Lifestyle

A Glimpse in the Story of Lynn A. Dalton, The Fiction World’s Magical Author

Published

5 years ago

August 7, 2020

The world is huge and has a diversity of people. At this point, there are 7.8 billion people in the world, and each person has a unique quality that distinguishes them from other people. This quality makes them shine brighter and is the reason why they get recognized in the world.

While some people are exceptionally good at teaching, others are known for being brilliant leaders, some people are good with technology, some are recognized for their ability to listen to other people, while a part of this population is known for creating a whole new world by joining words together.  

Like everything else, putting words together to narrate a story is an innate trait. And because of that, the world is blessed to have so many esteemed authors who give their readers the possibility of venturing outside the real world and into a fictional realm.  

Today, an author who stands distinguished in the urban fantasy genre is Lynn A. Dalton. Dalton is not just any writer; she is a devoted and passionate writer who is known for her exceptional storytelling skills, which are reflected through her uniquely crafted books! 

A PEEK IN THE PAST 

Lynn A. Dalton was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts in the United States. Growing up, the author was fond of reading and would spend prolonged hours reading books, especially by Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and Iris Johansen. Her favorite books were Iris Johansen’s series about Eve, the forensic sculptor. Cherishing every moment, she spent reading, Lynn was often found lost in her own fantasy world. 

 With a major portion of time being given to reading, Lynn’s imagination grew vividly, and her crafting skills were strengthened, encouraging her to start writing stories of her own and that she did! By age ten, the author had already begun writing stories, surrounding herself with friends with the same interests. Throughout school, the author spent hours with her friends enthusiastically giving ideas and creating stories together. Even when they were not together, the friend circle used to exchange stories through the mail! 

Lynn’s love for writing was not just limited to the few people she knew, she loved sharing what she created with others as well. The girl loved putting a smile on people’s faces and watched as people’s faces lit up after listening to her stories. The passion started blooming, especially during her time at the Girl Scouts’ campfires, where nights were spent making smores and sharing stories. It wasn’t a surprise that a keen head would turn to Lynn since her young mind always had a magical story to share, and that too, was on the spot! 

Bidding farewell to high school, Lynn was determined that instead of putting her skills aside, she would polish and perfect her writing. Even though she didn’t start a career in writing, she induced her love for storytelling in her professional life.  

The author began working at the Winchester Memorial Hospital, where she would have to interact with patients regularly. To make them feel better, the author would offer them a listening ear and then narrate her own fictional stories as well, creating a special bond with every patient she knew.  

She got her MBA in Acquisition and Contract Management from the American Graduate University in Covina, California, and completed her Bachelor of University Studies from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 

Later, the author became the Public Affairs Officer at the rank of Captain in the Civil Air Patrol. She worked for the federal government for a period of 34 years where the use of her writing skills were required, and Lynn was happy to do so. Making up stories was something that she was always good at, and she created comical poems covering the working career of retiring Air Force personnel. 

A LOOK AT THE PRESENT 

A mother of two sons, David Angelo and Michael Thomas, the author found the same love of fiction in her children. Dragons, sorcerers, witches, and magic was what the children enjoyed reading, and the author enjoyed telling them stories about urban fantasies. The author was encouraged to write and pursue it as a career by her children.   

Sadly, the author lost her youngest son, David, in the hands of fate when he was just 24. Shattered by the tragic incident, the author wanted to keep her son’s wishes alive, and she was ready to step into the writing industry.  

On May 23, 2017, the author got her first book in the Dragons, Kings, and the Blazing Slicklizzard Heart Trees Series entitled Scindinvian Battles and the Black Magic Draco Ice Dragons published. Upon the writing of the first book of the Dragons, Kings, and the Blazing Slicklizzard Heart Trees quadrilogy, the author received an overwhelming response.

On February 15, 2020 the first book was reprinted on a new platform in the adult fiction genre by the publisher, Your Book Angel.  She is currently working on the rest of the three books in the series! 

Lynn got her second book, Lavendar Lace:  A Washoe Indian and NorthStar, California Mystery Thriller, published by Your Book Angel on May 12, 2019.  

The Dragons, Kings, and the Blazing Slicklizzard Heart Trees Series New Platform: Book One: Scindinvian Battles and the Black Magic Draco Ice Dragons was published on February 15, 2020. She is currently working on the rest of the three books of the series!

As of today, the author is known for giving her stories a personal touch, creating marvelous characters, and giving her stories an unexpected change in plot. She lives in the US enjoying her time while sewing, reading books, and writing books!  

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

5 days ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.