
Leif Mason, Founder
SOCIAL MEDIA:
About ME:
Linkin Park’s Hybrid Theory was my first ever CD; I’m probably hungry for a Jersey Mike’s sub right now; and the only 3 things I ever seriously considered getting tattooed are:
“The only thing that burns in hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life: your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away, but they're not punishing you, they're freeing your soul. If you're frightened of dying and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. If you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels freeing you from the earth.”
― Meister Eckhart (the version from Jacob’s Ladder, [1990])
“When you reach the stars, boy, yes, and live there forever, all the fears will go, and Death himself will die.”
—Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree
“Dream as if you’ll live forever; live as if you’ll die today.”
― James Dean
Really, though, if I could tattoo a video, it would be two scenes because they haunted me in the best way as a kid: 1) from The Halloween Tree (1993) cartoon movie when Pip is in the sarcophagus and the pumpkin says, “Live forever…Live, live forever…Live, live…forever…” and 2) when Neo stops the bullets at the end of The Matrix (1999).
Anyway, I’m jokingly referred to as the “Black Viking” because of my name (I was—partially—named after my great-grandfather…and I don’t know where he got his name from…and I have no understanding of Viking history or culture). I’m sincerely referred to as an emerging writer, artist, thinker, amateur theoretical physics enthusiast, inventor, and daydreamer. I know I’m supposed to read and stuff, but I’m much more inspired by movies than books. Writing is the super low-budget version of making a film.
All the artwork and designs associated with my books are mine (except fonts). This includes covers. As for the fake “movie posters”, it’s just something I do for fun. They can be found in the art gallery. I use commercial free images I find online and/or AI-generated images, then edit them in Word or Photoshop. (The posters are not for sale.)
Writing goals:
1) Have fun. 2) Be heard and seen. 3) Build something. 4) Have extra disposable income. 5) Change hearts, not necessarily minds—That is, encourage critical thinking not political thinking. 6) Have work that crosses, bends, and breaks divisive lines. 7) Spread love (or at least respect), joy, and laughter. 8) Relieve the immense anger and disappointment I have for this speci—I mean, healthily relieve emotional and psychological tension. 9) Number eight again.
Also, any constructive feedback is much appreciated.
Favorite Animals:
Dog, ram, hawk, raven, lion, wolf, lamb, puppies, kittens, black sheep, Monarch Butterflies, Bugs Bunny
Favorite Superheroes:
Pip from The Halloween Tree; self-reflection; Mom and Dad; Cowboy Fievel; my emotional/psychological/spiritual interpretation of Jesus; Bugs Bunny; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Emmy Noether; Albert Einstein; James Dean; Deadpool; Josh Johnson (comedian, philosopher); Ralph Waldo Emerson; Henry David Thoreau; George Lucas; Steven Spielberg; Joan of Arc; David Goggins; Irena Sendler; Dashrath Manjhi (“The Mountain Man”); V; Sky Captain (Joe Sullivan); Wolverine…um…Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie version); Peacemaker (John Cena version); Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt version); Dexter Morgan; Beetlejuice…
CELEBRITY CRUSHES:
Sabrina Carpenter, Quenlin Blackwell
Favorite Looney Tunes episodes:
Little Red Riding Rabbit (absolute favorite); Hot Cross Bunny; Rabbit of Seville; Long-Haired Hare; Bugsy and Mugsy; Bewitched Bunny
Favorite books:
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Garfield comic books, Slaughterhouse-Five, Cat’s Cradle, and The Little Giant Book of Whodunits. So about my reading history…I got outta reading stuff in school by paying attention during class discussions. It’s not that I don’t like reading but I think the forced reading in school put me off to it. I have read some other stuff, but fortunately, I’ve been able to read what I’m interested in…turns out the reading thing ain’t so bad. Currently reading: Bossypants by Tina Fey; The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky; The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates; Meditations by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus; Farewell Address by former U.S. Commander-in-Chief, President, and General, George Washington; and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson.
Favorite shows:
Original Running Man (Korean variety show); FRIENDS; Arrested Development; Archer; original Animaniacs; original Will and Grace; It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; 30 Rock; original Looney Tunes; MXC (English dubbed); Another Period; Father Knows Best; Psycho Pass; original FLCL; Samurai Champloo; Paranoia Agent; Malcolm in the Middle; Community; Band of Brothers; Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law; Dexter (Michael C. Hall); Courage, the Cowardly Dog; Ed, Edd, ‘n Eddy; MTV’s The Challenge (minus the drama); Severance (season one only, though—so far); Dark Matter (by Blake Crouch)
Favorite movies:
A lot…but here’s a few in no particular order:
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Fight Club
The Matrix
Saving Private Ryan
Do The Right Thing
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West
The Halloween Tree
Rebel Without a Cause
Saw (only the first one)
Back to the Future
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Heretic (2024)
Mostly, though, I remember movies by particular scenes or parts of the story that I loved (how well crafted they were—writing, direction, acting, cinematography, sound, score, innovation, techniques—every aspect of filmmaking was in harmony):
Anna Karenina (2012): the ball and Betsy’s party
Sinners (2025): I Lied to You scene
Pitch Perfect (2012): I Saw the Sign/Bulletproof scene
Saving Private Ryan (1998): D-Day
Avengers: Endgame (2019): Captain America, alone, stands up and tightens his shield
Babylon (2022): Margot Robbie disappears into the darkness, humming
Speed (1994): escaping the bus
Shaun of the Dead (2004): New day, same routine
Favorite Video Games:
I gotta think about it…hold on…
POLITICS:
Since this is all anyone cares about these days, I identify as a staunch Independent; my allegiance is to the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Civil Rights—not any policy, party, or politician. I believe in the principles on which the U.S. was founded and I’m committed to their longevity. Oh, and I’m a card-carrying, subscribed member of the human community. My only “enemy” is the type of corruption that makes it difficult for neighbors to show up for one another.
My works:
Novels, novellas, novel-scripts, and Collections:
Border World Series
The Female Complex
Never in the Nursery: A Murder Mystery
A Long Drive
Never in the Nursery: The Genius Machinist
The Most Complex
Drive Crazy to Drive On
Never in the Nursery: World War 3
The Last Complex
Drive Home
Never Drive a Complex
TAKE OFF FOR A TALE SPIN (SPIN OFF TO BWS)
Catch a Fairy by the Tale (short story collection)
Simple Fiction Series (a.k.a. My “Études”)
The Dullest Tale Ever Told
Killing Me Softly on the Shoulders of 94
Nervous Cystem
Night of the Living Queens
Nervous System (sequel)
The Night Before King’s Mass (sequel)
The Baby Maker
Son of a Baby Maker (sequel)
STAND ALONE STUFF
Spilled Milk: A Human Exclusive
Fairy Got Tale
Too Lazy for a Novel (short story collection)
the kapten’s guide
The Kapten’s Guide Volume 1: New Worlds
Book 1: Preparation
Book 2: Arrival
Book 3: Truths
The Kapten’s Guide Volume 2: New Growth
The Kapten’s Guide Volume 3: New Adventures
Discount Apocalypse
Volume One
Volume Two
Volume Three
Screenplays:
Nervous Cystem
The Baby Maker
POETRY:
F(x) Solve For ‘x’
Down to a Science, Up to a Conscience
Just Another Book of Poetry: Nothing Special
Pour Me, Unrefined
Atlantic Selfish
Nonfiction:
Daelogus Method (science communication)
Mind Full (Full of It Series)
Master Full (Full of It Series)
Thought Full (Full of It Series)
Full of It: An Interview (Full of It Series)