Herman Strickland is a die-hard English professor and self-professed nerd who lives and breathes science fiction, history, and rock and roll. As he meticulously tracks his daily activities in journals and battles a chronic health issue, he tackles the grammar and language problems of Colorado youth and attempts to make a difference in their lives.

Thanks to Alfred P. Handleman, his long-time friend who makes it his mission to keep him in line, Herman manages to remember most of his students' names and somehow endures his troublesome physical ailments. One night when the threat of a tornado causes Herman to seek cover in his bathtub for the night, he passes the time by reflecting on a past filled with life lessons and a surprise encounter with his niece, Jade. But it is what happens after the tornado passes that will change everything in Herman's life forever as he receives a shocking diagnosis.

Teacups and Sandstorms is the tale of one man's journey through life as he fights a silent battle with Crohn's Disease with help from a rather entertaining group of friends.