The International Writers Magazine Editorial MAY 2024

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Welcome to this edition of Hackwriters. 25 years on-line, 7,994 + articles - reviews - stories - travel - share any feature you like and pass them on. MAY 2024 - Previous Editorial here
Putin talking up nuclear war - Gaza in yet more turmoil - Protests everywhere & Geostorm Force 5 - a summer of discontent beckons but with pretty auroras...

Editorial - May 2024 Reasons to be cheerful? Not many it seems ... We seem to be at a turning point in the West. Student protests in support of Palestine grow in intensity across America - At Columbia University police were forced to break up the occupation of Hamilton Hall (although surely they will all go home soon as the academic year ends – it might be interesting if they don’t).  Violence has flared at UCLA as rival protest groups clash. The student protests are going worldwide. Gaza has swamped world news but where are the protests for all those dying under Russian bombardment in Ukraine? Russians are using poison gas now. Doesn't that warrant at least one tiny banner of protest?  What about kids dying in cobalt mines to power their iPhones? Did students just not notice these issues? Or not care? James Campion has a word to say on these protests too. Some people are considering how to clear the tons of rubble and rebuild Gaza (estimate cost of rebuilding $40 billion). It would be nice if they could also think about Ukraine as well - more than 50 percent of the infrastructure is destroyed now.  The US is finally going to deliver weapons to Ukraine and the Europeans talk about it (but never seem to deliver much).  But this isn’t the only place of conflict. Sudan is under threat again. Starvation looms as war prevents planting.  South Africa is preparing for their election in May and there is a high chance that the ANC will fail to gain a majority. This is much deserved, as corruption is rife, as is a failure to build any new infrastructure in decades and extremely high youth unemployment. All this combined with a lack of electricity is leading to a downward spiral for the economy.  It doesn’t help that the ANC is in enthral to Putin’s kleptocracy and ‘economic’ advice on how to loot the nation’s businesses and taxes. The world is not a happy place. Ironically elections everywhere contribute to instability. India is undergoing a six week election period right now as Modi seeks yet another term for his brand of Hindu nationalism. America’s election between two cantankerous old men doesn’t inspire either. As Alex Garland’s movie Civil War demonstrates, we are on the cusp of something that we cannot control.  National Divorce in January next year is a distinct possibility and the plain fact that there are 400 million guns for 300 million people doesn’t help.  The rise of the Far Right in America and Europe is a real threat to peace and no doubt there will be an equal rise in the Far-Left to match it (the Gaza protests providing training for this). Antisemitism is always just under the surface ready to rise at the slightest provocation and Netanyahu doesn't help with constant threats and a lack of sincerity over rescuing the hostages. As of this May Florida's DeSantis has declared war on women with his six-week ban on abortion. This will be a big election issue there and other Republican states were they are trying to ban it entirely with no exceptions. Add climate change to the mix and farmers in the UK telling us they have been unable to plant much of anything this spring due to the endless rain – food shortages loom and with it a rise in inflation. Get used to this. The weather, not politicians will decide our future, no matter how much some people (Trump) deny there is such a thing as climate change.  And don’t be fooled by all those millions in China driving clean pollution free electric cars since they are all powered by coal-fired electricity and they are still building hundreds more coal power plants. It’s all smoke and mirrors in China. If you want to protest don’t buy a Chinese car as they are flooding the west with their vehicles at subsidised prices to undermine our own car industries. You’ll miss your Beemer’s and VW’s when they're gone. As it is Tesla seems in meltdown (firing workers in product development) and none of the American motor manufacturers make any profit on their own electric vehicles. Is there any good news this May? Well there is a rumour the sun might come out of hiding. I certainly hope so.  Meanwhile grow some tomatoes. You’ll find some comfort in that come harvest time and the leaves smell devine. It's something you can actually control and good for your mental health. I've just planted mine. We welcome contributions from young writers at the College of Charleston this month.

© Sam Hawksmoor May 11th 2024
Editor and author of We Feel your Pain & Mission Longshot
*Sales of these books help keep Hackwriters going.

The Restoration of Ami: ASIN: B0CVQMH78C - Kindle ISBN: 978-1-7385181-0-4 - Print UK Pub: Hammer & Tong/KDP 2.29.24 Remy has one last obsession – to complete the restoration of his ’57 Studebaker Golden Hawk.  He’s planned a road trip to Montreal to find a part he desperately needs. It’s a long way from Florida; his Chevy truck is almost as old as he is. There are doubts he’ll be able to make the drive, doubts about his bladder, his heart, but he’s determined to go. At the very first urgent stop in the pouring rain, a dog appears from nowhere and jumps into his truck, quickly followed by a drenched teen. Scared, the girl, Ami, urgently needs a ride. She has escaped from a nearby religious cult and is desperate to find the mother who abandoned her there when she was just five years old. One old man, a troubled teenage girl and Stan the dog are on a road trip into MAGA America. With each mile they travel Montreal seems to get further away.

A Road Trip Nightmare by Sam Hawkmoor -

The Book of Ashes • Sam Hawksmoor ISBN: 979-8-837434-952 ASIN: B0B85HFK86 Hammer & Tong - print and kindle 'an immensely satisfying story' - Walli Leff on Goodreads. 'a fun read with unique elements ... exemplary in its voice and style' 'Judge, 10th Annual Writer's Digest E-Book Awards An extract from the Book of Ashes		The Book of Ashes - Some secrets are meant to be kept forever The Case: Delaney and Asha run their own investigation company now. Hired to find a writer who stiffed a client of $10,000 - things go bad pretty fast. "This was supposed to be a simple track and trace job. Find the writer, bank the money. Now it's a horror show."

'We Feel Your Pain' by Sam Hawksmoor ISBN-13: 979-8699087693 Published by Hammer & Tong Print & Kindle Book One in the Delaney & Asha series		We Feel Your Pain – So you don’t have to. The Case: Delaney (42) and Asha (22) run the Office of Berg City Oversight. Their role is to expose the scams, keep the city safe from unscrupulous people.  When something looks too good to be true – it’s a scam, right?  But what if the scam works?  What kind of scam is that?

MISSION LONGSHOT: how far will you go to save one life? Gerry is convinced aliens are going to attack on Millennium Eve - Y2K night. Everyone else is preparing for the end of civilisation. That night only Gerry notices aliens land. He and his spacenut pals Jolene and Kali race to be the first to greet them... 'Climate change, lost alien civilisations, adventures in deep space. Great fun with endearing characters'. Kitty Thomas

The Sam North Novels - still available to order Amazon or Lulu

*Keeping Hackwriters archived is supported by sales of our books - so do buy, print or kindle, we aren't picky.
Magenta - A chilling story of kidnapping, burning and strangeness set in the wilds of Lincolnshire

** The Heaviness, & The Repercussions of Tomas D - 'best time travel WW2 story in a long while'

The new edition of 'ANOTHER PLACE TO DIE: ENDTIME CHRONICLES By Sam Hawksmoor & Sam North There's no safe place to hide from a lethal pandemic Print & Kindle - Q&A interview with the authors here A city gripped by fear. People are petrified of being thrown into quarantine. Best friends Kira and Liz once parted are scared they will never see each other again. Teen lovers, Chris and Rachel, prepare to escape to the islands. a taster here The Last Ferry Review from the First Edition: 'Beautiful, plausible, and sickeningly addictive, Another Place to Die: Endtime will terrify you, thrill you, and make you petrified of anyone who comes near you...' Roxy West - Amazon.co.uk

Girl with Cat (Blue) - Shortlisted for the Rubery International Book Award 'a funny, bloody, colorful narrative that never fails to surprise the reader. Girl with Cat (Blue) provides great entertainment'. * Screenplay a quarter-finalist in the Creative Screenwriting competition 2023

'This book was amazing! I was hooked from the first few pages and couldn't put the book down.' Judge, 26th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards. - Honorable Mention

J&K 4Ever - A post-apocalypse love story Sixty years after the end of everything the city of Bluette survives, controlled by a malignant sect.  A place where men rule, girls receive no education and are matched at 16 to the highest bidder.  No one is ever permitted to leave the city and outside is a murderous wasteland of despair. Orphans Kruge and Jeyna have been devoted to each other through all the years of terror in this harsh regime and sworn never to be parted.  But the beautiful Jeyna has been betrayed by the Warden. Kruge has been swiftly banished to the Scraps, under the control of the Keeper. Jeyna is heartbroken; she will not accept her fate and escapes to find Kruge.   'A genuine romance in a bleak but plausible and terrifying setting'.

J&K 4Ever

MARIKKA- exclusively on Amazon Print and kindle 2 Based on a tragic real life event, Marikka flees from an arson attack on her home to the sea, where she meets Starfish boy – a runaway working for Jackson, a scarred man hiding a sinister secret from the world. Meanwhile her real father searches for her with the aide of Anya, ‘the girl who can read objects’. More about the writing of this book ‘Long after my tears dried, my heart stayed with Marikka, Starfish Boy and the strange girl who reads objects.’ CT You will smile, and you will struggle to read the words through your tears. Gemma Williams - Amazon.co.uk

Spy/Romance thriller set during the Blitz in WW2 - Kindle download The Repercussions of Tomas D A Hero? Or Englands Greatest Traitor? USA Paperback here 'Disturbing and very poignant YA love story that presents a chilling alternate future for an England that lost the war.' Marcel d'Agneau 'A brilliant imagining of living in the Blitz, well researched.' Amazon UK 'This is Man in the High Castle for teens and scarily plausible ' *download the Kindle version or buy the paperback from Hammer & Tong

'The Heaviness' betrayal, revenge, relationships and the laws of gravity. Genie & Renée have just 36 hours to save Rian or he dies 'Without a doubt, one of the best YA Sci Fi series out there.' Evie Seo - Bookish Kindle & print Thanks to readers who have been buying this title. * Also published as Rüya by Marti Yayincilik - The Turkish publishers of TOZ & Golge Read Part Two: The Hunting of Genie Magee - the fight for the right to exist

*December 9th: Sara Troy interviews Sam Hawksmoor on Self Discovery Wisdom

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