Hi Alvin! Thanks for taking the time to comment. No, I was not a lit major. Instead, majored in Psychology and then Counseling Psych, and then went to film school for screenwriting many years later. Character development in real life, on the page, and on the screen is fascinating to me. You toggle all of it well. And you've picked subject matter that ties into that bit of voyeurism we all wrestle, which is a great marketing move too. Bravo!

And for what it's worth, those who make accusations / comments are looking through their filters, which likely has little to do with you. I'm guilty of that. Aren't we all.

Our style choices are so personal and you've identified yours. If you're using your writing to express yourself to make sense of your world, then we all need to give space to each other for that, right?

Fun fact: Your hero Fante wrote about 1930's depression era Los Angeles, which happens to be where and when my parents were born and grew up (Dad 1925 and Mom 1928 - RIP to both). I can attest to how that period impacted them, and ME, for their entire lives. My mom sang and danced through a lot of it and never strayed from her musical roots. My dad on the other hand became a CPA and was always squeezed by the bottom line of financial worries. Anyway, I thought your connection with Fante might enjoy a few goosebumps from someone with a personal connection to the L.A. scene. I was born in L.A. and still live within the TMZ (Thirty Mile Zone) of Hollywood. Cheers to you!