Chris didn’t look like an Aboriginal adolescent as he set off from Belfast on his café racing Moto Guzzi. But it was the same motivation that drove him to set off on a journey of self-discovery. But when the Iranian revolution stopped the planned 10,000-mile motorcycle road trip to Australia, he ends high in the Andes, 50-odd thousand miles later, before returning to Belfast.

Going the Wrong Way. A ‘coming of age’ road trip like no other.

Chris is now riding to Australia, on the same Moto Guzzi Le Mans, 42 years after his first attempt.

Book reviews

Chris leaves the Belfast Troubles behind and creates his own trouble. It’s a wild ride but Chris tells a cracking yarn that will keep you going to the bitter-sweet end.

Ted Simon, Author, Jupiter’s Travels

What a gem of a book. The journey Chris described was vivid, raw, and humorous. It takes the reader back to more innocent times, before technology shrank the world, and motorcycling adventures became stage managed.

A truly awesome read – an engaging, raw, honest and absolutely enthralling adventure!

As an adolescent troubled by the Belfast (IRA) “Troubles” of the 70’s, Chris strikes out on a worldwide voyage of self-discovery and brings the reader with him to share the experiences.

Since the Stone Age, the Walkabout has been an Aboriginal rite of passage. When adolescent boys wander aimlessly through the bush on a journey with no particular destination, to make the spiritual transition from boy to man.

It’s a time for self-assessment and deep thought, to learn about himself without the influence of his elders, friends, or family. It’s a physical and psychological journey.

Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube

Going the Wrong Way, Chris Donaldson

David Hern was born in New York City on June 20, 1958. An actor virtually since birth, David first appeared onstage at age 5 as the ringmaster of a Kindergarten Circus. He studied theatre, rehearsed, and appeared in plays all through high school and college, followed by numerous community and professional stage productions in Northern California.

Fresh out of high school, he won a full scholarship to attend San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre’s training program where he was fortunate enough to study under Vincent Price and Peter Donat. In the early 1980s he moved to Hollywood where he appeared on the late-night spook show Freddy’s Nightmares, and continued his scene work under the tutelage of character actors Bruce Glover and Allen Garfield.

Relocating back to Northern California a decade later, he appeared in the films Bee Season, Twisted, and Paradise Club, as well as in stage productions at Center Repertory and Playhouse West. He was also cast as the host of Rider McDowell’s Nighty Night San Francisco, a send-up of late-night talk shows featured on Evening Magazine with former child star Johnny Whitaker.

As a writer, David’s play What Loving People Do was performed as a staged reading at Playhouse West in 2008. Another, In the Birdcage, at both the Nosotros Playhouse in Los Angeles (1987) and the San Francisco Playwrights Center (1992).

David’s late father, Bernie Hern was also an actor and stand-up comedian, appearing on the Robert Q. Lewis radio show in 1950. He is also known for his appearance in the classic Rob Reiner film, When Harry met Sally, as well as in his recurring TV role as Judge Sidney Schroeder on Steven Bochco’s L. A. Law in the 1980s.

David is now an author with the release of How Not to Make it in Hollywood—a twisted comic memoir of his decade there.

Ivan Bodley Story-Power Ep. 35 November 20, 2021, Am I Famous Yet?

Lisa Jensen Story-Power Ep. 85 October 11, 2023, Her book, Cedar Ridge as Maris Parker

Dave Dahl, Story-Power Eps. 1 July 22, 2020 and 27 July 21, 2021

Thirsty Kyra Sedgwick, Still in production

Trauma, TV series (2009- 10)

Sugar TV series on Apple TV, (2024- )

Prolific Writers Life, Story-Power Eps. 51 June 22, 2022 and 97, March 27, 2024 with Lorraine Haataia, CEO

American Fiction (2003) Jeffrey Wright

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) Dan Stevens

The Holdovers (2023) Paul Giamatti

Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle TV Movie (2005) Timothy Spall

David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, Love’s Labor’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Taming of the Shrew

Our Town, Thornton Wilder

Mel Brooks, Director, Actor

George Clooney, Director, Actor

Paradise Club (2016)

Stargate (1994) James Spader

The Poseidon Adventure (1972) Gene Hackman

Stone Cold Sarah Humphreys, Story-Power Ep. 64, December 21, 2022

Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal view of Hollywood, William Goldman

Cinema Therapy, on YouTube with Jonathan Decker and Alan Seawright

Ted Lasso, TV Series on Apple TV, (2020 - )

Carew Papritz, also known as The Cowboy Philosopher, is the author of the multi-award winning book The Legacy Letters. Though fictional, The Legacy Letters has won acclaim as a life lessons book for all generations, gaining the distinction of being the only book in publishing history to win awards in both fiction and non-fiction categories. A Renaissance Man in an age that lauds the specialist, The Huffington Post says Papritz "intrigues and enlightens, charms and catalyzes change for every reader."

As part of his many innovative and adventurous first-ever book signings, Carew truly lives his book’s central message to “live life to the fullest” while signing books on top of volcanoes and horses. These events and other YouTube videos, such as the “I Love to Read” series and his annual literacy-driven charity event, “The Great Book Balloon Launch,” inspire kids and adults to rediscover the joy of reading! Proceeds of the summer’s sales of The Legacy Letters went to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Proceeds from his recent “First-Ever Book Signing while Stomping Grapes” went to the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Other charities include Reading is Fundamental and the Military Mama’s Network.

The Legacy Letters: his wife, his children, his final gift, Carew Papritz

Smashwords online ebook store

Carewtube

Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau

Taft-Hartley Act

The Holdovers, (2023)

The Sopranos, (1999 - 2007)

All the Star Trek series

Ted Lasso, (2020 - )

National Thank You Letter Writing Day (on Kelly Clarkson Show)

Project Gratitude

I Love to Read series on YouTube

William Shakespeare

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

Ernest Hemingway, Author

The Crucible, Arthur Miller, playwright

Hamilton, (Aug. 6, 2015 - Present) Lin Manuel Miranda

Steve Jobs, Co-creator of Apple Computer

The Grove, earth friendly home products

Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesen, David’s House, Architectural Digest

Sierra Vista Public Library, Arizona

Vietnam Memorial, Washington, D.C.

The Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.

Stone Cold, Sarah Humphrys

The Bible

Natey and Katy: At the Movies podcast, Website

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Christmas in Connecticut (1945)

The Bishop’s Wife (1947)

Any of the versions of A Christmas Carol

Turner Classic Movies, TCM.com

It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) Available on TCM, Plex, and Tubi

The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941) Available on TCM

Remember the Night (1940)

Coming soon: Classic Cinema with the Sage Sisters

Ray Hartjen is a writer and musician who lives in Pleasanton, California, where he and his wife, Lori, raised their adult children, Olivia and Raymond.

In a professional career that has spanned parts of five decades, Ray has pivoted on many occasions, from investment banking to pharmaceuticals, from consumer electronics to SaaS software. One constant throughout his career path, however, has been storytelling.

In the past, Ray has been a frequent source for quotes from the national media on both the consumer electronics and retail industries. Additionally, as a contributor to a number of online outlets and platforms, including his rayhartjen.com site, he has spun his fair share of yarn on topics as far ranging as sports — primarily football, hockey and auto racing — and business, particularly revenue team functions like sales and marketing. Ray’s previous work includes being the coauthor of Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh, published in 2022 by Morgan James Publishing and available at all major booksellers.

Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in March of 2019, Ray is a cancer fighter every day of the week that ends in a ‘y.’ And, with the soundtrack of life playing continuously in his head, Ray also performs and records with his two-piece acoustic band, the Chronic Padres.

A native of Texas, Ray holds an undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University and an MBA from the University of Washington.

As one always to welcome a chat with others, especially fellow cancer patients, please feel free to connect with Ray at www.rayhartjen.com, on Twitter @RayHartjen, via email at rayhartjen@gmail.com, or via voice or text at (925) 895-5441.

Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube

Immaculate: How the Steelers Saved Pittsburgh Tom O’Lenic and Ray Hartjen

Me, Myself, and My Multiple Myeloma: A Behind-the-Scenes Look For Patients, Caregivers, & Allies Ray Hartjen

The Indy 500: 30 Days in May Hal Higdon

Scholastic Publishers

International Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

Cinema Therapy with Alan Seawright and Jonathan Decker on YouTube

Ted Lasso TV series seasons 1 - 3 (2020 - 2023) on Apple+

Franklin Covey Leadership Organization

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: 30 Anniversary Edition Stephen R. Covey

Judith Starkston has spent too much time reading about and exploring the remains of the ancient world. Early on she went so far as to get degrees in Classics from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cornell. She writes historical fantasy set in the Bronze Age of the Greeks and Hittites. Her five novels bring women to the fore—whether the Trojan War captive Briseis or a remarkable Hittite queen whom history forgot, even though she ruled over one of the greatest empires of the ancient world.

Judith lives in Davis, California with her husband and a rambunctious garden.

Website, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter)

PodMatch a service for podcasters

The Iliad, Homer

A Thousand Ships, Natalie Haynes

Song of Achilles, Madeline Miller

Medea, Elisha Quin, Play by Euripides

Beloved, Toni Morrison

Author N. K. Jamisin

Clytemnestra wife of Agamemnon, Aeschylus

Star Trek

Lilith, Nikki Marmery

The Chalice and the Blade, Riane Eisler

Unesco World Heritage sites in Turkey, Hattusha and more

Author Naomi Novak, The Termeraire series (9 books beginning with Her Majesty’s Dragon)

Author George R. R. Martin, A Game of Thrones series (5 books)

Tyler Schwanke is a writer and a filmmaker. He holds an MFA from Hamline University, and his short stories have been widely published. He is also a graduate of the New York Film Academy and Minnesota State University Moorhead, where he was awarded a Minnesota Film and TV Grant. Several of his award-winning short films have played at festivals across the country. Tyler lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife and their dog. Breaking In is his debut novel.

Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube

Goosebumps books

Author John Grisham

Jurassic Park Michael Crichton

The Shining Stephen King

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Stieg Larsson

The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins

Breaking In Tyler Schwanke

Working Girl (1988)

Author Diana Gabaldon, The Outlander Series

Author Julia Quinn, The Bridgerton Series

Me Too Movement The phrase originally used on social media starting in 2006

Midsommar (2019)

The Marvels (2023)

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Alpha Bette is Jennifer’s first novel. She put much of her personal and professional life experience into writing it, having been a family therapist, divorce mediator, Broadway and Off-Broadway producer, musical book writer, screenwriter & producer and screenwriting teacher. She co-wrote and produced the films Family Blues and Boundary Waters (in production) as well as wrote the book of two musicals that are streaming online: Marry Harry, a full-length musical, and Cockroaches & Cologne, a short musical. She is a proud board member of New York Stage and Film, The Peace Studio, and 18by Vote. She is married with five children and many grandchildren—great source material!

Website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

Alpha Bette Jennifer Manocherian

Suffs, Broadway Musical book, music and lyrics by Shaina Taub. Still running

Don’t Call Me Pig: A Javelina Story, Conrad J Storad, Illustrated by Beth Neely

The Peace Studio

18by Vote