A.K. Michaels's Blog, page 19

How lucky are we?!

After reading my friend’s post on her blog (scheduled for tomorrow with her permission) I have to say it’s had an effect on me. I’ve been thinking a lot about it and realised how lucky most of us are.

We have our homes, family, food, heat, and even if it’s a struggle at times we are very fortunate. There are so many out there that aren’t as fortunate and that makes me very sad. In an age where we are supposed to be a civilised world there is such hardship for some in our communities and that is just wrong. Most of us give to charities, I know we do, it’s done by direct debit each month, and still it’s not enough. There seems to be a growing chasm between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ and I can’t for the life of me think how this can be rectified.

A possible teeny tax on the very rich? I mean the ones who have absolutely tons of cash – not folks who have worked hard and are now in a ‘comfortable’ position, the ones with millions upon millions or even billions? However, they could then argue that they are being discriminated against?! There just doesn’t seem an easy answer to the problems that are rife in society but if those problems aren’t addressed then what hope is there for us?

I have no idea but if we don’t have hope then what does society have? The world seems to be going crazy over the past few years and now with the riots in the Ukraine it doesn’t look as if sanity is coming along any time soon.

With my ocd I stay in a lot, not through choice per se, it’s simply a part of the ocd that affects me – not everyone is the same who has it – we all suffer differently – but that big, crowded world out there can sometimes have me in a total panic. So I am in a sense ‘in my own wee bubble’ but I still hear and watch the news, see what’s happening, and it scares me all the more.

I am not sure how the world as a whole can fix things but I do know that it needs fixing. What about a central government for everywhere? Maybe that’s too simple and there will always be countries that wouldn’t like that or participate. What then? Jeez I’m getting a sore head thinking about it.

All I know is I am lucky, very lucky, to have a husband and family, a home, warmth, food, and yes I would love to be able to go on Caribbean Cruises or buy designer shoes, but I’m still a hell of a lot better off than a lot of folks and I count my blessings because of what I do have.

I will continue to give to charity and hope that my small input helps in some way, I guess that’s what most of us can hope. Until the governments/world comes to it’s senses and takes all the issues that are out there in hand and actually deal with them – properly – and not put a bandaid on a gaping wound as is happening just now.

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Good Morning!

Morning all, how are we all today? Good I hope. I’ve a friend who has a blog - http://chasedbywords.blogspot.co.uk/

and I was reading it yesterday, it’s a rather profound post and made me really think about how lucky I am and how so many aren’t as fortunate. I have asked her permission and she has agreed to let me post it here – which I will be doing on Friday. I would love for you all to come and have a look on Friday and it may just make you think as I did – boy am I lucky!

I am in the process of uploading books so they are availble on Kobo, Apple, B & N etc and hopefully Defender’s Blood Alex’s Destiny should be live tomorrow, as and when they go live I’ll add the links to the book page.

I’ve also found some great FB pages which I’m having fun exploring – all this social media side of things is really quite new to me and I sometimes feel as if I’m blundering about in the dark. Occasionally I see a sliver of light and hope that one day I’ll be as savvy as most of the folks that are online! Might take a while for me to catch up but I’m trying hard. I do worry though that time spent on FB and other sites takes away from my time writing but then again I need a break sometimes, or my head will explode. Now that would not be a pretty sight and I don’t think hubby would be too happy at having to clean up the mess!

Oh well am away back to sorting through some important stuff – like what’s for lunch!

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Excited about cover for WWV 2!

My great cover guy is finalising cover for Witch, Wolf, Vamp 2 – I’ve decided to stay very close to original cover as I loved it so much lol! Just moving things around a bit and adding some little tweaks.  If anyone is looking for a cover check out his site - http://bookbeaver.co.uk/

I’m really looking forward to posting Michael Brooke’s guest character questions on Saturday too. This week is a bit mad and busy but am loving it!

I’ve got some guest posts on other blog sites coming up and I’ll be sure to let you all know the where and whens. It’s fun to answer some of the questions, especially if doing so as a character! It’s a lot of fun and you can get away with a lot answering as a character!

Ok, got lots of work to do, talk later x

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New! Author Guest Question Time!

Hi Guys

Hope you’re all having a great Sunday. For once it’s not raining or snowing here – yippee! The competition winner for a signed copy of Sabrina, book 1, is Colette – well done!

I would like to let you all know that I’m going to be hosting some fun Question Time blogs. The upcoming ones will be by various authors and the questions have to be answered as one of the characters from one of their books! I envision a lot of fun doing things that way, it gives a sense of freedom from what we would answer as ourselves lol. I already have the first one ready and it will be posted on Saturday!

The author is, Michael Brookes, and for anyone wanting to have a quick peek at his work you can find him here:-

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/

The site has his blog and details of his books, which are FAB! Having seen a preview of the answers to the questions I can safely say it’s going to be wild! Let everyone know and come back and check it out on Saturday!

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Last day to enter Competition!

Hi guys, today is the LAST DAY to enter the competition on Facebook to win a signed copy of Sabrina’s Vampire, book 1! To enter you have to comment, like AND share the post of the competition. Some have only been liking it and afraid that doesn’t get an entry, sorry. If you want a chance to win a signed paperback copy go to Facebook page and do all three!  Good luck! A winner will be picked tomorrow morning!

I would like to take the time to thank David at Storywork Editing Services for working on Defender’s Blood Alex’s Destiny. He was absolutely great to work with and if anyone needs any kind of editing or proofreading services then you can find him at

http://storywork.co.uk/

Thanks again David!

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Found a book I want to read!

Was on the Goodreads forum and came across a new author and a book I want to read! I’ve put it on my to read list and will review once I’ve read it. The author is Nicoline Evans and her book is Haemans – here’s the Goodreads link so you can have a look yourself.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Here’s an excerpt from the blurb, it sounds exciting!

‘The former royal bloodline of Russia, thought to be lost forever, has resurfaced. The newly found descendants have been embraced and issued honorary titles. Unbeknownst to the rest of the world, they bring with them a powerful addiction that will change the country forever.

Through media manipulation, government deception, and the power of fame, Prince Mikhail and Princess Milena Romanov are able to spread their addictive lifestyle across the country. Fueled by silve cocaine and their own blood, this new populace is devoid of ethics. The addiction has transformed everyday citizens into freakishly strong and morally unhinged individuals. They are known as haemans, and they have taken over Russia.

Sevrick Bykovsky is one of the few humans to have escaped. He now lives hidden within the forested outskirts of St. Petersburg. Forced to leave behind his fiancée, Arinadya Tarasova, in the grip of her newfound addiction, he has devoted his life to save her. Accompanied by a ragged band of freedom fighters, they struggle each day to survive.

HAEMANS is a dystopian thriller that mixes gothic urban-fantasy with survivalist suspense. This debut novel from Nicoline Evans depicts a world where the villains rule and the heroes are scarce. It follows one man’s quest to save the woman he loves from a dangerous new society where self-destruction is deemed fashionable. HAEMANS is a story about survival and perseverance through the darkest times, and a reminder that we all can come undone.’

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Working hard and laptop!

Ok I know we’re all getting bored with it – but still no progress on laptop and that’s all I’m going to say about it today!

I’m working hard on Witch, Wolf, Vamp 2 and I am enjoying it so much! I love writing! I love letting my imagination loose – it’s a great release and when I see what’s in my head coming from my fingers and making words, then sentences, then paragraphs – well it’s a rush! I don’t know why it took me so long to follow my dream – probably fear lol. Now, well I know not everyone who reads my books will love them – or even like them – however, as long as some do then that’s fine by me. I’ve realised that so long as some people get enjoyment from reading my crazy, weird, thoughts, then that makes me happy. More than happy – it’s a feeling I can’t even describe – yup I know I should be able to – but I just can’t lol.

So at this moment in time I would like to say THANKS to everyone who has read any of my words and liked them. Come and join me on Facebook so we can chat, all new friends welcome and I would love to hear your thoughts on any of my books.

A last note to folks here in the UK, with all this bad weather, keep safe everyone and I hope you are not too badly affected with what’s happening all over. I know I’m a little apprehensive as OH driving all the way down to Dover today – hope the roads he using are ok!

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No further forward!

Ok, so I’ve looked for a new laptop and guess what? I am no further forward. There are so many and diff prices etc it’s a minefield. Obviously I need one for mainly writing so Windows 7 is better than the Windows 8 that seems to be on everything I look at. Does anyone know of a Laptop Fairy? One that will do all the searching for me and just say ‘ta da – this is the one you need and it’s not going to have you selling your soul to buy it’.

No? Oh well back to the drawing board – or laptop screen. I think I should let folk guess how long it will take me lol.

Oops, got mail from my editor – back to work for me.

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New Laptop Required!

Yikes – my laptop is now officially on it’s last legs. Poor thing! My hubby says I’ve worked it to death – probably true. However, that doesn’t help so I just grunted and ignored him! So now there are four letters that aren’t working properly and takes me ages to type – grrrrrrr! I need a new one, I need a new one, I need a new one!

If I keep saying it often enough I may just get my backside in gear and do something about it. The problem is that – 1, they cost money (yes I know I can’t just imagine a new one onto my desk, even if I would love to), and 2 – there are so many out there it’s really hard for me to decide which to go for. I mean, if I buy one then before the payment has even gone through the thing is out of date! Technology is just that fast, isn’t it?

Oh and then there’s no 3 – transferring EVERYTHING I need from this old faithful to a spritely new one! My brain hurts! Specially as today my OCD is at a peak and now I’m obsessing about a blinking laptop! (a few very bad swear words are being uttered as I type!)

So, I have to get ipad out and start checking things out and if I do that I know I’ll be there hours from now going over and over and over all the diff ones. I wish my OH was tech savvy cause then I would just say – “Darling I need a new laptop, you know what I need it to do, can you pretty please go and get me on?” However, he is even less technologically minded than I am. Up until I got him an iPad he didn’t even know how to switch the laptop on! If he needed anything from net he would get me to do it for him – hence me getting him an iPad lol! Now if he asks – I say (politely) – “Google it.”

That has opened up another can of worms as I think I’ve created a monster giving him one! He now has an app on my phone and iPad so that I can ‘track’ him when he’s away working (all over uk and Europe)! At least it keeps him happy and he loves Candy Crush.

As I think you can all guess, I am procrastinating! New laptop! I am giving myself a very good talking to and am sure I will get to it, later though, yes later.

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Busy Busy Busy!

Okay I officially need some extra hours in the day to get done everything I want to do! So a few extra hours has to be forthcoming – who do I ask for that? Hmm maybe not.

Had a lovely lunch out yesterday and worked hard when came back as felt a teeny bit guilty. I’m working with a lovely new editor and going through book 1 in Defender series to get it even better! Have also been working on Witch, Wolf, Vampire book 2 and got a good load done today on that.

Weather here is atrocious, as usual, and we’ve been warned about bad weather coming our way – the dreaded snow! I hate it! Looks all lovely on picture postcards but in reality it’s a pain. Cold, wet, slippy, only thing that’s good is looking out the window from my nice warm house at it.  Oh well kids like building snowmen!

Right – am away back to writing. Take care out there everyone.

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