The International Writers Magazine Editorial December 2021

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Welcome to this DECEMBER 2021 edition of Hackwriters. 22 years on-line, 7836 + articles - reviews - stories - travel - share any feature you like and pass them on. December 27th 2021

Coronavirus UK: 122,186 tested positive. Deaths 137 (810 in last seven days) Dec 24th 4.00 pm data
Get Vaccinated! It is still infecting and killing unvaccinated people and rising! Get Boosted! 32 Million so far!
Farewell to the Legendary Archbishop Desmond Tutu who died yesterday aged 90

Editorial: Is Covid getting weaker as it infects record numbers?

OK you can panic now. We can only hope that our vaccines and boosters offer some defence against it and if I were an antivaxer – I’d get a shot now, no one is going to feel sorry for you if it all gets out of control again and you’re on a ventilator at New Year. *Six million people still not had first vaccine in UK.  The new variant is spreading like wildfire in 89 countries already. They say Omicron is sweeping Delta aside but it seems this variant is less likely to kill (unless unvaccinated). This is a natural virus evolution, after all it can't thrive if it kills the hosts. Get boosted now! Release the patents. Save the world.

Last Wednesday I went to see West Side Story. No need to worry about being at risk of mixing. I was the only one in the Cinema. What's wrong with people? Spielberg has given us a perfect, stylish, wonderful musical with a fantastic Maria with a great genuine voice. Go see it. Spiderman was playing next door and jammed packed. All those kids are going to be sick with Covid in three days. West Side Story screens are germ free. See it before you can't see anything.

Tornadoes strike Kentucky. The images are terrifying and the timing terrible. But given climate change is real - should people be thinking of rebuilding in Tornado Alley? It must start a debate about how and where to rebuild for a more violent climate where tornadoes, floods, earthquakes and fire bring different building codes. Insurance companies could be part of this thinking. A 'Region at Risk' map is needed for the whole of North America.

175,000 Russian troops and their missiles are massed on Ukraine's borders. Are we really going to have WW3 for Putin's vanity? How do we save Ukraine without causing World War? Worse Biden threatens sanctions but do Russians care? The UK Prime Minister is in difficulty and may even have to resign. The west is full of headless chickens is seems.

Retirement Sucks as prices rise for everything. Fixed income, unfixed prices. Interest rates up but not for savings. Mr Micawber would understand.  How I miss having my job.  Well, not the people I worked with, or the meetings, the endless meetings where no one would discuss the actual problems that needed solving.  I miss the interaction with students though – although it must be a nightmare teaching a woke classroom now where no humour is permitted and they actively interpret everything one says or reads as a major slight against their sensibilities. A friend writes that the more offended a student gets the more likes they get on social media.

On that note I wonder what the woke crowd make of 'Hellbound' the South Korean series on Netflix. If you think Squid Game was cruel, take a look at victims in this series tossed around like meat by creatures from Hell and the teen woke mobs roaming the streets beating people to death for their alleged 'sins'. Is it sci-fi or a window into our Clockwork Orange future?

Wear the masks when out.  No more hugging.  Definitely no mistletoe. Enjoy your Chistmas!

* Next year we'll only do sporadic updates as we're hoping to travel. We shall see.

© Sam North December - Editor - and yes buy my new novel 'A Cure for Sceptics'!
Ever been scammed in healthcare? Then is novel is for you. A great Christmas gift too!

A Cure for Sceptics by Sam North Publisher: Hammer & Tong ( July 2021) Paperback & kindle: 326 pages ISBN-13: 979-8537465874 Delaney and Asha run the Berg City Office of City Oversight. Their role is to expose the shady characters running scams and fraud against the city. 300 complaints flood in for a $30,000 treatment that claims to abolish pain forever. Unfortunately the Mayor himself is touting the scheme. When Delaney finds himself left for dead at the bottom of a cliff he gets the message that he's supposed to leave this one well alone. 'A great human story that wears it's heart on it's sleeve.' Dr Allen Cook - Bridgeport University ‘a brilliant and intriguing tale’ Amazon **Sample Sam North's new novel here.

Covid Numbers worldwide - Source: Worldometers.

Celebrating the publication of MISSION LONGSHOT: how far will you go to save one life? The climate is changing fast - the future of humanity is at stake, who wants to escape to an alternative planet on that spaceship with Elon? (Well not that actual spaceship but you know what I mean). Buy a ticket and enjoy the ride. But don't forget to buckle up. It might not go where you thought it would. 'Gripping adventures with highly engaging characters.' W. Leff - Goodreads

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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