February 14, 2026

Self Penned

In the heart of the vast and shimmering Pacific Ocean, three young ship boys, each no more than a few years past their childhood, found themselves cast away on a breathtakingly beautiful tropical island. This was no ordinary place; it was a lush paradise adorned with vibrant flora and fauna, where the warm sun kissed the golden sands and the gentle waves whispered secrets of the sea. Yet, beneath this idyllic exterior lay the harsh reality of survival in the 17th century, a time when the world was still largely unexplored and filled with both wonder and danger. #HistoricalFiction #SeaAdventure #DellSweet #KU #Kindle #Readers #BookLovers #Paperback


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The dust swirled around my worn boots, a miniature desert storm kicked up by the frantic thump of my own heart. The air hung thick and heavy, the scent of dry earth and something else… something metallic and sickeningly sweet, clinging to the back of my throat. It was the smell of blood. Old blood. New blood. The kind that stains the soul as deeply as it stains the earth.
I’d been clean for six months, six agonizing months of sweat-soaked nights and gnawing cravings, a testament to a willpower I never knew I possessed. Six months of staring at the cracked pavement, avoiding the shadowed corners where my past lurked like a hungry ghost. But tonight, the ghost had found me.

#Crime #Readers #BookWorms #KU #KindleUnlimited #Amazon #DellSweet #WriterzNet


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by Geo Dell (Author), Dell Sweet (Author)  Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 out of 5 stars   (10)

Collected books from: The Earth’s Survivors


Earth’s Survivors box set contains the entire Earth’s Survivors series in one volume. Book One: Earth’s Survivors Apocalypse follows survivors of a worldwide catastrophe. A meteorite that was supposed to miss the earth hits and becomes the cap to a series of events that destroy the world as we know it. Hopes, dreams, tomorrows: All buried in a desperate struggle to survive. Small group’s band together for safety, leaving the ravaged cities behind in search of a new future… 10 books. #Dystopian #Survival #Drama #Thriller #ApocalypticFiction #PostApocalypse #KU


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Kindle Edition

by Wendell Sweet (Author) , Dell Sweet (Author) Kindle  Audiobook Paperback

Summers in Upstate New York are beautiful. After the hard winters and sub-zero cold the warm temperatures are like Heaven on Earth. The river and the railroad tracks bisected the city and any given day would find myself and my friends somewhere along one or the other.

The True: True stories from a small town are true stories from that place. From my childhood up through my adulthood. Some heartfelt, some heart rending, some the horrible truth of the life I lived at that time… #NonFiction #Crime #Drama #Thriller #KU #True

https://www.amazon.com/True-stories-small-town/dp/B0FG4F1XBC/


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Kindle Edition

by Dell Sweet (Author)

Easy crime is a series of crime fiction novels that deal with members from the same crew and the crimes they plan. Parolees out of prison, street people, desperate men and women, and people who have been in prison together. And, there are all the reasons women get into crime gangs, desperation and good looking, handsome men who influence them in bad ways. For men it is the beautiful women who look so vulnerable but will cut you in a second and walk away. The chance for all of them to be on an equal level, to pay for those drugs, or maybe just to pay for those groceries and put gas in the car… #Crime #Drama #Amazon #Readers #eBooks #series #Thriller https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FNFN93TX


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A Journey Beyond the Horizon

by  Dell George

2025

The ‘Sea Wanderer,’ their forty-foot sloop, was more than just a vessel; it was their sanctuary, their laboratory, and their chariot to a world unknown. Years of meticulous planning had gone into her outfitting, every piece of equipment chosen for its reliability and suitability for long-distance cruising. Solar panels were integrated into the deck’s design, promising a sustainable source of power, while a robust water filtration system was a testament to their commitment to self-sufficien…

A journey beyond the Horizon eBook by Dell George – EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-journey-beyond-the-horizon


$1.99 USDor Free with Kobo Plus

The Symphony of Shadows

by  Dell George

2025

Charles Block has escaped his holding cell, and no one seems able or willing to find him…The pattern of Block’s previous criminal activities revealed a clear progression. He started with smaller, albeit complex, financial crimes, gradually escalating to more ambitious heists that required intricate planning and the manipulation of multiple systems. The move towards physical logistics, as evidenced by his presumed involvement with the Crimson Syndicate, was a logical, alb…

Symphony of Shadows eBook by Dell George – EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/symphony-of-shadows


$2.99 USDor Free with Kobo Plus

Surviving the Wasteland

by  Dell George

2025

The world exploded in a cacophony of pain. A throbbing in my skull, a dull roar in my ears, a nauseating stench that clung to the back of my throat – these were the first sensations that pierced the darkness. My eyes fluttered open, met not by the comforting glow of dawn but by a chaotic panorama of shattered concrete, twisted metal, and the horrifying tableau of broken bodies. I was trapped, bound tightly, my wrists and ankles secured by thick, rough rope that bit into my flesh.Pa… Surviving the Wasteland eBook by Dell George – EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/surviving-the-wasteland


$2.99 USDor Free with Kobo Plus

The Tri-State Syndicate

by  Dell George

2025

A hardcore crew of thieves running a tri-state crime origination comes to the attention of a detective who has been putting the pieces of the crimes together to achieve a solution for how and why the crimes are done. All pros in their fields of expertise, each member has a job to do. Like them, the detective sees the job that he must do and sets out to narrow down the scope and catch them in the act…As Leo spoke, he saw the pieces of Jax’s grand design c… The Tri-State Syndicate eBook by Dell George – EPUB | Rakuten Kobo United States

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-tri-state-syndicate


Home: https://www.wendellsweet.com


The Streets

By Wendell Sweet

One evening, I found myself back at the scene of the car accident—the snow-covered road where my life nearly ended. The scars on my body served as tangible reminders of that brutal night; the emotional scars were far deeper. The silence was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustle of the wind. The cold night air, the harsh sounds of snow crunching under my boots; it all was reminiscent of the night that would nearly cost my life. Standing there, I felt a wave of sadness, a flicker of the old fear, but it quickly subsided. The trauma was still there, woven into the fabric of my being, but it no longer controlled me. I had faced it, processed it, and emerged stronger.#True #NonFiction #Crime #Memoir #Kindle #KU Kindle:

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Audiobook/B0FQVL39PF


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Great question! While the brand name Chevrolet itself has French roots—it’s the surname of Louis Chevrolet, a Swiss-born race car driver with French linguistic heritage—the actual vehicle names from Chevrolet aren’t typically derived from French words.

Here’s a breakdown:

🏁 The Name “Chevrolet”

  • Origin: Named after Louis Chevrolet, co-founder of the company in 1911.
  • Linguistic roots: The surname “Chevrolet” sounds French and includes the diminutive suffix “-et,” common in French names like ballet or omelet2.
  • Meaning: Despite the French sound, it’s a surname—not a word with a specific meaning in French.

🚗 Vehicle Names with French Influence?

Most Chevrolet vehicle names are not French. They tend to be:

  • English descriptors (e.g., Cruze, Trailblazer, Silverado)
  • Spanish or Latin-inspired (e.g., Camaro—possibly from a French slang term meaning “friend,” though this is debated)
  • Invented or stylized names (e.g., Equinox, Tahoe, Blazer)

🤔 What About “Camaro”?

This one’s interesting:

  • Chevrolet claimed Camaro meant “friend” in French slang when it launched in the 1960s.
  • However, no such word exists in standard French. It’s likely a marketing invention with a French flavor to evoke camaraderie and style.

So while the brand carries a French-sounding name, the vehicles themselves are mostly named with American flair or global appeal, not directly from French vocabulary.

🏁 Formation of Chevrolet Motor Company

  • Founded: November 1911
  • Founders: Louis Chevrolet, a Swiss-born race car driver, and William C. Durant, a visionary businessman who had previously founded GM in 1908.
  • Purpose: After Durant was ousted from GM in 1910 due to overexpansion and financial troubles, he launched Chevrolet to compete with Ford’s Model T and regain influence in the auto industry.
  • Early Success: Chevrolet quickly gained traction, turning a profit and building a reputation for stylish, reliable cars.

🔄 Acquisition by General Motors

  • Date of Acquisition: May 2, 1918
  • How It Happened: Durant used Chevrolet’s success to buy up GM stock. In a strategic move, he offered GM shareholders five shares of Chevrolet for every one share of GM. The offer was irresistible, and it allowed Durant to reclaim control of GM.
  • Irony: Durant had been forced out of GM in 1910, only to return by merging it with the company he built after his exile.
  • Aftermath: Durant became GM’s president again—but only briefly. In 1920, financial troubles returned, and Pierre S. DuPont took control, permanently removing Durant from GM.

🚘 Legacy

  • Chevrolet became a cornerstone of GM’s brand portfolio, known for iconic models like the Corvette, Camaro, and Silverado.
  • The merger helped GM dominate the American auto industry for decades, with Chevrolet playing a key role in its rise.

It’s a classic tale of comeback and corporate chess. Want to explore how Chevrolet’s early models stacked up against Ford’s at the time?

Ford Model T (1908–1927)

Price: Dropped to under $300 by the mid-1920s thanks to Ford’s revolutionary assembly line.

Engine: 2.9L inline-4, ~20 horsepower.

Strengths:

Mass production = affordability.

Durable and simple to maintain.

Became the symbol of American mobility.

Weaknesses:

Spartan features.

Manual crank start (early models).

Limited styling and comfort.

🚘 Chevrolet Series 490 (1915–1922)

Price: Introduced at $490, hence the name.

Engine: 171 cu in inline-4, ~24 horsepower.

Strengths:

More advanced tech: overhead valve engine, electric starter, better instrumentation.

Smoother ride and more refined interior.

Positioned as “more car for the same money.”

Weaknesses:

Slightly higher price.

Less brand recognition early on.

⚔️ Head-to-Head Highlights

Feature Ford Model T     Chevy Series 490

Price      ~$300 (1920s)    $490 (intro price)

Horsepower       ~20 HP  ~24 HP

Starter  Manual (early)  Electric (later models)

Transmission      2-speed planetary           3-speed manual

Market Position Mass-market leader       Challenger with upgrades

🏁 Outcome

Ford dominated early on, selling millions of Model Ts.

Chevrolet slowly gained ground with better features and comfort.

By 1927, Ford shut down Model T production to retool for the Model A, and Chevrolet surpassed Ford in sales for the first time.

🚗 Ford Model A (1928–1931)

  • Engine: 3.3L inline-4, producing 40 horsepower
  • Transmission: 3-speed manual
  • Price: Around $495 for a Tudor Sedan
  • Strengths:
    • Stylish design by Edsel Ford
    • Reliable and easy to maintain
    • Came in multiple colors (unlike the Model T’s “any color as long as it’s black”)
  • Weaknesses:
    • Still a 4-cylinder, while competitors were moving to six
    • Basic interior and limited features

🛠️ Chevrolet Stovebolt Six (1929)

  • Engine: 3.2L inline-6, producing 46 horsepower initially, later boosted to 50+ HP
  • Design: Overhead valve (OHV), nicknamed “Cast-Iron Wonder”
  • Marketing tagline: “A Six for the Price of a Four”
  • Strengths:
    • Smoother performance and more power than Ford’s 4-cylinder
    • Advanced engineering with OHV design
    • Only about $100 more than the Model A
  • Impact:
    • Helped Chevrolet regain the sales lead from Ford in 1931
    • Became the foundation of Chevy’s engineering reputation for decades

⚔️ Head-to-Head Snapshot

FeatureFord Model AChevy Stovebolt Six
Engine4-cylinder, 40 HP6-cylinder, 46–50 HP
Price~$495~$595
DesignFlatheadOverhead Valve (OHV)
Ride QualityBasicSmoother, more refined
Market ImpactStylish upgrade from Model TGame-changer in power and value

This was a turning point: Ford had style, but Chevrolet brought power and innovation. The Stovebolt Six wasn’t just a better engine—it was a strategic move that helped Chevrolet dominate the market for years.

🔧 Ford’s Flathead V8 (1932)

Introduced: 1932, in the Ford Model 18

Innovation: First mass-produced, affordable V8 engine

Specs: 3.6L V8, ~65 horsepower

Impact:

Made high performance accessible to everyday drivers

Revolutionized the auto industry by offering power at a low price

Became a favorite among hot rodders—and criminals

Ford’s move was a direct response to Chevrolet’s six-cylinder success in 1929. Henry Ford, who disliked inline-sixes, pushed for a bold leap: a single-piece cast V8 block, which was unheard of at the time.

🕵️ Clyde Barrow’s Letter to Henry Ford (1934)

Date: April 10, 1934

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Content: Clyde praised the Ford V8 as the ultimate getaway car. He wrote:

Context:

Clyde and Bonnie Parker were infamous for their string of robberies and murders across the Midwest.

They routinely stole Ford V8s for their speed and reliability.

The letter was unsolicited and handwritten—an odd kind of product endorsement from a fugitive.

Legacy:

The letter is preserved at The Henry Ford Museum.

Though some handwriting experts question its authenticity, it’s widely accepted as genuine or at least consistent with Barrow’s style.

It added to the mythos of the Ford V8 as both a symbol of American ingenuity and outlaw infamy.

So yes—Ford’s engineering brilliance inadvertently became a tool for one of the most notorious crime sprees in U.S. history.

the Bonnie and Clyde “Death Car”, why it mattered, and how it became a macabre legend.

🚘 The Car: 1934 Ford Model 730 Deluxe Sedan

Color: Tan

Engine: Ford’s powerful Flathead V8

Why They Chose It:

It was faster than most police cars at the time.

The V8 engine gave them the edge in high-speed getaways.

It was stolen from a Kansas couple just weeks before their deaths.

🔫 The Ambush: May 23, 1934

Location: Bienville Parish, Louisiana

Event: A posse of six lawmen ambushed the car on a rural road.

Firepower: They unleashed 167 bullets, riddling the car with over 120 bullet holes3.

Outcome:

Clyde was killed instantly by a headshot.

Bonnie was hit multiple times—reportedly 26 wounds.

The car veered into a ditch and nearly overturned.

🧠 Why It’s Significant

Symbol of Rebellion: The car became a symbol of speed, defiance, and the outlaw mystique.

Cultural Impact:

Crowds swarmed the scene to see the bullet-riddled car.

Some people even tried to take shards of glass as souvenirs.

Touring Sideshow:

The car was returned to its original owner, Ruth Warren, who leased it out to tour the country.

It appeared at state fairs, amusement parks, and even racetracks where people paid to sit inside.

Current Location: Today, it’s on display at Whiskey Pete’s Casino in Primm, Nevada.

🕵️ The Legacy

This Ford V8 wasn’t just a getaway car—it became a gruesome celebrity. It represents the collision of innovation, crime, and media spectacle. And it’s a reminder of how even a stolen car can become a permanent part of American folklore.

Related: The story of Bonnie and Clyde


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