“Peace was in the air. Sandy left me for a while to be with her parents, so I went about greeting people that still liked me, there were a few. Even the ones that didn’t, pretended they did. I was a star after all. Well, I respected that. I don’t mind people that stand up for themselves no matter how wrong they are.”
– an excerpt from the book
ARPress is honored to publish “Not for Women Only: Short Stories for a Lazy Day” by Albert Zygier.This book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress website.
“Not For Women Only: Short Stories for a Lazy Day” by Albert Zygier is a sparkling collection of short stories that seamlessly blends wit, romance, irony, and sharp social observations. What sets this book apart is the author’s ability to channel both masculine and feminine perspectives with equal authenticity, making this compilation not just “for women only,” as the ironic title suggests, but for anyone who appreciates rich, character-driven storytelling. Each tale offers a stand-alone narrative, yet they collectively form a cohesive mosaic of human experience. Whether set in upscale Manhattan cafés, art galleries, birthday dinners, or senior community centers, the stories share a common core: they are deeply human, delightfully observant, and filled with clever twists that keep the reader smiling, reflecting, and occasionally laughing out loud.
Albert Zygier is a retired graphic designer with a passion for writing short stories as well as painting landscapes and still life in water soluble oils. (Much easier for cleanup.) It wasn’t till he joined a writer’s group that he decided to put his stories together for a book. His stories are about romance, adventure, history, and war. They are sad and poignant and funny. They are about how people meet and how they fall in love. We have civilians, we have soldiers, we have young and old.
Each story is laced with rich dialogue, inner monologues full of wit, and situational comedy that feels as authentic as it is imaginative. There’s no shortage of romantic tension, but what elevates these stories is their emotional realism and the humorous unpredictability of life’s small moments.
The central themes in this book revolve around the joys and mishaps of human connection. One recurring theme is the complex dance between men and women, which is explored not just romantically, but also professionally and intellectually. Zygier portrays relationships with nuance—showing both their exhilarating charm and their frustrating misunderstandings. Another powerful theme is identity and reinvention; many characters are pretending, performing, or rediscovering who they are in new chapters of their lives.
The stories are not only enjoyable but also deceptively insightful, offering commentary on love, class, ambition, and personal transformation. With snappy dialogue, vivid New York settings, and characters that feel like old friends or people you’ve seen at the next table over, this book is as cinematic as it is literary. Whether you’re a woman, a man, or somewhere in between, this book invites you into a world where every interaction can lead to revelation—and every moment, no matter how ordinary, has the potential to be extraordinary.
“Not For Women Only: Short Stories for a Lazy Day” by Albert Zygier is now available for purchase via ARPress Bookstore: