The International Writers Magazine June - Editorial 2015

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Editorial - June 11th 2015
I’m off to the Basque country for a couple of weeks mid-June – so won’t be answering emails as I’ll be enjoying the huge Atlantic waves and no doubt desperately trying to find somewhere to eat vegetarian – not easy in meat obsessed France.  I imagine the world will still be here when I get back. But who knows hey? I've been told to bring a raincoat - sigh...

I have a pal who never listens to the news or reads a newspaper beyond the sports pages.  He has no interest in Islamic State beheadings or setting off on jihad, or whether the UK stays in or out of Europe.  He doesn’t even care if Seb Blatter or other FIFA officials allegedly took millions from Putin to stage the world cup in Russia.  He has no interest in the environment except he buys organic because his ex made him do it.  He cares nothing for refugees drowning in the Med or why they are there, or climate change.  He almost raised an eyebrow when I mentioned 120,000 Romanians arrived in the UK in the last year, but only to say 'They'd better not come here'. I have no idea even how I know him, except he’s often in the same coffee shop as me with his scruffy dog chained up outside looking miserable.  Sometimes I envy his ability not to care, or worry, or be concerned about the world around us.  It’s not something I could ever do.  So naturally I worry about the consequences of IS taking over the whole Middle East and the Saudis buying off-the-peg nukes from North Korea.  I fret about global warming, leaving or staying in Europe and dishonesty in politics, not forgetting football and motor racing. Perhaps not helped by reading Paulo Bacigalupi's latest novel The Water Knife about the scarcity of water in the future USA and how expendable life is to those without water rights. Worth noting one of the warmest places on the planet right now is the Artic! Forest's on fire in BC and Alberta and only just June. El Nino is vicious this year.

So who is better off?  The Nevermaycare with not a concern beyond their own life, or me, the worrywart who is afraid for all of mankind.  Of course those fears are translated into my writing such as the new version of 'Another Place to Die' which is about the consequences of a pandemic breaking out in the USA and Canada. I am lucky I have an outlet, but to live a life of utter tranquillity with no curiosity would, to me, be unimaginable.  Stress free it might be but how bloody dull.  My pal is not alone of course.  Thousands of people have tuned out ‘real life’ all except reality TV of course.  Go figure.

From the start of mankind we were programmed to worry about the seasons, the weather, the scarcity of food or animals.  These worries made us think, find solutions, sharpen flint, decorate our caves and grow fixed crops and store them for hard times.  We were a living worry machine and most of us still are, several hundred thousand years on from early man.

Let the bad news roll on.  Worrying probably won’t solve anything, or stop the power hungry and greedy from lining their pockets, or starting wars, but it’s what makes us all interesting.  To lack curiosity is frankly weird.  If you are at all worried about Greece or the future of Europe, check out James Skinner's latest article on the problems facing Spain you may not want to be investing there anymore.

*If you are on vacation in Turkey and spot a book with my name on it, let me know, I am keen to see the Turkish edition of The Repossession due out this June.

Happy Summer

© Sam Hawksmoor June 2015 - Joint Editor
as ever Hackwriters is supported by sales of our books - so do buy, print or kindle we aren't picky.
*And thanks for those who do. The Heaviness and Repercussions finally selling in some numbers.

The Repossession by Sam Hawksmoor a fast paced edgy romantic thriller 'Smart, dark and graceful, this story is sure to send chills down your spine...one of the best, and most fascinating, debut novels I've ever read'. Evie-bookish.blogspot * Published in Turkish June 2015 - look out for it in Istanbul The Hunting - the thrilling sequel - order yours from Amazon or ibooks or Kindle 'Without a doubt, one of the best YA Sci Fi series out there.' Evie Seo Bookish Now read the final thrilling conclusion to the series 'The Heaviness' suitable for any reader who likes to think about such things as betrayal, revenge, relationships and the laws of gravity

If you're looking for an exciting YA book set in WW2 - Kindle download All proceeds go to keeping Hackwriters going The Repercussions of Tomas D A Hero? Or Englands Greatest Traitor? USA Paperback here 'Disturbing and very poignant YA novel that presents a chilling alternate future for an England that lost the war.' Marcel d'Agneau *download the Kindle version or buy the paperback

The all new 2nd Edition of 'Another Place to Die' The Endtime Chronicles Print & Kindle Q&A interview with the authors here A city gripped by fear as a lethal virus approaches from the East. No one knows how many are dying. 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. Do you stay and hide, or do you flee? And if you flee - how do you know you aren't taking it with you? Review from the First Edition: 'Beautiful, plausible, and sickeningly addictive, Another Place to Die will terrify you, thrill you, and make you petrified of anyone who comes near you...' Roxy Williams - Amazon.co.uk

MAGENTA download the new novel on Kindle from Sam North 'Life begins somewhere between the fish and the stars’ A mysterious, tragic tale from the wilds of the Lincolnshire coast – a haunting story about Magenta who fled the fire into a whole world of trouble. A story about father and daughter and the girl who can read objects... from the author of Diamonds The Rush of '72 and The Curse of the Nibelung: Buy exclusively on Kindle now (UK) USA + Canada

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