JL Gang

Honor what you owe. It’s that simple.

Right now, thousands of combat-injured veterans are seeing their benefits decimated because of a bureaucratic offset. They earned their retirement through service, and they earned their disability through sacrifice. They shouldn’t have to surrender one for the other.

Over 300 members of Congress say they support the Major Richard Star Act, but words mean nothing without a vote. We need them to sign the discharge petition to bypass the red tape and bring this bill to the floor. As a constituent, I want to thank Congressman Brad Finstad for cosponsoring this crucial bill. Now, I am directly calling on him to help us cross the finish line by signing the discharge petition to force a floor vote. Let's stand up for Southern Minnesota’s combat-injured families and turn words of support into action.

It takes 60 seconds to demand accountability. Use the VFW Action Corps link below to email your representative right now.

Take Action: https://votervoice.net/VFW/Campaigns/137604/Respond

Monday Morning Musings

"The low groan. I could feel my body quake. The deep, hollow ache eating into my stomach. The car needs fuel more than I do. - J.L. Gang"

A hollow stomach vs. an empty tank.
We prioritize the machines that keep us working. Even when there’s nothing left to fuel ourselves.
The math of survival doesn’t always add up.
Welcome to the dream.

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Monday Morning Musings

"The table is set. The glass is turned. The calendar marks a holiday. It feels silent as the grave. The ones who paid the entry fee but never got to leave. We see you. Feel you. Remember you. The table is set. - J.L. Gang"

The calendar marks a holiday.
The reality demands our silence.
Today isn’t about the long weekend. It’s about the empty chairs and the heavy price of a debt that can never be repaid.
We see you.
We remember you.
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I write horror for a living, but nothing I put on a page is as terrifying as the way our system penalizes combat-injured veterans. 🕷️👇

The “Wounded Veteran Tax” forces medically retired warriors to give up their earned retirement pay just to receive their disability compensation. It's a broken system, but we have a real chance to fix it.

A new discharge petition can finally force Congress to vote on the Major Richard Star Act and end this penalty for good. Let’s hold them accountable.

🇺🇸 Find out if your Representative has signed the petition yet:
https://clerk.house.gov/DischargePetition/2026052122?Page=3

🇺🇸 Tell your Rep to sign the Discharge Petition today:
https://www.votervoice.net/VFW/Campaigns/137604/Respond

Monday Morning Musings

"Study hard. Work hard. Strive for success. I’ve done it all. The corner office has a lovely view. I can almost see my tent under the bridge. - J.L. Gang"

The promotion came with a 10% raise.
Rent went up 10.
Food 20.
Student loans 30.
Credit card ...
The math doesn’t add, it only subtracts. Success is a high-rise view and a bottom-floor reality.
Welcome to the dream.

Share with someone who needs to know they aren’t the only ones doing the math. Follow for the next Monday Morning Musing.

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Monday Morning Musings

"The melodic loop and shrieking giggles. A cacophony of torment. Their phonetic mastery, burning into my mind. Droning repetition, a metronome of sorrow. When will the child learn another song, or silence reign? - J.L. Gang"

Everyone knows that one children’s song that burrows deep and refuses to leave. Which tune do you dread most?
Is it ... The song that never ends... that just goes on and on...

Tell me your most-hated earworm in the comments. 👇
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I’m J.L. Gang, a Navy veteran and a horror/thriller author. My work has been featured by the Writers Guild Initiative and on Tom Fontana Presents Substack.
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Monday Morning Musings

"Did I check my email? My heart thumped. Did I smile too much? Clothes? Makeup? Hair? Thunder sounded in my ears. The room spun. The clock struck midnight. My thoughts, a plague. - J.L. Gang"

In the daylight, a smile is just a smile. At midnight, your brain twists it into a catastrophic social blunder.
How long does your anxiety brain torment you at night?

Monday Morning Musing
"Prompt in prose out. It is clinical, efficient, and bare. It can mimic fear but never feel what’s behind the scream. - J.L. Gang"
An algorithm can fix a sentence, but it can’t feel the floorboards creak. The digital future can write a horror but never know crushing dread. We don’t just write words. We document what keeps us awake and shivering.
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Monday Morning Musings

"Treasures pile in measure innumerable. Limited quantity, a veiled subterfuge.
Decisions squandered, advantage taken. A heavy toll to ... Haul-away. - J.L. Gang"

We spend a lifetime curating “limited editions” and “must-haves,” a legacy for others to sort.

The life of a person shouldn’t be measured by the size of the dumpster needed to clear the house.

How much of your “treasures” will end the same?
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Aberrant Sequel: Beta Readers

The zero draft is nearly complete. It is raw, visceral, and unpolished, but it is ready for eyes. I have a few spots available for any brave souls willing to venture beyond the curtain for a first look.

Note: This opportunity is currently open to followers of this page only.

What I’m Looking For:
I am not looking for grammar police; I am looking for the big picture. Specifically:
• Did the story grip you?
• Did you find the characters relatable?
• Where did the pacing feel right, and where did it need trimming? (The prose will be tightened and enhanced in the next draft)

The Commitment:
I know this is a significant undertaking (approx. 110,000 words), so I’m aiming for a four-month turnaround. This allows you to digest the story at a reasonable pace while helping me prep for structural edits.

The Incentive:
In exchange for your blunt, “gut-level” feedback, you’ll be included in the Acknowledgments and will receive a finished copy of the book upon release.

If you think you’re up for it, the link to the signup page is in the comments.