Maximilian Sam's Blog, page 4

A New Year, A New Stray

The winter months mean there are more strays to look after.

Happy New Year!

I know I'm a little late, but I've taken a month away from writing to reset and formulate plans for this year. I also needed to focus on the day job to bring some cash in to cover the cost of dog and cat food. It's amazing how much 7 strays can eat.

They're all amazing and, somehow, get on like one big family. We have had the addition of Tinker. She was so nervous and scared of everything last summer. It was heartbreaking. The months of constant love paid off over Christmas and New Year, thankfully. She's now a totally different dog. She follows me everywhere. Stopping her jumping on the bus every time I go into town has led to much hilarity. She's always waiting for me when I get back, although that may be because she knows I'll have been to the butcher and there'll be a treat for her.

She's become a cross between Princess and Buster in so many ways. Tummy tickles are her favourite thing in the world. She loves curling up by the back door, but also knows where the gaps in the fence she can get through are whenever she wants to go for a wander. It took her a little while to work out how to get back in without having to bark for my help. She seems to have worked it out now.

She's going for her first trip to the vet in the next couple of weeks so she can have a tag put in her ear, get micro-chipped, and a few other things little dogs need. I'm sure it will be a shock to her system, but I have a bed lined up for her so she can have a few days recovering. If she's anything like Jasper, she'll make the most of it and stay for far longer than she strictly needs. Not that I will encourage her to leave. I think another stray had adopted me!

She has the capacity to make me laugh like a crazy man. Yesterday, she entertained herself by running incircles on the beach as she ploughed through the sea before sprinting back on the sand. Even the other strays were watching her as though she were crazy. I'm pretty certain Smokey the cat sees the craziness too, but is happy to curl up next to her when the opportunity arises. Another positive result of a stray dog and cat getting on well together.

Tinker's transformation hasn't been my only surprise. In the past, I've mentioned a friend who has a big, enclosed field with shelter for the stray dogs he takes in. Well, we have another new addition there too. My friend was approached by someone who had spent a lot of money on a new puppy. The puppy hadn't settled in its new home at all. It could so easily have become another stray having to fend for itself, but my friend is a good man and gave Elsa a new home in the field with Mumsy, Toby, and Kiko. The others have become really protective of her in record time. The only danger she poses is, when I see her to give her a cuddle, she tries to lick me to death. It's easy to calm her down. It just takes a tickle behind her ears. Her eyes close and the smile appears. She's going to be an amazing dog, because she's growing up surrounded by love.

I wish I could help all the stray animals, but I can't. There are many amazing animal charities around the world who do a much better job than me. Even if you can't donate money, an hour or two of your time taking a dog for a walk, or playing with the animals, makes the world of difference. So, if you have the chance, please contact them and offer to help. I can promise it will help you as much as it will the strays and the charities.

A Hidden Problem

Several friends in the UK have contacted me since November. They've all had an issue with online payments. I had the same at the start of January when renewing payments for the website. I spoke to my bank who were very helpful. The most important message is, "Don't worry, it isn't you." There has been a major switch from Visa to Mastercard in the past year after Visa increased its payment rates. This has led to an issue with 3D authentication. Effectively, the bank receiving the money doesn't recognise the bank sending it, so the payment is refused. It also doesn't register as an order as payment hasn't gone through. Sadly, this isn't something that has been shared with the wider public (although my bank has given me verbal permission to raise the issue).

I know it has affected my book sales in the UK, which is hugely frustrating. All I can suggest is calling your bank when it happens and the pressure of numbers having an issue may help it be resolved quicker. Thankfully, from my perspective, it has only affected those in the UK. Otherwise I can only suggest using alternative payment methods, including different card, which don't seem to be affected.

Please keep trying, as both my books are available on Amazon and elsewhere, including Kindle Unlimited.

The Future

That nicely leads me on to what's coming up in the next few months.

I am working hard on putting together a members' area on the website. It will have everything from downloads to special offers. It will also be free for the first few months and remain so for life for those who sign up early. Eventually, there will be a small charge to cover admin costs. I'll let you all know more details nearer the time. I promise I have a few surprises up my sleeve. If there is something you'd like to see in the members area, please get in touch. It would be especially interesting to hear from teachers in that regard.

We're also getting close to the next book coming out. All I'll say, at this juncture, is this one is for Mummy and Daddy to read. There will be further adventures of the strays later in the year, but I felt the grown-ups deserved a book of their own. I'm just putting the finishing touches to it and then it'll hit the bookshelves. It should have something for everyone.

TTFN

MaxS and The Strays

A Year To Remember

I've spent far too long wondering what to put in the final blog of the year. It could easily turn into a list of thanks. In many ways, it should be. I've had a small army of people supporting me as I've, finally, followed my dream of becoming a published author.

I'm not sure anyone would want to read a list of names though. I'd also forget someone important and spend 2023 feeling very guilty. There are some thanks below, but I've split them into more generic groups.

In the end I've cheated a little. I put together a video with many of the highlights of the year (and a sad low too). You can watch it here:

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/745e1c_b8a1e5a361be426787efcc7d8e6c8046/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

There were other wonderful experiences. I can't forget taking delivery of the Maximilian Sam T-shirts.

That's without forgetting taking pics with the poster of the first book at some of my favourite places, or signing copies of the books for some wonderful people and charitable causes. I'll also never forget the number of photos of people receiving the first book that were sent to me. It was, all-in-all, a surreal year.

I do need to thank all my friends and family, the writing community (many of whom now fall into the friends category), and everyone that's helped me on this journey so far. A special shout out to Voices Newspaper, The Ege Eye, Hertfordshire Mercury, and Edge Grove School who've offered unwavering support and publicity throughout.

I'm not forgetting all those who've bought the books, those who've reviewed them, and everyone who voted to make "It's A Stray Dog's Life" a multi award-winning debut book.

The biggest thanks has to go to the stray dog's and cats. I wouldn't have had this year without you. Indeed, writing this would be a lot easier if I wasn't having to stop and give you all cuddles every two minutes!

2023 is going to be full of surprises. I know because one of them I didn't know about until last week! There'll be more books and plenty more adventures. I'm certain I'll be making even more friends along the way.

In the meantime, have a wonderful festive holiday and we all wish you a happy and fun filled 2023.

With love

MaxS and The Strays

PS You can still buy the books. Just click the link to find out how.

A Guide To The Tools I've Used To Create "It's A Stray Dog's Life 2"

As you know, I’ve now published two books. The first was through a hybrid publisher, and the second was self-published. I will, at some point in the future, write a blog about the pros and cons of each. Before we move on to the main point of this blog, however, I’ll give you a little reminder you can buy both books by clicking the link below.

In my journey so far, I’ve used various pieces of software to create my author brand and get the books ready for publishing. This is not a definitive review of everything available, but an insight into what’s worked for me. I haven’t been able to use Kindle Create, for example, as my computer is too old and won’t run it on its ageing operating system. I also have not contacted the organisations involved in this blog. Hence the lack of logos! I have included links to the relevant websites, though. I don’t gain any benefit from this and certainly don’t get paid. I’m purely passing on my experience, even though I’m sure you have other pet favourites too. I also don’t have the budget for advertising, so I’ll have to leave that aspect for a future blog. Although a career in PR means I have a pretty good idea of where to spend it when I have it.

I did a lot of research and asked many questions along the way. I had two key factors in mind. The first was the budget. I really didn’t have any money to spend, so any outgoings had to be fully justifiable. It’s why you’ll see some of the paid for items are lifetime subscriptions. It makes them very cheap in the long run. I also searched for special offers which are far more plentiful than just the usual Black Friday stuff. The second factor was customer service. I don’t want to trawl the internet struggling, in vain, to find an answer to a question that would, invariably, be “press this button”. All the software I’ve listed comes with excellent customer service. I really can’t praise them all enough. Excellent customer service is key to any company growing. It’s why I’m always amazed when it’s an area many large companies neglect.

I’ll start at the beginning. I decided long before trying to find a publisher for the first book that I’d need a website. It’s been many years since I last designed one, so I wanted something easy and cheap. www.wix.com has given me everything I wanted.

You can have a totally free website, ranging from a simple fill in the gaps in the plethora of templates to one created from scratch. The web design is so simple and intuitive that I even created a website for my friend’s restaurant in under 2 hours. The plug-ins are very simple and actually work (unlike another well-known competitor). For example, the blog is simple. I type in the words, add a couple of images and it does the rest.

There are a couple of small downsides. The free website it offers will contain the Wix branding. It’s not really an issue and is a small price to pay for a free website. The other was a slight annoyance. They have recently introduced sections, which is a great idea, making it even easier to design most websites. However, it immediately overlaid my existing website and took a fair bit of sorting out. It was a minor irritation and gave me something to do on a wet Wednesday.

The benefits far outweigh my minor frustrations, though. I wanted an unbranded URL so bought the website name you are currently visiting. A year’s hosting and free name cost less than most of us spend on coffee for the day. There are frequent special offers making it incredibly cheap, so make sure you keep your eyes open. I received 50% off. That's a deal I’d grab all day long. I’ve also added email which is run through Gmail. It was surprisingly cheap and well worth the investment, especially when sending out press releases.

The customer service has also been amazing. They solve my problems quickly and in a friendly manner. Even better, they give me ideas on improving the website. It’s one reason you’ll be seeing a few extras in the coming months.

My website sorted. It was time to make sure the books were written, edited, and proofread. It’s important to realise there is no substitute for a human editor and proofreader. Software can take us all so far, but if you have some spare budget, you can’t beat the excellent editors out there. I’m also a little old school. There’s no substitute for a paper and pen when writing the first draft of a book. It means I can do my first edit when I type it up. We’ve all grown up with Microsoft Word because it is extremely good and compatible with almost everything. I’ve even started using the free version available from the outlook website. It has its faults, especially the spelling and grammar checker, which, in all honesty, is dreadful. However, it’s a great starting point for getting the words into shape and saved on a computer.

I mention spelling and grammar on purpose. I found the solution. www.prowritingaid.com is mind-blowingly good. There is a free version which is excellent for spotting spelling and grammar mistakes. However, there’s a lifetime subscription as well. I’ll even point you toward a huge discount later on, too. The difference with the upgrade is incredible. It actually differentiates between American and correct English for starters, which has always been my major issue with Word. It gives various reports that help with writing style. It’s so clever it can spot whether I’m writing a book or a press release (you can manually tell it as well). It’s so easy to use it took me longer to log-on than work out how to use it. There’s still features I haven’t used, but will get round to. It’s a quite brilliant piece of software.

I mentioned there are some big discounts available, and not just on Black Friday. There’s a website that’s been of enormous help to me at www.kindlepreneur.com. It has discounts for many tools any author needs. It also has some really cool free stuff, such as a barcode generator, a sales calculator, a social media hashtag generator, and much more. There’s a clear understanding of how the Amazon world works, which even the great bookshop in the cloud acknowledges. It’s well worth a look, as I’ve only scratched the surface of what’s on there.

There are two very important pieces of paid software it provides. The first is a game-changer for all authors. www.atticus.io is a word-processor, internal layout for eBook and print with numerous templates, autosave in the cloud to give added protection from losing 70,000 words of a manuscript, and it’s web-based so you can use it on any computer anywhere in the world. Unlike its main competitor, it isn’t limited to having to use a Mac, which is hugely helpful to those that haven’t succumbed to the Apple world yet. A lifetime subscription is just $147 and you can have as many WIP or books on there as you like. I now keep everything on there. When you’ve finished your latest masterpiece, you can download either the eBook or print pdf and upload it directly to whichever sales channel you’re using.

I thought it would take me a while to get used to it. Nope, I’d got “It’s A Stray Dog’s Life 2” sorted within 48 hours. I enjoy using it so much, I now have several WIPs uploaded and ready to go. If you expect to be self-publishing several books, then I urge you to find the money for this. It’s worth every penny. I haven’t even scratched the surface of what I can do with it yet, but I get to play until I find more of its capabilities. I did, unsurprisingly, find one weakness. It cannot, as yet, split a book down into parts. Most won’t need it as a function, but it would have helped me. I know it’s one of the extra functions being worked on and I’m looking forward to it arriving.

I mentioned there were two pieces of paid-for software available from www.kindlepreneur.com and the second is worth using early in the process to help writing your book blurb, and even potentially titling the book. www.publisherrocket.com is an amazing piece of software. A lifetime subscription is available for $97, although that will change at some point, so get in there whilst it’s still cheap as chips. What Publisher Rocket offers is pretty simple on the surface. We all need to know what are the best keywords and categories for our book to give it the best chance of success. This is exactly what it gives you. Working out where you should position your book is no longer weeks trawling through Amazon and hoping for the best. Publisher Rocket gives you all the information you need in minutes. The added benefit is you can identify the keywords and then ensure they match with your book blurb. It makes it much easier to write.

So, we’ve designed our website, produced the internal side of the book, and even started the marketing. We need a cover that stands out. I’m very fortunate to have a close friend who does my covers for the price of a cup of coffee. I badly draw a concept, we discuss it; he goes away and makes it look spectacular and then sends it to me. Job done. Well, almost. The next piece of software is something I’ve been using for years. My other life involved a lot of sending graphics and design work to people. We all know how much that can block your email for days. There is a solution.

www.wetransfer.com is wonderful, and it’s free. It’s easy to send large files without blocking your email. You upload, it sends an email to the recipient, who downloads the file at their end. You then get an email letting you know they have downloaded it. Quick, simple and hassle-free. There is a paid upgrade that allows things such as collaborative working, but I’ll let you visit their website to see the full list. They have promised me there’s no plan to take away the free file-sharing service, so it’s going to be around and useful to us for a long while yet. If you’re a designer, illustrator, editor or proofreader, I highly recommend using www.wetransfer.com. It will change your life. Best of all, it gives a paper trail for when clients claim they haven’t received something (we’ve all been there). It’s as though someone knew what they were doing when they created it.

The one gap in my experiences is book cover design. I know there are companies offering the service, and free websites that give basic stuff. However you look at it, though, you can’t beat a good human designer or illustrator. A book cover will help sell books (the first few comments on my first book were all about the cover, you know the one, it's just won Best Cover Design at the Feed My Reads Awards). Producing the best one possible gives you a head start. If you don’t know a designer, then I can point you toward a very useful self-publishing company in the UK. www.swspublishing.com. Maddy and the team are friendly and unbelievably helpful. They can offer help in all aspects of your publishing, so check out their website. There’s a genuine feeling they want every author to succeed and, if you spend some money with them, all the better. It’s not compulsory though, as they proved by listing “It’s A Stray Dog’s Life 2” in their library for free.

So the book is ready. Now to publish it. We all know the vast reach of Amazon, so, for me, it was a straightforward decision to use KDP. I’d uploaded everything, and the book was live for pre-order within 72 hours. Customer service was excellent, offering help when needed and the response was incredibly quick. I know others have had a few issues, but I found using the live chat resolved anything and everything quickly. You even get a free ISBN for paperbacks and hardbacks. It’s also free, which is always a bonus. You have to enrol your eBook in Kindle Unlimited for 3 months, but that is a good thing. www.kindlepreneur.com recently did some research that found almost all categories in the Amazon bookstore were dominated by either one of the top 5 publishers or by books enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. It surprised them so much they updated Publisher Rocket to include details on a book’s KU status. It’s true authors get less than if someone had bought the book, but think how many would never have read it if they hadn’t been a subscriber. If you enjoy reading books, then can I recommend Kindle Unlimited. I’ve signed both my parents up, and it’s already saving them money as they read more than 2 books a month.

The book is now available, and it’s time to wait for the pennies to roll-in. Whoa, hold your horses. It’s not that simple. You still need to let people know your book is out there. Otherwise, how will they know to buy it? You’re going to need social media posts, posters, promo videos and other things to really get the book into people’s consciousness. It sounds expensive and it can be. I have to point out you won’t find anything that can replace a good designer. We can do some things for ourselves, but there’s a reason designers charge. It’s because they can do the things we can’t. We are on tight budgets (normally zero) as authors, so where can we find solutions?

www.canva.com is great. It’s free, although you can upgrade for a pretty nominal amount per year and get a lot more free images, audio tracks, templates, etc. To be honest, you get enough with the free version to keep you going. The downside is you can only resize images with the upgraded package. Thankfully, there are perfectly sized templates for just about everything. I’ve even put together all the videos on this site (including the one below) using www.canva.com. I will not win an Oscar for them, but I’m still quite happy. When I can afford to do professional trailers, I’ll call the right people. Oh, and did I mention it’s free?

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/745e1c_1fb471764e0646fe86bbe1831365d5a1/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

www.bookbrush.com is another design website it’s worth looking at. I needed a graphic for the inside of one of my books, and it took me moments to put together. I didn't find it as intuitive as Canva, but it had a lot of great sizing options that are tailored to authors. I received 15 free downloads, but after that it’s a paid for service which I don’t have budget for as yet. It meant I couldn’t play as much as I’d like. What I did use was good, but it’ll be interesting to find out what more I can do with it.

I reiterate, there’s no software capable of matching a human designer, so don’t expect miracles.

I’ve mentioned social media and am constantly having to rewrite this part as Twitter bounces around from being in "full recovery" to "will it still be alive tomorrow?" There isn’t a perfect alternative for it yet, but there are some great social media sites out there, so play with them and stick with the ones you enjoy. I have noticed they all have an amazing writing community. The support and friendship shared between writers on social media is amazing. I can’t even hope to list all those who’ve helped me or become friends, but I am going to push you toward a few. It’s important to get your book listed online as it helps people find it. Finding a listing website that also publicises your book on social media for free is the holy grail. Look no further than www.ebooklingo.com. There are some paid for options, but LinkedIn and Twitter are free. You should also look at www.bookclubpro.com. It’s very similar and equally useful.

There are others worth keeping your eyes open for. www.timetofeedmyreads.blogspot.com is an amazing community that is growing remarkably quickly. Do not miss out on it. It’s the most amazing achievement to get it up and running and gives plenty of opportunities for great interviews ranging from the sublime to amusing. Give a follow to www.tweetables.com too. Great reviews from a range of genres and excellent author interviews. You’ll also make a new friend quickly. Likewise, Sue’s Musings (suelbavey.wordpress.com) is a must see. Sue does a wonderful job of highlighting indie authors and their books.

Now, if you like dogs and books (why are you here if you don’t?), there’s a couple you really must follow. Jackie Lambert is living the dream, driving around in a camper van with her husband and 4 dogs. She’s amazingly friendly too. You can see her blog at www.worldwidewalkies.blog. She also introduced me to Paul at www.learningfromdogs.com. You can see a few pics of my strays on his blog, plus many, many more. True to form, Paul is fast becoming a good friend, too. That’s the way the writing community and animal lovers seem to work together. It’s great.

Finally, there’s something software can’t give. Family and friends have been the greatest support. Cherish them, but don’t expect them to buy a copy of your book. They’ll want a free one!

That’s enough from me. I dare say you’ll have your own favourite pieces of software to help you on your journey, but if there’s stuff you’re unsure of, then I hope this blog has helped in some small way.

TTFN

MaxS and The Strays

P.S. Christmas is coming. A book is the perfect stocking filler. I hope it’s one, or both, of mine, but I’ll also be happy if it’s someone else’s. Encouraging reading is the goal. We can’t do that unless people buy books. So get those stockings filled (stop sniggering in the back row!).

P.P.S. I was recently asked what I wanted for Christmas. So here’s my list if anyone is thinking what to get me:

An Aston Martin, a Sunseeker Predator, a Tag Heuer Aquaracer, a Sea-doo jet ski, but most importantly, a new computer. Who knows, I might sell enough books to get at least one. If not, I’ll crack open a beer and toast the amazing friends I’ve made on this journey.

They're Back - It's A Stray Dog's Life 2 is out now

A new book always brings a roller-coaster of emotions. The past few weeks have certainly given me that.

It's been a surreal few weeks. Getting the book ready for publication is always a busy time. Trying to ensure the dimensions of the cover were correct for printing proved to be the trickiest part, but we got there in the end.

I felt I was well prepared this time as I'd managed to put together videos, posters, social media images and other marketing materials well ahead of time, so there's a been a chance everything would be far less stressful. It proved to be a good choice as I had friends over from the UK for a few days in the week before the launch. It was perfect as we focussed on filling the days with new experiences and having some fun, instead of worrying about the book launch. Hopefully, they'll come back soon for some more adventures.

They did bring some wonderful presents with them. Oxo cubes and salt and vinegar hula hoops were greatly appreciated. If you've ever been an expat, you'll understand how it feels to get the occasional treat from home. More importantly, they had copies of the news book and an envelope containing the certificates from the Feed My Reads Awards. I'm still in shock the first book won so many.

I'm so grateful to Fraser for organising the awards and to everyone who voted. Seeing some of the friends I've made on my writing journey also win awards really was the cherry on top. I know from the conversation I had with Jane at Tweetables how much even being nominated meant to all of us. Winning really was dreams coming true.

There's been a wonderful offshoot from the awards, as the amazing team at Voices Newspaper in Didim ran the story on page 3, and the lovely Lucy at The Ege Eye gave it a full page. The support I've had from both publications this year has been astounding. Thanks will never be enough!

Things then went a little crazy. My old school's winter newsletter came out. I was expecting a small paragraph in the old boys update. In truth, I felt a little disappointed when it wasn't there. I needn't have worried. I turned the page and my news launching "It's

A Stray Dog's Life 2" and the award wins had an article all to itself. It was, possibly, the most emotional moment of the whole journey. I can't say thank you to Sue at Edge Grove enough. To still feel part of a community I loved all these years later means so much.

Talking of amazing people called Sue, I was contacted to do an Indie Spotlight by Sue Bavey. If you don't already follow her blog, you really should. I think we were both surprised when the first comment on the interview was a request from Jackie Lambert to feature the books on her blog. Jackie is currently having a life I'd love, driving around Eastern Europe with her 4 dogs. The roadtrip of a lifetime. He blog is wonderful, so please do take a look.

The writing community has been a rock throughout. I'm very lucky to have found it and been so warmly welcomed. Everyone wants to help each other. It matches my ethos of, if someone walks into a bookshop to buy a specific book, they might just buy mine too. It all came together when the incredibly talented David Perlmutter plugged my books on his blog. David was one of the first people I connected with on social media and has always been there to help. Chats about Leyton Orient and Watford will never be the same again. His books are wonderful, so have a look and enjoy finding your new favourite author (OK second favourite as we all know the dogs are you favourite really!).

There are so many people I wish I could say thank you to, but even the blog is too short for that. Rest assured I'm sending you lots of doggy hugs.

There's a lot more news coming down the line in the coming months so keep your eyes peeled. Some of it might even surprise me!

You can buy both books now from all the usual places and have them all wrapped and ready for the holiday period.

Best wishes as always

MaxS and The Strays

PS. The next blog is going to be interesting. I'm going to talk about all the software tools I've used in putting the book together. It doesn't cover everything on offer, but gives honest assessments on the tools I've used. A must read for anyone looking to self-publish, or even someone looking to put together a poster of short video of their own.

It's A Stray Dog's Life is an Award winner!

My first book, "It's A Stray Dog's Life", has won in the categories of Best Children's Book, Best Comedy Book, and Best Cover Design at the Feed My Reads Awards 2022.

I've also won Best Author Interview and Community Member Of The Year. I may have to redesign my CV at this rate!

I am eternally grateful to everyone who voted for me. It feels very strange, but I'm overjoyed so many people enjoyed the book.

The sequel is now out in paperback with the eBook being released on 11 November.

Once again, thank you all for supporting the books.

Best wishes

MaxS and The Strays

Awards, Videos, and A New Book

They say good news comes in waves. They’re not wrong. “It’s A Stray Dog’s Life” being published in February was a highlight I never thought I’d see. I didn’t believe anything could come close. I was wrong. The reception for my first book has been astonishing. There’ve been some lovely reviews and that special moment of doing a video call with school kids in Dallas to talk about the book was amazing. The kids were great.

There’s now a cherry on top of the cherry on top of the cake. “It’s A Stray Dog’s Life” has been nominated for not one, not two, not three, but four awards in the Feed My Reads Awards 2022. I think my last award was for swimming 25 metres! The categories the book is nominated for are:

Best Book Cover Design

Best Children’s Book

Best Comedy Book

Best Debut Author

This is where you come in. A public vote decides the awards. So, please, click the link below and vote for myself and the stray dogs. You can also vote for your favourites in other categories.

You can still buy “It’s A Stray Dog’s Life”. Just click the link. It’s that time of year mother’s start thinking about Christmas presents after all. Don’t worry Dads, I’ll remind you on Christmas Eve!

It's A Stray Dog's Life 2

Hold your horses for a moment. They’re back! The second book in the series launches on ebook on 11 November, exclusively on Amazon. The paperback will be with you in a couple of weeks.

To celebrate, I’ve put together a couple of videos. The first is a promo video of the book, the second a chance to see the real dogs the book is based on. Clearly, my newfound love of creating videos has nothing to do with me finding some free software and playing with it!

The first video is available on the home page of the website. The second is below.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/745e1c_d013b8b0363641b48da0f7a3405b0909/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 A Strange Experience

I've had an experience in the past few days that, had I written it as fiction, you'd never have believed.

For research reasons I'm currently spending a little time in the courthouse. I'm not looking at individual cases, but more the interactions with the system people have. The one thing that's become clear is people find it a highly charged and emotional experience. I suppose that's a good thing as it shows respect for the law is still strong.

This particular experience was odd. It also proves there can be a lack of respect, even from those with extensive experience. I'm also someone who grew up wanting to be a barrister, so you'll understand why I didn't know whether to laugh or scream.

I was politely watching a hearing take place. I have no idea what it was about, as it's a Turkish court and I don't speak Turkish. The hearing had started, but only one side was there. The table for the lawyer and his client on one side of the courtroom was empty. I assumed there must be valid reasons for this as the Judge carried on regardless.

Some new information must have come to light, as the lawyer who was present was explaining a new document to the Judge. It was having the desired affect as the Judge was nodding agreement. At this point the strangest thing happened. The missing lawyer from the other side walked in. Fifteen minutes late, but he barged through the doors into the Court. I say barged, but his stomach came through several moments before the rest of him. He's not a slim man. You'd think his first words would be an apology and an excuse. They were. He said, and mimed, "Sorry, I was asleep." Of all the excuses, it's the one no sane person would have used.

Needless to say, the Judge wasn't impressed. The damage this lawyer had done to both himself, and his client, by showing such a lack of respect is disgraceful. I know we've all seen comedy courtroom films where this happens. It's why it's comedy. It's not meant to really happen. It did though. It was another of those examples of life being stranger than fiction.

Please don't forget to vote for us in the Feed My Reads Awards 2022.

I’ll see you in a couple of weeks to let you know about the launch of “It’s A Stray Dog’s Life 2”. After that, I’ll also be giving you an insight into the software I use to create a book. It’s well worth the wait.

TTFN

MaxS and The Strays

They're Back! It's A Stray Dog's Life 2

If you've been missing the adventures of the stray dogs, fear not, as they return in "It's A Stray Dog's Life 2".

This time you'll meet Mumsy as she tries to control her two puppies, Pitch and Putt, despite the best efforts of Snowy to lead them astray.

There's Jasper, who learns being a friendly dog can lead to good thing happening as he discovers, with his forever family, a new home in the city of Izmir.

Finally, you can investigate complex crimes alongside the master detective, Toby. Be careful, though. He might not be as clever as he thinks he is.

Princess, Buster, and some of the other stray animals you met before all make an appearance as the family of strays grows and the adventures continue.

You can pre-order the ebook exclusively from your local Amazon website and it will be automatically available on your Kindle, unless you've changed the settings, on Friday 11 November, in plenty of time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Wait! There's more. If you're a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can read "It's A Stray Dog's Life 2" for FREE. Now that's a bargain if ever I've seen one.

There will also be a physical paperback version available. For technical reasons, it's not possible to pre-order "It's A Stray Dog's Life 2" in paperback form. Fear not, we care about or readers and go the extra mile to make sure you can have the paperback in plenty of time for the holidays. We'll be launching it in early November on Amazon to make sure it arrives with you on, or before, the 'official' publication day of 11 November. It will give you plenty of time to wrap your presents in advance.

The paperback will also be available from other outlets, both physical bookshops and online, in the USA and UK, but this can take a few weeks for details to appear and inventories to be filled. You should be able to order it using the title and ISBN from your chosen retailer, though, as soon as it is released on Amazon.

Here's an idea for you. Why not buy both books and join the world of the stray animals? The perfect present for the dog lovers in your family.

Some Wonderful News

We've had some wonderful news recently. "It's A Stray Dog's Life" is being used in a school in the USA to help children with their language and reading skills. As an author, it's the most incredible compliment that can ever be received. It's even better than a 5 star review, although we love them too!

On the topic of reviews, thank you so much to everyone who's been so kind about "It's A Stray Dog's Life". It not only means a huge amount to an author but also helps the visibility of the book, bringing it to the attention of other readers who can then share the adventures. Please, whenever you've enjoyed a book by any author, leave a review. It keeps the world turning and ensures the huge amount of talent out in the world keeps writing stories to entertain you.

Looking Forward

As you can imagine, the next month is a crazy busy and emotional time. Hopes and doubts share headspace in equal measure. It takes an astonishing amount of support from friends and family for an author to stay sane. That's assuming any of us were actually sane to begin with. The jury's still out on that conundrum.

Thoughts now turn to the future. We did not waste the global lockdown. A lot of writing was done, as sitting around doing nothing really wasn't something to be recommended. As such, there will be more books in 2023.

There will be a step away from the stray animals, as the grown-ups in the family will, finally, have a book for themselves. We'll give you more of an insight nearer publication day. It's already been written with proofreading, editing and cover design well underway. Fear not, though, the stray animals will also return with more adventures over the course of the year. Which new ones will you meet? That's currently a closely guarded secret!

Some Great News

There's further good news to share. Several of the stray dogs have been adopted and will soon be journeying to their new homes. They're currently going through all the medical checks and fulfilling the legal requirements before moving to their new 'forever' families. they'll be missed, but finding the strays a permanent home has to be our most important goal.

Don't forget, you can buy "It's A Stray Dog's Life" by clicking the link below.

Or you can pre-order "It's A Stray Dog's Life 2" by clicking this one.

Thank you all for the support you have given us throughout this journey. It means the world.

Ta ta for now,

Max S and The Strays

P.S. There is one more important thank you I must give. To Sunseeker, Aston Martin, Tag Heuer and Apple. Is that enough to get me a free Predator 60 EVO, a Vantage, an Aquaracer and a laptop? I can but live in eternal hope.

Words Are All I Have

Words, mental health and The Loving Hut

First up allow me to point you in the direction of the latest interview I gave to Jane at Tweetables. We had a lot of fun putting it together which comes across in the questions and answers. There's also a lovely review of "It's A Stray Dog's Life".

I can recommend joining the Tweetables mailing list and following the social media channels as there are some wonderful interviews with different authors and reviews of books from a variety of genres.

Words

Followers of my blog will know by now my life has revolved around words. A career in PR will do that to you. I was once flown to a distant land for a job interview. The cost of the flight, hotel etc. was a little over the top as my future boss only asked me one question. "Have you ever written a press release?" I had many years experience by this point so was close to giving a sarcastic answer. I needed the job and salary though. As such my answer of 'several hundred' was truthful. The job was mine because I knew how to use words. If you think how many words are in a press release I've probably written several novels worth over the years. I'm not sure it would make the most interesting of books though. There were some I'm proud of. I can't say too much as client confidentiality forbids for some reason. After all they're in public domain so why I have to be secretive is beyond me. However, one does stand out. I was doing some work for a motor cycle magazine around a major event. Writing about home-made amphibious bikes was a bit bonkers. We even held a race for these beasts across the beach and lake at the NEC in Birmingham. The quote of, "who needs bridges when we have amphibious bikes" was genius. We didn't mention how many sank. It goes to show, include the good words and disregard the rest!

Major exhibitions and events always lead to a chuckle or two, especially when words can be misconstrued. At another event I received a SMS from a colleague saying, "I'll meet you at the loving hut." Now, he's a lovely guy and a great friend with a beautiful wife and daughter, but the wrong gender of the species for me. The message seemed strange until you realise we both went to boarding school. The experience locked our sense of humour at about 13 years old with a large emphasis on puerile! The 'Loving Hut' proved to be an amazing pop-up vegan restaurant. I'm a sworn carnivore (my grandfather even worked in an abattoir) so, if I'm saying the vegan food was amazing, you can bet it was.

There is a more serious point to my missive. It's how we use words to portray our brand and sell whatever it is we're selling. If you're a business looking for answers on building your brand, drop me a message. I charge for that advice, although I'm sure I can fit a plan around your budget. If you're an author, the following advice is free.

Words can portray anything we want. I write my book description, back cover blurb and social media taglines before I write the book. For me I find, coupled with my plot outline, it helps me bring the book together. It won't work for everyone. However, I have given this advice to several authors who hated writing the blurb and descriptions and it's helped them. Sometimes it's easier to describe the idea rather than the finished article. If it works for you then feel free to use the idea. Sharing is caring after all.

The use of words goes further. I change my author profile on a regular basis. I'm still not sure I've got it right. I'm a PR veteran, so being centre of attention goes against all my instincts. I belong in the shadows, not the limelight (a lesson a few PR people could do with learning). I know many authors feel the same. We write so we can hide behind our words. There is one famous moment my hideaway was blown. An editor friend used my real name to fill in a few column inches moments before his deadline hit. I'll leave being famous to other people.

There is a happy medium (no I don't mean Gypsy Lee in the local fairground), between attention seeking and hiding in the shadows. For me it was using a pseudonym. For others it's being able to reinvent themselves under their persona as an author. Social media gives us the chance to be the person we want to be and write about the things we find interesting. Writers, and I include journalists in this, are the bravest people in the world. We put our hearts out there in our writing, allowing the world to judge us. Is it any wonder we're all addicted to coffee and need therapy? Even actors don't make themselves so vulnerable. They hide behind the characters they play. It's why we are all so shocked when we see their human side.

It's the crux of the point. As writers we need to protect our mental health too. Our writing is only part of our life. We still have to clean the house, go shopping, walk the dogs and fulfil all the other daily chores. Using words to protect the rest of our lives is just common sense. Selling books isn't about selling our entire lives. It's a job we chose because we love it. It's also, emotionally, the toughest there is. In this day and age, it's also scary. One wrong word and it can all come crashing down. It's the downside of social media. There are too many 'keyboard warriors' who hate seeing success. If you don't believe me, look at how many celebrities have quit social media recently.

Words are our lifeline. How we use them is our greatest skill. How we build a story the greatest gift we can hold. Good reviews should be celebrated, criticism accepted where it's valid. Where it isn't, it should be ignored. If you can achieve that, you're a better person than me.

I'll end this with a reason why words are so important. They make us laugh and cry. They touch our souls or breed hatred. Their power is immense. As writers we are the temporary custodians of words. We should treat them with the care they deserve. When we don't we end up living in a country where we rely on translation apps and end up accidentally buying a goat (yup, I accidentally have bought a goat).

A final thought

I know this blog has been more serious than usual. It says much about my state of mind. I'm still struggling far more than I thought with losing Princess. The other strays are helping, but I can see they're missing her too. We all want to be remembered after we're gone for good reasons. Princess, even though a stray, achieved it purely by being a good soul. There's a lesson to be learned.

Stay safe, keep smiling, and remember a line a senior executive once sent me. "I'll see you in The Loving Hut"

TTFN

MaxS and The Strays

PS. "It's A Stray Dog's Life" is still on sale and you can post reviews too.

A Landmark Birthday

It's the time of year I've grown to dislike intensely. I'm turning another year older. This time, however, is a touch more exciting, as it's one of those landmark, end of a decade birthdays. It gives me the chance to look back on not just the past decade, but the great memories from previous landmark birthdays.

My 18th was spent travelling through France eating oysters in Noirmoutier, trying frog's legs, drinking champagne in Reims, and sampling some other wonderful wines. We then spent the summer playing on the boat in the South of France and, only occasionally, getting into trouble with the harbourmaster for messing around at high speed on the tender in the harbour. It was a perfect trip whilst waiting for my A-Level results.

My 21st was completely different. We had a marquee in the garden with too many guests all dressed in black tie, dancing around to a decent DJ, and celebrating with a few glasses of a very strange punch I concocted. The highlight was watching my best mate, an avid Chelsea fan, hand over my Watford branded birthday cake. His children have taken great pleasure in using the photos as bribery over the years.

There were regular smaller parties in the intervening years at places as diverse as "The Elusive Camel" or the Milton Keynes Bowl amongst others.

My 30th stepped up another level. It also proved to be the last big party I've had. We organised a James Bond theme. We had everything from an ice sculpture of a Walther PPK, complete with vodka luge, to some amazing costumes. I went as Baron Samedi from Live & Let Die. It took hours to wash off the make-up. My father was a little more conservative in his choice of attire wearing black tie and covering his finger with gold paint. I'll let you work it out.

I've settled down a little since those days and am happier enjoying a meal at my favourite restaurant than throwing a big party. My friends now live all over the World, so the environmental impacts of a party wouldn't bear thinking about.

The Past Decade

There have been moments in recent weeks where I've wondered if I've wasted the past decade. After all, I still haven't settled down, got married, or started a family. Maybe in the next decade. When I give it some thought it's obvious why I haven't wasted any of the past 10 years. The only surprise has been that it started in a pub in Crystal Palace.

I couldn't have imagined, whilst celebrating another milestone birthday, where the next 10 years would take me. I've lived in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Indonesia and Turkey. I've had weekends on the beach in Bali, day trips to the Greek island of Kos, and taken every opportunity to visit places such as Petra in Jordan or the amazing Country of Oman. I now own more suitcases than is strictly healthy.

I've been the world's only tone deaf international DJ, become a qualified rugby union referee, spent weekends exploring the desert, and hours on boats and jetskis having fun. I've met amazing friends I'd never have bumped into if I'd stayed in my comfort zone. Travel truly was the making of me. Most importantly, I've fulfilled the lifelong ambition of becoming a published author. I've even sold a few copies (you know who you are and I love you dearly).

I've also been reminded how much I love animals. The stray dogs and cats have given me so much. Loving them, cuddling them and feeding them is one of the most rewarding things I could ever hope for.

As such, I would very much appreciate it if, to mark my landmark birthday, you could donate a small amount to your local animal shelter. It's the best investment you can make. If you want the exact date then look no further than Mick Jagger and Roger Taylor who share my birthday (I know it's all a bit crowded!). As for the year? Well, The Godfather was released the year I was born.

What's Next?

The past decade feels as though I've been laying down foundations for what's to come. It's almost as though I hit the reset button 10 years ago and am entering a new decade where all the effort becomes worthwhile.

There will be further books as the dogs and cats share their adventures. I'll get the chance to put another tick in the box by publishing a series of short stories, and there are a few other ideas being converted to the written word.

Which country will I be in for the next 10 years? Your guess is as good as mine. I have a few ideas, but not everything is in my control. You never know I might even settle down and finally come home, although I'd give pretty long odds on that one.

Looking forward I dare say in 10 years time I'll have even less hair (or maybe more if I go the Elton John route). My 12 pack will have probably turned into a full case with less notches needed in my belt. I'm sure many who know me would like to think I'll finally grow up. Not even a bookmaker would bother taking money on that one. Hopefully Saracens will have to extend the trophy room and Watford will punch above its weight by regaining its place in the premier league and, maybe, finally, win a major trophy.

To all my friends out there I say a huge thank you for sticking with me and giving me so many memories and laughs along the way. My life would have been so much poorer without you all.

To my family, thank you for the opportunities you've given me to have so many adventures. We've not done too badly when we look back on it.

I'll leave you with the one piece of advice that's stuck with me. My bank manager handed me my first credit card and, through gritted teeth, said, "It's a limit not a target." Oops.

If you would like to make a donation to my birthday lunch, please buy a copy of "It's A Stray Dog's Life". If you do we can both have fun on my birthday.

See you all soon,

MaxS and The Strays

PS The cover picture for this blog is, in fact, me with my first best friend, Mac. It was taken the day I came home from hospital. A lifetime of loving rough collies also started that day.

Heartbreak, New Arrivals and Formula 1

Those who follow my social media channels will, by now, know Princess has taken the rainbow bridge to the stars.

It's been a horrible time as I had to say goodbye to my best friend and muse for the books. I stayed with her to the end and am grateful she got to see herself as a global superstar. Her diva side couldn't have been happier. I also must say thank you to the staff and wonderful vet at Furry Friends in Didim. You were all wonderful despite the distraction of a balding, blubbering, middle-aged Englishman in the corner.

It feels very empty without her. I'm sure everyone who's ever had a pet knows the feeling far too well. In the case of Princess it feels harder, as she gave so much. All I did in return was give her a home, food and tummy tickles. She gave me a new life.

It would be easy to ask you to buy the book to read about some of her adventures, but I'm not going to. Instead I'm asking you to find your nearest animal rescue centre and offer help. It may be a financial donation, volunteering to clean the kennels, or taking the animals for a walk. Everything helps so, if you can, please help these wonderful charities. There are many more like Princess out there who will give back much more in return.

Circle Of Life

My two stray cats, Smokey and Lucky, have been missing Princess. They've appeared very lost without her. Then something amazing happened. I stepped outside the back door to find Lucky looking after four little kittens. The circle of life was continuing.

They are beautiful little balls of fluff with a favourite game of seeing who can hide behind the plant pots the longest. Feeding time is hilarious as all four climb over each other to get to the food bowl they have decided to share. I'm not sure Smokey is happy with the situation, so I'm feeding her in the conservatory before she climbs the tree to sleep on my balcony every night. She is getting lots of cuddles and is far happier when she's on her own with us.

The kittens weren't the only surprise. I received a SMS telling me a delivery was on its way. It was odd as I hadn't ordered anything. My friends from MNG Kargo turned up on Saturday (two days earlier than the expected delivery date. Take note the so called big boys of the industry, this was proper customer service). The package weighed five kilos and was bags of cat food. Our lovely neighbours, who are only here for a few weeks during the summer, had made a wonderful contribution to our attempts to feed the stray cats. It was the loveliest of surprises.

I'm not an animal rescue centre, but I do try to help the stray animals. I'll repeat my request. Please help your local rescue centre in any way you can. It makes the world of difference.

Formula 1

It's Formula 1. It's Silverstone. Every year it brings back wonderful memories. My best mates have been petrol heads for as long as I can remember. I even had one of them walk into a well-known electrical shop, where I was working selling TVs, wearing his overalls and racing helmet after a day racing karts. I'm not sure who was more concerned, the cashiers or security!

A few years ago a client asked me to arrange corporate hospitality for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix for 6 people. I was overjoyed to see I was one of the 6 names listed.

I resolved to make the day extra special. My client lived in North London. Silverstone is an hours drive up the M1 between Milton Keynes and Northampton. Only a limo would do for this journey. I had a friend with the perfect vehicle. Quite how I managed to keep the bacon sarnies warm and the champagne cold for the trip up the motorway is still beyond me.

We arrived at our designated corporate table overlooking Copse Corner and settled in. It shows how long ago this was as Lewis Hamilton won the GP2 race to raucous cheers from this fellow Hertfordshire boy.

Corporate hospitality was worth every penny of my client's money. Wonderful food, excellent service and an open bar. One of the guests considered himself something of a lothario. He couldn't understand what was happening, as his best attempts at being charming were met with fits of giggles. I could have told him far earlier, but popping his ego felt more beneficial to the human race. The solution was easy. When trying to look cool and sophisticated whilst wearing designer sunglasses, it's probably best if one of the lenses hasn't fallen out.

Race over and we went to search the vast car parks for the limo. Car parking at Silverstone has never had the best reputation, but give credit to how well they actually do getting that many cars into fields and out again without riots breaking out. The rest of my party decided I should go and find the limo as they lay down on the grass and all fell asleep. It did give me a chance to watch Damon Hill and Eddie Jordan doing their best rockstar impressions as the entertainment continued.

I found the limo and manhandled everyone inside. I realised we didn't have any champagne for the trip home. Thankfully, my then girlfriend, lived in Northampton and came to the rescue after a short detour. There are many reasons I enjoyed our time together, but rescuing me with a case of champagne is high on the legends leaderboard.

In the end we got everyone home safe and sound, even if they did all miss work on the Monday. Memories were made and friendships cemented. I even made a profit!

It's time to say goodbye before I revert to the blubbering wreck I've been for the past couple of weeks. It helps a lot the other stray dogs are being so loving and caring. It does feel as though we all miss Princess though. So, once again, if you can help your local animal rescue centre in any way, please do.

See you next time.

MaxS