Give Me a Break

Posted on May 12, 2026 by Allen Mesch

I don’t know about other authors, but I have been inundated with emails from people wanting to help me publicize my books.

Here are some of the examples of the pitches.

This person used the wrong name.

Hi Collin,

I came across your book on Facebook and the idea behind it caught my attention. What inspired you to write it?

I’m a writer too, and I’ve been trying to connect with others because it can get pretty solitary sometimes. Would be nice to hear about your process.

Best Wishes,

Invite to a Community of Readers for a Fee

Dear Allen,

I hope you’re doing well.

My name is ______ ______, and I manage social media and community engagement at ____________, an online space where passionate readers come together to discover and discuss memorable books.

We’re currently preparing for our upcoming _________ in May, and I’d love to invite you to feature your work with our community.

Each _________ introduces an author and their book to engaged readers through discussion posts, social media features, and thoughtful recommendations. It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with readers, share your story, and build meaningful interest in your book.

If you’d like to learn more, simply reply to this email and I’ll be happy to send over the details.

Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Warm regards,

Book Placement for a Fee

Hi Allen _____,

Every day, readers open a page somewhere and begin looking for something new.

Not with a specific title in mind. Not with a fixed plan. Just a quiet curiosity. A willingness to discover something unexpected. And in that moment, what they see first often shapes what they choose next.

This is where placement begins to matter.

Some books appear early in that journey. They sit where eyes naturally land. They are not louder than others. They are simply more visible.

That is the idea behind __________.

It is not just another listing space. It is built around how people actually explore. Like a front page, where stories are not hidden in depth but placed where they can be noticed without effort.

You can place your book here:

Radio Interview with a Catch

Dear Author,

I am reaching out from a radio station. We are currently curating our upcoming broadcast cycle and have identified your work as a powerful fit for our literary programming.

The station is a legendary, listener-supported platform. Because we are entirely commercial-free, our programming is dedicated to independent journalism, radical culture, and providing a “voice for the voiceless.” We don’t just broadcast to an audience; we engage a community of intellectuals, activists, and lifelong learners who prioritize substance over commercial trends.

Your writing aligns perfectly with our mission to amplify voices that challenge, inspire, and contribute to the global cultural dialogue. We believe your work deserves to be showcased on a platform that honors the depth of your message without the distraction of corporate interests.

We are finalizing our featured segments now and would like to prioritize your work for an on-air spotlight.

Are you available to review the full details and our current schedule for this feature?

With respect,

Conclusions

There is no free lunch. These individuals and companies need to make money. I understand that goal, but thinking that I am so naive as to pay people to read my books defeats my goal. I write to educate, inform, and entertain readers. I hope readers interested in my subject matter may purchase the eBook or paperback version. I have no illusions about becoming a “famous” author.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

150th Anniversary of the City of Allen

Posted on April 26, 2026 by Allen Mesch

On April 25, 2026, Allen, Texas celebrated its 150th anniversary with a day-long event. It marked the date in 1876 when the residents of the town filed a map of the town with the State of Texas.

Ebenezer Allen

I was asked to attend the event in my capacity as the Ebenezer Allen living historian. My role was to act as a greeter at the Allen Train Depot, explain Ebenezer Allen’s connection to the city, and, of course, pose for photographs. The day was very warm, and I spent my time between the air-conditioned depot and strolling among the crowds coming to the event. When possible, I tried to explain how the city had my name and relate other interesting items from Mr. Allen’s life.

Significant Dates in Allen’s History

  • March 11, 1848 – Texas grants Allen a charter to form the Galveston and Red River Railroad Company
  • February 14, 1852 – Allen transfers the railroad charter to Bremond and House which creates the Galveston and Red River Railroad
  • 1852-1859 – Allen serves as a director of the newly named Houston and Texas Central Railroad
  • February 22, 1856 – The directors of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad name their first engine the “Ebenezer Allen”
  • September 1, 1856 – The Texas Legislature approves renaming the Galveston and Red River Railroad to Houston and Texas Central Railroad
  • 1872 – The Houston and Texas Central Railroad reaches McKinney, Texas, and company executives later name a watering station Allen Depot (Thanks to Dennis Hogan for the correction)
  • 1874 -The Allen Water Station was built for the railroad, marking a significant development in the town’s infrastructure
  • 1876 – Residents of the Town of Allen file original map of the town with the state
  • February 22, 1878 – A gang led by Sam Bass committed in Allen what is said to be Texas’s first train robbery.
  • 1906 – The town’s downtown area begins to develop  with the construction of its first brick structure, the Allen State Bank
  • 1908 – 1948 – Allen was a stop along the Texas Traction Company’s interurban line from Denison to Dallas
  • 1930 – Lone Star Gas delivery started
  • 1953 – Allen was incorporated into Collin County with a population of 400
  • 1960 – US 75 was constructed through Allen
  • 1967 – Allen library founded
  • 1968 – Allen hires first police chief
  • 1975 – The city purchases land for a post office
  • 1979 – Allen establishes a City Council
  • 2005 – The population of Allen reaches 70,381
  • August 31, 2012 – Allen Eagle Stadium opens
  • 2019 – Allen population reaches 105,630
  • 2020 – Allen population reaches 104,627
  • 2022 – Allen population reaches 115,551
  • May 6, 2023 – A mass shooting occurred at the Allen Premium Outlets mall in which eight were killed, along with the shooter, and seven were injured
  • 2026 – Allen celebrates 150 years

Ebenezer Allen Timeline

At Allen 150, Ebenezer Allen (Allen Mesch) inspects a facsimile of the first published map (1876) that depicts his namesake, Allen, TX. Mr. Mesch is Ebenezer Allen’s biographer. Thanks to Tom Keener for the photo. Mr. Keener is the Allen, Texas, historian and knows more about the city’s development than anyone in Allen.

However, Mr. Allen was much more than a city’s namesake. He served in numerous capacities in the republic and state governments. He was the state’s first elected attorney general, Was instrumental in the annexation of the Republic of Texas to the United States. Obtained the state’s first railroad charter and helped launch the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. During the American Civil War, he served in the Confederate Engineer Bureau which was engaged in sabotage.

  • April 8, 1804 – Ebenezer Allen is born in Newport, New Hampshire
  • 1826 – Allen graduates from Dartmouth College
  • March 23, 1833 – Allen marries Sylvinia Morse in Bloomfield, Maine
  • December 18, 1840 – The Allen family arrives in the Republic of Texas and settles in Clarksville, Texas
  • February 4, 1843 – Allen joins the Masonic Friendship Lodge No. 16 in Clarksville
  • December 9, 1844 – Sam Houston appoints Allen as Attorney General of the Republic of Texas
  • December 1844 – President Anson Jones appoints Allen as Attorney General of the Republic of Texas
  • March 1, 1845 – United States President Tyler signs “Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States”
  • July 1845 – Anson Jones appoints Allen as interim Secretary of State
  • December 29, 1845 – After citizens of Texas approve joining the United States, U.S. President James K. Polk signs the joint resolution and Texas becomes a state
  • 1846 – The Allen family moves to Galveston, Texas
  • March 11, 1848 – Texas grants Allen a charter to form the Galveston and Red River Railroad Company
  • August 1850 – Allen elected Attorney General as a Democrat
  • 1850-18752 – Allen serves as Attorney General under Governor Peter H. Bell
  • February 14, 1852 – Allen transfers the railroad charter to Bremond and House which creates the Galveston and Red River Railroad
  • 1852-1859 – Allen serves as a director of the newly named Houston and Texas Central Railroad
  • February 22, 1856 – The directors of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad name their first engine the “Ebenezer Allen”
  • September 1, 1856 – The Texas Legislature approves renaming the Galveston and Red River Railroad to Houston and Texas Central Railroad
  • February 23, 1861 – Texas votes to secede
  • August 20, 1863 – Allen is appointed to the Confederate Engineer Bureau
  • October 15, 1863 – Allen dies under mysterious circumstance in Richmond, Virginia and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond

To learn more about Ebenezer Allen, please visit The Forgotten Texas Statesman | Allen Mesch.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Straits of Hormuz

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Allen Mesch

The Straits of Hormuz

The Straits of Hormuz have been the focus of the world’s energy consumers and producers. Its importance lies in the fact that it is the gateway to consuming countries outside the Persian Gulf. Access to the Persian Gulf provides trade opportunities to major energy-producing countries in the area: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Oil movements through the Straits of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is the primary export route for oil from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain, and Iran. In 2025, about 20 million barrels per day of crude oil and petroleum products passed through the strait. This volume accounted for approximately 25% of all global waterborne oil trade. This amount is equivalent to about 20% of total world oil consumption. Around 80% of the oil moving through the strait is transported to Asian countries. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are the main importers.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade through the Straits of Hormuz

Waterborne shipments of natural gas are transported in the form of a refrigerated liquid. The Straits of Hormuz are the only maritime route for LNG exports from Qatar and the UAE. This volume is equivalent to about 20% of global LNG trade. The straits allow shipments of 93% of Qatar’s and 96% of the UAE’s LNG exports. The major LNG importers are China, India, and South Korea. These three countries accounted for 52% of LNG flows through the Straits of Hormuz in 2024. The impact on world energy is huge, with 25% of global seaborne oil trade, about 20% of global LNG trade, and approximately 20% of global oil consumption moving through the straits.

Questions

The world’s reliance on crude oil and natural gas from the Persian Gulf raises several questions:

  1. With 80% of the crude oil destined for Asia, why aren’t China, India, Japan, and South Korea doing more to end the war and/or using their military to allow traffic through the straits? Pakistan has offered to moderate peace negotiations.
  2. With 52% of the LNG shipments being sent to China, India, and South Korea, why aren’t these three countries doing more to end the war and/or using their military to allow traffic through the straits?

United States – NATO Relations

According to a report in The Guardian, “Countries including the UK, Japan, China, and South Korea have said they are still considering their options but without making commitments after the US president, Donald Trump, urged them to send warships to the Straits of Hormuz to secure the vital shipping route.”

The BBC reported that “President Donald Trump has said the US does not need the help of other countries in its war against Iran, just days after calling on US allies to help secure the vital Strait of Hormuz. In a scathing post on his Truth Social platform, he said ‘most’ of America’s Nato allies had informed the US they did not want to get involved. ‘I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO… to be a one-way street – We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us,’ he wrote.”

Today, Iran and the United States continue the verbal battle of threats and changing conditions, increasing the possibility of a prolonged conflict and high energy prices.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Iran Fiasco

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Every day, there seem to be promises of a resolution to the Iran War. And every day, Iran demonstrates its tenacity in refusing to surrender. I am sure that our rival nations (Russia and China) are having a good laugh at our inability to defeat this well-armed country.

What is the Plan?

How long will it last? It’s anyone’s guess. The United States has given up trying to attract support from NATO countries. We seem to have given up trying to secure the Straits of Hormuz. The war strategy changes like Texas weather. The current administration tries to blame all of the problems on the past administrations.

An editorial from The Dallas Morning News on April 2, 2026, contains the following comments:

“… our president has offered a stream of conflicting, confusing and chaotic statements that have only deepened our conclusion that the administration had no plan of how to proceed once the bombs started to fall.”

“The president’s hallmark is misleading statements. If his whims change, his supporters will call it strategy.”

“Bluster, threats and destruction from a distance are something this president is good at. But when a war has been unleashed, it has to be won, or we will face the consequences.”

Impact in the United States

On the home front, gasoline prices have risen by more than one dollar. Crude oil prices are trading at $99-$100/B (as of 4/1/26). Imports from the Persian Gulf account for only about 3 percent of the U.S. petroleum product supply. Imports of OPEC oil account for 5.2% of the petroleum supply. So why is the Iran War causing American fuel prices to jump? Gasoline prices as of March 31, 2026, were $4,018 per gallon. I find it amusing that although the crude oil to produce gasoline was obtained a month or so earlier, the price of oil from which no gasoline was produced is immediately reflected in higher gasoline prices. It’s kind of last-in, first-out pricing, and maybe, just maybe, a little profiteering. As most readers know, the price of fuel is making its way through the economy. From airfares to shipping costs, cost increases are being passed on to the consumer. This is increasing inflation and putting a near-impossible burden on low-income families.

Are we safer at home? No! Congress can’t seem to agree on funding for homeland security. TSA agents are finally getting paid. Many are returning to work. So, when we need our congressmen and women to roll up their sleeves and reach an agreement, they decide to take a vacation. While TSA workers were expected to work without pay, our elected officials got their checks and never missed a meal. How does this make sense? You are expected to work without pay, but the folks in D.C. get paid for not working.

Military

Why are more troops being sent to the Middle East if the administration doesn’t plan for a land attack? As of this past week, 3,500 troops, including 2,500 Marines, have been sent to the Middle East. U.S. Central Command reported that 200 American service members have been injured in the ongoing Iran conflict, with ten seriously wounded and more than 180 already back on duty, while the U.S. death toll has risen to 13 after a KC‑135 crash and Iranian attacks on bases. These numbers will only grow as the war continues, leaving grieving American families.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Latest Art Projects

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Allen Mesch

I thought that I would take a break from my political tirades and show some of my recent art projects,

You will notice that I slipped in a political commentary.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Leave a comment

Attack on Iran – Are We Safer?

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Allen Mesch

Iranian Missiles (NY Times)

On Saturday, the world learned that the United States and Israel had begun attacking Iran. The targets included the country’s leadership, missile sites, and nuclear operations. Iran retaliated with attacks on US military positions, Israel, and US allies in the Middle East. Most of the top Iranian officials have been killed.

The president said that Iran posed an immediate threat to the United States. According to the president, these attacks will continue until all resistance to a regime change has been eliminated. He also conceded that some Americans would be killed.

I would recommend that you read an excellent summary of Iran’s nuclear program on Wikipedia (Nuclear program of Iran – Wikipedia) and a CBS program  (How advanced is Iran’s nuclear program? Here’s what we know as U.S. and Israel launch strikes. – CBS News).

As Americans we need to ask our government about its international diplomacy.

  1. How have tariffs strengthened our trade position?
  2. Have tariffs helped or hurt the average American household?
  3. Should the United States actively attempt to change government in foreign countries like Venezuela and Iran by kidnapping and assassination?
  4. Should the US try to annex Greenland? Canada? Mexico?
  5. Drugs are now being sent to the US by drones and subsea vessels. Does destroying drug shipments impact drug consumption in the US?
  6. Should the operation against Iran have included European nations (i.e. NATO)?
  7. Should the US aggressively remove “bad actors” in control of foreign countries like Russia, China, and North Korea?
  8. Which country’s nuclear program is more dangerous North Korea’s (5,200 miles to US) or Iran’s (6,300 miles to Washington, DC)?
  9. Based on the events of the past few days, do you feel safer? Is the world safer?

I don’t pretend to know the “correct” answers to any of these questions, but I do think they deserve an answer.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Slavery Ends in U.S., but Inequality Continues

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Allen Mesch

There is an interesting video making the rounds on the Internet. In the video a Black man explains how slavery has been with us for centuries. The enslaved people included all ethnicities, colors, and nationalities. Some people cite the Bible to perhaps demonstrate that slavery is “okay” if the ancient Hebrews had slaves.

The roots of slavery can be traced to the clan society where if your tribe looked differently they must be your enemy. When tribes fought against each other, prisoners were taken and became slaves. From this beginning, slavery became a business. People were captured, became slaves, and were sold to others. The slaves were used to provide a cheap workforce to their owners. This fostered the international slave trade, which was practiced by European nations, especially Portugal.

Britain and eventually the United  States outlawed the slave trade. This had little effect on slavery and only increased the value/price of a slave. Slave owners also used their slaves to produce more slaves. The plantation owners In the American South were the richest men in the country based on the value of the land and the slaves that worked the land. Emancipation threatened the plantation owners with poverty. With no slaves to work the land, the land became worthless. Secession was driven by these wealthy landowners who understood that slavery was the basis of the Southern Economy.

There is an idea that the American Civil War was fought to end slavery. This is a great myth of the conflict. The war was fought to preserve the Union. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation “freed” slave in the Confederacy, but preserved slavery in Union states. After the war, Lincoln was uncertain whether the two races could co-exist and supported an African Colonization plan to send Blacks back to Africa.

Amendments to the U.S. Constitution granted citizenship and voting rights to Blacks. However, U.S. Presidents refused to enforce the law. This created the Jim Crow era of pseudo slavery in the country.

To suggest that equality exists is nonsense. Whites continue to enjoy the riches of American economy and society. Conservative politicians, encouraged by bigots in Washington, continue to limit voting and education about race.

Every Black, woman, and child knows how it feels to be treated as a second-class citizen. Progress has been made, but real equality is a long way off.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

New Artistic Memberships

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Allen Mesch

I am pleased to announce that I have been accepted for membership in two North Texas artistic organizations.

I am now a member of the Writers Guild of Texas and the Plano Art Association.

The Writers Guild of Texas is a nonprofit organization serving the writing community of Texas. Our mission is to cultivate an inclusive environment that supports, informs, and involves writers from all genres and experience levels.  Some of our members are published authors with successful writing careers. Others are just starting out and want to learn more about the business and craft of writing.

The Plano Art Association promotes visual arts education and development for its members and the wider community, fostering awareness and appreciation both within and beyond Plano.

Please visit the websites to learn more about these two organizations.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged | 1 Comment

There Are Monsters Among Us

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Allen Mesch

“But these weren’t the kind of monsters that had tentacles and rotting skin, the kind a seven-year-old might be able to wrap his mind around–they were monsters with human faces, in crisp uniforms, marching in lockstep, so banal you don’t recognize them for what they are until it’s too late.”

― Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

“There are two types of monsters in this universe: Fairy tale monsters that will never hurt you. And human monsters living around you who will never hesitate to harm you.”

 ― Mouloud Benzadi

Not this kind of monster!

We have monsters around us. Not the kind of children’s nightmares or horror movies. These monsters look like human beings, but they act monstrously. They wear uniforms and suits. Some hide their faces, but some smile at the camera and tell lies. We know they are lying because we have seen the truth.

Here are a few examples:

Ice Brutally Dragged Disabled Woman

On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, was fatally shot by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis during a protest against immigration enforcement. Pretti intervened to help a woman confronted by agents. Eyewitnesses and video evidence challenged official reports, triggering public outrage and demands for accountability.

Renee Good, 37, was fatally shot by federal agents on January 7, 2026, after allegedly trying to run them over while her car blocked traffic. Witnesses disagreed with ICE’s charge.

At Least 32 People Died in ICE Custody Last Year, as Fatal Shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti Spur National Outrage

I could go on listing terrible actions by ICE Agents, but the blame falls on many people.

Not all ICE Agents are monsters, but not weeding out the bad actors allows the bad agents to continue their disgusting actions and tarnishes the reputation of the organization. This is true of all organizations – police, education, and government.

Politicians who approved of ICE’s actions and refused to condemn their wrongdoings. Those who remain quiet and by their silence approve of ICE’s wrongdoings.

State and local political figures who support all of ICE’s actions without condemning their wrongdoings.

Politicians who campaign using fear and incorrect labels.

Politicians who cling to the Washington administration and follow it like lemmings over the cliff that is destroying their party.

All Americans who sit silently and who are afraid to speak out about things they see and know are wrong.

I welcome your comments – both good and bad. Please correct me if I have missed something or have erred in my blog. It’s free speech, baby!

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Coercion or Compassion

Posted on January 31, 2026 by Allen Mesch

The national conflict between ICE agents and protesters inspired me to paint the following painting.

The actions of ICE are contrary to our First Amendment right of free speech and lawful assembly. The photographs of ICE agents attacking innocent citizens remind me of the roundup of Jews by the Gestapo during the monstrous era of Nazi Germany. The Federal government’s actions provide proof of the warnings expressed in the recent movie Nuremberg. It can happen here, and it is happening.

A friend’s Facebook post quoted Jesus’s mantra: ” Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, this you do unto me….”

We must ask ourselves the following questions:

  • Where is the compassion?
  • Where is the humanity?
  • Where is government transparency and accountability?
  • Is this the kind of country we want to become?
  • What has happened to our moral compass?
  • Are law enforcement officers above the law?

On January 29th, The Dallas Morning News printed an opinion piece by Civil Rights leader  Peter Johnson. Mr. Johnson’s comments display the extent of our national tragedy.

A nation reveals its soul in moments like this. If our first response is to protect authority rather than examine its use, then we are not guided by justice.  We are guided by fear, And fear is a poor steward of power.[1]

[1] “Killing of Pretti reveals a moral crisis,” The Dallas Morning News, January 29, 2006, retrieved January 31, 2026.

Mr. Johnson referred to the killing of three Civil Rights workers in Mississippi, which was presented in the movie Mississippi Burning. I watched the movie that night after reading Mr. Johnson’s opinion piece, and what struck me was how evil people can be. Blacks, like today’s immigrants, were attacked because of the color of their skin. Then, as today, law enforcement officers were the perpetrators. The sheriff who presided over the murders was acquitted, and the jail sentences of others involved were all under ten years. Ten years for killing three young men. The similarities to the death of Alex Pretti are terrifying. There was a line in the movie that stuck with me. It said those who kept silent were also guilty. Alex Pretti was killed because he “spoke.”

If you love the dream of America, you must hold those who are responsible for breaking the law, defending the murderers, and lying about what actually occurred.

Speak up, speak up, and let your voices echo in the halls of Government offices in Washington and Austin.

Posted in Scratch Pad | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment