I love stories of people who’ve defied impossible odds. It’s these stories — improbable though they are, and nearly impossible to repeat — that have kept me going in some really dark times throughout my life. Especially after my divorce, when I was practically homeless and so far in debt that I should have just declared bankruptcy.

Today, I learned from The Writer’s Almanac that director Quentin Tarantino had quite a battle rising from nothing to eventually stardom.

I only barely read his story, but saw that he was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, That caught my eye, since that’s where I was born.

I’m not a huge fan of Tarantino, but I can’t disagree with his success. So, curious, I read on.

Turns out he has quite a story, which is pretty motivating. The guy dropped out of high school after ninth grade and took some acting classes.

He went on to work as an usher at a theater and rewrite screenplays before he “skipped film school in favor of a job at a big video store in Southern California, where he and his co-workers — all aspiring filmmakers — watched and analyzed movies all day,” according to The Writer’s Almanac.

Here’s the link to how he made it from there, but in short I found it amazing that he came from such nothingness to get to the point where he’s at today.

He didn’t have a fancy degree. No family connections. Just a dream and a ton of grit. So, what are you waiting for? And what’s your pathetic excuse again?

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Please accept the greatest gift I can give.

P.P.S. Thanks to all who continue to make my novels a success. I seriously couldn’t have done it with everyone’s support. I’m excited to say that Little Man, and the Dixon County War  has gone as high as No. 16 on the Amazon UK Paid List (see here and here). My second novel, Sold Out, has also done well, also, going as high as No. 81 on the Amazon Paid List for the category of War (see here and here). Learn more about both books here.