I dedicated my book, Bigmart Confidential, to the staff of the Voice, Bloomsburg University’s student newspaper. And that dedication extends to all past, present, and future members of the team. That dedication made me nostalgic to take a look back through the writings I contributed to the newspaper. I’m the first to admit that many of them are — like, really bad. But there’s also a handful I’m proud of. Why shouldn’t I be? They are some of the first pieces of nonfiction writing I produced, and they’re not that bad. That, and they show off my love affair with…

Below I’m providing the first chapter from my book, Bigmart Confidential, as a free excerpt. The chapter is titled “Marijuana and a Stiff Drink.” I hope you enjoy it, and if so, please purchase either the digital or paperback format of the book here: Bigmart is always accepting applications. Bigmart accepts these applications in all of its stores at all times. Bigmart accepts them from anyone regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. All are welcome to try their luck at landing an interview, and perhaps even finding a job. And all that’s needed is a Bigmart…

I started writing Bigmart Confidential over 10 years ago, and when I began the project I expected it to earn me millions and make me a celebrity. Agents and publishers were going to fight over me at lunch meetings in swanky Manhattan restaurants. And all of the book contracts I’d be offered — why, I’d make the most powerful New York publishing houses beg to print my words. Obviously, that didn’t happen. None of it. I finished the initial draft of Bigmart Confidential in eight months, and spent another year obsessively rewriting it after showing it to friends for feedback (something…

I’ve been on the lookout for any kind of commentary from Barbara Ehrenreich on the election of Donald Trump. I anticipated coming across an essay, but it was on YouTube where I found Ehrenreich sharing her thoughts. Barbara Ehrenreich was a guest speaker at Washington College in April 2017. The event was hosted by Patrick Nugent, the Deputy Director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the America Experience. Ehrenreich spoke much about her seminal work, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, a book that continues to have a profound effect on both my writing…

I’ve officially published and released Bigmart Confidential: Dispatches from America’s Retail Empire after 10 years of work on the project, and I couldn’t be prouder of the finished product. The book is currently for sale as an Amazon Kindle e-book, and I’m waiting for the proof of the CreateSpace paperback version. And here’s the book description I wrote for Bigmart Confidential: Bossy customers, out-of-touch managers, missing children, gawking Mormons, weapons of cardiac destruction, overworked and underpaid employees — it’s all in a day’s work at Bigmart. There’s no shortage of wild, funny, and moving tales to tell, and writer Steven…

Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker captures the soul of Bram Stoker’s legendary gothic novel without weighing itself down in overwrought theatrics. Simplicity is key, and both director Melissa Firlit and actor John P. Keller understand this well — as did the play’s creator, Jim Helsinger, when he first adapted the novel for performance on stage. There’s only one voice in the play — that of Jonathan Harker — and through him we hear the story of Count Dracula and the band of heroes determined to destroy him. Such a simple approach might mislead you, but don’t let it. This…

Do these two stories sound familiar? In the 2007 sci-fi/horror first-person shooter BioShock, there’s a gene-warping drug called ADAM that’s extracted from bottom-feeding sea slugs. These creatures were discovered slithering around the underwater city of Rapture, a bizarre Art Deco metropolis founded by Ayn Rand-inspired corporatist Andrew Ryan. Players learn about BioShock’s vision of the world in 1960 through “Audio Diaries.” Among the 122 total Auto Diaries you can find in the game, there are those that reveal the discovery of ADAM by geneticist (and World War II survivor) Brigid Tenenbaum. As a child, Tenenbaum was put to work in…

There’s been a theme to my current Google searches for new iOS games: Games Like Diablo iOS Diablo Clones iOS Action RPGs Like Diablo iOS With that said, let’s raise the question: why doesn’t Blizzard Entertainment get its act together and bring Diablo and Diablo II (and don’t be stingy — the Lord of Destruction expansion set must be included) to iOS? Blizzard needs to finally immortalize its classic computer games digitally as a mobile-friendly experience. A Great And Worthy Game The original Diablo was my first true gaming experience, and one I will never forget, taking root when I…