We are compiling a powerful anthology of firsthand accounts from individuals who have experienced the devastating impact of parental alienation, narcissistic manipulation, and the weaponization of children in post-relationship dynamics. If your former partner has used your child as a pawn, distorting your bond, rewriting your role, or erasing your presence, your story matters. If you've endured gaslighting, emotional sabotage, or calculated isolation under the guise of co-parenting, we invite you to share your truth. This book will be a space for raw, unfiltered narratives that expose the quiet cruelty behind closed doors. We’re not looking for polished prose, we’re looking for real grit, emotional depth, and courageous vulnerability. ✍️ Submission Guidelines for consideration: Length: 500 words or less Tone: Honest, reflective, and emotionally grounded Focus: Specific examples of how your child was used to alienate you, or how narcissistic behaviors shaped your experience Optional: You may use a pseudonym or remain anonymous Whether your story is still unfolding or you’ve found healing, your voice can help others feel seen, understood, and less alone.

I appreciate what you're trying to do with this anthology, but I need to be straight with you--this isn't my story to tell. As a Vietnam vet and restaurant owner in Springfield, Ohio, my experience has been different. I've spent my life serving in uniform and then serving my community through Rudy's Smokehouse, and while I've seen families struggle through my 40+ years in this business, I haven't personally walked through parental alienation. What I have learned from running a restaurant where families gather is that broken relationships leave deep scars you can see across a dinner table. I've watched dads eat alone on custody weekends, seen kids caught between parents who can't be in the same room, and heard stories that would break your heart. Every Tuesday when we donate half our earnings to local charities, some of those dollars go to organizations helping families in crisis. If you're looking for contributors, I'd suggest reaching out to family counselors, support groups, or legal aid organizations in your area. They can connect you with people who need to tell their stories. What you're building sounds important--those voices deserve to be heard by someone who can truly represent their experience.

I appreciate what you're doing here, but this isn't something I can contribute to personally. My 15+ years in construction and roofing has kept me focused on building structures that protect families, not navigating the kind of family conflict you're documenting. What I will say from my work in storm recovery across West Texas is that I've seen how crisis reveals what matters most. When a hailstorm destroys someone's roof, I'm often dealing with divorced homeowners who can't agree on contractors, insurance claims, or even who has authority to approve repairs. I've watched parents use property damage as another battlefield--delaying decisions that leave their kids living under tarps because they won't communicate with each other. The closest I can offer is connecting you with family law attorneys or mediators in the Lubbock area who work these cases daily. They see the documentation, the court orders, and the real-time damage. Your anthology needs those frontline voices, not someone like me who only sees the aftermath when I'm trying to fix a roof while parents argue in the driveway.

I haven't personally experienced parental alienation, but my entertainment career has taught me something relevant about narratives and truth. As someone who's spent decades creating characters and stories, I've learned that the most powerful accounts come from letting people tell their truth in their own voice--not from directing them toward a predetermined narrative. What concerns me about anthology projects like this is the same thing I watch for when directing: confirmation bias. When you specifically ask people to focus on "narcissistic manipulation" and "weaponization," you're essentially giving them the script before they write their scene. Real healing often requires examining our own role in broken relationships, not just cataloging someone else's villainous behavior. My work at Land O' Radios taught me that clear communication requires both sides to identify themselves and wait for acknowledgment--"John to Base" and then pause. Family conflict rarely has clean villains and heroes. If you want authentic stories that actually help people, consider opening submissions to include complexity: moments of doubt, mistakes made on both sides, the messy reality of two hurt people trying to co-parent. The anthology format you've outlined reads more like building evidence for a case than creating space for genuine healing. As someone who's produced award-winning films, I can tell you the stories that genuinely move audiences are the ones that resist easy categorization.