most mundane of occurrences is the kind of thinking that slows you down and warms you, but like the sun, you don't want to look directly at it, for more than a moment."

From Born with a Beard

"My sister was quite self-possessed and didn't lose her temper or cry much, preferring to adopt a somewhat distant and worldly stance toward the normal trials and tribulations of growing up."

From Fit To Love

"Marry you? That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Of course, I will."

"My tears were frozen to my mustache and still she wanted to marry me!"

From Gus Goes West

"The year was 1872 and the word on the street was, 'Go West, young man.'"

From Get Outta Town

"The omens were dark. The vibrations bad. The diagnosis grim. The customers were angry and the employees irresponsible."

From Polka — Curse or Cure-All?

"It's a simple matter of heaving your weight to one side, in three short steps. 1 – 2 – 3. Then, to the other side. 1 – 2 – 3. Turn slowly through the six total steps. Repeat endlessly."

From Poems To Soothe The Savages

Automatic Bank Deduction
Go ahead, take it all!

Ignorance
Ignorance may not really be bliss, but, at least, you don't have to worry about everything.

Poetry
This is what I think. It ain't poetry, but it gets the feeling right.

From Tales of the Vampire Hunters

"Ernest Hemingway was a humorless man. But he was a clever one. He wrote many stories. Some were longer than others. He liked to hunt and he killed what he liked."

About Ted Ringer

Ted Ringer is the author of Hodgepodge, Mishmash, and Jumble, a book that brings together writings and drawings in a voice that is playful, observant, and deeply original.

He is also the author of Born with a Beard, Gus Goes West, and The Lure of the Garage. His work blends humor, storytelling, reflection, and literary curiosity in ways that are both entertaining and memorable.

This collection showcases the wide range of Ted Ringer's imagination, from short-form wit to thoughtful passages that linger after the page is turned.

Praise for the Book

"Who knew?"

— His English teacher

"A literary P.B. and J."

— Julia Child

"Ringer had me at Mishmash."

— The Daily Planet

"It shook me to my core."

— Crabby Appleton

Get Your Copy

Ready to explore stories, poems, humor, drawings, and unexpected turns of thought? Pick up your copy of Hodgepodge, Mishmash, and Jumble by Ted Ringer today.

Available in: Paperback / Hardcover / eBook

ISBN:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hodgepodge, Mishmash, and Jumble about?

It is a collection of writings and drawings by Ted Ringer featuring stories, poems, humor, musings, and imaginative reflections.

What kind of reader will enjoy this book?

This book is a great fit for readers who enjoy literary humor, short pieces, playful language, thoughtful observations, and creative variety.

Is this a poetry book, a humor book, or a story collection?

It is all of those at once. The book blends multiple forms and moods into one eclectic and engaging collection.

Who is Ted Ringer?

Ted Ringer is a writer known for imaginative, humorous, and reflective work, and the author of several books including Born with a Beard and Gus Goes West.

Contact / Media / Events

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