About the book

By all appearances, Ron Mattocks was leading a successful life. As he drove a fast car to and from his downtown loft and his executive job, he considered himself a good father, even transferring across the country to live closer to his three sons after his divorce. But after an unexpected economic downturn, Ron suddenly began to question everything he knew about success and fatherhood.

After surviving the ups and downs of Internet dating, Ron shares how he remarried, inherited two stepdaughters, and then lost his job, subsequently becoming a stay at home dad. In this hilarious and touching account of his daily battles against subversive Care Bears, fire belching demons, the pancake mafia, and his own masculinity all while struggling to reunite with his own children Ron provides a glimpse into how he took lemons and created not only lemonade, but a lifetime of memories with his family.

From his highest highs to his lowest lows, Ron Mattocks shares the compelling story of how, without a parenting manual in sight, he learned to fumble his way through fatherhood with modesty, courage, and a whole lot of humor.

Sugar Milk has already received attention from Reuters News, The Globe and Mail, Blog Talk Radio, The Bund-Pic and others.
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Reviews & Endorsements

Endorsements & Reviews for Sugar Milk

On one hand, Sugar Milk is a series of funny stories; I laughed aloud every three pages or so. But underneath the jokes, Ron Mattocks has a serious story to tell about men and fathers in transition, trying to hold their spirits and families together in an economy and society that is shifting under their feet.

- Jeremy Adam Smith, editor of Shareable and author of The Daddy Shift: How-Stay-at-Home Dads, Breadwinning Moms, and Shared Parenting Are Transforming the American Family


Sugar Milk captures with real American Man of 2010, and the American family, with honesty and humor not found in the stick figure portrayals so prevalent in popular culture. As men across the country struggle to balance work and family, divorce and remarriage, kids and step-kids, love and just getting by, they need this book to reassure them that they are not crazy or unique. They are actually just like Ron Mattocks and just like me and just like just about every guy I know.

- Tom Matlack, Founder, THE GOOD MEN PROJECT

On the surface, Ron Mattocks seemed like any other successful, ambitious corporate layer. But a series of professional and personal developments transformed this one-time award-winning sales exec into a stay at home dad—one who relentlessly pursued his dream of becoming a writer. This just in...it's no longer a dream. Anyone who reads Sugar Milk will quickly realize that Mattocks is a writer—one who is blessed with an intelligent brand of humor as well as an uncanny ability to turn a phrase. His impressive debut effort will keep his readers laughing from cover to cover as they quickly devour his collection of stories which define him far better than any six-figure job ever could.

- John Cave Osborne, author of Tales From the Trips: How Three Babies Turned Our World Upside-Down



In Sugar Milk, Ron Mattocks shares both his story and his soul with great wit and engaging honesty. I laughed and nodded with each well-told personal adventure, tribulation, and self-revelation. Already a popular blogger, Mattocks paints a realistic picture of a man's life in transition, a "rocket-ship journey" in which "you realize the control panel cannot be hard-wired to turn around." Yet, he concludes--rightly--that "what did matter was that I was right there for my children whenever they needed me." Thanks, Ron, for bringing us along for the ride.

- Joel Schwartzberg, Essayist & Author of The 40-Year-Old Version: Humoirs of a Divorced Dad

...I soaked in every nuance, tidbit of snark, ache of depression and isolation and true view inside the word of a newly entrenched stay at home dad’s trial by fire. Certainly not a Mr. Mom (I hate that reference to SAHD’s) and far from lazy, Ron shows that dads are NOT the bumbling idiots that media often portrays... Rather, he shows that dads (despite their lack of a mothering gene) are more than capable parents in solo. Willing to offer the same compassion and consolation to their offspring’s hurts. And that the sterotypical man at home in boxers, stuffing pizza and swilling beer is far from reality.

- Debbie Lawrence, Author, Motivational Speaker, and Social Marketing Maven

A charming story of how life can radically change but one can still retain their happiness and industriousness, Sugar Milk is quite the read for anyone who is the parent left at home.

- Midwest Book Review

Sugar Milk-What One Dad Drinks When He Can’t Afford Vodka is a must read for any parent that can appreciate the humor in this crazy ride we are all on called parenthood. Ron invites you into his world in an often self-deprecating but always hysterical way that, let’s face it, we all can relate to.

- Dana Donovan, Editor of Houston Family Magazine

Sugar Milk is a book that many dads will love and identify with. Ron Mattocks has an engaging and entertaining writing style that will keep you laughing and get you thinking about life as a father and about the curve balls that life seems to throw at us.

- Wayne Parker, About.com Fatherhood Columnist

It’s the humor that makes you want to turn the page to get to the next chapter and see where in the hell is this possibly going. Turns out that Mr. Mattocks is a funny guy and the book flies by faster than you thought it would. Pretty soon you are out of stories and that’s kind of sad...

- Shannon Carpenter, Columnist for Daddy's Home Inc., The National At-Home Dad Network

I’ve also never read such an open account of it from someone who isn’t afraid to admit his faults and lay himself out for public admonishment or accolades, whichever the truth dictates. Ron’s honesty in his adventures is what I like. It’s not exciting fiction or earth shattering revelations. It’s a guy talking honestly about the struggles of a unique family life and the transition from big shot money maker to a job that is almost universally disparaged by people who have never done it, domestic engineer. The secret to happiness is a road observantly traveled.

- Keith Wilcox, creator and writer of Almighty Dad


I found this book to be hilarious and personal. The reader is drawn into the stories and can see how caring Ron is and how his new role as a stay at home dad has transformed him. I truly believe that if you are like me you will find yourself laughing on the floor at points in this book, as well as not wanting to put the book down until the very end.

-Christopher Lewis, Book Dads review

I really can't say enough about this book. I tore through it cover to cover devouring each word. It is funny, thought provoking, heart wrenching and heart felt. What more could I ask for in a memoir penned by one of my favorite bloggers.

- Kat Williamson, creator of 3 Bedroom Bungalow to Let in Crazytown


Pick this book up for it’s funny stories, pick it up for it’s moving portrayal of parenting when your divorced and remarried, or pick it up for the creative ways that dads do things just a bit differently when they are at home. Whatever your reason you will be glad you picked this book up.

- James Rohl, creator of Stay-At-Home Dad PDX

I really enjoyed Ron's book and would highly recommend it to all. The the highs and lows of his life is shared with honestly and humor, with a bit of sarcasm thrown in the mix.

- Bonnie Micheli, The Southern Kindle Club


This story paints a sympathetic picture of a man who has seen the highest highs and lowest lows… Readers are likely to recognize a familiar voice and find that as they proceed through the story they are laughing through their own tears… Readers will likely identify with [Ron] and his ups and downs. The many stories that make up this book are unified by the idea that everyone must make a decision on how he or she wants to proceed with their life, and [Ron] captures that idea from the start.

-Publisher’s Editorial Review

Read more reviews at Amazon.com and at Kindle

Author bio

Ron Mattocks is a freelance writer and a father of five. Prior to this, Mr. Mattocks served as an Infantry Captain in the United States Army and Texas National Guard, after which he transitioned to corporate America, working for a two leading national homebuilders from 2001 to 2007. During his time in the residential real estate industry, Mr. Mattocks’ titles included President of Operations (Houston), Vice President of Purchasing (Houston), and Vice President of Sales (Chicago).

Following his departure from the corporate world in 2007, Mr. Mattocks turned to writing while also joining millions of other men in becoming a stay-at-home dad to his two stepdaughters. Over this same period, he started Clark Kent’s Lunchbox, now ranked as one of the Top 20 Daddy Blogs (PostRank.com) as well as being listed among AllTop’s leading sites in its niche. Currently, Mr. Mattocks is a leading contender for a Blogger’s Choice Award in the categories of Hottest Daddy Blogger, Best Humor Blog and Best Parenting Blog of 2010.

In March 2010, Mr. Mattocks released his book, Sugar Milk: What One Dad Drinks When He Can’t Afford Vodka, which is based on a number of his earlier blog posts that chronicled his progression from traditional working man to stay-at-home father. The book earned mentions in Reuters New, The Globe and Mail and The Bund-Pic, as well as receiving favorable endorsements from such noted experts as The Daddy Shift author, Jeremy Adam Smith; Tom Matlack, founder of The Good Men Project; and author John Cave Osborne.

Mr. Mattocks is a regular contributor to Houston Family Magazine and his freelance work can be found in a number of publications to include Babble.com, Sloth Jockey, Prodigal Magazine, Errant Parent, and The Good Men Project. Mr. Mattocks has also had his writing featured on public radio, and his essay “Death Wish” was awarded a semifinalist nod by HumorPress.com (See also Writing Sample at Clark Kent's Lunchbox).

Mr. Mattocks graduated in 1998 from St. Edwards University with a degree in English Literature, and was a Commandant’s List graduate at the Army’s Infantry Officer Basic Course in Fort Benning, Georgia. He has participated in a number of writing workshops and seminars at Rice University, and is a certified high school English teacher in the state of Texas. You can also read more about Ron's professional background at this site.

Mr. Mattocks is a native of North Western Pennsylvania, but now lives in Houston, Texas with his wife Ashley, and his stepdaughters, Allie (age 7) and Avery (age 6). His sons Noah (11), Harrison (8), and Sawyer (5) live with their mother out of state.

You can connect with Ron through his Facebook and Twitter accounts, or email him at Rmattocks(at)yahoo(dot)com.

Purchase Information

COPIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

Sugar Milk can be easily purchased through Amazon.com, Barnes & Nobles and other major online book retailers (distribution is limited at physical store locations, so if you don't see it on the shelf, ask them to order it). Sugar Milk is also available in both soft cover versions and E-book (Kindle, Sony Reader) formats. Look for it March 2010!

Sugar Milk is also available through these independent stores:

- Katy Discount Books (Texas) In store or order online)

- The Blue Willow Bookshop (Texas)

- Tattered Corners Bookstore (Pennsylvania)

To have your independent bookstore added to the list contact publicity@sugarmilkbook.com.

Hardcover ISBN 9781450204019
Softcover ISBN 9781450204033
E-book ISBN 9781450204026

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