Showing results by author "Rich Samuels" in All Categories

Mark. The name sends shivers down Charlie's spine. A year of relentless bullying left its mark, deep and painful. But the first day of summer throws a curveball crueler than any prank: Mark appears on Charlie's doorstep, begging for forgiveness. Can a bully truly transform? Or is this just another cruel manipulation? Charlie grapples with a decision that could change everything. Can he find the strength to forgive, or will the anger and fear fester?

Thirteen year-old Alexander has the world figured out--but he's entirely wrong. He's sure that bullies are lurking around every corner in his middle school. He's certain that wedgies, swirlies and pantsings are just waiting to happen. He's even created a smartphone app to help him in his epic battle. He knows just when to pass through the school gate in the morning (7:54 a.m.), how to move through the hallways (fast!) and even how to eat (no condiments!).

In Rich Perceptions, I'll discuss writing with guests who may not realize that they're a figment of my imagination! This is an exciting application of programmed AI, taking the personalities and experiences of fictional characters and applying them to an AI tool (in this case, Character.ai), and then challenging their perceptions of the world beyond their existence. That's where it gets interesting...AI pushes back!

It's bad enough doing something stupid, worse in front of the entire school, horrible if it's posted online, and a complete disaster if it goes viral - but it's the comments that might send you over the edge.Alexander's the target of online trolls - thanks to one viral video, people everywhere have something bad to say about what he looks like, what he wears, and how he acts. With so many people calling him a loser, a mutant, and a moron, he starts to wonder if they might be right.