The International Writers Magazine Editorial JULY 2022

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Welcome to this July 2022 edition of Hackwriters. 23 years on-line, 7878+ articles - reviews - stories - travel - share any feature you like and pass them on.

Coronavirus UK: It's not over
Alarming new cases of Covid in France and Belgium if planning a vacation there.
July 31st 2022

Editorial: Pessimism Rules

As you enjoy summer every moment of the day Putin bombs Ukraine.

England celebrates as the Lionesses reach the Euro finals at last today.
The back foot goal was spectacular. Sweden stunned! Germany will be tought to beat.

Who should the next Prime Minister of the UK be? How do we choose?
1: Key qualities needed: Honesty, integrity, experience, leadership, empathy, genuine evidence of service rather than self-aggrandisment. Be able to speak coherently to the public and a willingness to adapt and change to circumstances (and apologise when things go wrong). The new leader will then be elected on September 5th. It's the Liz and Rishi show now. Do we get the leaders we deserve I wonder? Given inflation and climate change would you want to be Prime Minister at this time in history? I pray it's not unfunded tax-cut Lizzie that makes it. Only members decide which isn't exactly democratic.

If you were inclined to be a bit pessimistic about things at the moment I can sympathise.  Whether it’s the Supreme Court in the USA tearing at the very fabric of American society and the rights of women in particular, or the GOP becoming a fascist party - James Campion comments). Then there's the endless war in Ukraine and the consequences not just for the people who are living in terror from Putin’s missiles but the fallout on gas and oil prices worldwide.  This in turn could lead to an impending famine in Africa and the Middle East as Putin steals Ukraine’s grain for his own use. Now the gas to Europe has been reduced by 80 percent so they can't stockpile for winter. Just maybe the Europeans will be wishing they had stood up to Putin earlier ...

You might even get depressed about the cost of living, strikes, future job security, and fret about being able to fill up your car or shopping basket.  No one will blame you or, to be honest, offer any comfort either.  If you’re one of those people who quit their boring jobs in the USA and are suddenly discovering you’ll be amongst the first to be laid off in the new job and totally without health care  - did you look before you leapt?

Some folks will be wondering where all their potential millions went as their NFT’s and crypto currencies were flushed down the toilet. Didn’t see that coming they cry, but hey never heard of Tulip Mania or the dotcom bust?  What goes up quickly falls twice as fast.  Shame no one teaches financial history in school huh?

‘Now’s the time, buy the dip’ my pal called, who did make some good money on the way up.  I tell him the dip has a long way to go but he’s grabbing what he can looking to make a killing.  I prefer the certainty of knowing I have no investments and nothing is going up or down.  There’s no stress if you’ve got nothing to lose.  Of course there’s a little stress when you pop into the supermarket and things seem a tad more expensive. (Heinz Baked Beans just shot up in price – I’m screwed).  This strategy of just about coping may look a little foolish come the winter, but I’m not stockpiling my freezer department either, as sure as eggs is eggs there will be a blackout if I do.  Being a natural pessimist has its own rewards.  You are never shocked when things go pearshaped, although it can be disconcerting if something goes right.

I’ve been having health issues of late – if you’re male and your doctor ever suggests an endoscopy of your bladder JUST SAY NO.  It will reveal nothing more than what an ultrasound shows and you won’t end up screaming every time you pee thereafter.  They are also plying me with pills with nary a thought about how each one interacts with the other, my diet or living with the consequences.  I've declined more blood thinners, Apixaban (the side effects look horrendous), and an Alpha-blocker, which says, in big letters – NOT TO BE TAKEN WITH ANTI-COAGULANTS.  No thanks. But I guess some people still believe doctors have their best interests at heart. I’m not one of those. Bring on the robots!

Being a pessimist gives you’re the protection that optimists just don’t have.  Of course you might not get as lucky as the optimists, but then again you won’t be crying because Bitcoin fell 60% since you borrowed $69,000 to buy one coin.  Ha!

Enjoy July –but not too much.

© Sam Hawksmoor - Editor - JULY 2022

PS: Buy my mystery novel We Feel Your Pain - the second Delaney and Asha mystery currently on some weird 72%. promotion. 'The Book of Ashes' will be out in August. Reading the proof copy now.
'If you like dogs - you'll love this book.' Walli Leff

'We Feel Your Pain' by Sam Hawksmoor ISBN-13: 979-8699087693 Published by Hammer & Tong Print or Kindle from Amazon		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. When it happens 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'.

'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, you will gasp with shock, 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' for any reader who likes to think about such things as betrayal, revenge, relationships and the laws of gravity. An original Genie Magee story 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

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