Donut Holes for the Soul: Recollections, Musings, and Missives from the Dooryard
Take a nostalgic journey through the joys of everyday life with Erma Bombeck Award-winner Tim Cotton.

In Donut Holes for the Soul, Cotton weaves together a collection of essays that celebrate simple pleasures, timeless friendships, and the enduring bonds of family and community. From the familiar sounds of a screen door on a warm summer day to lessons learned from helping his mother move, Cotton's stories evoke laughter, warmth, and a sense of home.

Readers will find heartfelt tales of unexpected kindness, like a helpful neighbor who goes above and beyond, a chance encounter that sparks redemption, and reflections on fatherhood sparked by a classic car. Cotton’s relaxed, conversational style makes each story feel like a chat with a trusted friend, offering humor and hope in equal measure.

With vivid anecdotes that capture everything from road trips and roadside chats to the charm of a well-worn flannel shirt, Donut Holes for the Soul invites readers to slow down, reminisce, and find joy in the small things that make life big. Perfect for fans of Erma Bombeck and Mitch Albom, this collection is a comforting escape for anyone who longs for a simpler time.
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Donut Holes for the Soul: Recollections, Musings, and Missives from the Dooryard
Take a nostalgic journey through the joys of everyday life with Erma Bombeck Award-winner Tim Cotton.

In Donut Holes for the Soul, Cotton weaves together a collection of essays that celebrate simple pleasures, timeless friendships, and the enduring bonds of family and community. From the familiar sounds of a screen door on a warm summer day to lessons learned from helping his mother move, Cotton's stories evoke laughter, warmth, and a sense of home.

Readers will find heartfelt tales of unexpected kindness, like a helpful neighbor who goes above and beyond, a chance encounter that sparks redemption, and reflections on fatherhood sparked by a classic car. Cotton’s relaxed, conversational style makes each story feel like a chat with a trusted friend, offering humor and hope in equal measure.

With vivid anecdotes that capture everything from road trips and roadside chats to the charm of a well-worn flannel shirt, Donut Holes for the Soul invites readers to slow down, reminisce, and find joy in the small things that make life big. Perfect for fans of Erma Bombeck and Mitch Albom, this collection is a comforting escape for anyone who longs for a simpler time.
24.95 In Stock
Donut Holes for the Soul: Recollections, Musings, and Missives from the Dooryard

Donut Holes for the Soul: Recollections, Musings, and Missives from the Dooryard

by Timothy Cotton
Donut Holes for the Soul: Recollections, Musings, and Missives from the Dooryard

Donut Holes for the Soul: Recollections, Musings, and Missives from the Dooryard

by Timothy Cotton

Hardcover

$24.95 
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Overview

Take a nostalgic journey through the joys of everyday life with Erma Bombeck Award-winner Tim Cotton.

In Donut Holes for the Soul, Cotton weaves together a collection of essays that celebrate simple pleasures, timeless friendships, and the enduring bonds of family and community. From the familiar sounds of a screen door on a warm summer day to lessons learned from helping his mother move, Cotton's stories evoke laughter, warmth, and a sense of home.

Readers will find heartfelt tales of unexpected kindness, like a helpful neighbor who goes above and beyond, a chance encounter that sparks redemption, and reflections on fatherhood sparked by a classic car. Cotton’s relaxed, conversational style makes each story feel like a chat with a trusted friend, offering humor and hope in equal measure.

With vivid anecdotes that capture everything from road trips and roadside chats to the charm of a well-worn flannel shirt, Donut Holes for the Soul invites readers to slow down, reminisce, and find joy in the small things that make life big. Perfect for fans of Erma Bombeck and Mitch Albom, this collection is a comforting escape for anyone who longs for a simpler time.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781684752485
Publisher: Down East Books
Publication date: 06/10/2025
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Timothy Cotton retired a lieutenant from a long career with the Bangor (Maine) Police Department. He is the author of the best-selling Got Warrants? and The Detective in the Dooryard and is a recipient of the Erma Bombeck Award for humor. His writing has been published in a number of newspapers, magazines, and websites—most recently CarTalk.com and the Bangor Daily News, and the uniform company Blauer also posts a regular podcast narrated by Cotton.

Table of Contents

Thursday Musings

Thoughts of how Tim get ideas/writes his essays

The Qualities of the Drape

About his dad’s shirts, remembrances.

Edit: instead of ..’would’ve invited minor violence’, perhaps: ‘would’ve created quite a stir’

Orlando Frati – I Will Miss One of Bangor’s Best

Kind pawn shop owner

Santa Was on My Roof

About friend who was called to help, and went above & beyond, cause that’s what neighbors do

Reflections

About the charms of good ol screen door

Hearts

About new grandson, and his toddler granddaughter, really charming

The Edges

Lovely essay about former inmate/alcoholic going home for Thanksgiving

Last Impala

Kurt (not sure who he is tho) buys an Impala for his dad who can no longer drive (same yr/style his dad used to own)

A Dooryard Visit

A fan of Tim’s writing hoping he will stop by to chat ..which he does, in the dooryard

Summer Came

About summer, and screen door sounds, etc

Acting on the Adage

About stopping to smell the roses…or crab apple tree blossoms in this case

No Respect

Thoughts of how to ‘do better’ out in the world

Looking Forward to Something

Road trip with his dad(moving to GA), one piece of advice he remembered ….always look fwd to something good/plan something fun

Sleeves

Helping his mom move…remembering his dad, tears on his sleeve

1972 in a Brown Paper Bag

Aroma of pizza, when wrapped in box, in paper bag, circles round to nice fam memories

A Rolling Steel Box of Thankfulness

Yes, a big steel box of tools, also grateful about much…all near Thanksgiving time

Recollections, Redemption, Ricky B

Mostly about one of Tim’s former suspects, Ricky B, who had great respect for Tim …because Tim had respect for him

Keep the Change

His mother’s dog had eaten 4 $20 bills

New Beginnings with Old Friends

Another story of former suspect who wanted to see Tim, so went to one of his booksignings

Road Sodas

Tim’s long distance marriage, just nice essay

The Ears Have It

Thwap Thwap of Ellie’s ears, simple note to start the day

The Mundane -- Reflections from South Dakota

Tim & fellow cop to see Maine suspect in SD. It’s the mundane things that make life interesting
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