The International Writers Magazine September Editorial 2016

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Welcome to this Autumn edition of Hackwriters. Read us and our amazing archives too. 17 years on-line, 7350 articles - reviews - stories - travel - share any feature you like and pass them on using the links.

Editorial: September/October 2016

Summer's gone out with a bang, crash, wallop and floods. Now the reality of a Trump victory looks horribly inevitable. Alice Cooper runs in a late bid. Anything could happen - right? Here at Hacks we are preparing to move to new offices in the Lincolnshire countryside. We await news of an internet connection date. Will keep you posted er or not... depends on BT Infinity (Rather worried that Infinity is what they call the waiting time).

The Benefits of Dog Sitting For all those who spent August lolling on a hot beach or sampling exotic foods in wonderful foreign climes or binge watching the Olympics all through the night (whilst sneaking episodes of Stranger Things) welcome back to reality.  I didn’t make it to France or Big Sur or indeed anywhere  - I spent August dog sitting Mr Trouble, walking over fields where he’d invariably roll on fox poo or fall into disgusting ditches and require hosing down.  Looks cute = smells bad = happiness. For example in Louth on a hot day he invaded someone's picnic and ran off with their salami sandwhich. Then he disappeared with about twenty kids scrabbling down the steep slopes of Hubbards Hills. Luckily at least five of the kids helped me get a very muddy hound back. But then cuteness goes a long way and all is forgiven-ish. I also did another extensive edit on my latest book, responding to many notes from Jenny, Roxy, Karen and Kitty.  They all provided excellent observations and spotted typos, which can only improve this particular manuscript.  I realised looking at previous versions I have been toiling over this darn thing since 2011 – so it should be ready by now.  In mitigation I did add another sixty thousand words last year and now it runs out to 400 pages.

I decided to hell with it I wanted a fat book – so much happens it just couldn’t be anemic – it could probably run to a sequel too.   It’s amazing how each reader brings something else to the story.  They pick up on a detail you hadn’t really thought so much about or pick on a word that they wouldn’t use or even an object.  It’s true what they say – the writer writes but it’s the reader who brings a book to life.

I truly believe that writing is a collaborative thing.  I know some writers jealously guard each word, but I have always found feedback improves my work.  The irony being that when and if it ever reaches an editor – they too will want to leave their mark on it and you will have to make more changes.  You have to be prepared for that.  After all every drama you see on TV or every movie has been through several drafts, then also knocked about by the actors and director.  You can’t be too precious.

I was pleased to discover that Toz (The Repossession) has gone down well in Turkey.  So much so they have bought the third volume in the Genie Magee series ‘The Heaviness’.  Despite all you might read about Turkey and all the horrors of IS against the Kurds and Turkish people – life goes on and people still read books.  In fact it has to go on.  It’s the only way to stick one in the eye to terrorists.

Why so much about writing and books this month?  Well starting this September I’m back teaching on the MA in Creative Writing at Lincoln University.  It’s a chance to engage with writers and help them polish and expand their horizons.  I miss the interaction of teaching and am happy to be back.  Better yet, I won’t have to go to the staff meetings or ever hear the minutes of the last meeting.  Yay!  Met the students yesterday and realised I am going to have to teach poetry for six weeks. Arghhhhh.          

Anyway, this is all to say that changes are afoot and challenges too.

*Just watched Season Two of 'Mr Robot'. Season one was amazing in the taking down of Evil Corp by the hackers, but Season Two seems to have totally lost its way (despite Mr Malik winning a well deserved Emmy). The curious inability to really show the consequences of their actions puzzles me. I can't believe New York would be so calm living on a $50 dollar a day limit. I was living there when gas was only available on alternate days and it was violent and tense all the time. I think the destruction of Evil Corp would cause way more distress and chaos.

Meanwhile Brexit hangs like a bad smell over the nation.  I’d like to wake up and discover it was all a bad dream but I am afraid it isn’t and we shall all be much poorer in five years time – wondering how to rejoin the EU but they meanwhile will have erected a huge wall…

As for Trump vs. Clinton.  I leave that to my expert pundit James Campion and as for Europe and Spain – James Skinner will have the lowdown on what is happening there. I still believe we are all doomed

Enjoy the Fall   See any article you like – please share it. More to come as the month progresses.

© Sam Hawksmoor September 22nd 2016
Joint Editor

*As ever Hackwriters is supported by sales of our books - so do buy, print or kindle, we aren't picky.
**And thanks for those who do. The Heaviness, Another Place to Die: Endtime Chronicles are recommended.
The spy/romance Repercussions of Tomas D set in the Blitz has a small following now. Spread the word.

New in 2016: J&K 4Ever - A touching young love story in a post-apocalypse 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'.

*New - J&K 4Ever Sam Hawksmoor

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 2nd Edition of 'ANOTHER PLACE TO DIE: ENDTIME CHRONICLES By Sam Hawksmoor and Sam North (2015 version) 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 Williams - 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 *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 The Heaviness published by Hammer and Tong 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 this year. If you enjoyed it, please post a remark on Amazon or Goodreads. It all helps.

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