Welcome - The International Writers Magazine - September 2008 writing from across the globe.

Welcome to the September Edition of Hackwriters. We are getting ready for the new intake of students on the MA in Creative Writing and the BA. (Some really talented students coming on board this year) *

We just heard that Quentin Bates has secured an agent for his novel set in Iceland and Linda has sold her crime novel to her publisher who loves it. That's a good outcome so far. Final work due this Firday. Lots to do. Meanwhile new writers have contributed to this Hackwriters editon and as always the quality and variance is excellent. Check it out. Missed something? Check our archive sections.
This is the world according to Sara Palin. Get used to it.
Here's to Obama - we're rooting for you. The alternative is just too scary.
PS Thanks to all those who wrote to find out if I am still alive. Tests show nothing wrong with my heart. Seems to be an allergy to farms, sheep, chickens and flies may have triggered something. I shall stick to the beach from now on.

9/17/08 Update
I guess in the light of Lehman Brothers going under, Merril Lynch going to Bank of America and AIG looking shaky Obama's slogan should be 'It's the stupid economy' . Sure as hell the Republican's aren't going to fix that. In eight years the USA has become one of the most indebted nations on earth. Another four years of that? I don't think so.
It's an exciting time in the stock market. AIG rescued last night (but at what cost to the taxpayer) HBOS merging with Lloyds here in the UK. It's a big shake out. How long before this all filters down to us folks who don't get bonuses for bankrupting the country with bogus investments. It's a scary world. I think I'll hold off replacing my car, in fact wonder if my meagre savings are even safe in a bank at all - hell will even my salary be ok going into bank? Confidence is everything in the banking system and yes fear itself stalks the land as once before. It's so reassuring to know my house has already lost 25% of it's value since I bought it. If it goes any lower I will be in negative equity. Joy.
Hold on to your hats folks - it's going to be a bumpy ride.
** I shall reserve judgement on Zimbabwe - let us see if Mugabe really relinguishes power. But good luck to them.

*Here's to one of our former writers Dermot starting his teaching training . Good luck with those four year olds!

Oh yeah. Check out 'In Britain' magazine. I have a six page spread on Cornwall in the October edition out now. You can find it in most WH Smiths.

Sam North - Editor September 2008

Welcome to the September Edition of Hackwriters. If you want to help us keep going, buy my new book Mean Tide. A young adult story set in Greenwhich, London.

Published June 2008 - Mean Tide by Sam North 'Extraordinary novel about a child's psychic awakening' Lulu Press - ISBN: 978-1-4092-0354-4 Review: 'An engaging, unusual and completely engrossing read' - Beverly Birch author of 'Rift' Order now Sent to live with his spooky Grandma by the river in Greenwich, Oliver (12) discovers a whole world of disturbed people who are probably even crazier than the ones he left behind. When he finds a dog with its throat cut on the beach, everything changes. Age range 12-16 and adult

Borderlines Vol 2 A Literary Spark - ISBN: 978-1-4092-0494-7 A University of Portsmouth publication from the School of Creative Arts, Film and Media- Buy now - available from Lulu Press & Blackwells, Amazon on-line Borderlines Vol 2 - A literary Anthology of new fiction, travel writing and poetry from the Creative Writing Programme and invited writers at the University of Portsmouth, UK under the editorship of Freya Scott, Ryan Sirmons, Aby Davis and Sam North 'An exciting insight into the amazing talent and diversity of new writers out there today' Stuart Olesker - Playwright

Meanwhile, are you worried about your health? Read my book '‘Another Place to Die'' . If you have the slightest worry about how to survive the coming flu pandemic, you need this book and all the proceeds go to keep Hackwriters going. In the UK newspapers 31.08.07 they were quoting a Home Office paper called: Planning for a possible Influenza Edpidemic and predicting 650,000 'extra' deaths this winter in the UK if it breaks out. There will also be a shortage of coffins, not that you need them in a mass grave. It's all in my book, you don't need this report. Another Place to Die is a guide on how to survive the pandemic. So order now for your autumn reading. (Maybe Amazon will do you a deal on a coffin too!) You will not be disappointed.
See the review from Calvin Hussey

Another Place To Die by Sam North ISBN: 978-1-84753-899-4 The Great Flu Pandemic is coming. Are you prepared? Reviews: 'It will keep readers in suspense, laced with gritty-gallows humor' Charlie Dickinson '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 Fascinating, frightening and compelling, Another Place to Die is the ultimate page-turner which I guarantee will result in many late nights under the bedside light with you uttering, ‘just one more chapter!!’ Ian Middleton Read the first chapter on line Order Now direct from Publisher : Another Place To Die

The Curse of the Nibelung - A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Sam North ISBN 1-4116-3748-8 $19.98 Retail - 300 pages - Lulu Press USA 'Chocolate will never be the same again' - Sunday Express Buy from your favourite on-line retailer Amazon UK Amazon USA Barnes and Noble & Waterstones

Diamonds - The Rush of '72 is also available from the publishers direct

Diamonds - The Rush of '72 By Sam North ISBN: 1-4116-1088-1 Buy now from Amazon.com 'a terrific piece of storytelling' Historical Novel Society Review Also printed in the UK and available from Amazon.co.uk & Waterstones

We at Hacks are self-supporting and if you want to support us, buy Sam's books - All the funds from the sale of the books go back into the site. If you live in New York they can be ordered at the Mysterious Bookshop at 58 Warren Street. These titles are able to be ordered at Amazon who keep stock see below and can be ordered from Waterstones all over the UK and Hatchards in London and for less cost direct from Lulu.com in the UK and USA

* The MA in Creative Writing at Portsmouth University started another year this October. Apply now for 2009 entry: The current students have all got their major projects under way now. Novels, screenplays, children's fiction, speculation fiction, crime novels, you name it... If you need support and like a good encouraging peer group, join us. Might do you good to live in Portsmouth for a year, but you don't have to. Students come down from London once a week and further afield. Apply now to avoid being disappointed. You do not have to be published to join us, but you do have to have a portfolio of some interesting writing already to hand. *Hackwriter published writers especially welcome. Come to Sherlock Holmes country (yes this is where it all started on Elm Grove in Southsea). **8.08.08 This year's Course almost full, late entries accepted however.

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