In today's rapidly changing publishing landscape, many indie authors are questioning whether traditional Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) programs still serve their intended purpose. As an author and industry observer, I've noticed several concerning trends that suggest it might be time for a significant overhaul of this long-standing practice. Photo by Vincenzo Malagoli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-reading-book-and-holding-coffee-1550648/ Why the Current ARC Model Is Showing Cracks The traditional approach of distributing free copies to readers in exchange for honest reviews has been a cornerstone of indie publishing strategy. However, numerous issues have emerged that challenge its effectiveness: 1. Diminishing Returns on Investment Many authors now distribute more ARCs than they sell books during launch week. When your marketing strategy costs more than it generates, it deserves scrutiny. 2. Eroding Trust in Reviews The general public's trust in online reviews h...

Welcome to the first episode of Stone and Signal . This post includes two parts: the Essay , a written reflection that expands on the themes explored in the episode, and the Transcript , a full written version of the audio. Whether you prefer to read, listen, or both, I invite you to pause for a moment and tune into something quieter—something more real.  The Podcast Links Edpisode 1 on YouTube Episode 1 on Spotify The Essay The Transcript Listening for What’s Real Photo by Daniel Flores: https://www.pexels.com/photo/tranquil-ocean-sunset-with-silhouette-31494106/ We are not starving for information. It is cast on us like a stream of projectile vomit that we attempt to avoid, only to slip and fall in the still warm pile of dog crap already left in our path. No, it is not information we are starving for, but meaning. We live in a time where almost everything can be heard—yet almost nothing is truly listened to. The world hums with data, voices, opinions, instructions, algorithms. Bu...

  Announcing Stone and Signal – A Podcast That Listens Back We are not starving for information. It is cast on us like a stream of projectile vomit that we attempt to avoid, only to slip and fall in the still-warm pile of dog crap already left in our path. No, it is not information we are starving for, but meaning. We live in a time where almost everything can be heard—yet almost nothing is truly listened to. The world hums with data, voices, opinions, instructions, algorithms. But beneath it all, something quieter waits. Something more real. That’s where Stone and Signal was born. This is a pre-release announcement. The podcast is still in production, but the signal is forming. And it feels right to speak to the why before the world hears the what. Why This Podcast, and Why Now? For years I’ve wrestled with the tension between expression and silence. As a writer, I’ve always lived in the written word—fiction, poetry, and storytelling that lingers in the slower currents of ...

The Unseen Engine: How Generative AI Powers Modern Life - Part 3  In today’s polarized conversations around AI, we often hear from four main groups: those who support AI, those who oppose it entirely, those specifically against generative AI, and those who simply don’t care. Among those critical of generative AI, we increasingly see a push to narrow its definition—focusing primarily on its use in creative writing and visual art. But this narrowing overlooks how deeply embedded generative systems already are in the infrastructure of modern life: from medicine and climate science to everyday digital communication. This leads to an essential question: Are people truly anti-generative AI—or are they responding to deeper concerns about authorship, ethics, and the invisible integration of AI into systems of power and creativity? By directing attention at specific outputs that affect different groups in emotionally charged ways, are we losing the broader narrative—and in doing so, mi...

The Unseen Engine: How Generative AI Powers Modern Life - Part 2 In today’s polarized conversations around AI, we often hear from four main groups: those who support AI, those who oppose it entirely, those specifically against generative AI, and those who simply don’t care. Among those critical of generative AI, we increasingly see a push to narrow its definition—focusing primarily on its use in creative writing and visual art. But this narrowing overlooks how deeply embedded generative systems already are in the infrastructure of modern life: from medicine and climate science to everyday digital communication. This leads to an essential question: Are people truly anti-generative AI—or are they responding to deeper concerns about authorship, ethics, and the invisible integration of AI into systems of power and creativity? By directing attention at specific outputs that affect different groups in emotionally charged ways, are we losing the broader narrative—and in doing so, missing th...

The Unseen Engine: How Generative AI Powers Modern Life - Part 1  In today’s polarized conversations around AI, we often hear from four main groups: those who support AI, those who oppose it entirely, those specifically against generative AI, and those who simply don’t care. Among those critical of generative AI, we increasingly see a push to narrow its definition—focusing primarily on its use in creative writing and visual art. But this narrowing overlooks how deeply embedded generative systems already are in the infrastructure of modern life: from medicine and climate science to everyday digital communication. This leads to an essential question: Are people truly anti-generative AI—or are they responding to deeper concerns about authorship, ethics, and the invisible integration of AI into systems of power and creativity? By directing attention at specific outputs that affect different groups in emotionally charged ways, are we losing the broader narrative—and in doing so, mi...

  "When the gods fell silent, we invented algorithms. When the prophets disappeared, we logged on." Once Upon a Time, We Needed Meaning Once, humans gathered around fires to whisper about gods and monsters. The thunder wasn’t just noise; it was the fury of a sky god. Illness wasn’t random; it was punishment or possession. Storytelling wasn’t just entertainment. It was survival. It was how we made sense of storms, death, birth, betrayal. It wrapped mystery in metaphor and gave chaos a name. Story is the oldest technology we have. Long before the written word, stories helped us pass knowledge, encode values, and connect through shared belief. They made time feel less cruel and fear less lonely. Myths gave shape to the unknown. Legends gave us heroes to root for, villains to blame, and destinies to fulfill. The machinery of myth has always served the same core function: to turn confusion into clarity. Whether carved in stone, chanted in caves, or passed from mouth to...