The Short Reads

Might have been Socrates or Epictetus who first espoused this ideology. Or maybe it was Einstein or Oprah. The Buddha? Dalai Lama? Actually, I think it was my mum. Irrespective of the origin story, you gotta love timeless wisdom. 🙂🩵

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Hunting Time (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 4) Hunting Time (A Colter Shaw Novel Book 4)

FREE CHAPTER - MISSING

Chapter 1

Putting a lifeless body in the trunk of a car is not as simple or as effortless as they show on TV. The world on television often distorts the grim reality, reducing it to a mere act of closing a trunk with ease. But in the obsidian silence of this night, there was nothing facile about it. For him, every step was a calculated manoeuvre, a choreography of dread and necessity.

The moon hung low in the sky, a sickle of pale light casting eerie shadows on the suburban street. The stillness of the night was punctuated only by the distant murmur of the ocean, a ceaseless reminder of nature's indifference to the grim affairs of men.

He knew he had to get rid of her. She had been nothing more than a 'diversion' while he had indulged his darkest desires. But now, the ephemeral pleasure had waned, leaving behind a haunting truth—he was a monster, and she was a witness to his malevolence.

In the inky blackness of his garage, the dim overhead bulb flickered weakly. Its feeble glow revealed a twisted tableau of chains, manacles, and shackles strewn across a workbench—a macabre assembly of tools. Tools that had served a sinister purpose moments earlier.

The body lay on the cold, concrete floor, a lifeless form wrapped in the shadows. Her skin, once warm and inviting, now wore the pallor of death. Her vacant eyes stared into oblivion, having witnessed horrors that would never escape her memory, even in death.
He knelt beside her, his gloved hands trembling slightly as he worked with practiced precision.

He knew that the margins for error were razor-thin, and one mistake could unravel his meticulously woven tapestry of deception. The chains rattled as he secured them around her lifeless limbs, each metallic clink echoing the finality of his actions.

The manacles followed, clamping around wrists and ankles with a cruel finality. He had chosen this path, a descent into the abyss of his own making, and now he had to see it through to its chilling conclusion. The shackles clicked into place, locking her body in a grotesque embrace.

Once he had dropped all of the heavy chains, manacles, and shackles into the trunk with her, the weight of his sins settled over him like a shroud.

He stood back and observed his handiwork, his breathing heavy, labored. The trunk had become a chamber of horrors, a nightmarish tableau of captivity and death.
With deliberate care, he closed the trunk, the metallic thud resonating through the silent night. It was a dreadful sound, the sound of the abyss swallowing its secrets.

He lingered for a moment, as if expecting the night itself to bear witness to his malevolence. But the night, with its enigmatic indifference, held no judgments.

Turning away from the grisly scene, he walked to the driver's side of the car. The keys jingled in his pocket, a dissonant symphony of dread. As he climbed behind the wheel, the car's interior swallowed him in darkness, a fitting cocoon for a man who had descended into the depths of darkness himself.

The engine roared to life, a mechanical heartbeat in the stillness of the night. He glanced once more at the house, a bastion of ignorance and innocence, before shifting the gear into reverse. The tires crunched on the gravel driveway as he maneuvered out onto the empty street.

It's 3:00 am. The witching hour, they called it. A time when the world slept, oblivious to the horrors that lurked in the shadows. His journey had just begun, a journey into the abyss of his own making.

He was a man driven by his darkest impulses, a man who had willingly surrendered his humanity to the malevolent forces that dwelled within.

As he drove through the deserted streets, the weight of his actions bore down on him like an inescapable gravity. He couldn't escape the truth—he had crossed a line from which there was no return. And as the world slumbered in blissful ignorance, he ventured deeper into the heart of darkness, where the answers to his malevolence lay hidden, and the terrible question loomed large:

Where is Mandy?

To read the rest of the book, buy it here
https://amazon.com/dp/B0CW1KRCVH

I’m asked why I became a writer. If I were a doctor, all my patients would die. If an architect, my buildings would collapse. Writing is all I have.

A short fast, impossible to put down, maximum entertainment Easter read

Murder at Easter

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** This product is sugar free**

Coming soon - just in time for Easter

Moving day - #6

Heading in the right direction

Missing is live!!

The first Detective Jack Creed novella for 2024

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US

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Australia
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Best Short Books - TheShortReads.com The best short books are here. Get fast paced, maximum entertainment, impossible to put down best short books at TheShortReads.com

Coming Mid + March 2024

Here’s what’s in my short non fiction book

How To Write Non Fiction Books

I. Introduction A. The Power of Non-Fiction Writing B. Defining Your Non-Fiction Niche C. Setting Realistic Goals for Non-Fiction Authors

II. Choosing Your Topic A. Identifying Your Expertise and Passion B. Researching Market Trends and Reader Interests C. Narrowing Down Your Non-Fiction Focus

III. Developing a Strong Book Concept A. Articulating Your Unique Perspective B. Clarifying the Purpose and Message of Your Book C. Defining Your Target Audience

IV. Constructing an Effective Outline A. The Importance of Structure in Non-Fiction B. Organizing Chapters for Cohesiveness C. Incorporating Research and Supporting Evidence

V. The Writing Process A. Establishing a Productive Writing Routine B. Balancing Information and Engagement C. Crafting Clear and Concise Prose

VI. Conducting Thorough Research A. Sourcing Credible Information B. Interviewing Experts and Gathering Insights C. Ethical Considerations in Non-Fiction Writing

VII. Incorporating Personal Narratives A. Weaving Your Story into the Non-Fiction Narrative B. Balancing Objectivity and Subjectivity C. Connecting with Readers Emotionally

VIII. Editing and Fact-Checking A. Self-Editing Strategies for Clarity B. Hiring Professional Editors for Quality Assurance C. Ensuring Accuracy through Rigorous Fact-Checking

IX. Crafting an Engaging Introduction A. The Importance of a Compelling Hook B. Clearly Stating the Purpose and Scope C. Establishing Your Authorial Voice

X. Designing Informative Chapters A. Structuring Chapters for Maximum Impact B. Incorporating Visuals and Examples C. Maintaining Reader Engagement Throughout

XI. The Non-Fiction Book Title A. Crafting a Title Reflecting the Book's Essence B. Ensuring Clarity and Market Appeal C. Testing and Finalizing Your Book Title

XII. Navigating the Publishing Landscape A. Traditional vs. Self-Publishing: Considerations B. Writing a Compelling Book Proposal C. Understanding Non-Fiction Book Marketing

XIII. Building Author Authority A. Establishing Your Expertise Beyond the Book B. Utilizing Speaking Engagements and Workshops C. Engaging with Your Non-Fiction Community

XIV. Marketing and Launching Your Non-Fiction Book A. Creating a Comprehensive Marketing Plan B. Leveraging Social Media and Online Platforms C. Hosting Book Launch Events and Tours

XV. Handling Challenges and Celebrating Success A. Addressing Criticism and Controversy B. Overcoming Writer's Block in Non-Fiction C. Celebrating Milestones and Positive Impact

XVI. Frequently Asked Questions A. How Long Does It Take to Write a Non-Fiction Book? 1. Factors Influencing Writing Timeframes 2. Setting Realistic Expectations for Non-Fiction Authors

XVII Conclusion A. Reflecting on the Non-Fiction Writing Journey B. Encouragement for Aspiring Non-Fiction Authors C. Embracing the Enduring Impact of Truthful Storytelling

Off to the editor (Aussie) and formatter (Ukraine) -yahoo !

Release next week

And now for a rest - buggered

Coming in March 2024

The first thing I’d do as a new writer is

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Our annual Membership Drive officially kicks off tomorrow! 📖✨🥳

🌟 So what's the deal? 🌟
The Membership Drive lasts four weeks, with each week offering a different selection of incredible prizes. All you have to do to be in with the chance to WIN is join us to become a 2024 Byron Writers Festival Member.

🌟 Week One... 🌟
Join or renew before Sunday 25 February to go into the running for this week's fantastic Read & Relax prize package (details coming tomorrow) PLUS The Ultimate Getaway Major Prize (valued at $2,048). Also up for grabs, for our returning 2023 members, is our Renewing Member Prize (valued at $918).

For more information on membership types, pricing, services and benefits, please head to https://byronwritersfestival.com/become-a-member/

Let's write a short story right away!

Thank you readers

#1 New Release

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