Books

My Books

Curveball at the Crossroads

"A story about baseball, the Devil, and putting things first."

*Runner-up, Best Book by a Local Author  - Best of the Bay 2021.*

Curveball at the Crossroads
Lortz, Michael and Anderson, Grego "MojoHand"


After high school baseball phenom JaMark Reliford suffers a career-ending injury in his final game, he makes the deal of a lifetime. A deal that gives him everything he wants, but could cost him everything he loves.

Inspired by blues folklore and classic baseball fiction, Michael Lortz writes a new tale of fastballs and phantoms, strikeouts and second chances. 

The second edition is available everywhere. The first edition is limited to 250 printed copies. 




Or you can order it through your local bookstore. Support local bookstores!
 

The Man Makes You Work


"Who is The Man? He is an omnipotent force keeping us from reaching our goals and dreams. This book is a witty look at the forces of life that hold us all down. It will make you laugh, it will make you mad, it will make you sad. By the end, it will make you want to stick it to The Man."




The Man Makes You Work is only available on Amazon.
 


The Man Didn't Want This Book Published

 
Updated for 2024!

The Man Didn't Want This Book Published is a continuation of The Man Makes You Work with 15% new observations and one-liners.
 
More hilarious insights and laugh-out-loud comedy! More commentary on life's everyday struggles! More must-read humor! More The Man!
 
 
 
 
The Man Didn't Want This Book Published is only available on Amazon.


Peshmerga / Arya Publishing

 
The Turkish translation of my master's thesis from Florida State University.
 
"Pêşmerge literally means warrior or pioneer bouncer. Pêş, first in Kurdish; Merg means death. Peshmerga means "those who go to death first, those who die first, those who face death".

In this book, the first organization of the Peshmerga and its role in the Kurdish struggle in Iraq were tried to be investigated. While supporting the goals of Kurdish nationalism, the peshmerga's constant fighting and frequent challenges to central authority, albeit outnumbered or powerless, have revived the Kurdish warrior spirit. Mentioning the peshmerga casually, as many researchers do, or seeing the peshmerga as just “guerrilla fighters” is nothing more than marginalizing the contribution of the organized Kurdish fighting force to 20th century Kurdish history. For a people who have relied on their fighting abilities for centuries to maintain their cultural existence, it is impossible to imagine Kurdish culture in Iraq without peshmerga. Mullah Mustafa Barzani is considered among the most prominent Peshmerga heroes. Still highly respected and “Kurdistan' the influence of Barzani, who is considered the George Washington”, in the history of the peshmerga cannot be underestimated."
 
 

The Turkish translation of my thesis is only available in Turkey or through Turkish websites.

 

The Bus Leagues Experience Volume 1 - compilation

 
From 2009 to 2013, the writers of Busleaguesbaseball.com interviewed more than thirty minor league players, coaches, executives, and writers. This compilation includes conversations with Royals prospects Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, Blue Jays pitcher Kyle Drabek, MiLB.com writer Ben Hill, Minor League Baseball president Pat O'Conner, and many more!


https://www.amazon.com/Bus-Leagues-Experience-Baseball-Through/dp/1456506498/

 The Bus Leagues Experience Volume 1 is only available on Amazon. 


The Bus Leagues Experience Volume 2 - compilation

 

The Bus Leagues Experience: Volume 2 is the second compilation of interviews conducted by the writers of busleaguesbaseball.com. While the focus is primarily on Minor League Baseball players, there are also in-depth conversations with writers, historians, fans, a broadcaster, and even a bus driver. Players featured include Dellin Betances, Travis d'Arnaud, Anthony Gose, Mark Hendrickson, Liam Hendriks, Mike Minor, Zach Stewart, Kyle Weiland, Stetson Allie, Aaron Altherr, Garin Cecchini, Cito Culver, Matt Hobgood, Kyle Jensen, Jeff Locke, Jackie Bradley Jr., George Springer, and many more.

https://www.amazon.com/Bus-Leagues-Experience-writers-Busleaguesbaseball-com/dp/1467917354

The Bus Leagues Experience Volume 2 is only available on Amazon.

 

The Bus Leagues Experience Volume 3 - compilation

 

The Bus Leagues Experience: Volume 3 is the third compilation of interviews conducted by the writers of busleaguesbaseball.com. 

While the focus is primarily on Minor League Baseball players, there are also in-depth conversations with independent players, managers, writers, team executives, fans, and broadcasters.

Interviewees include Matthew Adams, Jeff Ames, Andrew Aplin, Perry Barber, Dellin Betances, Bryce Brentz, Saxon Butler, Jay Bruce, Vincent Caffiero, Jim Callis, Landon Camp, Jose Canseco, Koby Clemens, Craig Durham, Doc Edwards, Brad Eldred, Clint Everts, Matt Garrioch, Kevin Gengler, Dave Gershman, Kevin Goldstein, Kevin Gray, Ken Griffey Sr., Jonathan Griffith, Kai Gronauer, Billy Hamilton, Dirk Hayhurst, Aaron Hicks, Clay Holmes, Kevin Howard, Drew Hutchison, Jeff Idelson, Justin Jackson, Brian Jeroloman, Jonah Keri, Jason Klein, Casey White, Marc Leistico, Jordan Lennerton, Pat Light, Deven Marrero, Deck McGuire, James McOwen, Tyler Moore, Tyler Naquin, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Parmelee, Eric Pettis, John Powell, Jessica Quiroli, Josh Robertson, John Scaglione, Seth Schwindenhammer, Derek Self, Mike Veeck, Kolbrin Vitek, Joe Wancho, Josh Warner, Zack Wheeler, and Heather Wright.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Bus-Leagues-Experience-writers-Busleaguesbaseball-com/dp/1478172452/
 

Bus Leagues Experience Volume 3 is only available on Amazon.