The International Writers Magazine Editorial 2025

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Welcome to this edition of Hackwriters. 26 years on-line, 8,034 + articles - reviews - stories - travel -
share any feature you like and pass them on.- Previous Editorial here

Welcome: January Editorial

The Prince of Darkness has assumed the Presidency and promised a golden shower over America. Good luck with that. The Jan 6th rioters celebrate their freedom but the rule of law is now meaningless.

The new deal between Israel and Hamas looks shaky as Trump claims credit.
Half of Los Angeles burns to the ground just as a world of climate change deniers take over the Presidency. It's tragic for all those who lost their lives (28 so far) and homes (over 12,000 homes) and let's not forget the wild animals and birds in the hills and canyons. People should be thinking twice before they try to rebuild - I'm sure the insurance companies won't want to cover anything there. It's already happening in Florida. Build at your own risk. California probably wasn't meant to support so many people. Too hot, too dry.

Meanwhile which country will be invaded first after January 20th? Greenland, Panama or Canada. Might even be Elon Musk persuades Trump to invade England - you never know. Just expect constant craziness for the next four years. And say goodbye to Ukraine. Putin must be laughing all the way to the morgue. (Not that he ever gets to see all his dead soldiers anytime). This might be a good time to cancel X, META, in case they drag you down the rabbit hole to fascism. As Orwell quite possibly said, 'Hate Speech is Free Speech'. I suspect there will be euphoria in the beginning, then as President Musk bites into the 'system', howls of pain by the summer.

*We welcome Saleem Ayoub Quna this month with his thoughts on Trump's New World Order.

When I mentioned last month that we are transforming to archive mode there was no rush or protest. Well one protest and two letters of 'sadness'. I think that justifies my decision to close. However no fear, we remain visible - a living internet museum of stories, life moments, frozen political opinions on the first 25 years of the 21st Century. I will continue to recycle for a while and very occassionally add something new as the Trump era begins.

No doubt you will find out all your news on Tik-Tok (or maybe not). My tip, for what it is worth, is to concentrate on your own wellbeing and financial health this year - so that you are ready for anything...

We wish everyone well and here's to a happy 2025.

PS: I read Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen over Christmas. This is an incredibly well researched non-fiction book, brilliantly and convincingly written that reads like a thriller. If you never saw Fail Safe (a movie) this it the real thing, minute by minute from the first warning blip on the radar to the last second of all life on earth and it is totally unstoppable - yes we all die. Essential reading for any gung-ho politician and a huge wake up call for the rest of us. Buy it. Meanwhile James Campion is back with a review of Beatles'64

© Sam North – Jan 25st 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. 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. '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

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

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