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Welcome: February Editorial -

© Street Art by Evyrein

Breaking News: President Musk breaks the whole system holding America together. Trump makes a full 180 degree pivot to side with Russia against Europe and Ukraine. The world order has changed. Musk at his side is a malign fascist influence and yet we were warned in Project 2025 that all this would happen. One pities Zelensky in all of this but next stop for Russian missiles will be the Baltics or even the UK it seems. Canada to spend a billion dollars on border security to prevent American's fleeing Trump's Regime. Mexico sends 10,000 soldiers to their border for the same reason. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians walk back to their ruined homes. What is their future now? Perhaps that 45 million tons of rubble could be used to expand Gaza into the sea? Or as Trump suggests, a luxury Trump resort where er... no Palestinians live there at all.

I was trying to think of the right words to describe the first month of Trump’s presidency and I think shell shock seems to be appropriate. He’s abandoned all the guardrails for civilisation, all the protections for the environment and health, even disasters by proposing to abolish FEMA and USAID. He’s role-playing Mussolini – bullying neighbours, promising wars and acting like the mad king in some B-movie sci-fi fantasy. He's even boasted of emptying Northern California's reservoirs and pouring all the water into the sea to make a point. Not sure what the point was however. Musk has been let loose on Federal Employees and it is like a scene from The Purge! Important note he seems to be surrounded by Eugenicists. © Street Art by Gargalo

Trump probably thinks there won’t be any resistance to him and so far he's right. Ass kissing congressmen have already tabled a bill to change the constitution to give him a third term. One only has to look at the shining examples of North Korea or Belarus or Russia to see how that works out for the people. Ah yes, the people, all those people who voted for a convicted criminal to rule them and expected what? That he’d reform? Repent? Or just hire every far right fascist to sit around the table with him and kiss his ass all day long. That must have been what they wanted, because they sure got it in spades.
           
Trump’s 25% tariffs didn't quite get started on Mexico and Canada in a day of typical Trumpian chaos.  If it did happen eventually it will have a devastating effect on auto and truck production, create a shortage of lumber in the USA and if oil is included, a rise in gas costs in the USA.(Trump says he might lower the oil tarriff to 10% later on). Meanwhile inflation will rise exponentially. The Fed may have to raise interest rates. Canada and Mexico will be hit hard. However Mexico caved in and sent 10,000 troops to the border 3.2.25 - so 25% tarriff suspended. Canada got a similar deal with a thirty day suspension. We await tarriffs on Europe and other countries. This gives Canada and Mexico time to expand their outreach to other customers in the world (hello China) who might want what they are selling. I'd advise them to maximise this opportunity.

It’s already over for the UK. We have a government who seems to despise the armed forces and everyone else. Particularly people with jobs. But don’t worry, soon they won’t have jobs. Ms Reeves will see to that. Orwellism is alive and well. Substitute the word Recession for Growth. A Judge declared that no new gas or oil can be developed in Scottish waters despite them having a license to do just that. It sends a very bad signal to the rest of the world. We are closed for business. Apprently we need to embrace Net Zero when Ed Milliband turns off the gas completely in 2030 and then laughs at us poor freezing mortals because we didn’t get a heat pump because we couldn’t afford to pay the electricity bills either. *UK pays the most for electricity in Europe. Invest in horse and carts - it's the future.

Is there a bright spark on the horizon this February?  It’s been a very bleak depressing winter so far; we need sparks (unlike California). If you’re going to drown your sorrows, sorry, the price of wine just went up. For health reasons of course. 

If you're like me at the moment - I just can't face the news anymore. I read my morning paper with dread. Just as you're happy that peace has arrived in Gaza - Trump suggests ethnic-cleansing them all out of there to Eygpt or Jordan so that the more extreme factions in Israel can resettle there. (This has already started in the West Bank) Eygpt has said no thanks (they wouldn't want Hamas on their land) but I'm sure Trump will apply tarriffs or deny weapons until they agree. The Saudi's say no but I wonder who will win? Maybe Rubio will twist their arms.

I don't want 'happy' news but the relentless diet of bad news is dispiriting. I guess we should brace ourselves for a huge vote for AFD in German in February and another victory for Musk in the coming destruction of civilised world ruled by law. Is there anyone out there with the courage to turn X off? Anyone? Maybe DeepSeek can do it - pretty please.

If you spot any bright sparks – do let us know.

Meanwhile James Campion is celebrating Nessun Dorma

*We are officially at 89 Seconds to Midnight - aren't you at least a tad worried at who has their fingers on the button now?

© Sam North – Feb 27th 2025
Author of Another Place to Die: Endime Chronicles and Magenta.

*Sales of Sam North's and Sam Hawksmoor's books help keep Hackwriters alive. Sam Hawksmoor's Books below

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. 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. 'Fabulous, can't-put-down story with quirky, original characters, a loveable dog and a great adventure'. ***** Roxy West on Goodreads.

A MAGA Road Trip 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? 2024: Honorable Mention in the Purple Dragonfly Awards (Sci Fi) 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 Screencraft competition 2024

'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 only 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 * Also published as Rüya by Marti Yayincilik - The Turkish publishers of TOZ & Golge Part 2: The Hunting of Genie Magee - fight for the right to exist

* Look out for 'Whatever Happened to Genie Magee?' the 4th part in the Genie Magee series coming soon in 2025

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

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