The International Writers Magazine Editorial MAY 2018

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Welcome to this 2018 edition of Hackwriters. Read our amazing archives. 19 years on-line, 7500+ articles - reviews - stories - travel - share any feature you like and pass them on using the links.
We are in archive mode right now and taking submissions again for a brief period but Euro data regulations may close us down.

Editorial: May 2018

Currently I am spending everyday at St Thomas' hospital in London visiting my sister Jane who is in danger of ending her days. A hole in the bowel, plus obstruction by a massive hernia and she hasn't eaten since May 1st. Her children flew in and are crossing fingers they find a solution for her but it isn't easy confronting one's mortality and how it impacts upon others. My sister Sara has a prayer group up and running and intravenous antibiotics are being poured in but neither are quite doing the job at the moment. It is uncomfortable to watch but devastating for my sister who had so many plans for the future. I hope they can still happen.

*Under European data regulations we have to compliant by May 25th. As anyone knows who reads Hackwriters we never send out emails or give out personal details unless the writer offers a link to their own website, blog or whatever. Nevertheless I doubt I can retrospectively amend the 7500 + articles to be compliant - so if we vanish suddenly that will be why. A shame - a real piece of digital history will go with it. If you have an article you have written and want to keep, now's the time to search for it and copy. After that it's anyones guess.

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Well we had the brief romance between Trump and Macron at the White House and it was much like a gorilla circling a possible mate and all the more wincing for that–unless you like blood sports I guess. Then I’m guessing Mrs. Merkel a day later did all she could to avoid holding his hand unless he’d promised to wash it ten times first.  Now we have news that Trump is going to visit the UK on July 13th 2018. The security services have hit the panic button and every revolutionary in the world has blocked book all the hotels and tear gas goggles. Time to spend some time away from the UK I think for July. Now Rudy Giuliani has muddied the waters re Stormy Daniels and Trump is proven (yet again) to be a liar. James Campion has something to say about the ex-mayor of NYC is this months edition.

We had local elections in the UK last week and although Labour consolidated its power in London everything stayed pretty much the same with Labour running the most councils in the UK but there was a bounce for the pro-EU Liberals in Richmond and Kingston, a very Remain area. It probably doesn't tell us much about any future general election (which is technically four years away) but looking at the electorial maps by political groupings - it seems to me that Labour win in almost every place one might not choose to actually live in. Quite why say people still turn out to vote for a Labour council in Sheffield when they are busy destroying all their trees beats me, or Birmingham where they didn't collect the garbage for around 23 months, but there you go - perhaps people just vote from habit and don't make a connection between what goes on around them - the potholes that get bigger and bigger in our neglected roads mirroring the size of council leaders over-inflated salaries and party politics. Perhaps we're all a bit blind and we don't connect the dots.

Nevertheless the UK is in a political mess and there is no way forward or back. Both major parties want Brexit for their own reasons and the EU seems bent on making sure it is ruinous.  Democracy suffers in times like these and despots sound reasonable.  It’s happening in Turkey and you can almost print the result before the vote. 99% for El Presidente.

For Democracy to work, the politicians have to engage with the people and take them along with them.  This is not happening in the USA or UK and many other countries. Dangerous times beget violent times.  The loudest voices of unreason are magnified by social media and it seems no one can tell the difference between fake news and real anymore.  A friend believes everything she hears on RT the Russian fake news channel and it makes one want to spew to hear falsehood spun as truth.  What to do about it?  Ban RT or place her under a channel switching restraining order.  Not sure which is easier to do.

Ask how many of your friends read a quality newspaper anymore or the news.  Almost none of mine do anymore and they think I’m odd for doing so.  ALL their news comes from social media and they don’t seem to question sources.  I worry about this a lot but I suspect they don’t and therein lays the problem.

Here we are in May and Hackwriters is still here until we have to go https and then it all might vanish who knows?  Still accepting the odd story or article or two as I search for a new home and life.  It’s harder than you think.

© Sam North – Editor May 15th 2018
All Sam's fiction - SamNorth2.htm
Meanwhile there's still tons to read in our archives - and it's well worth exploring. You never know what you will find.

Happy May readers

Do explore our archives - there is bound to be something you'd enjoy and want to share with someone.

Be one of the first to read: Girl with Cat (Blue)
'London doesn't exist; has never existed and those who say it does are liars... '
An exploration of the multiverse you always thought might be there - just out of reach...

*As ever Hackwriters is supported by sales of our books - so do buy, print or kindle, we aren't picky.
The Sam North Novels - still available to order on Lulu or Amazon
** The Heaviness, Another Place to Die: Endtime Chronicles are recommended also read The Repercussions of Tomas D

J&K 4Ever - Love and Devotion in the Wastelands 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.  She is pursued by ruthless Enforcers on horseback, whose task it is to bring runaways back, dead or alive. '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 2015

The all new edition of 'ANOTHER PLACE TO DIE: ENDTIME CHRONICLES By Sam Hawksmoor and Sam North Could you live in a world where antibiotics no longer work? 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? 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 West - Amazon.co.uk

Spy/Romance thriller set during the Blitz 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 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 with alternative facts ' *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. If you enjoyed it, please post a remark on Amazon or Goodreads. It all helps. * Now published as Rüya by Marti Yayincilik - The Turkish publishers of TOZ & Golge

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