Michael Poeltl's Blog, page 2
June 15, 2021
Pandemic Reading for Recovery
How has the pandemic hit you?
I know for some people this pandemic has been crushing. Not physically, as I honestly don’t know a soul who has tested positive, but mentally, the fallout has been difficult on many in my circles, myself included. Now, I’m no extrovert, and in times like these, I’m grateful for my tendencies to stay out of the public eye. I’m a classic introvert who is balanced by his occasional (inner) extrovert. Therefore, the lock-downs have been okay for me but still, enough is enough. I am blessed to have my little family and I Zoom with friends and extended family irregularly, but it’s all I require.
It’s those who truly miss going out and being with people who are hit hardest by this, I think. Those trapped in bad relationships, and those single – living alone. For them, I am truly sorry.
How this story affects COVID-19
Though it’s a timely story for a pandemic, I began to write The Blind Affect months before COVID-19 was a thing, and wrote the rest of the book, edited it, looked for representation, and had it beta read all during the pandemic. I’d put together a marketing plan and built out social media collateral to support the cover reveal and book release. Now that I am nearing the end of my journey with this novel, I realize how relatable the story’s message is to our current situation. Loss of purpose has fed anxieties over the future, loss of loved ones has helped us appreciate those still with us, and the loss of a social life has weighed on our minds.
Regardless of the difficulties, we have to remember that no life is wasted. That no act is unfelt. That life is more than the sum of our experiences. Life is interconnected. Our actions, no matter how small or overlooked still effect the world and those we share it with.
Can you make sense of your life by reading this?
The Blind Affect is a timely story for a pandemic but doesn’t involve a pandemic, but it does include three very different people whose shared experience affects each in different ways, drawing them together to make sense of their lives and of those they’ve lost along the way. No one is truly alone. We all suffer our shared humanity, and if we’re lucky, we can make some sense of our day-to-day before it’s too late.
The Blind Affect is being called the story we all need to hear right now and will be available to read June, 22nd and up for pre-order right now.
I know for some people this pandemic has been crushing. Not physically, as I honestly don’t know a soul who has tested positive, but mentally, the fallout has been difficult on many in my circles, myself included. Now, I’m no extrovert, and in times like these, I’m grateful for my tendencies to stay out of the public eye. I’m a classic introvert who is balanced by his occasional (inner) extrovert. Therefore, the lock-downs have been okay for me but still, enough is enough. I am blessed to have my little family and I Zoom with friends and extended family irregularly, but it’s all I require.
It’s those who truly miss going out and being with people who are hit hardest by this, I think. Those trapped in bad relationships, and those single – living alone. For them, I am truly sorry.
How this story affects COVID-19
Though it’s a timely story for a pandemic, I began to write The Blind Affect months before COVID-19 was a thing, and wrote the rest of the book, edited it, looked for representation, and had it beta read all during the pandemic. I’d put together a marketing plan and built out social media collateral to support the cover reveal and book release. Now that I am nearing the end of my journey with this novel, I realize how relatable the story’s message is to our current situation. Loss of purpose has fed anxieties over the future, loss of loved ones has helped us appreciate those still with us, and the loss of a social life has weighed on our minds.
Regardless of the difficulties, we have to remember that no life is wasted. That no act is unfelt. That life is more than the sum of our experiences. Life is interconnected. Our actions, no matter how small or overlooked still effect the world and those we share it with.
Can you make sense of your life by reading this?
The Blind Affect is a timely story for a pandemic but doesn’t involve a pandemic, but it does include three very different people whose shared experience affects each in different ways, drawing them together to make sense of their lives and of those they’ve lost along the way. No one is truly alone. We all suffer our shared humanity, and if we’re lucky, we can make some sense of our day-to-day before it’s too late.
The Blind Affect is being called the story we all need to hear right now and will be available to read June, 22nd and up for pre-order right now.
February 14, 2021
I’m pleased to announce that the final cover design is r...
I’m pleased to announce that the final cover design is ready for your eyes only, for my new book The Blind Affect. As with the title for this work of realistic fiction, the cover embodies the story. Taking place in an urban setting, the book’s three main characters move through the timeline spanning decades within the confines of their city, suffering the slings and arrows of life while inching their way toward a greater purpose.The cover photograph is by Justin Hamilton, and the cover design b...
January 19, 2021
Writing for a Time Period
So, usually, my books take place in the present-day or the near future, so as far as creating authentic period language, it hasn’t been an issue. If people use a bizarre term in the future, who’s to say that’s wrong? The present is the present and I live in the present, so… I get my queues from the news and music and television shows. Also friends and family and work peers and kids. There is no limit to the language you can pick up from the present to include in a book. But what if you’re writi...
November 29, 2020
Cyber Monday Books!
Listen, I’m the last person to encourage anyone to go out and buy the stuff you don’t need. I fully embrace the mantra: It’s not a deal if you don’t need it. That being said, everyone needs books.
It just so happens that I write books and they’re for sale – so you’re in luck! They also come in Kindle versions which don’t take up any space (so you won’t be called a hoarder by friends and family) save the digital space in your e-reader.Seriously though, as a multi-genre author, I have plenty of va...
October 28, 2020
Featured Author in Local Magazine Make Millions.
Click bait, I know, but what do you think about magazines. Print magazines at that. Is there a point to putting yourself through the paces trying to get picked up as an author by a local magazine? What's it going to hurt? My books have been featured in Hamilton magazine in the past but never me. This time an opportunity came up that allowed me to be featured as an author (and family man) to my new city and I took it. Why not? It was fun and I got some professional photography out of it too.Who'...
July 20, 2020
An Original A.I. Story Line to Get Excited About
My rant: where sentience in artificial intelligence is concerned, why is there never an original idea? I mean NEVER! A mad scientist who has either lost a loved one or just wants to give himself everlasting life miraculously captures sentience from an human and transfers it either into an android or a mainframe or the internet or something. OR the A.I. simply becomes aware for no good reason... I love A.I. as a story line and watch and read as many as I can as fast as I can but am tired of the s...
April 16, 2020
Quarantine Cheap Reads
So here we all are, stuck at home and binging everything we can on Netflix and HBO and Stars etc... Our eyes are tired from the endless barrage of screen time and our minds are getting weaker as entertainment is spoon-fed to us on our couches.
So what else can you do? Bookish people already know this one. Books! Even from your tablet or reader. And what better genre to read right now than post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels to make you feel better about your self-isolation?
As an author who...
So what else can you do? Bookish people already know this one. Books! Even from your tablet or reader. And what better genre to read right now than post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels to make you feel better about your self-isolation?
As an author who...
March 13, 2020
Is COVID-19 Trumping the Climate Crisis?
I have mixed feelings on this issue. Yes, COVID-19 is top of mind and will be for the foreseeable future, but with China shutting down and manufacturing slowing, the virus is essentially helping lessen climate change for the many millions of tonnes of CO2 not being released into the atmosphere.
Still, the amount of monies being thrown at healthcare by our governments to fight the spread and support those who have come down with COVID-19 is extreme. It's good, but what if our governments...
Still, the amount of monies being thrown at healthcare by our governments to fight the spread and support those who have come down with COVID-19 is extreme. It's good, but what if our governments...
March 3, 2020
Donating March Book Sales to Forests Ontario
Here’s the good news: You Can Make a Difference.
It's an understatement to say this campaign means a lot to me. If it didn't, I wouldn't approach you with it. We're all intrinsically tied to our natural environment whether you live in the country, in a city or by the ocean. We all take from our environment every second of the day. We breathe the air our natural world produces, eat the food and drink the water that sustains us. So, this is how I can give back - buy a book and...
It's an understatement to say this campaign means a lot to me. If it didn't, I wouldn't approach you with it. We're all intrinsically tied to our natural environment whether you live in the country, in a city or by the ocean. We all take from our environment every second of the day. We breathe the air our natural world produces, eat the food and drink the water that sustains us. So, this is how I can give back - buy a book and...
February 21, 2020
Author Donating March Book Sales to Forests Ontario
Ontario, Canada [March 1, 2020] – Michael Poeltl of Brantford, Ontario, author and staunch environmentalist has paired with Forests Ontario to encourage awareness, plant trees, and protect our natural places by donating all proceeds from his March 2020 book sales.Every individual can do something to help reduce the effect of global climate change by reducing their carbon footprint, but Poeltl places much of the responsibility on the world’s governments and goes on to say, “Its unconscionable...
