Russell Ward, of the Town of Tonawanda, is an artist with studios at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center (NACC) on Pine Avenue. He is both artist and writer, talents he combines in a series of books entitled “Do Not Delete.”

He has written four – so far - under the pen name, Oliver H. Greenbagg – books about breaking addictions, namely, alcohol, drugs, gambling and over-eating.

Mr. Ward explains, “These books are meant to help people to ‘not delete’ themselves, by obsessing on destructive activities or substances.”

In the USA, an estimated 19 million people use illicit drugs, 18 million are alcoholics, 5.5 million are problem gamblers and 60 million are obese.

The titles in his series are:

** ‘Defatlization’ which offers “101 ways to laugh and cry yourself slimmer.”
** ‘Dedruglization’ which features superhero, Kid Resistor who outsmarts drug-peddling Dak Druggery.
** ‘Dealcoholization,’ a collection of stories and facts that “help to make the choice not to abuse alcohol.”
** ‘Degamblization,’ which parodies “gambling to show how little chance we have at actually winning.”

The price for each bookis $4.99 and are available through www.Americansmovingforwardcompact.com.
All four books are short, easy reads, filled with the author’s humor.

Mr. Ward told the Reporter that, decades ago, he had problems with some of the same “self-deleting” problems he writes about in his books.

“I found my inner strength, partly through laughing at myself, knowing this destructive person was ridiculous and not at all who I am.”

Mr. Ward retired in 2004 after a 30 year career with the US Postal Service. He served in Vietnam from 1966-68 and was combat wounded in a Tet offensive in Hue while aggressing on a machine gun position. It was his third firefight.

A soon to be published book addresses what he believes is a growing threat to America.

“Government has expanded so much that my next book, Degovernmentlization is vitally needed,” Mr. Ward said.