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Hello! My debut novel, The Well, will be released on October 15, 2023 by High Top Publishing. I would love to send a digital or physical copy to anyone interested in an honest review. I was fortunate to receive a foreword by James Redfield, New York Times best-selling author of The Celestine Prophecy, who described the book as "a mythical story, paralleling the cataclysmic issues of our time." Here's the description: Professor Anatoly Popov, an esteemed virologist and Russian-born defector, steals the world’s deadliest virus from a US counter bio-terrorism lab. His aim–to alter its properties with the remains of an interstellar meteorite to create a Universal Cure, based upon an ancient Chinese legend. But the theft sets off a murderous clandestine multinational competition for the ultimate bioweapon. Now with his time running out, Popov pin his hopes upon Commander Rex Lee, an ex-Seal medic and novice physician-scientist, and a desperate search mission in the Amazonian rainforest of Brazil to restore the promise of “The Well.” In doing so, Lee transforms himself from an ambitious research-focused scientist into a Master of deep spiritual insight and physical abilities. For more info on my work, please visit https://rchapmanwesley.com. Thank you! Wes

@Delano LOL! Yeah, preferable to kickin the bucket...I guess. 🤔 -hmmmm???? Good question. Let's see if we can figure it out together. Perhaps....maybe.....possibly....it MIGHT be due to the fact that you spend much of your time lounging on your daughter's porch and grinning at us with some red-framed shades on, instead of hanging out down on the Wild 100's set tripping and selling diluted cocaine across the street from your competition.....lol. @Pioneer1No, the majority of those losing their lives on a daily basis around Chicagoland, are not drug dealers nor drug users. They are children and other innocent bystanders, road rage, car-jacking and robbery victims, petty slights and personal beefs victims, everyday folks just trying to make it through the day without being the target of violent gun users who place no value on human life! @ProfDThank you for your kind words. You're a gentleman, and a scholar! @Chevdove Thank you, Girlfriend! I did have a great birthday, thanks to my family and friends. @TroyYes, i had in-laws who died at age 93 and 94, a sister-in-law who is still alive and kicking at 93. Also one of my bffs from childhood turned 90 in January, and I have several other acquaintances who are in their 90s. There are quite a few of us still around, comedienne Carole Burnette, who has always been a favorite of mine because she's the same age as I am is still with us, and she hasn't changed a bit. Also Kim Novak, Joan Collins and Willie Nelson are other celebs my age. And, yes, my great-grand parents on both sides of my family were slaves. I, myself, have lived longer than any female in my family. 90 is the new 70, y'all! In our discussions, we have talked about time being a construct and an abstract concept. To this, I agree. I, by no means, feel as spry and energetic as i used to but, mentally, I feel the same as I did at about age 30. Looking back over my life, do i have any regrets? A few. Would I have done anything differently? Yes. To what do attribute my longevity. Luck. God? A force, not an imaginary friend in the sky. Religion? A man-made security blanket reinforced by legend and myth, enforced by fear. Advice? Do "you". Philosophy? Life is the question. Love is the answer. I think, therefore I am. It is, what it is. the future? I think the world is on the brink, of drastic change. The American Empire may very well, implode... PEACE.

The former POTUS called the Georgia Secretary of State looking for 11,780 votes in order to flip the election. The POTUS' surrogates called down to Georgia harassing folks about the election outcome. Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis put a case together based on evidence. DA Willis could be politically motivated. We'll see. But, that recorded phone call from the former POTUS to the GA SOS is a smoking gun.😎

That's what I'm talking about Girlfriend! Keep on living large @Cynique.

Well, I have mixed feelings about this topic. I believe that ADOS need to think about the main focus of this government on the basis that it formed about 400 years ago and their major goal. I believe that the leaders that formed this union and their theme is ever present in the minds of White Americans today even for some of them that pretend to care about what happened to us. They decided way back then that it was vital to keep us [1] ignorant [uneducated to a great extent], [2] continually oppressed, and [3] divided [fostering Black Hatred continually] and believed that this would be the only way that they could keep the power and White dominant government that they began to form since the AD 1500s in Europe as they were flocking over to their NEW WORLD. For this reason, they don't see giving federal aid to the programs like ESL to the hispanic people and so many other immigrants and White Americans because they don't threaten their power. But ADOS!!!--Oh I believe that they think we are a threat to their national security and global power. So even though some streamline our oppression here by saying that we've only been oppressed for 160 years or 260 years, NO WAY, America still has continually caused us to be oppressed in their prison systems and in more ways. There is always something, some conflict aimed against us, such as the man in Florida with his educational curriculum, CRT propaganda, now the Arkansas AP agenda, LBGT+ agenda to give federal funds for them to have jobs if they write on their application in such manner, etc. I think these issues are deliberately raised to keep us fighting in so many directions that we cannot get any adequate governmental relief as a result of the Chattel Slavery Movement. Obviously, this long time period of human sacrifice did not only affect our ancestors, but it affects us today, but will we benefit from a monetary REPARATIONS due to the issues that have caused us to be so divided and ignorant of how to economically benefit? H*ll no, IMO, if we don't have a GROUP MENTALITY to where the funds are aimed at helping us as a group, then individuals would spend the money in ways that would not really advance us. So IMO, it would not work hypothetically, however, it would be insane and suicidal not to demand that America gives us Reparations. I believe that the demand for Reparations from this government is more than just expecting them to do the right thing and make a federal attempt to right a great evil, but it may lead to a solution eventually. I mean really; how can giving me money help my dead great grandmother who was raped at the age of about seven, lived her whole life without recompense and then die in poverty? Human Sacrifice on that level cannot be repaired at all, but am I affected by what happened to her!? LOL... How about giving me reparations for stealing my children on false allegations and a malicious attack that split up my family, and then after three years of sifting me like wheat, and having to drop all of the false allegations, causing me to be poor having to spend thousands of dollars to get a trial to prove innocence and get my children back? Let's not even talk about my ancestor!!! You d*mn skippy I am affected by the same government that destroyed her life. smh. I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT PLAN TO WRITE THIS MUCH.

Yes to both. Readers include the professional book reviewers, few booksellers you can go to and get a decent recommendation, entitles that bestow awards, places like AALBC that curate a collection of books based upon a variety of sources etc. Of course, all of the above is in jeopardy as people strengthen Amazon's near monopoly by increasingly publishing with them and buying their books from them. Look, there will always be those like Amazon that will publish virtually anything they are paid to publish. As to your other comment on my use of the word "ban" to describe what Jane was calling for. I think it is valid description based upon what she wrote. I posed a couple of questions for her if she chooses to answer them, she can clarify. There will always be books that people don't want to see in print and that others will find ways to produce. I'm sure the word "ban" rubbed Jane the wrong way as she probably sees herself as strongly against the banning of books. However, when you call for restrictions to a category of books the way she did that is tantamount to calling for ban. Book banners see themselves as virtuous. I'm sure she believes the "restrictions" she is calling for is a good thing, albeit damaging to indie authors. Verbosity is something I try to avoid (I often fail) 🙂 It the context of a comment to an article, I'm not going to take the time to write a verbose response. I make assumptions about what the person knows and assume that they believe my intentions are good. Plus, I have no idea if anyone will read my response or if it will be approved -- which is why I posted my response here. Thanks for sharing Janes article @richardmurray and sparking my interest in the subject.

Reparations is an uphill climb because unlike the 1960s, there's no movement to demand it. If Civil Rights was a struggle, reparations will be a battle. The AfroAmerican community (ADOS/FBA) does not have enough leadership and coordination of resources to take on the fight. Many AfroAmericans have been anesthetized and distracted by access to higher places and/or gross consumerism within the system of racism white supremacy. Other AfroAmericans have simply given up hope believing that it's impossible or too hard. Then, there's the indifferent... Ask the average AfroAmerican if they are interested in fighting for reparations. Wait for their response....😎

Great work @Troy

Well we've been exchanging thoughts on these forums for a couple decades now and that time has really flown by. @Cynique I remember once referring to you as an octogenarian and you quickly corrected me saying you were not that old yet. Older people who still have their wits have always fascinated me. I know how much the world has changed in my lifetime, but you were already an adult when I was born, so I can't imagine your perspective. I think love is indeed the answer, too bad our society is not structured in a way fosters love.

Heck if I know what to do about the rest of the WWW @richardmurray it is already jacked up. On this site, I'm going to focus on creating quality content and completely eliminate intrusive advertising. The ads that I sell directly are great as they relate directly to the website demographics and people often appreciate them, but the main thing is they are not so intrusive. I removed the network ads from the discussion forum, and it is much better experience. There was one video ad that kept popping up that you could not make go away. I would refresh the page ot make it go away, but it kept coming back -- very frustrating. My mid-range goal focus on direct selling of advertising and perhaps asking more visitors to pay to support the mission of the site. Right now I'm focused on the website upgrade.

It was affirmation of "capitalism." However in an, environment, like the one we have now, where a monopoly like Amazon can dominate the book industry free of government regulation is not what I'm affirming, What I am affirming is that if people don't like Amazon promoting AI generated books -- then they should stop buying book from Amazon. There are plenty of great alternatives at least for now, but if we keep plowing our money into Amazon those alternatives will become far fewer. The read does. Readers have a wide variety of tools to help them find good books. A good bookseller can made recommendations and sites like AALBC do a lot of curation to help readers more easily find good books. My "how did this happen" question was an inquiry into how the AI book became a B&N bestseller. Presumably it sold a lot of copies. How was the book discovered by readers, was it B&N's algorithm, did the publisher buy advertising? Amazon also showed the book ranked highly. This does not happen by magic.

@richardmurray no problem 😉

that is nonsense. Nobody is sitting around waiting for reparations. Where are you getting this information? the truth is that Black people have done astonishingly well given hundreds of years of violently imposed oppression. Question for you @Jeromex independent of your exaggerated description of Black people or America’s willingness to pay, do you believe that America owes Black people compensation for slavery and Jim Crow?