Dave Borland

Mark Gentry has spent the last fifty years of his career as an international mediator, working to overcome conflict and hatred amongst heads of state, corporations, and the rich and powerful. Called "The Fixer," in the industry, he was the very best at what he did, and he got rich doing it.But then Mark was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and suddenly everything changed. He was no longer living a high-octane lifestyle and had to take a break from his business, which gave him too much time to think. As Mark pondered his life situation at a bar, he serendipitously met two individuals who would change the course of his life.Mark and his new friends discuss the meaning of life and end up creating a unique life belief system together. They then go on to create a new kind of mediation group that changes the course of the future by teaching the world that it is possible for people of totally opposite beliefs to come together to understand and resolve major problems in the world today.

It's 1980 and Sam Westfall, a recently retired 20-year veteran of the Marine Corp, returns to the Homewood section of Pittsburgh where he grew up and finds it decimated. The community is shattered by the closing of the mills, and he is devastated by observing young African American children and their mothers, struggling to survive in a country of vast resources. Poverty, racial tensions, boarded up houses and businesses and the lack of leadership by civic leaders is devastating to Sam. He is overwhelmed by the number of young girls, solely responsible for raising their children, without any financial support especially from fathers, reminding him of his own mother and upbringing. Sam vows to devote his life and financial resources to address this crisis. He begins by talking to groups of local citizens to discuss this problem and to develop assistance programs within the community and eventually the City, to address these issues. Over the next forty years, many new and extended programs are put into place to help the children and their parents. Sam has seen many children go on to college and even the military, but more importantly, begin fulfilling and successful lives. Sam is now in his 80's and with success with his programs over the years, he recognizes there is still much to do, not only for African American children, but all children and not only in Pittsburgh but in communities across the country. He is reconnected with Jamie Sloan, in his mid-70's who worked with him when he first began to help families. Jamie, a retired architect, decides to join up with Sam again and introduces him to Margaret Decker, a wealthy widow of a powerful U.S. Senator, in her mid-70's, who has expressed interest in Sam's work. Margaret joins up with Sam and Jamie to combine their talents to expand Sam's program, now called LIFELINE, for poverty-stricken children across our country. Sam, Jamie and Margaret begin their association, just as a catastrophic pandemic in a hundred years strangles the country. They realize the COVID pandemic will affect their families more than any segment of the population. This story is how these three older folks of different backgrounds, come together to create a 21St Century formulated program that works to combine all governmental and private programs into a unified system to assist underprivileged children and parents a chance in life. They join together to provide for the neediest in our society. LIFELINE is a story of our times.

THIS IS A STORY OF INJUSTICE IN THE YEAR 1919 TO THE BEST UNION ORGANIZER OF THE DAY, MRS. FANNIE SELLINS. SHE WAS MURDERED BY THE MINING COMPANIES BECAUSE SHE WAS SO EFFECTIVE IN HER ORGANIZING AND SUPPORT WORK WITH THE EASTERN EUROPEAN MINERS WHO MINED THE COAL IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA . THE KILLERS WERE KNOWN BUT SHE NEVER RECEIVED JUSTICE FROM THE COURTS BECAUSE THE JURY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE POLISH WITNESSES. FANNIE SELLINS, A GRANDMOTHER AND LABOR ORGANIZER, WAS KILLED ON AN AUGUST DAY IN 1919. THIS PLAY'S TITLE ACKNOWLEDGES HER NAME GIVEN TO HER BY THE FAMILIES OF THE MINERS, AN ANGEL OF MERCY. THIS PLAY SEEKS HER JUSTICE A CENTURY LATER.

Three people with a history of a house built during the Depression years is the catalyst for them discovering secrets of their family ties which ironically bring them together in understanding and peace.

The United States is at a crossroad, one road leads to a disaster caused by political beliefs so divisive, that a civil war seems probable, escalated by media forces while the other road leads to a reconciled country never stronger through reconciliation and moderation by the opposing forces. Four citizens, representing the opposing political beliefs decide to travel to a small town in New Mexico to hash out, debate, vilify each others beliefs, yet attempt to come up with a unified mantra of a political path for the country that will restore the future of the United States. This story of these four revolutionaries, plus the unexpected, yet powerful entry into their group of an aged man, leads them to a resolution that captures the imagination of the American public. It is a story of this time that will restore the faith of this country for the coming years.

What do you do when you realize the life you are living will soon cause you irreparable harm. Despair, loss of identity, and divorce were overpowering factors that contributed to Mark Sloan's decision to pull up stakes and seek the life he knew lay dormant in his soul. He leaves the City of his life and drives over the Hellespont Bridge into a fog bound sea side port. There Mark meets three other travelers who are also at critical points in their lives. In a night of almost mystical proportions, Sloan decides to join this band of fellow seekers on a journey of discovery. Dave Borland lives in Dormont, PA., a suburb of Pittsburgh. Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, he graduated as an English Major from West Virginia University. He has published novels, poetry, and short stories and is currently working on a new novel plus a collection of Haiku poetry.