Exciting News The Repossession of Genie Magee + The Hunting of Genie Magee both available again in Print and kindle app . Evie Seo's review

The Heaviness of Genie Magee

The Repercussions of Tomas D

Another Place To Die Endtime Chronicles

Marikka

J&K 4Ever lovers on the run

Girl with Cat (Blue)

March 2023 Sam's Notes on Writing: When is it ok to abandon a novel you’re writing? How long should you give it before you admit to yourself that what might have been a good idea when you began has bogged down or driven off a cliff ? I’m at the cliff edge right now and realising that although what I am writing is immensely topical ‘National Divorce’ – the vehicle I’m driving it in is wrong. Either that or I’m just quite simply out of my depth.

Secession (James Campion provides his provocative take on it this month in Hackwriters) is a burning issue for many in the Red States of the USA brought into focus by the rantings of the congresswoman and far-right conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Green, who not only espouses civil war but depriving any Democrat who wishes to move south of their vote for five years. Fox News, of course, loves this idea.  MAGA people seem to want to take America back to the days of lynchings, denying black American’s the vote, abolishing women’s rights. If they really want to go all the way, take away woman’s votes entirely, (especially MTG’s vote). I guess I'm just reluctant to inhabit that world and have it spinning in my head for several months.

But right now I’ll do what you’re supposed to do when uncertain and file the 30,000 words in the ‘work in progress box’ and find myself a good book to read that might clear my muddled head. I'm reading The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan. Turns out there have many mass extinctions - and we are very lucky to be here - but not for long it seems ... mankind has changed the climate forever and we shall literally reap the whirlwinds.

I touched on the aftermath of an America post-apocalypse in my book J&K 4Ever. 50 years from now this is the story of two orphan teens who refuse to believe the lies told to them by the religious authorities that has raised them in the mid-west - only to escape and discover things are quite possibly worse. Can love survive in the wastelands?

*My new mystery novel The Book of Ashes is published - a missing writer, deep snow and a terrible secret worth killing for. Download now.

*The Judge at the 10th Annual Writer's Digest E-Book awards said: 'Since Rufus ( a dog with some personality) is a central character, the novel will engage dog lovers - the book has a unique voice, exemplary in its writing style'.

About 'The Book of Ashes': ISBN: 979-8-837434-952 ASIN: B0B85HFK86 Hammer & Tong - September 2022 - ebook & Print "Great characters, a gripping mystery and the wonderful return of Rufus the dog."BH 'an immensely satisfying story' - Walli Leff on Goodreads. 'a fun read with unique elements ... exemplary in its voice and style' 'Judge, 10th Annual Writer's Digest E-Book Awards My new mystery novel The Book of Ashes is published.  It’s the second Delaney and Asha investigation following ‘We Feel Your Pain’.  Originally they ran the Office of Berg City Oversight - to protect the City from scams and corruption - only for them to discover the real corruption was within the Mayor's office. Delaney nearly died in the process of uncovering the truth. Now they have set up on their own – worried about where the next client will turn up and how to keep the show on the road.

Fortunately for Delaney their next client is a young cyrptocurrency millionaire who commissioned a biography of his father, now suffering from dementia.  Only the writer disappeared with the $10,000 advance.  It seems like a simple track and trace job, but of course, it serves to open up a total horror show – like peeling back an onion.  Every father is hiding something it seems – some more than others. The Book of Ashes is set in New England. It’s cold, it’s nearly Christmas and New England in the snow looks great on a postcard but can be lethal in reality. 

Delaney is deep into his new relationship with Asha, his adopted daughter Maria is now an awkward 15-year-old and of course, Rufus the dog will still need feeding and walks.  Rufus, quite naturally steals the show – as events unfold.

Writing a sequel can be a challenge. No longer do you have the frission of the main characters meeting each other for first time. But, of course, you have to remember that a reader might start with book two and wonder how they hell they even got together. Then you also need a compelling mystery. In this case I have long harboured an idea about a biographer uncovering unsavoury secrets about their client. In this case I added the complication of the writer having little chance of any cooperation as the subject has dementia. Had a little fun with Wolfie the feckless writer. Shan't reveal who he might be based on, but there really are people out there exploiting people who want their memoirs written for them - no matter that few or any relatives will actually care.

It was good to explore more of the hinterland of New England in winter. Yes it really gets this cold. -30C or lower in places. I get a secret pleasure out of visiting summer resorts in winter when there are few people and even less places to eat or socialise - but you get a real insight into the hardy locals and their unique approach to life.

Asha as a character interests me. She has evolved nicely to fit in with Delaney, complimenting him with her ability to see connections that others might not make.

As ever, Rufus the dog plays a big part in the story. If you have ever owned a dog you'll understand that you can't keep them out of your business for long. Rufus is loyal and devoted to Delaney and I'd like to think would be exactly the type of dog to alert any passerby to a problem if misfortune ever struck his owner.

Anyway, this is what I did in the second year of covid. I hope you enjoy and if you did, tell others. It's my own fault I'm not on social media or booktock so I will have to rely on you.
Happy reading. Berg City awaits you. Order now
© Sam Hawksmoor - March 2023

‘We Feel Your Pain ’. Download the first book in the series now so you're primed for the next Delaney and Asha investigation.

**About writing 'Mission Longshot' a sc-fi space adventure

Earth 2032 - The climate has changed - food is running short. War is imminent. Whole cities are in danger of going under water fifty years before they said they would. Mankind is in real danger. Naturally you're going to build a spaceship to take the best and brightest to a new world. 3000 kids essentially put into deep freeze for a 70-year journey into space.

Moonbase 2057 - The first light-speed spaceship is about to be tested. (Despite eight billion dollar explosive failures so far). News comes in that the Colony ship has been struck by asteroids on Year 23 of it's journey. There is one survivor, Celeste Kandar. She knows no one can rescue her - she's going to be alone for the rest of her life. If the light-speed ship works they could rescue Celeste - if it works... What could possibly go wrong?

Earth Millennial's Eve 1999 - Gerry is waiting for aliens to land. If there was ever a time to attack Y2K night is the night.

It's a real voyage of discovery for Celeste exploring a nearby planet that just might be trying to kill her and the kids attempting to rescue her on a flight that might be a one way ticket...

© Sam Hawksmoor  2023 - *The Sam Hawksmoor Books List and other links

The Repossession of Genie Magee returns in a new Kindle & print edition Combining the elements of science fiction, mystery and supernatural, it is definitely one of the best, and most fascinating, debut novels I've ever read. more

The Hunting of Genie Magee returns in a new Kindle edition Genie and Rian must flee down the river with a $10,000 price on their heads. They must fight for their right to exist. more

'We Feel Your Pain' by Sam Hawksmoor ISBN-13: 979-8699087693 Published by Hammer & Tong December 2020 Print or Kindle from Amazon Reviews: '...a captivating adventure which could be compared to a Roald Dahl tale filmed by Wes Anderson ...where rythm, wit, humour and punchy dialogue mix with irrepressible, warm sentiment...' 'I really enjoyed living with Delaney, Asha and Maria. And I particularly revelled in that obedient and loving dog, Rufus.  They were lovely characters and it was a good story. The author evokes amazing, vivid pictures'. Delaney and Asha run the Office of Berg City Oversight. Their role is to expose the scams, keep the city safe from unscrupulous people.  When something looks too good to be true – it’s a scam, right?  But what if the scam works?  What kind of scam is that? When Delaney finds himself left for dead at the bottom of a cliff he gets the message - someone doesn't want him near their honeypot.

2022 - The Screenplay for Girl with Cat (Blue) made the Quarter Finals for ISA Connect International Adventure Screenplay Competition - you can read the fantasy novel now.

The Sara Troy interview with Sam Hawksmoor 1.12.21

About the Writing of Girl with Cat Blue here

More about Sam Hawksmoor and his writing background here
Hammer &Tong (UK) is a small indie publisher of Sam Hawksmoor's books
Based in Lincolnshire - all messages via Sam Hawksmoor contact page

* Background research on anti-gravity here - **Thinkpiece: What if you read a book you loved and never told anyone, especially the writer? more What did you want to be when you were a child?.... more One question I used to dislike the most when a kid was ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ more Kindle ebook for The Heaviness - Sam in Canada More Background to Genie Magee's world. Search and you'll find some extra stories about the main characters. * If you write me on old fashioned email, I do check and will write back as soon as I can. see Contact 'Terrifying alternative outcome to WW2 - the Blitz brought vividly to life.' THE REPERCUSSIONS of Tomas D Tomas accidentally goes back in time to London in the Blitz. Captured and tortured for what he knows about the war... WW11 abruptly ends in 1941. The day after Tomas disappears, his girlfriend Gabriella wakes up to realise she's the only one who remembers that Germany was supposed to have lost the war... Sample Chapter here THE HEAVINESS of Genie Magee (Book Three) Someone with a grudge wants Genie dead. Rian is kidnapped and forced to do experiments. Genie and Renée have just 36 hours to find Rian or he dies - but the one person who can help is aleady dead. Gravity isn't the only thing that can pull you down... 'The best Genie Magee story left till last. It might just break your heart.'