The Ding Dong Altar Boy: And Other Tales of an Affirmation Junkie

by Donald Osborn, Anna Schmidt

Overview

The Ding Dong Altar Boy is a laugh-out-loud collection of true stories from the heart of western Nebraska. Growing up in a small town meant inventing your own fun-and Donald Osborn's memoir captures the wild, messy, and hilarious adventures that come with it.

From driving a car down the hallways of his high school (on purpose!) to leaping over a corpse mid-run, these tales serve up the kind of chaos you couldn't invent if you tried. Ever sneaked into a drive-in with a trunk full of friends? Worked at a local radio station where everything falls apart? Or convinced an entire college that Neil Diamond's wife was roaming campus incognito? If so, you're in the right place.

Along the way, meet unforgettable dogs, endure a meltdown at Spaghetti Works, and narrowly sidestep a falling tree. Whether it's demolition derbies, wrangling forest fires, raising kids, or making gloriously bad decisions on the backroads of rural America, these stories throw you headfirst into the wild comedy of growing up in the Midwest.

Perfect for fans of personal memoirs, small town life, rural Americana, and humor, this book brings to life the unpredictable and often ridiculous moments of a childhood spent on dusty country roads. If you love stories that feel like legendary bar chatter, The Ding Dong Altar Boy is calling your name.

Grab a drink, settle in, and get ready for a rollercoaster of mischief, mayhem, and heartfelt reflection from the plains of Nebraska.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798990283367
Publisher:	Anna Schmidt
Publication date:	07/01/2025
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Donald Osborn grew up in a small town in western Nebraska where the only thing more abundant than open sky was the space to dream. With few structured activities and no shortage of imagination, Don learned early how to invent his own kind of fun-a habit that led to the misadventures and wild tales captured in his newest book, The Ding Dong Altar Boy. This humorous collection draws straight from the dusty backroads of his childhood, where trouble was easy to find and stories practically wrote themselves.Don first took to the skies at age 14, launching a lifelong career in aviation that included flying everything from corporate jets to commercial airliners. It's been said he's flown just about everything with wings except a pterodactyl. His previous works include Where We Land: A Pilot's Reflections at Altitude, a memoir capturing the highs and lows of life at 30,000 feet, and Where We Land: A Boy, A Plane, and a Dream, a fully illustrated children's book inspired by his earliest dreams of flight.Now living in eastern Nebraska, Don continues to channel his restless energy into writing, storytelling, and creative pursuits. Semi-retired but never standing still, he keeps his eyes on the horizon-always looking for the next story to tell.

Meet Anna Henkens Schmidt-storyteller, sister, and the voice behind the words. Originally from the Pine Ridge region of western Nebraska, Anna grew up in the same small town as her older brother, Donald Osborn. While Don supplied the stories, Anna gave them shape on the page, turning childhood mischief and aviation adventures into published works.An award-winning journalist turned homeschool mom turned author, Anna now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart and their three children. Her writing journey began in the newsroom and later found new direction at the kitchen table, squeezed between grammar lessons and lunch breaks. Together with Donald, she co-authored Where We Land: A Pilot's Reflections at Altitude and Where We Land: A Boy, A Plane, and a Dream, an illustrated children's book.The Ding Dong Altar Boy marks another chapter in their creative partnership, bringing to life the wild, funny, and true stories from a Nebraska childhood. When she's not writing, Anna can be found reading, experimenting in the kitchen, walking the dog, or dreaming up the next great project-usually with coffee in hand and a to-do list close by.