Stephen Shender

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Stephen Shender

Goodreads Author


Born
in Chicago, The United States
Website

Genre

Influences
Herman Wouk

Member Since
January 2013


During a professional writing career spanning 30 years, I worked as a congressional press aide in Washington, D.C., newspaper reporter and editor on California's Central Coast (Monterey and Santa Cruz counties) political speechwriter in Washington, D.C. (Clinton administration), corporate speechwriter in Los Angeles, marketing communications writer in Silicon Valley, and freelancer before retiring in 2003. A native of Chicago's North Side (or "Norside" as true Chicagoans say), I am thankfully a no-longer-suffering, lifelong Chicago Cubs fan.

Once There Was Fire, A Novel of Old Hawaii is my first book. I began writing it on Nov. 16, 2004 and finally published it on Amazon on Dec. 6, 2016.

I am presently working on a sequel. I aim to get this o
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Stephen Shender Her name is Luci. She's a blue & gold macaw and a native of Santa Cruz, Calif., and will be 22 years old on May 30 (her hatchday). She doesn't have a …moreHer name is Luci. She's a blue & gold macaw and a native of Santa Cruz, Calif., and will be 22 years old on May 30 (her hatchday). She doesn't have a lot of words, other than "bye-bye" when we or a visitor leave the house; "hello," which she says consistently when the phone rings; "hi," which she often says at the vet's; and a four-letter expletive she picked up from me in an emotionally charged political context. She also says "mmmm" when I give her something to eat that she really likes. We most often communicate through body language. Blue and gold macaws' life-expectancy in "captivity" (and I'm not sure who the captives are here) is 80-85 years, or more. We haven't made any provisions for her yet, but being in our 70s, we need to get cracking on it.(less)
Stephen Shender Read a lot, and read eclectically -- fiction of all kinds, history, biography, and anything else that turns you on. As you read, pay attention to stru…moreRead a lot, and read eclectically -- fiction of all kinds, history, biography, and anything else that turns you on. As you read, pay attention to structure and pacing. Finally, read critically. Why do you like book? Why don't you like it? Then rate the book and most importantly, critique it on sites like this. Writing about books will help you organize your thoughts, and make you a better writer.(less)
Average rating: 4.02 · 125 ratings · 19 reviews · 3 distinct worksSimilar authors
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Final thoughts on "Chief of War"

The Apple TV+ historicaldrama shortchanged viewers on Hawaiian history and culture

© Copyright Stephen Shender 2025

The first season of Apple TV+’s “Chief of War” is complete. Whatto make of it? Rotten Tomatoes gives the series about the fight to unify theHawaiian Islands an overwhelming 93 percent approval rating, based on a survey ofcritics’ reviews. Here’s a brief sampling:

The San Jose Mercur

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Published on September 25, 2025 21:50
Act of Oblivion
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