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.