I Agree with Cuomo !?!

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As a New York state resident, I don’t often utter the words “I agree with Governor Cuomo.” But I do this weekend.

Cuomo blasted New York city politicians, including the socialist troubadour and media-darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (I still believe THIS should be real) for causing Amazon to pull out of the intended construction of a new Amazon headquarters in Long Island City, Queens. Amazon was concerned about having a hostile relationship with local politicians who didn’t want them to come. So Amazon left, before they ever arrived. Who can blame them?

What is so offensive with Amazon which would cause certain politicians to spurn them?

It’s very simple: success. Amazon is an online behemoth, the envy of every of other online retailer. It has made Amazon founder Jeff Bezos the wealthiest man in the world. He’s the symbol of everything wrong about capitalism, according to some politicians. He’s wildly successful and has brought up many people along the way, not to mention giving us the easiest shopping experience in the world. (And this independent author is very thankful for Amazon!)

But no, who would want that in your backyard? And the 25,000 good paying jobs. Why would Queens want that?

Wait, I thought those democratic socialists pound the drum for the workers – $15 wages! -!!!! So when the good jobs come knocking on the door like a massive Christmas gift for thousands of workers, naturally you should kick them aside because … because … it makes no logical sense. That’s why.  These politicians see only ideology and don’t really care about what actually helps their constituents.

The politicians were complaining about the 2+ billion tax credits the state was awarding them yet conveniently forgetting about the 25+ billion in tax revenue that Amazon would have created in New York over the next couple of decades.

Beware of short-sighted politicos! Especially short-sighted socialists. The dustbin of history is littered with them.

Please remember this, voters, when you’re looking for a job when AOC is up for election.  I hope she too, in two more years, will be looking for a job.

Thank you, Governor, for calling them out.

There are many people in Arlington, Virginia happy today. Good for them. Bad for us.

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How do you know if a story ends well?

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How do you know if a story ends well?

Cross your fingers?

Hope that you’ve tied up all the necessary knots?

There is no way. Not really.

Okay, I’ve just finished – I mean minutes ago – the final edits on the end of my trilogy, and honestly I don’t know how I feel. I guess that’s the way it should be.

A story ends because the writer ends it but will it resonate with the readers?

I took, what I felt, was a little bit of a writing gamble in the last book of my trilogy. I sidelined two of the main characters for a large chunk of the book. I had my reasons, and if you read it, hopefully you will understand why I did it. I received positive feedback from my beta readers about the move, but still, it was kind of scary to do.

Ultimately, a writer is bound not by the reader or by an editor but by the story and its characters. A writer has to go where the characters are leading him or her. There can be no other way. The voices giving suggestions can only be that – voices. Not to be ignored, for sure, but they can’t speak louder than the rhythm of the language and the journey of the protagonist. Sometimes you have to make the tough choices and then ask yourself a simple question: are you happy with it?

I am. I am quite pleased at how it turned out. Even quite surprised because I wasn’t sure if the plot was going to hold up through the crazy twists and turns. But it’s done.

I just sent the first review copies out to reviewers.

Now it’s out of my hands.

Will it end well? In my mind, it did. I need to be content with that and move on to the next project.

Goodbye Bee and Ash! Perhaps we’ll meet again.

aPartingFRONTNEW

The Trilogy Concludes March 20, 2019

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A Parting in the Sky – coming March 20.

aPartingFRONTNEW

In part three of The Forgotten Child Trilogy, Bee takes her biggest gamble yet with Francis Frick, whisking him to the beginning of it all on the forlorn battlefield of waning World War I. When her plan puts Frick in grave danger, she decides to do whatever is necessary to bring Ash back to earth.

In the explosive conclusion to The Forgotten Child Trilogy, loyalties are tested and secrets are revealed. From Scotland to Africa to Manhattan to the edge of the earth, the enigmatic beings from beyond have a decision to make. Will they continue to influence the world in surprising ways, or will they be released through the parting in the sky.

A Humble Proposal to Limit Media Time Based on the Land Mass of a Politician’s District

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What would happen, I mean, hypothetically, if a politician was given airtime in the media based upon how much land mass the politician represents?

This is, of course, a silly proposition. But let’s play it through for a moment and see if it has any merit.

Let’s suppose, for argument’s sake, that this was true. It would mean that a Senator from Alaska would be given much more airtime than a Senator from Rhode Island.  But would that be so bad? When was the last time you heard much of the thoughts of an Alaskan Senator? Alaska has more than just pristine wilderness and abundant wildlife to contribute to the country.

What about in the House of Representatives?

This would be a boon for the congress person in South Dakota. Does anyone – even a resident from South Dakota – even know who that is? When was the last time a congress person from South Dakota was on CNN or in the headlines on Fox News?

It seems dreadfully unfair, doesn’t it?  Dusty Johnson was just elected to that position. But do we know what Dusty Johnson stands for? Huffington Post, have you even asked? He represents a large mass of land.

On the flip side, and this is perhaps where this modest proposal begins to take shape the most, some congressional districts are very small, tiny even, and so those representatives would only have a tiny say in media discourse under this proposal.

Let’s look at a case study. Let’s use, hmmm, how about Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, now commonly referred to as AOC, the newly elected representative from New York’s 14th Congressional District.

If we do a little math, we would learn that AOC represents approximately 0.00001 percent of the land mass of the United States. Therefore, under this most humble of proposals, she would be entitled to 0.00001 percent of media time, which would be approximately 5 minutes for the year 2019.

Perhaps this proposal does have some merit after all.

I answer questions about the creative process in the journal Crossing the Dissour

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Greywood Arts of Ireland released their first online journal about art and creativity. It’s entitled CROSSING THE DISSOUR, and they asked me to participate in the multi-artist interview on the creative process.

You may remember that I had a writing residency in Ireland last year and had a terrific and productive time. I very much enjoyed thinking about the creative process and sharing some of my methodology.

You can read the entire interview at Crossing the Dissour. Here’s the LINK!

Check out all the great content from their first issue.

Re-release: BEAUTY RISING

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My first novel, published at the tale-end of 2012, has a new polish, a new cover, and a new price for the new year.

I’m very pleased to announce a re-released edition of this story which is near and dear to me.  The re-edits make the story flow in a more natural way, which will, I hope, draw you in even closer to these vivid characters and the beautiful land of Vietnam. This is the only novel I’ve ever written in first personal narration – and it’s from two different points of view.

And one more thing. It’s FREE. Yes, that’s right. Hit the links below for your free copy.  It’s my hope you’ll try my work and like it enough to try my other works as well.

Choose your preferred link below, enjoy, and share with others.

BEAUTY RISING – 2019 edition – available now @

Barnes & Noble – FREE

KOBO – FREE

On SCRIBD

Smashwords – FREE

Amazon – $0.99 (READ 85 reviews)

OVERDRIVE

(Note: for Apple – Please search iBooks.)

And I even wrote a new blurb:

An unlikely request. An unlikely adventure. An unlikely love. On his death bed, a Vietnam vet asked his estranged son a huge request – return his ashes to Vietnam. Martin Kinney Jr. does just that, but when his wallet is stolen at a Vietnamese festival, it sets in motion a series of events which will change his life and family forever. Two perspectives, one incredible and tragic story of love.

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Imagine What’s Ahead for You. It Might Be Beyond Belief.

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I’m listening to the audio book “A Personal Odyssey” about the life of economist Thomas Sowell. It’s fabulous, by the way, and I highly recommend it. (On Amazon)

I’ve long been an admirer of Mr. Sowell, and it is absolutely fascinating to hear his story of growing up in the south, moving to New York, struggling with issues of family, schooling, societal racism and the constant struggles of a teenager and young black man trying to make a living by juggling various stints of employment trying to make ends meet. It’s a gripping and vivid story already, and I’ve only made it up to 1952 when he was a photographer in the Marine corps.

What struck me this morning, as I was listening during my walk, is the young marine, in his early twenties, has no idea whom he will one day become – one of the most respected researchers, writers, and economists in American history. All of the accolades that he has achieved in his breath-taking career were not even remotely on the radar in the young life of Thomas Sowell.

By 1952, he had not even finished high school. How would he have ever guessed the academic career which was to come?  graduate of Harvard,  Doctorate at the University of Chicago, professor at Cornell and many other institutions, a Fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford, syndicated columnist and author, etc…

How could have a high school dropout ever had hoped as much? It’s remarkable, really, and the truth that comes out it is this: We cannot, ever, foresee the future. This fact is both a great encouragement, but it is also a warning.

This is encouragement for those stuck in the life they don’t want to be in. You never know what’s right around the bend. You never know what how much that extra little effort will pay off. Grit may have its reward far beyond what you could have imagined.

On the flip side, this is also a warning shot for those who are riding high in life: don’t take the good times for granted. Enjoy them for what they are. And be thankful. You never know when the good times will end.

(Thanks for the reminder, Mr. Sowell. Now back to listening. I can’t wait to find out how you repudiated your communist leanings.)