Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round-up of the week 21st April 2019

World news:

Map showing locations of explosions
Attacks in Sri Lanka

Eight blasts have been reported in Sri Lanka targeting churches and hotels, killing at least 207 and 450 are thought to have been hurt.
Three of the explosions were in churches during Easter Sunday services.

A national curfew has been put in place “until further notice” and social media networks have been temporarily blocked.
A foreign ministry official has said at least 27 foreign nationals are among the dead.

My cousin and her family are in Colombo at the moment, keep safe Brenda, Gary and family.

London News:

Jason Isaacs
Man convicted of murder of teenager, Jason Isaacs shown above.

Jason Isaacs, 18, was walking with friends in Northolt in November 2017 when he was targeted by four people of two mopeds. They chased him, he became separated from his friends before he was caught by this gang who proceeded to stab him several times. Jason collapsed in a garden and died three days later in hospital.

Joel Amade, also 18, of Greenford, was found guilty of Mr Isaacs’ murder in a trial at the Old Bailey and will be sentenced in May.

The family of the victim will never get Jason back but I hope the courts dole out a sentence that is fitting for the heinous crime.


My World:

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it.

Ten weeks in my not-so-new job and still loving every minute of it. Something happened this week as a result of an inspection report which has made a slight difference to how someone will live and it made all the hours of hard work feel worthwhile.

Had a lovely weekend as my son Mark came home for Easter and had a lovely family day today around at my mum and dad’s house.

My Writing:

Truth & Retribution is now in the hands of my lovely editor, hoping she doesn’t hate me after reading it! I have started reading back through A Boy from the Streets to make a few minor changes and edit any mistakes that were previously missed. I have also decided to change the front and back matter and want to get it right in book 1 before moving on to book 2 and the final edits on books 3 & 4.

Books, Life, Self-publishing

Round-up of the week 24 March 2019

World:

Brutal attack on a village in central Mali.

Brutal attack on a village in central Mali on Saturday by armed men, wearing traditional Dogon hunter’s clothing, killing more than 130 people.
Gunmen surrounded the village at dawn before attacking, with guns and machetes, members of the Fulani ethnic community who are accused of having ties to jihadists.
Witnesses also say that nearly all the huts in the village were burned down in what is being described as a massacre.
My thoughts:
I can’t comprehend this world we live in where such atrocities take place. Is it really so impossible to live in peace? Thoughts and prayers, as always to the victims and their families.

London:

Stabbing near Syon Park, west London


A group of men chased a teenage boy through the streets of west London on Friday night, after getting out of a vehicle near Syon Park, Isleworth. When they caught up with the 17-year-old they stabbed him and he later died at the scene despite police giving first aid at the scene.
My thoughts:
This is a couple of miles away from where I live. This is getting scarily closer all the time. It seems that our police need to get a grip back on the streets before its too late. In which case the police need more resources and greater powers. My prayers go out to the victim’s family and I hope they catch those bastards soon.

My World:

I’ve now completed six weeks at my new job, I can’t believe how quickly the time has gone by. The workload is intense, non-stop but I haven’t been so happy in years. After four horrendous jobs, of not sleeping, and feeling on edge all the time I am now sleeping eight hours at a time and so relaxed and happy that it is having a positive affect on all areas of my life.
On the way home from work on Friday on my motorbike a scumbag on a scooter swerved towards me with his foot out, in an attempt to kick me off. I was able to swerve and got away unscathed.
Payday, meant I could splurge on getting my, long overdue, hair highlighted. Looking good!
A lovely weekend, including, mum and dad time, me time, writing oh and the necessary evil of housework!

My Writing:

Still working on the edits of book five in the Children from the Streets series. It’s rather scary how easily I’ve jumped inside the head of a psychopath. A tiny taster from when Paolo was eight years old, he was walking to the shops with his friend:

My foot inched out and caught the front of his, sending him flying. He landed face down in the dried, baked earth which hadn’t seen water for a while. I rushed to his side, apologised, you know all the things a friend would do and he blamed himself for his clumsiness. I accepted this version readily. A stone had grazed his face, leaving a gouge mark, his hands were scratched and his clothing torn but despite my solicitous attentions and insistence that we head back to the house, the greedy little boy wanted sweets and a taste of his destiny which wouldn’t be so sweet.

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week 17.03.2019

World:

Flash floods in eastern Indonesian province of Papua have killed at least 58 people, rescue workers are still looking but are struggling to reach the remote areas as roads are blocked by landslides and fallen trees, so the number of dead may rise.

More than 4,000 people have had to leave their homes. Torrential rains began on Saturday evening and continued into the night, triggering mudslides and flash floods.

My thoughts:
What a horrible tragedy. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

London:

A 29-year-old man was stabbed to death in a fight in Fulham in the early hours of Saturday on the junction of Gowan Avenue and Munster Road, dying at the scene.

My thoughts:
I used to work around the corner from where this took place. It’s so scary that these awful acts of violence are closing in all around us and becoming commonplace. My thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the victim.

My World:

I’m not sure why I have this slot in my blog, lol, because I don’t do a hell of a lot on a weekly basis. Week 5 of the new job done, still great. Every day is different and interesting.
Went to see an old work colleague from when I worked at the motorbike training school on Thursday night after work, I haven’t seen Stacy in a few years. We’ve been doing the “we must meet soon dance” for ages and finally got around to pinning down a date.
Weekend was taken up with writing, housework and a visit to my family.

My Writing:
I finally hit “The End” on the first draft of book 5 from The Children on the Streets series. Now the edits begin. Fun times.




Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up​ of the Week.

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globe-1290378_640News from around the world

Parents of a young man with Downs-Syndrome in Delhi were told when he was a child that he wouldn’t be able to do anything. Now years on he can drive and has a pottery studio which he set up with his mum.

Truly inspirational

Check this young man out for yourself:

 

LondonNews from London

A teenager has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old man who was stabbed to death in east London. A 17-year-old male appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court, charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon, he will be appearing at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

 

Me.1

My News

Another busy week at work.

The weekend started well, a busy day yesterday but woke up with a raw throat this morning, struggling to swallow and pain in my ears so will be off work for a while until this viral infection clears.

 

 

Me.2

Writing News

Sins of the Father went back to the editor and I started book three of the series set in Brazil which has a working title of ‘The Other Side of the Streets.’

Books, Life, Self-publishing, Uncategorized

Round-up of the Week

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News from around the world

Bono, U2 singer has apologised after claims of bullying and abuse emerged at One, the charity he co-founded.

An allegation was made that one female worker was demoted after refusing to become intimate with a foreign governmental official.

News from London

Liz Hurley’s 21-year-old nephew is in hospital after being stabbed repeatedly in the back in a brutal attack in south-west London. Police were called on Thursday to a street, near Battersea Park.

My News

Another busy week has seen me moving from site to site and seeing different views and meeting a diverse spectrum of people.

My living room is a step closer to being finished as the new carpet was laid yesterday. It’s looking fabulous and is so silky that I make any excuse to get my socks off and walk across it.

Twenty-one years ago today my nephew and Godson Joseph was born so we had a civilised family get together. For his present we’ll be going to a gig, not sure which one yet. Many years ago I started a tradition, which became known as Auntie Mia days, so instead of a present we go somewhere, my nieces and nephew have always known they can opt out and go back to presents. So far, Joseph still wants quality time with me and because of his interest in music, it is always a gig.

Started reading Sugar and Spice by RE Hargrave and so far, I’m loving it.

Writing News

Again another pitiful amount of writing done. I’m feeling very drained at the moment which is killing my creative streak. Sins of the Father is still with the editor and so far so good.