I typically shy away from books and essays that critique Walt Disney and his films. There are several reasons for this. We don’t need to kill our heroes. Walt was a product of his times. It’s easier to critique and tear down things than it is to create them. However, the biggest reason is that too many of these types of essays contain inaccuracies and falsehoods that come from someone not being an expert in Disney knowledge and/or doing sloppy research. It’s insane how many “educated” people believe Walt’s frozen head lies in a secret lair under Disneyland. It’s hurtful how many people say he was racist or anti-Semitic when those who worked with him deny those allegations. Sometimes, it’s just ridiculous the interpretations that people come up with for Disney films.
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Buddhist Fiction and Non-fiction by Former Marine and Current Monk
Darren Lamb calls himself the Worst Buddhist. He served in the Marines and is a veteran of the first Gulf War. His books combine the sensibilities and philosophies of Buddhism with the frailties of the human condition and surreal or fantastical situations. Lamb takes his life experiences and translates them into fast-paced action with great characters. Lamb writes for adults as he honestly explores what it means to be alive and what responsibilities spiritual people have to the world. If you’ve never heard of Buddhist fiction, let Lamb show you how amazing it can be. Lamb’s original works will amaze you and bring you joy, even while they explore the darker parts of the world and the inner turmoil of people’s lives.
Continue readingOur Store Plans for C.A.P.E. before COVID-19
A long time ago before the world changed, about the second week of March 2020, my wife and I were going to move to the coast – probably in Oregon. We were going to open a shop. The details about how, where, and with what money we were going to do this were a little sketchy. I just assumed we would figure it out when we got there. All we needed to do was get our cat micro-chipped and wait for the arrival of Jenya’s passport and Green Card visa.
Continue reading‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ and James Bowen Found Hope Together
The tag line for “A Street Cat Named Bob” (affiliate link) says the book is about “how one man and his cat found home on the streets.” It’s the same way we can find hope during this epidemic: Together.
Continue readingDarren Lamb: Crisp, Fast-paced Action and Philosophy Create Amazing Reads with Depth
(Editor’s note: This article contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from Amazon through these links, we receive an advertising fee. It doesn’t cost you anymore, and it doesn’t take anything away from the author.) Darren Lamb’s writing is particularly notable for its crisp, fast moving action sequences and their ability to deliver more than the average work of fiction. Darren’s zest for life and his philosophy of loving kindness heavily informs his writing. The fictional books mentioned below are written for adults, so expect some gore and adult situations.
Continue reading‘Quantum Souls’: a Tour de Force for Adults
Drue M. Scott’s first series, “Quantum Souls,” is a powerful and disturbing tour de force that is meant for a grownup audience. It’s adult themes and situations make it stronger as Scott explores the worth of the human experience and what It means to choose between good and evil. “Quantum Souls” (affiliate link) and its sequels are available on Amazon.
Scott’s autobiographical self-exploration “Found on the Alcan” (affiliate link) is set on the Alaskan-Canada Highway. As Scott traveled down this historic road and through Canada, he picked up a hitchhiker who revealed to Scott who Scott was as a person.
Scott is a kickass sign language interpreter who went viral for his performance at a Flo Rida concert. Of course, with the entertainment industry on hiatus, he is self-isolating and working on the third book in his yet-to-be released Blackwood Forest series.
I am currently editing the second book in Scott’s Blackwood Forest series. The first book has yet to be released because he was trying to find a traditional publisher for it. The series has such great potential, and all of it is on display in the first book. We don’t have a current release date for his next series, but I am excited to see how it ends. If you need some more great reading, check out Drue’s stories.
Pirates, Bureaucracy, and Magic? Oh, My: The Pirate Union’s Story
When I was in college in the mid-1990s, I was lucky enough to find a roommate who had similar interests. When I was faced with the school’s illogical and uncaring bureaucracy, we decided to write a story: The Pirate Union. Now, I’m not sure that the bureaucracy was the reason for the story. It may have just been coincidental. I do know that my coauthor was smart enough to have suggested as a remedy, but there was no real cause and effect here. At least, I don’t think there was.
Continue reading‘Ride of a Lifetime’ Offers Iger’s Lessons Learned at Disney
Disney CEO Bob Iger shocked the business world by announcing his decision to step down from the company’s top position. He led Disney through some of its largest expansions – both in terms of intellectual property (IP) through acquiring Pixar, Marvel, LucasFilm and 21st Century Fox, and parks built or expanded, including Shanghai Disneyland and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. In his book “The Ride of a Lifetime” (affiliate link), Iger allows the reader to see what he has learned during his tenure at the Disney Company, where he started at the bottom and worked his way up.
Continue readingDefend Creatives from the Financial Effects of Covid-19: Author Edition
When events, destinations, and sports companies shut down, it can be a strain for everyone. Fans don’t have anything to do. Players and stars have empty schedules. Concession workers, parking attendants, and cashiers have no jobs. While some of those who might suffer from a lack of paycheck won’t be getting paid during the country’s response to Covid-19 (aka novel coronavirus), Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, said he would take care of the people that normally worked the arena during his basketball team’s games. However, there are some events who don’t have big money backers, and those events are often attended by independent authors, artists, and craftspeople who depend on the sales from the event to make ends meet.
Continue reading‘Millionaire Success Habits’ Starts with the Habits to Help You Succeed
Yes, I broke down and ordered Dean Graziosi’s “Millionaire Success Habits.” If you’re not familiar with Graziosi, he has made his money in real estate, motivational speaking, and is working on what he and Tony Robbins call “The Knowledge Industry Business,” and he wants to share everything he’s learned with you.
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Penguinate! Positive Creativity 