Website for Author
About Me
Adam Strassberg is a retired psychiatrist living in Portland, Oregon. He uses the intersection of psychology, religion, mythology, and magical realism to explore the human condition through fiction.
His stories have been published in Fiction on the Web, Cafe Lit, Total Quality Reading, Please See Me, other online portals, and various print magazines and anthologies.
His novella December on 5C4 debuts on December 1st, 2024, available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles and other vendors.
When he’s not writing or napping, he often can be found updating his website at www.adamstrassberg.com
December on 5C4
December on 5C4 is a vibrant tale of magical realism set during the Christmas season, weaving together threads of Jewish folklore, New Testament narratives, and Santa Claus legends. This story unfolds in the unique environment of an urban psychiatric hospital, where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur. As the winter holidays progress, Josh and Nick—two very different patients, one with similarities to Jesus and the other Santa—find themselves on an unexpected journey of self-discovery and transformation. Their evolving friendship and shared experiences challenge them to reconcile their pasts, embrace their identities, and navigate the complexities of mental illness. December on 5C4 is a compelling exploration of belief, identity, and the magic that can emerge in the most unexpected of friendships.
Available December 1st, 2024
Advance Praise & Reviews for December on 5C4
“An intense novella of ideas that looks into the heart of faith and generosity.” —Kirkus Reviews “In the slow, skillful development of the relationship between these two men, Strassberg plays on the initial gimmick of having Jesus and Santa analogues meet, and steadily broadens the story into a more ambitious meeting of the minds, drawing on elements of philosophy.” —Kirkus Reviews “Josh, a homeless Jewish apostate who hears the voice of God, spends Christmas in a psychiatric hospital after a spat with his boyfriend. There he meets Nick, a cocaine-addicted capitalist Santa-analogue whose belligerent jollity proves the biggest challenge yet to Josh's faith. Together, they hatch a plot to escape from the ward and get each other back on the right track. With this culture clash of a story, Adam Strassberg has achieved a Christmas miracle. It's about mental illness and religion and addiction and love and loneliness - but the real miracle is that it never feels heavy; it never feels disrespectful. Quite the opposite: it's funny, sensitive, thought-provoking. The misfit characters are full of delightful contradictions. The prose is well researched; quotable; fizzing with vitality. It builds to a tense climax, and kept me guessing right to the end. One of the most refreshingly original things I've read in a long time.” —Charlie Fish, Editor-in-Chief of Fiction on the Web “Adam Strassberg’s novella, December on 5C4, is infused with deep religious knowledge, expert understanding of the experience of delusions and voices in one’s head, and humor, which together entice the reader to keep turning the pages. The story weaves together Jewish and Catholic teachings, elements of the Christmas holiday, and the pain of mental illness, poverty, and homelessness. The richly detailed narrative presents engaging discussions of the nature of God and life-guiding ethics while bringing to life its characters, settings, events, the spiritual world, and the Christmas fable. A most enjoyable read for the Holidays or anytime.” —Lorrin Koran, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford Medical Center “December on 5C4 begins in medias res, leaving the reader disoriented along with the narrator until the situation grows clearer. But a patient in a mental hospital is not a reliable narrator, so a delightful fog overlays the story which may or may not be categorized as magical realism. It depends on how much you believe in Jesus and Santa. They are unlikely friends in terms of temperament: Josh is a tortured soul, trying to reconcile his identity with his religion, while Topher is a jolly and joyful man with his struggles more carefully hidden. Both men are trying to make a positive impact on the world--the whole world--and that is where they come together." —Elise Shumock, the Book Publican of the Rose City Book Pub “Adam Strassberg takes your standard vanilla Christmas tale from the deep freeze, cuts it into unique shapes, and decorates it with an exuberant hand. Whether describing a cocaine-addled Santa or a delusional Jesus, his empathy for his imperfect characters shines through on every page. What results is a richly detailed account of life in a psych ward that's also unexpectedly sweet and wholesome.” —Andrew Fort, HOCUS Grand Scribe and author of The Emerald Ballroom “With humor and an underlying, earnest theological underpinning, this story touches on big themes: economic inequalities, the meaning of community, mental illness, homelessness, and centrally, peacemaking and unconditional love. A good, clever, enjoyable read!” —Laurie Lynn Newman, M.A., M.Div. “Lost on the urban December streets, homeless Joshua navigates the boundary between the intransigence of his own religious fervor and capitalist disdain for what he has become, all the while suffering a mental health crisis that is alternately a blessing and a curse. In this “what if” parable for the present day, our tortured hero lands once again in a psychiatric ward known only as 5C4. But this time, he meets toymaker Nick. And together, they make choices that surprise the reader at every turn. On all fronts, author and retired psychiatrist Adam Strassberg knows whereof he speaks. December on 5C4 is a small gem of a read, sure to spur discussion well beyond the Christmas season!” —Carole Stivers, Author of The Mother Code “Here's why everyone who has struggled with religious identity, emotional pain, or the holidays should read December on 5C4: Through lively storytelling, it brings deep humanity to the struggles of mental illness, blending Jewish wisdom and progressive Christian theology, as well as history and magic realism, into a wonderful story of hope and recovery.” `—Eli Merrit, M.D., Doctor and Historian, Vanderbilt University, Author of Disunion Among Ourselves “Jesus and Santa compare notes while cooling their heels in a psych ward. This fascinating premise is core to December on 5C4 and Strassberg cleverly navigates the theology and psychology of this mythical encounter. Rather than simply mashing-up the two personalities and their complex histories, Strassberg extracts the parts necessary for his story, then inserts them into current events. Jesus becomes a homeless encampment leader. Strassberg places Santa in the here-and-now while keeping his mystical essence intact. This gives Strassberg the room needed to explore how these two would compare their world-views. This isn’t a casual read; expect to parse religion and ethics. But the story maintains cohesion and the reader will find themselves rewarded at the end.” —Mark Niemann-Ross, author of Stupid Machine "A sweet story of two legendary characters just a little out of sync with the stories we know, thrown together by circumstance and mental illness. Writing with sympathy and understanding, Strassberg pays homage to the holidays with rollicking aplomb." —Michael Allen Rose, Author of Jurassichrist
“Adam Strassberg dives into the deep end of human experience. He is unafraid of any subject, especially the ones most of us avoid: religion, sex, politics, money, mental health, and our deepest fears about who we are. In December on 5C4, Adam reinterprets common mythology with humor and depth, inviting us to understand mental illness and our shared stories in a new way. You might experience him as either a dangerous heretic or an insightful oracle. I think he may be both.” —Rev. David Howell, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church of Palo Alto, UCC "A unique tale for these times, where someone who might be Jesus meets someone who might be Santa on a psych ward at Christmas. Drawing from myth, religion, experience, and imagination, Adam Strassberg takes us on a tale that is both familiar and not, until we reach an end of hope and love. It is a Christmas story worth reading again and again." —The Reverend Beth Neel, Presbytery of the Cascades “Adam Strassberg is subtle and perceptive in immersing us into the experiences of two men, each bound on doing good, admitted to the psychiatric ward 5C4. In the guise of a Chanukkah/Christmas story, we are given insights into the predicaments, the spiritual joy, the inner peace, the doubting torments and the attraction of a God-inspired mind discovering the realities of the secular world. Written from knowledge of ritual, liturgy and professional experience, with distinctive humor, Strassberg succeeds in imparting meaning to awkward and absurd situations, leaving us thoughtful and inspired.” —Regina Casper, Professor of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine “In December on 5C4, Adam Strassberg cleverly examines the cultural symbolism of Jesus and Santa, shedding light on the social forces shaping our holiday values. By contrasting sacred and secular icons, the narrative explores themes of consumerism, faith, generosity, houselessness, humility, mental health, and moral responsibility. It prompts readers to consider how these figures reflect and challenge our modern society’s priorities, inviting us all to take a deeper look at the true spirit of the season. This compelling, insightful, well-crafted novella brings sociology into the very heart of holiday storytelling. It’s a holiday tale with a scholarly edge.” —Tomas Jimenez, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, Stanford University “A gripping, gutsy, and utterly original story!” —Adam Dorsay, Psy. D., Author of Super Psyched “Adam Strassberg has written an enchanting story, combining stories of Christianity, Judaism, and Santa with a healthy dose of magical realism to create a lovely snow globe of holiday cheer and spiritualism. I found it to be very uplifting and inclusive, and it’s a gem for readers, no matter what their backgrounds or belief systems are. Well done! I look forward to reading more from this debut author.” —Melissa Usack, Librarian, Innovative Interfaces “Holiday drama coming up, featuring Christmas psychiatry in Hebrew, in the recovery ward. So wash your face. Have breakfast. Help the homeless. God is talking. Spiritual transformation. It’s a fun read. Check it out.” —John Angell Grant, Playwright, Poet, and Author of The Green Notebook "Delightfully intriguing! You think you know what is going to happen, and then....it twists!" —Robin Rolfe, Librarian, Portland Public Schools "Thought-provoking and magical. Full of humor, pain, and insight." —Felicity Niven, Author of Convergence of Desire “December on 5C4 is an original, entertaining, moving, and even enlightening tale of psychic, spiritual, and personal discovery.” —Ethan Herschenfeld, Actor and Comedian “Thug Thug Jew” “As an uncertified therapist, and as a certified human, I recommend December on 5C4 with my whole Gestalt.” —Dr. Samuel Benjamin, Author of Today is Now! "December on 5C4 is a profound and imaginative tale that seamlessly blends the realities of mental illness with the rich symbolism of two enduring cultural and spiritual figures: Jesus Christ and Santa Claus. As a therapist, I was deeply moved by the authenticity of its portrayal of life in a psychiatric hospital and the compassionate exploration of trauma, recovery, and identity. Josh and Nick's journey is an extraordinary metaphor for the human struggle to reconcile pain with purpose, drawing on the self-sacrifice and redemption of Jesus and the generosity and healing spirit of Santa. This novella captures the transformative power of friendship, the courage required for self-acceptance, and the magic that emerges when belief—whether in oneself or in others—is nurtured. It’s a deeply insightful and heartwarming story that offers both hope and reflection, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersections of mental health, spirituality, and human connection.” —Brittney Chesworth, Ph.D., Author of Help! I'm Dying Again “Author Adam Strassberg uses a modern-day psych ward meeting between Jesus and Santa to give us a mystical and magical modern-day myth about love, humanity and redemption. Strassberg dazzles us with a street-smart, holy and heart-filled glimpse into a world where God tells knock-knock jokes and hands out pears. Give yourself a gift and read this novella!” —Todd Erickson, author, Baxter and Jeffrey and Freya Takes Charge “December on 5C4 effectively intersects mental well-being and religious spirituality without evangelizing people to one faith or another. Instead, Adam Strassberg invites readers to consider their own relationships to their mental health, spirituality, and identity as a whole in times that call for resilience and vulnerability. While taking place in the cold setting of 5C4, its warm themes of community, self-acceptance, and hope take precedence and safely bring readers along Josh’s journey of transformation. Touching on important and more than contemporarily relevant issues facing intergenerational communities, December on 5C4 is an engaging read not only for the holidays, but for those with an interest in bridging their faiths and spiritualities with their mental, spiritual, and communal health.” —Junha Kim, Director of Youth, Mission, and Community Engagement at Westminster Presbyterian Portland
