Don't Tell My Wife I'm a Cult Leader - by Todd Steinberg (Paperback)

About the Book

In 1994, couch surfer Floyd Simmons and rising artist Mandy ignite a love-fueled rebellion at the dawn of the Internet. As an older Floyd faces a dystopian present ruled by oppressive authorities, he recounts how their darkly comic odyssey sparked a cult of rogues and heretics destined to forge the new millennium.

Book Synopsis

Don't Tell My Wife I'm a Cult Leader is a graphic novel by Todd Steinberg that blends dark comedy, romance, and dystopian satire. Set in 1994, the story follows Floyd Simmons, a couch-surfing slacker whose life takes a wild turn when he falls in love with Mandy, an artist with big ambitions. Their relationship becomes the spark for something much bigger: Floyd's reluctant, chaotic rise to become the leader of a motley crew of outcasts and misfits amid the dawning of the digital age.
As the timeline alternates between the early days of Floyd's "movement" and the present--where he finds himself in a tense showdown with authorities--readers see how idealism, obsession, heartbreak, and absurd situations collide. The work is suffused with satirical humor: it pokes fun at cult-leader tropes, teenage rebellion, tech paranoia, and the gap between intention and impact.
Despite its irreverent tone, the novel also delivers emotional weight: love under pressure, belief in one's vision, and the flawed but compelling personalities that hitch themselves to Floyd's banner. It's an offbeat, character-driven adventure that asks: what makes someone a cult leader--is it power, conviction, or just being in the right place with the right following?

About the Author

Time-traveling Texan Todd Steinberg graduated from high school in 1994, just as the
bygone era crashed headfirst into cyberspace. Todd draws cinematic inspiration from
Tarantino to the Coen Brothers and is greatly influenced by TV legends like Mike Judge
and The Simpsons.