I'm Dr. Alice Atalanta, Ph.D., a published author with over a decade of professional writing and editorial experience. My job is to help you put your best foot forward in print - and to help you tell the story that will become your legacy.

It has taken a lifetime to become who you are.

Now, let's share that with the world.

I specialize in working with high performing clientele to help them share the lessons of a life well lived. From an online op-ed to a book destined for the shelves of Barnes & Noble, I've got you covered.

Perhaps it's your business or leadership acumen that sets you apart. Maybe your life's story is a fascinating tale. Or perhaps you have a special message that you want to pass on to your children and grandchildren. 

Whatever your goal, I can help you take your literary aspirations from dream to reality.

Sample Works

Meditations of an Army Ranger

Co-authored with LTC JC Glick

A philosophical exploration of the leadership lessons learned by former Army Ranger LTC JC Glick during his twenty-plus years of military service.

“The link between warrior culture and high philosophical thought is not a tangential detail: it is an essential connection. In this day and age, there is hardly anyone more qualified to speak of philosophy than a warrior--the ultimate witness of human nature pushed to both its highest and lowest extremes… Whatever each of us seeks from philosophy--whether it is solace and consolation, or advice and guidance--the underpinning is that we are striving to be better. We are fighting against complacency at every turn. We refuse to show up as less than the best possible version of ourselves each and every day.

This is a book for human beings. It contains lessons learned and confirmed through life experiences: giving life, taking life, fighting for one's own life. Philosophy is merely the method of expression and explanation. But the ideas are tools that should carry us forth better armed to face life's challenges than we were before we encountered them. That is our call to action. Life is only in part what happens to us. The other part is: what are we going to do about it?”

Navigating Chaos

Editor for author Jeff Boss

 Learning to survive and thrive under extreme pressure with Jeff Boss, who served over a decade as a Navy SEAL at the highest level during the Global War on Terror.

"During my tenure on the SEAL Teams, every enemy situation we encountered necessitated a slightly different approach, a tweak here and a new technique there. No two targets were ever the same and each one had its own personality, its own outcome, and its own plan for how we attacked and ultimately executed it. We could never ascertain with one hundred percent certainty what the enemy’s intentions were or how they would respond, simply because there were just too many variables to consider.

And you know what? Business is no different."

Broken

Editor for author Leon R. Walker, Jr.

 Growing up in inner city Cleveland in the 1970s, there didn't seem to be much hope for the kid they called "Diablo." But Command Master Chief Leon Walker defied all odds and rose above his past of abuse, violence, and pain to achieve a 32 year Naval career, now devoting his life to inspiring others. 

"We caught the bus home that night, my mother, my sister, and I; the #6 bus, to be exact. Her mouth swollen, her eyes full of tears, my mother stumbled as we walked to the bus stop. All the while, she held my hand as we waited for the bus that night. I did my best to help her walk in the snow, my wet pants and all. We made it, but it was a nightmare. As we stood waiting for the bus, my pants started to freeze and get stiff. It was pure hell. My sister was quiet; she didn’t know how to console my mother, and neither did I. All we could do was sit there together, waiting on the bus.

It seemed like ages—practically an hour—before the bus finally came. To get on the bus, my mother had to grab my hand and swing me up; my pants had frozen over, and I couldn’t even move. To sit down was even worse...Heading down Euclid Avenue, her mouth and towel full of blood, me holding her very tight, tears streaming down my face; we were shaking, my mother crying. I was trying to hold it in. Everyone on the bus was looking at us, but no one offered to help. I was embarrassed. It was a long, cold journey home."    

Beyond the Special Operations Mystique

Sample of original work by Dr. Alice Atalanta, originally published on medium.com

How can we motivate the American public to move beyond hero worship and fandom, embracing instead their own opportunity to support the mission?

"So, what are the true silent warriors actually like? While there will always be exceptions to any generalization, across the board, in all branches of service, some universal values are constantly upheld. High intelligence on a functional level that accomplishes the most challenging tasks with effectiveness and efficiency. Unmatched focus and drive to achieve objectives, and equal commitment to personal growth and development. Adaptability in the form of swift adjustments that are made when a course needs to be altered. A consistent emphasis on the power of mindset and its preeminent role in enabling them to excel. The insistence that they fight first for the brother beside them, and only then for their patriotic ideals or other ideologies that personally motivate.

And the misconceptions? That they are all Superman, just born that way. You’ll rarely meet a warrior worth his salt who doesn’t tell you the same story: that, growing up, he was not necessarily the most innately gifted, but he was always the hardest worker. Their job requires a physical readiness and elite level of fitness that compels them to maintain the training and recovery schedule of NFL players — minus the fat paychecks. Still, they’re no knuckle-draggers, either; most are voracious readers, with interests spanning the gamut from philosophy and history to business and leadership. This is because knowledge is power, too. They accomplish what they do more through mental endurance and adaptability than through brute force. Think of Special Operators as a tribe of driven, highly adventuresome, outdoorsy and patriotic MBA triathletes who — on average — are usually married with an average of two children (an actual SOCOM statistic), and you’ll be on the right track.

We live in a celebrity culture. Americans are very good at putting our heroes on a pedestal. We buy a LeBron James Jersey, wear it to the game, cheer him on, and feel great about it. We apply this adulation formula to every type of elite, from our favorite musicians to our favorite actors.

There’s a distinction to be made here, though, and it’s a critical one. Our nation’s Special Operations Forces, while elite, are not celebrities. They are public servants, and there is an enormous difference with regard to the role that their supporters can play. While LeBron James is part of a team of players and the larger Cavs organization, other than buying tickets to support LeBron’s paycheck and lifestyle, a fan has no greater recourse towards being part of the Cavs organization’s mission. The end game of celebrity culture is a paycheck, and we see it across the board as celebrities the world over capitalize on their personal 'brands' and enjoy support in the form of their fans’ hard-earned dollars.

The same is not the case with our military servicemembers. When misguided young people invest their time, energy, and finances into pursuits like airsoft, gaming, and online web services that claim to sell a glimpse into the real world of Special Operations, they are missing a far greater opportunity.

The opportunity to be like their heroes, and serve."

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