I had expected this piece, originally published on News Break, to receive its fair share of controversy. I was right.

Some understood the point I was attempting to make and loved the article; others were offended I was comparing pets to humans. Regardless, to my mind there is considerably more complexity to the issue — and the article — than that simple takeaway.

You decide …

If you do not own a pet, or have never owned a pet, the meaning and the heart of this article may elude you. “A pet is not the same as a human,” you…

Introduction

On first glance, some may argue with me about the title of this piece. “Of course they matter,” some may say. “My life has been ruined by my abuser. I’m a prisoner to anything they want from me.”

I will tell you in a moment what I mean by giving someone power. I will also give you a bit of personal perspective.

An ex-girlfriend was abused by her parents. Both of them. …

In late-December of 2020, I received an invitation from a friend to join what she called the “hottest new social media app that may one day overtake Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.”

I thought to myself, ‘Do I really need another social media app in my life?’ I’m a writer. As it is, I spend entirely too much time on my existing platforms to get motivated and try another.

I joined. I’ve been addicted ever since.

Chain stores can be sneaky, but when secrets among employees of top U.S. brands leak, leading to intriguing glimpses behind the scenes and the occasional public scandal that threatens their names, consumers are often kept in the dark as to the original issues.

We will attempt to source those secrets here.

Five Secrets of Starbucks The Chain Would Prefer You Do Not Realize, Or Do Not Remember

1. Starbucks profited from deforestation efforts that led to the deaths of an estimated 50,000-plus orangatans, and uncaccounted other species. Starbucks had long maintained a reputation for sustainability in product and practice, meaning…

I believe anyone who creates, as opposed to destroys, is a hero.

Thanks to Joseph Campbell for the inspiration behind those words.

Last week’s newsletter was not what one would call “light and airy.” See here. I was raw, having written the newsletter while still in shock over last week’s insurrection.

This coming week holds the potential to be equally volatile, considering the inauguration of a new president, a thought which led me to my question, above: Where is Mr. Miyagi when we need him?

The idea is we need, as a people, someone with great wisdom to help guide us from the anger presently gripping the U.S.

Perhaps Yoda would work equally well. …

In a prior article, “How to Sell a Script During COVID-19,” I suggested the following talking point is, in reality, a myth: “Companies are only looking for projects that take place in the pandemic era.”

This is emphatically false. Quoting from the article: In my experience, having had conversations with executives and writer friends about exactly this, the projects being purchased on a larger scale take place largely in a modern time period where COVID-19 is not mentioned and no pandemic appears to exist, or they take place in an identifiable post-COVID world. Not quite science fiction, but entertaining fare…

An effective, top-level producer treats his title as a business. This producer will oversee all aspects of a production, from development to post-production. The better they do, the better the end result will be and the more work they will be offered.

I sent a script to one such producer, something I believed could spin off into various iterations. Indeed, we set up the project, based on my novel series with Steve Hillard, with Ovation Network. See the full story here.

The value of attaching Gilbert Adler, lead producer of several top studio films and television series including “Valkyrie” with…