Inside Scoop Live!

Gloria A. Swift immigrated to the United States in 1973 and served in the United States Army where she received many "firsts" in awards and recognition. Ms. Swift also served as the first female police officer on the Foster City Police Department. Those were the days when it was difficult for black women to integrate into a white, male-dominated profession.
Ms. Swift is a retired educator who holds multiple degrees and credentials in Education. 'Thank You, Ms. Swift - It's Not about As and Bs' was written to highlight the challenges teachers face when assigning students the grades they earned. Ms. Swift enjoys authoring real stories about real people. She does not shy away from the issues that affect human lives.
Ms. Gloria Swift spends her time commuting between the United States and Belize, where as a Director, she is actively involved in the non-profit organization established in honor of her parents, John and Adele Swift Development and Enrichment Center (JADE), providing for those who need food, financial assistance in education, and transportation. She also assists in the family's B&B in Belize. In her spare time, Ms. Swift visits countries around the world and soaks in the culture.
To learn more about Gloria Swift and her work visit her Amazon page at: https://www.amazon.com/author/gloriaswift
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
Her writing journey
About "They Called Me Mama"
Farm animals vs. Pets
Returning to Belize and the farm after many years
Mama telling the story in first person
Life on the farm with Mama in charge
What's next for Gloria Swift?
 
THEY CALLED ME MAMA
It is not every day I say, “I enjoy time with critters.” I grew up on this farm decades ago. Then I left. Now I have returned. I enjoy working with the critters now more than ever. The sheep, turkeys, fowls, guinea hens, and dogs are unique. I spent time with one sheep whom I called Mama. She understood me. No matter where she was, when she heard my voice, she came running. Mama was spoiled, and she knew it. The flock treated her with respect. They never entered the pen in the evenings unless Mama was there to enter first. They assembled in front of the gate and waited for her. In the mornings, she led them out of the pen. There are times when Mama sneaked away from the flock and ate alone. When she was discovered missing, they ran all around the farm baaing and baaing. Mama heard them, but she never answered. When the flock found her, they surrounded her, but Mama continued eating. I observed a turkey hen training her first seven chicks. She stretched her neck in the air, called out a certain sound, and all the chicks crouched on the ground. After giving another signal, they got up.
Remarkable. As a child, I never observed these behaviors. They were critters who served a purpose. Now I get so involved that the loss of one haunts me for weeks even months. Mama told her own story, her observations and challenges. She was favored more than the others, and she knew it. Her story is a reminder that the day will come when each of us will leave our loved ones. We have to pass on the torch of life and hope for the best.

Bruce Thomas was raised in Farmington, Missouri, by two loving parents. Playing four sports in high school while playing in the band, singing and acting in a local play, he obtained a fantastic education and well-rounded childhood. After high school, Bruce was appointed to the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After four years of strenuous physical and mental activities, he graduated in 1980 as a second lieutenant with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. After graduation, Bruce set upon his real life's passion, flying. In the summer of 1980, he attended US Air Force pilot training at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. After an exhausting and rewarding year, Bruce received his silver pilot's wings. All three of his daughters were born at Vance Air Force Base during this part of his career while he was teaching other Air Force pilots how to fly jet aircraft. After five rewarding years, Bruce was qualified in the A-10 Warthog, a close air support, fighter aircraft. His first assignment was in the far north near Fairbank, Alaska. For the next twenty years, he flew the single-seat A-10 fighter in multiple wars and hotspots all over the world. During his military career, Bruce was stationed in six different states and six foreign countries, including Iraq and South Korea. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas retired from the 303rd Fighter Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, in 2004. As his military career was drawing down, Bruce was blessed to receive an invitation to become a commercial airline pilot with Southwest Airlines. After six years, he was upgraded to captain on the Boeing 737 aircraft in 2006. In 2020, he retired from his second job at Southwest Airlines after a total of twenty years of exciting flying all over the USA. He now concentrates on relaxing and writing in Overland Park, Kansas. Bruce has been married to Vivian for twelve years. His five children and nine grandchildren are all blessed with good health and beautiful families. Bruce Thomas's first book, The Hope of the South, was published in 2018 and is available on all major outlets. Chaos Above the Sand, a prequel, is the second book in the Special Projects Unit series.
Learn more about Bruce Thomas and his work by visiting his website at https://www.brucethomasauthor.com/.
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About "Chaos Above the Sand"
What is the SPU?
Character dynamics and development
Research, Traveling and Writing
Writing a Series
What's Next for Bruce Thomas?
CONNECT WITH BRUCE THOMAS!
 
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BruceThomas1957
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/BruceThomasSPU2
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/brucethomasauthor
 
 
CHAOS ABOVE THE SAND
Iran 2010. The Iranian High Council has decided that today is the day that their fighter pilots will attack. With a large group of fighter aircraft poised to cross the border into Iraq, the only thing standing in the Iranians way is Wild Bill Eddy's four F-15C aircraft. With lightning speed, the battle rages in the sky above Iraq. Iran's desire to control the Middle East sets this fast-paced, multilayered story in motion.
Germany, May 1944. Field Marshal Erwin Rommel has sent his most trusted representatives to steal vast treasures from Hitler's hidden storage location. Once these were obtained, they intend to use the horde to fund their escape from the war that has devastated Germany and made them lose faith with the Führer. A mix of attacks, setbacks, and terrible timing cause the treasures to be lost when the Allies attacked Normandy on June 6, 1944.
From the beginning, the Special Projects Unit is thrown into this thriller with traitors, spies, and patriotic soldiers. The SPU director, William "Wild Bill" Eddy, along with his best friend, Assistant Director Mark "Vector" Jones, race to solve the clues to who is supplying top secret information to the Iranians. With villains and traitors on every page, the SPU must decipher the clues and save the USA from a fast-approaching military defeat. Clues to the lost World War II treasure become mixed into the story of the building and hiding of the SPU. This yarn is the tale of the development and birth of the SPU.

David L. Savage grew up as an Air Force brat in West Texas with a deep and rich scouting background beginning in Cub Scouts, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and earning the bronze, silver and gold palms, then establishing and leading a high adventure Explorer Post before heading to Texas A&M University to study engineering.  The summer after graduating from Texas A&M, he worked as a backpacking guide, or Ranger, at Philmont Scout Ranch and Explorer Base in Cimarron, New Mexico.
David has a passion for history and geopolitics, which he has enriched through global job-related travel and extensive reading.  He and his wife, Kimberly, have been married for eighteen years and live in Katy, Texas. They blended their families and raised four children, now grown.
He has written hundreds of poems and was the official Roaster-in-Chief at many company promotion and retirement events, all in verse.  His rich sense of humor has been displayed as an amateur at the Comedy Workshop in Houston and winning the Star Search contest in Chicago back in the late eighties.  He also was the U.S. Regional Winner of the Tall Tales Contest for Toastmasters International in that same time period.
David has been a lifelong backpacker and outdoorsman and has been blessed to have a group of five older advisors who, along with David, call themselves “The Sixpack.”  They have backpacked for twenty-five years together to provide some of the rich and humorous stories he shares throughout his memoir, The Savage Path.
Learn More about David and his work by visiting his website at www.thesavagepath.com
Topics of Conversation
About "The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity"
Inspiration for writing the book
What is Modern Masculinity?
David's radio show/podcast: "Wrestling with the Inner Man"
Advice for young men
What's next for David L. Savage?
The Savage Path: A Memoir of Modern Masculinity
This book is one humble man's memoir describing his journey through life with its successes, failures, friendships, and family. Using humility and humor to highlight hard-won wisdom, David invites you to sit by his campfire, feel its warmth, and let it draw you into the intimate storytelling environment that only its flickering flame and the expansive night sky can provide. It is a sacred place where we share tall tails, triumphs, and tragedies. Through it all, we engage in the pursuit of authentic manhood and positive, healthy masculinity.
CONNECT WITH DAVID L. SAVAGE!
Website: www.thesavagepath.comEmail: dsavage4@comcast.netLinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/DavidLSavageInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidlsavage/

A writer with a BA in English, a minor in Japanese, an art degree in animation, and an MBA in International Management, certificate in Social Engineering and multiple awards for articles on Net Neutrality, Privacy, LGBT Youth Homelessness, Cybersecurity and Cyberbullying, Natsuya Uesugi is writing his dream of showcasing fictional minority characters in positions of power.
Of Mixed Multi-cultural heritage (Indigenous, Asian, French, Scottish, Dutch, African-American), he sees life through the lens of challenge, marginalization, personal power and systemic marginalization. With ADHD on the Autism Spectrum and Transgender as a QPoC minority voice often silenced and invisible in mainstream literature, film, and manga, Natsuya focuses on bringing stories of empowerment, truth, triumph, and hope against insurmountable odds.
Using fiction, fantasy, and yaoi to spread his positive message, he writes to encourage LGBT, non-gender conforming, and neurodivergent young people to live their truth and dare to be their genuine selves. His stories, lauded for bringing visibility for featuring Queer People of Colour, his writing showcases the power of a multicultural viewpoint daring to pen diverse, real world fiction that fosters the complex aesthetic and art of #OwnVoices realness, beauty,and truth.
To learn more about Natsuya Uesugi DuBois visit his websites at: https://natsukoarts.com/ and https://www.grydscaen.com/.
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About the Grydscaen series
Natsuya’s diverse writing portfolio
The multiple award-winning grydscaen anime web series
Passions outside of writing
The invisibility of many groups in mainstream literature, film and manga and the importance of representation of those groups in the Indie World.
What’s next for Natsuya Uesugi DuBois?
GRYDSCAEN: DARK
A clandestine meet occurs in the Echelons under cover of darkness where Top Secret intel on the stock market changes hands. The insider tip gets the gothic hacker Jester engaged in a high tech game. Parliament votes to lower harsh stock market regulations fueling the Corporation's bottom line, a payoff from ministers who were propped up by illegal corporate campaign donations. Ordered by Jester, the teenage hacker Rom infiltrates the largest high volume brokerage house causing wild gyrations in trading. When Jester triggers an insidious stock market payload all hell breaks loose threatening the pristine City. Will Zoon, the leader of the Triumvirate, get roped into the fray? Can Raven, the government hacker, put the cryptic clues together before the market crashes? Find out in grydscaen: dark. Whose side are you on?
FIRST LOOK!! EXCLUSIVE CONCEPT SKETCH
17 year old Amiael Saren Aiken from book 3 of the "grydscaen: Prophet Trilogy."
FOLLOW NATSUYA UESUGI DUBOIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
  NatsuyaUesugiAuthor  Natsuya Uesugi Manga  Natsuya Uesugi Manga  #NatsuyaUesugiManga  NatsuyaUesugiManga
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13136335/

B.A. Bellec’s debut novel, Someone’s Story, won the Reader Views Reader’s Choice Literary Award for Young Adult Book of the Year. Someone’s Story is a young adult coming-of-age book and has seen good support over Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. One of the aspects that makes Bellec’s projects unique is he includes musicians in his novels and then he actually produces the songs as his book goes through the editing stages.
Bellec was born in Richmond, BC, and raised in Langley, BC, before settling in Winnipeg, MB. His first adventure was a career in Finance, where he spent 15 years developing his business skills. His highest achievement was the Certified Payroll Manager designation. He currently still consults with businesses on their systems and processes. Over that period of time, he also attended Lights Film School where he started to nurture his early creative abilities. 
A self-starter always interested in research, he taught himself many of the aspects of storytelling through reading books, screenplays, and material online. Whenever he found an inspirational piece of art, he quickly went to the source to find the story behind the artist who created the work. It took many years after attending film school for him to finally combine his creative skills with his life experience and tell these stories he had been holding back. Some of his favorite creative people: Lukas Rossi, Justin Furstenfeld, Peter Jackson, Stephen Chbosky, J.K. Rowling, and Stephen King. 
During COVID-19, Bellec started a YouTube channel and was awarded a grant from The Canada Council for the Arts. He also pounded away on the keyboard to bring his second novel, Pulse, from his imagination to the page. He can’t wait to release that book along with the new songs that will go with it!
For more information about B.A. Bellec and his works visit his website at www.babellec.com.
Topics of Conversation
About Someone's Story and the inspiration behind the book.
Putting your story out and the editing process
Publishing during a pandemic
Creating an anonymous character as the lead protagonist
Incorporating Music into the story
Marketing during a pandemic
Blonde roast anyone?
What's next for BA Bellec?
CONNECT WITH B.A. BELLEC!
Website: https://babellec.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BABellecsProductionStudioInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ba_bellec Twitter: https://twitter.com/b_bellec Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/babellec
 
 

Jolly Walker Bittick grew up in Sequim, Washington and served in the U.S. Navy from 2005 to 2009. He is a freelance writer, avid historian, and passionate outdoorsman who has traveled extensively over the course of his life. He draws inspiration and literary prowess from his experiences in numerous career fields and a multitude of social environments. From his time in retail, military, sales, and civil service, as well as his time living in rural, suburban, and urban environments, Jolly has developed a unique literary brand that encompasses numerous aspects of contemporary society.
To learn more about Jolly Walker Bittick and his work, visit his website at https://jollywalkerbittick.com/
 
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
About Cape Henry House and the inspiration behind the story
Fictionalizing a story based on true events
Working with an illustrators and others to bring the best story forward
What he likes to read and authors who inspire him
Advice to aspiring authors
What's next for Jolly Walker Bittick?
 
CAPE HENRY HOUSE
Based on a true story, Cape Henry House is a coming of age epoch about a ragtag group of sailors and their partying adventures from a bygone era, as told by former Petty Officer Third Class Bosner. When two of his best friends move into a house off base, they believe it will be a place to relax and have a few beers. For three weeks in early 2008, it's a place to roar and have a few kegs! From bars and diners, to dance floors and strip clubs, Cape Henry House proves to be the focal point where everyone convenes. Through laughter, mayhem, drinking, and drama, the group discovers a deeper camaraderie that sees them off as some are sent overseas, others find love, and all are left with lasting memories to cherish for a lifetime!
 
CONNECT WITH JOLLY WALKER BITTICK!
Website: https://jollywalkerbittick.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JollyWalkerBittickTwitter: https://twitter.com/RealJollyWalkerInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/jollywalkerbittick/

Dr. Calvin James began his creative journey when he was nineteen. He taught himself how to play guitar, started writing music, and founded a record company, Climax Records, Inc. in 2001. He released his first album, “City” in 2004. Around 2011, he took an interest in writing and gradually shifted his focus away from music to writing children’s stories. Once he finished graduate school in 2018, he decided to share all the music and stories he had written and founded Calvin James Creates in 2019. The mission statement of his company is to share children’s stories, novels, and music that promote the values of truth, kindness, friendship, love, and hope. The first two music videos released under the Calvin James Creates brand were “Hurricane” on October 16th, 2020 and “Listless Christmas” on December 4th, 2020. The first children’s book that will be released is “The Colored Water Fountain” on December 1st, 2021.
To learn more about Dr. Calvin James and his works, visit his website at https://calvinjamescreates.com/. 
Topics of Conversation
Creating a series for children about social issues from a different perspective
Building a world outside our reality to show how crazy the concept of judging someone by their skin color is
Diversity in children's books
Favorite books and inspiration
Music, Children's Books and Novels
What's next?
THE COLORED WATER FOUNTAIN
In a world that has been remade by a great flood, humans wake to find they are immortal children with no memory of the past. Animals are caretakers of the world; growing old and wise with no knowledge of times before. And yet, some things from the world that was... remain. When Asher and Adeline discover a sign that reads, 'Colored' Water Fountain, they set out on a quest to uncover the meaning.
 CONNECT WITH DR. CALVIN JAMES!
 Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CalvinJamesCreates
 Twitter @CalJamesCreates
 YouTube Channel: Calvin James Creates
 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvinjamescreates/
 Read the Review of The Colored Water Fountain
 

Marisa Billions is a high school English teacher and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Criminology. She is the author of the fiction novel, This Too Shall Pass and is working on her upcoming second novel. Marisa lives in Southern California with her wife, Stephanie and son Alexander and two Boxer Dogs, Max and Ruby.
To learn more about Marisa Billions and her work, visit her website at: https://marisabillions.wordpress.com/
Topics of Conversation:
About This Too Shall Pass
Genre-Blending
Taking Creative Liberties
Feedback from Readers
The Debut Journey
What's Next for Marisa Billions?
THIS TOO SHALL PASS
Cynical and sardonic Eva Brooks ponders what it would take to be satisfied in life. She fights against familial expectations, societal constraints, and her own desires. Landing herself in an unsatisfying marriage and conventional life, Eva realizes that she is gloomier than ever.A reunion with Riley, the woman of her dreams, changes her life forever. A future of happiness hovers on the horizon, beckoning her, calling her forever forwards. 
Then reality strikes and it hits hard.After trying unsuccessfully to protect her son via orthodox methods, life, and death, take a twist. A ghostly turn of events has Eva trying to decide to what lengths she will go to protect her child.Can Eva use her haunting new ability to help her son?
 
CONNECT WITH MARISA BILLIONS
Website: https://marisabillions.wordpress.com/
TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdPpbHj8/
Facebook: https://Facebook.com/authormarisabillions
Instagram: https://Instagram.com/authormarisabillions
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/marisabillions