Thomas W. Devine's Blog, page 8
December 19, 2017
The Latest from Me
The theme of my latest novel (Political Secret) remains topical as the war of words between Pyongyang and Washington resumes heating up. It will be interesting to see if the plot of the novel turns out to be prophetic in any way.
I’m not sure where the idea for the novel came from. I wanted a New Zealand male character with an interesting job and placed him in Moscow for work purposes. But, rather than him discovering a Russian secret (the rest of my original idea) he ended up discovering an American one linked to North Korea. I guess that was because of the news media running a lot of stories about North Korean missile development at the time.
I also wanted the book to end with a chase in the wilderness. It has that, though in a more low-key way than I had originally planned. The grand vision didn’t quite make it to my computer. Maybe I lost my nerve.
Still, it’s a good read & very topical.
www.createspace.com/7761719
I’m not sure where the idea for the novel came from. I wanted a New Zealand male character with an interesting job and placed him in Moscow for work purposes. But, rather than him discovering a Russian secret (the rest of my original idea) he ended up discovering an American one linked to North Korea. I guess that was because of the news media running a lot of stories about North Korean missile development at the time.
I also wanted the book to end with a chase in the wilderness. It has that, though in a more low-key way than I had originally planned. The grand vision didn’t quite make it to my computer. Maybe I lost my nerve.
Still, it’s a good read & very topical.
www.createspace.com/7761719
December 8, 2017
Not All Joy
No post last week. Overwhelmed by family responsibilities.
Too inward-looking to be much in touch with what’s going on in the world which continues punishing me emotionally for not joining in the rush to change society, as I’ve known it, for better or worse long-term. If the latter, at least I won’t be around to see what affect it has on future generations.
All this has stolen some of the joy of having a new novel (“Political Secret”) out on the market (www.createspace.com/7761719 ).
I won’t be paying for any marketing services for this one. Low-cost attempts with 3 previous ones (in the USA & UK) have not yielded tangible benefits. Wish I had a fortune for promotion assistance to see if big expenditure works.
Two more posts before Christmas? I’ll try & keep my spirits up.
Too inward-looking to be much in touch with what’s going on in the world which continues punishing me emotionally for not joining in the rush to change society, as I’ve known it, for better or worse long-term. If the latter, at least I won’t be around to see what affect it has on future generations.
All this has stolen some of the joy of having a new novel (“Political Secret”) out on the market (www.createspace.com/7761719 ).
I won’t be paying for any marketing services for this one. Low-cost attempts with 3 previous ones (in the USA & UK) have not yielded tangible benefits. Wish I had a fortune for promotion assistance to see if big expenditure works.
Two more posts before Christmas? I’ll try & keep my spirits up.
November 18, 2017
On Writing
I'm reflecting on being an author, self-publisher, and book promoter ahead of the publication of my 11th novel.
I'm satisfied with my performance as an author, like any professional dependent on editors for that final polish.
Use of CreateSpace makes self-publishing a piece of cake. Great service!
Successful book promotion has, however, eluded me.
I need more readers as encouragement to start that 12th novel.
I'm satisfied with my performance as an author, like any professional dependent on editors for that final polish.
Use of CreateSpace makes self-publishing a piece of cake. Great service!
Successful book promotion has, however, eluded me.
I need more readers as encouragement to start that 12th novel.
November 8, 2017
Capitalists v CEO Pay
In an interesting development, John Hawkins, Chair of the (NZ) Shareholders Association, says boards of directors need to be more aware of their social responsibilities when setting pay for chief executives (The Dominion Post, November 6, 2017).
This in the light of a rise in chief executive rewards by 114% in 17 years while “real worker” income is up by a mean of 26% in the same period.
Hawkins said that continued high growth in CEO remuneration, in excess of what other employees were getting had to be reined in.
Maybe that’s just enlightened self-interest for shareholders.
Unenlightened self-interest shows in the statement by Kirsten Patterson, chief executive of the Institute of Directors, that “ratios in (NZ) are still much lower than international markets we compete against".
Let’s hope that shareholders, with the same views as Hawkins, will have some success.
This in the light of a rise in chief executive rewards by 114% in 17 years while “real worker” income is up by a mean of 26% in the same period.
Hawkins said that continued high growth in CEO remuneration, in excess of what other employees were getting had to be reined in.
Maybe that’s just enlightened self-interest for shareholders.
Unenlightened self-interest shows in the statement by Kirsten Patterson, chief executive of the Institute of Directors, that “ratios in (NZ) are still much lower than international markets we compete against".
Let’s hope that shareholders, with the same views as Hawkins, will have some success.
October 28, 2017
Updating…
No blog post last week. Travelled to Northland for a vacation. Came back to find my newly edited novel (“Political Secret”) ready for its final touches then proofreading.
My editor kindly provided this blurb:
‘One of my favourite books by Devine. He once again brings together his particular mix of intrigue, romance and the atmosphere of the New Zealand setting – this time in the service of an exciting international spy thriller. There is more to the main character, Lee St John, than meets the eye and I hope to encounter him again in the future’.
My editor kindly provided this blurb:
‘One of my favourite books by Devine. He once again brings together his particular mix of intrigue, romance and the atmosphere of the New Zealand setting – this time in the service of an exciting international spy thriller. There is more to the main character, Lee St John, than meets the eye and I hope to encounter him again in the future’.
October 15, 2017
Living with Type II Diabetes
I’m currently taking part in a 16 week diabetes study run by the University of Otago.
I have Type II diabetes and I’m not (yet) taking insulin shots. I’m experiencing the usual early symptoms from the disease and hope that participation in the study will lead to benefits for me and other sufferers. I don’t want to go blind or part with any limbs.
As part of the study I’m participating in an online health programme called Betame. It’s encouraged me to exercise (within the limits of my disabilities) and to be more aware of snacking between meals, but I’ve not yet gained the ability to control my dietary intake, though I do try and keep my main meals low fat, low sugar and in the right proportions of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.
We’ll see how it develops.
I have Type II diabetes and I’m not (yet) taking insulin shots. I’m experiencing the usual early symptoms from the disease and hope that participation in the study will lead to benefits for me and other sufferers. I don’t want to go blind or part with any limbs.
As part of the study I’m participating in an online health programme called Betame. It’s encouraged me to exercise (within the limits of my disabilities) and to be more aware of snacking between meals, but I’ve not yet gained the ability to control my dietary intake, though I do try and keep my main meals low fat, low sugar and in the right proportions of protein, carbohydrates and vegetables.
We’ll see how it develops.
October 7, 2017
Rich & Poor
I have posted on other occasions about the pay equity gaps between bosses and workers.
Just out (The Dominion Post, October 3, 2017) a New Zealand statistic that, between 1997 and 2015, the incomes of chief executives increased 228% and the average worker’s by 91%.
The pay packet of the CEO of the NZ co-op company Fonterra stands at $8.3 million.
Having been a modest wage earner all my working life, my mind boggles at why anyone needs that sort of staggering income.
If it was my pay packet, with my modest needs, I could have retired comfortably after 6 month’s work and lived on savings for the next 40 years and longer.
Is it not past the time for a fairer distribution of wealth? Or am I just being a ‘have-not’?
On TV yesterday I saw a programme about luxury foods the very rich like to eat. The cost is obscene when you think of all the malnourished and starving people in the world.
Just out (The Dominion Post, October 3, 2017) a New Zealand statistic that, between 1997 and 2015, the incomes of chief executives increased 228% and the average worker’s by 91%.
The pay packet of the CEO of the NZ co-op company Fonterra stands at $8.3 million.
Having been a modest wage earner all my working life, my mind boggles at why anyone needs that sort of staggering income.
If it was my pay packet, with my modest needs, I could have retired comfortably after 6 month’s work and lived on savings for the next 40 years and longer.
Is it not past the time for a fairer distribution of wealth? Or am I just being a ‘have-not’?
On TV yesterday I saw a programme about luxury foods the very rich like to eat. The cost is obscene when you think of all the malnourished and starving people in the world.
October 1, 2017
The Threat of War
The incumbent POTUS, in making a recent speech, forgets that FLOTUS is standing at his side (according to a recent Yahoo news item). If true, is it time, at his age, for the incumbent POTUS to be checked for dementia? Is the USA at a point where the VP should take over the reins of the presidency?
Otherwise, do we not have a potent risk of a large number of American, Korean and other lives being lost, not to speak of the possible extermination of the human race from nuclear fallout?
It’s a worse situation than in April when I started writing my 11th novel (“Political Secret”) which has, as background, a potential conflict between the USA & North Korea. That book is yet to be published. Before it is, will the story be overtaken by world events?
The usually humorous columnist, Joe Bennett (The Dominion Post, September 27, 2017) writes seriously:
“Trump will know this [the cost of human life in any military action in North Korea] but he just doesn’t care. He is itching to do it. The bully in him craves the sense of power. It has nothing to do with the safety of the United States. It has everything to do with one man’s psyche.”
Bennett wagers that “by the end of the year, Trump [will] either have been impeached or started a war”.
Otherwise, do we not have a potent risk of a large number of American, Korean and other lives being lost, not to speak of the possible extermination of the human race from nuclear fallout?
It’s a worse situation than in April when I started writing my 11th novel (“Political Secret”) which has, as background, a potential conflict between the USA & North Korea. That book is yet to be published. Before it is, will the story be overtaken by world events?
The usually humorous columnist, Joe Bennett (The Dominion Post, September 27, 2017) writes seriously:
“Trump will know this [the cost of human life in any military action in North Korea] but he just doesn’t care. He is itching to do it. The bully in him craves the sense of power. It has nothing to do with the safety of the United States. It has everything to do with one man’s psyche.”
Bennett wagers that “by the end of the year, Trump [will] either have been impeached or started a war”.
September 27, 2017
AutoCrit & Performance
AutoCrit.Com recently put part 1 of "The Hunger Games" through its e-editing process. As a finished product the novel got an overall score of 80.24.
Before professional editing, my manuscript for "Political Secret" went through that process for a second time, with an overall score of 87.95.
According to AutoCrit.Com, a score of 80 is around the average for most best-selling books.
Therefore is the gap I have to work on between writing talent and sales achieved - or perhaps between blowing my own trumpet and being modest?
Wish I had more people to blow my trumpet for me.
www.thomaswdevine.com
Before professional editing, my manuscript for "Political Secret" went through that process for a second time, with an overall score of 87.95.
According to AutoCrit.Com, a score of 80 is around the average for most best-selling books.
Therefore is the gap I have to work on between writing talent and sales achieved - or perhaps between blowing my own trumpet and being modest?
Wish I had more people to blow my trumpet for me.
www.thomaswdevine.com
September 24, 2017
Politics & Family
New Zealand came out of a General Election last week without any political party having a sufficient majority to form a government. It’s now a matter of putting together a coaltion goverment between parties.
A National/NZ First Party coaltion is my pick for what will happen.
I gave my electoral vote to Labour and my party vote to NZ First.
Before I voted, I took an online quiz which revealed that my personal values had most in common with National Party policies. Shock/horror! I’ve never voted for National and didn’t this time, despite the quiz, though I was tempted.
My family background as a child, and growing up, is of a household staunchly in support of the Labour Party. My late father was a life member and very active in the party. A former Labour Prime Minister (Norman Kirk) once had lunch in our working class family home in Blenheim. So there was no way I could turn against that heritage when it came to voting.
A National/NZ First Party coaltion is my pick for what will happen.
I gave my electoral vote to Labour and my party vote to NZ First.
Before I voted, I took an online quiz which revealed that my personal values had most in common with National Party policies. Shock/horror! I’ve never voted for National and didn’t this time, despite the quiz, though I was tempted.
My family background as a child, and growing up, is of a household staunchly in support of the Labour Party. My late father was a life member and very active in the party. A former Labour Prime Minister (Norman Kirk) once had lunch in our working class family home in Blenheim. So there was no way I could turn against that heritage when it came to voting.
