Hello, friends and fans!
Welcome to another “Peek At My Week”! Here’s a look at some of my latest news: August 21, 2023! Here are some things that happened this past week.
News About Writing & Publishing: This Is The Current State Of Things
Let’s take a look at the current status quo on various ongoing issues affecting my writing or publishing:
- Writing: The first book in my new sci-fi adventure series (“Threaders“) is coming along nicely. I’ve titled it “Freedom Inc“, and it’s already past 30,000 words in. I already finished the first part of the story, which introduces the lead character (Tang Gunar, a cybernetically enhanced adventurer) last week, and now I’m working on the second part where I introduce another main character (Mycos Atellu, a swordsman and fortune-seeker). I’ll let you know what happens next! In the meantime, I’ve set up a page for the series and first book on my website, and also a page listing of some of the characters and so on in case anyone is interested. Meanwhile, here is the series header for the series and the cover for the first book:
- What Readers Say: I’m not sure, I know I can’t please everybody (so I’m not trying to!) – drop me a line and let me know how you think I’m doing – or, preferably, leave me a review! I received the following reader’s review for the audiobook of “Blachart” on the 18th of August:
OMG
“Wow, this story is just fantastic! You feel as if you are part of it! I cannot say any more without giving away the plot! Just brilliant! The narrator was so good with all of his gadgets to help it along 😊” – Dave & Linda, August 18, 2023, review of Blachart on Audible.
Bibliography – A listing of all my books:
Other Stuff:
Here’s a few of the other things that happened this past week:
Pop-up Idiots
On Monday I shared my displeasure at what anti-science nonsense I’d overheard in conversation at work that morning. I often overhear people saying things I disagree with, or know are completely wrong – or are just being overtly malicious, and I manage to keep my mouth shut for the sake of peace at the office, but that morning I found myself in a spirited argument before I realized it.
Autism and neurodivergence was reduced to an affliction blamed on science ‘playing God’ – a result of a conspiracy-theory level misunderstanding and misrepresentation of science.
When challenged, the individual couldn’t name the study they claim “proved” their statement. Here’s a clue – there isn’t one. It doesn’t exist. But it is a well-known Trumpanzee “talking point” and claim, put forth by Q’anon and a few hundred right wing conspiracy-theorist nutters on Youtube or Tiktok – the same lunatics who pushed their followers to drink bleach to prevent themselves from catching COVID not very long ago (the world would probably be a nicer, safer place if they actually did – whoops, did I say that out loud?!).
Incidentally, this nonsense came from a Trump fan who regularly repeats nonsensical right-wing propaganda – even though we’re in South Africa, not the Southern bible-belt of the Disunited States of America. A second colleague joined in to support the first, taking science denialism – and the argument – to the next level by adding that “Evolution is rubbish”. Sure, Karen, your five minutes paying attention in church every Sunday is a valid argument against 164 years of intensive global scientific research and study on the subject. All those scientists who think they’re so clever should just stop what they’re doing and go to church, right?
How does an intelligent person deal with closed-minded people who live in a fucking echo chamber and who know bugger-all about a subject, but think that they (through the lens of their religion which was created by illiterate bronze-age sheep-herders who didn’t even know where the sun went at night) has all the answers?
Argh!
Anyway, I decided to share the gist of it in a FB post. To be blunt, while I know Facebook is overrun with trolls and common or garden variety morons and idiots, I hardly expected the sort of idiotic response I got on the post!
The person who responded in the screenshot below, agreeing with the brain-farts of my *cough* colleagues, was – to my horror – also trans. They ought to know better IMHO, because transgender people tend to have reason to doubt the sort of pseudoscientific conspiracy-theorist claptrap touted by right wingers, but since they had bible quotes all over their profile I have to admit their ignorance was unsurprising. Oh, the stupidity… It burns!
WHY did they follow me on Facebook in the first place? They were bound to have a rough time!
A Few Laughs:
Just a few laughs from the past week!
Imagine being a member of this nutcase’s crew?
“What was that, Captain? You want me to go over there? Over there… to the enemy ship that’s been shooting at us – the one we’ve been shooting at – for the last 14 hours? To ask them to borrow some ammo?”
“Yes. Tell them they won’t have to wait long, we’ll send it right back!”
“Er…”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly safe! Here – just shut up and take this white flag!”
The Brit said no – odds are, after 14 hours firing their canon, the Royal Navy ship was probably low on ammo too – but I’ll bet the Norwegian emissary was praying and grumbling all the way there and back, probably wishing he’d gone to work in his uncle’s cheese factory instead!
And some people say history is boring?!
Lastly:
That’s all for this week!
As always, I’ll keep you posted about any further developments. And remember:
In spite of some of my books having been on Amazon since 2005, not one of them has yet reached the magical 51 reader reviews yet! (The highest number any of them has, is ten – which is a pretty good number, but still not high enough for Amazon!) I would really appreciate your help on this! Come on, leave a review – it’s free!
I wish you all a pleasant week until next time!