Former Altoona resident Tom Catalano has pulled amusing anecdotes from his own life and put them together in his 15th published book, “Believe me…You Should Have Been There!'”

“What didn’t seem funny at the time, certainly makes me laugh today,” Catalano said. “The experiences I have included in the book are just some of the ones from my life that amuse me the most. They are all true to the best of my memory. Although names may have been changed to protect the embarrassed!”

The events range from awkward childhood experiences to modern adulthood mishaps. From elementary school to college. From bachelorhood to parenthood.

According to Catalano, each of the 45 stories are fun to read. Short, funny and relatable. The stories include classroom shenanigans, vacation mishaps, sibling practical jokes, marital misunderstandings, innocent run-ins with the police and much more.

Catalano writes about having gotten blamed for throwing a chair out of a window in high school. Taking a big bite of a hot pepper thinking it’s a cherry tomato. Trying to sneak beer onto a dry college campus and getting tackled. Whacking his head on a bowling ball someone stuffed in his pillow. Creating an all-girls club during college just to meet women, and the fallout that ensued. Throwing his body on a can of soda pop that had fallen to the floor and was spraying all over the kitchen floor, walls, and ceiling. And other true experiences.

“Several of the stories in the book were written while we were still living in Altoona,” Catalano said.

Unlike many authors who stay within one genre, Catalano’s published works cover many different subjects and genres. For instance, Catalano writes fiction, poetry, and witty quotes. Novels, short stories, and Christmas books. Funny rhymes, sentimental poems, and faith-inspiring poems. Some of his books are intended for adults, while others are for teens and children. Since ‘Believe me… You Should Have Been There!’ contains all true experiences, the book can aptly be described as the author’s first nonfiction book.

“I like to say that I have a book for every member of the family!” Catalano admits.

Why publish a non-fiction book of personal stories? Why now?

“These stories have been a source of amusement for my family for years. All one of us would have to say is, ‘All the way to Toontown,’ ‘Half a chicken,’ ‘Chocolate water,’ or ‘Aunt Mary’s Couch’ and we would all bust up laughing. I thought my readers would enjoy the stories too. It’s almost hard to believe that these things actually happened, but they did. Believe me!”

Originally from Illinois, Catalano moved around the country for his job. He and his wife moved to Altoona when he became Director of Marketing with Curry Supply Co. at their corporate headquarters in Martinsburg. While living in Altoona, he and his wife raised their two daughters. He retired from Curry Supply in 2016 and moved to Tennessee. He now spends the majority of his time pursuing his passion of writing fiction, rhyming poetry, and now, non-fiction. When he is not writing he is giving poetry presentations at schools, community events, and clubs.

‘Believe me… You Should Have Been There!’ (136 pages, paperback, ISBN 978-1-882646-15-9, Wordsmith Books, $10.95) is available exclusively from the author’s website: tomcatalano. com. Catalano said he signs all copies ordered from the website.