In Memory of my Beautiful Elsa

One year ago, my lovely little Jack Russell, Elsa, who was six, passed away from a malignant tumor. One week she was the same playful dog she always was; the next week she had died in my arms. Words cannot begin to express how much I miss her.

I chose her from a litter of five and the truth was that I had originally been most interested in picking a male, rather than a female. But my father passed her to me, casually asking me what I thought of her. She was so tiny that she fit into my palm. I held her up close to my face and peered into her eyes in a rather skeptical manner; she then proceeded to lick my nose and I thought, this is the one! The rest is history.

Elsa was extremely beautiful for a Jack Russel (I often thought she resembled Audrey Hepburn, though the wide-eyed looks that followed whenever I mentioned this hinted that no one else agreed with me). She was also incredibly playful, fiercely brave, rather rude to other dogs (she would often stick her nose up at them whenever they came sniffing around) and highly sensitive (she ignored me for a good few hours once when I had stayed out overnight.) All in all, she had the vivacious, independent character of her kind, and more. So on the day we found out that this small lump in her neck was actually a vicious tumor and would slowly kill her, we had no choice but to put her to sleep. Within the space of a week, the lump had increased in size, equal to the weight of her head and the vet informed us that if she continued to live until the end, the tumor would eat into her neck and choke her to death.

So we planned the best death for her that any dog could possibly have. The day before she died, I asked the vet to give her an injection that would provide her with energy for a few hours, for she was so lethargic at that point that she could barely move. He obliged and those last few precious hours were spent with us running and chasing each other in the park, as we had done so many times before. For a brief blissful moment, I could imagine that there was no tumor, that she was not going to die and that she was the same happy, healthy dog she always had been. We bought her a delicious steak that she greatly enjoyed and, that night, I cuddled her and told her many things.

The next morning we took her to the vet, that final hurdle before we had to say goodbye. I wanted her to know that I was going to be with her until the very end. They muzzled her, but she didn’t resist. I think she knew it was time for her to go. I held her in my arms, caressed her and kept telling her what a good girl she was; they injected her with a lethal substance and she slid gently down on the table. And I cradled her with a grief that seemed too powerful to bear.

We had Elsa cremated and she now sits in a plant pot on my window sill. I will never forget my little dog for she brought a joy to me that I had never experienced before. There is no doubt in my mind that she is up there somewhere, wagging her tail, being snooty to the other dogs that have passed away and waiting for me to see her again. I had written a poem for her the day before she departed, which is below. God sometimes takes away the ones we love the most but this is not to be cruel or unkind; it is because he knows, as so many of us do, that there is a better place that we go to after life, where sickness, suffering and sorrow do not exist. It is here that my dog waits for me and where all those who have passed wait patiently for those who are left behind. This promise is made to us because such overwhelming love never exists in vain and even death cannot break it; he can only stall it. There is no such thing as goodbye; just goodbye for now.

My beautiful little Elsa

Time to sleep

Death has chosen to slyly creep

And take what doesn’t belong to him

And sprinkle the grief that Pain must bring

This cruel mist and blinding fog

Will soon take the life of my little dog.

So we will have one last perfect day

Without suffering or sadness or the thought of decay

Where Elsa will play and run and be glad

These last hours are not a time to be sad

But to remember how special and loved she is

A beautiful dog who will be greatly missed,

And though untimely for she did not hit seven,

They say all dogs go to Heaven,

And though Time was not with us from the start

Time will mend the cracks of my broken heart

Time will do his best to ease this pain

Time is the reassurance I will see her again.

Goodbye Elsa, soon you will be all brand new

For God has promised me he will look after you

For now I’ve got to stay and you must go through this door

But one day I’ll walk through and join you once more.

And no matter how long it is we are apart

You’ll always be number one

And hold a special place in my heart.

 

The Truth Behind Drugs

We need to ask ourselves why people take drugs in the first place. It’s a form of escapism. On some level, their soul is telling them it wants to escape the physical reality it finds itself in.

No surprise. The soul is a delicate thing filled with pure love. Who wouldn’t want to escape at some point, coming to this miserable world?

So the soul sends out a message that it wants to leave its reality. The brain translates this as drugs, which is the easiest way to free your conscious mind from whatever restrictions are placed on it during waking hours. Person takes drugs, they escape for a while, have a trip, then come down.

That’s when it gets addictive. Souls do not like suffering. So they’re going to keep sending out the message that they want to escape and, as time passes, the brain knows the way to get its fix. It keeps taking the drugs; it keeps escaping reality. It no longer experiences pain; it experiences pleasure.

Problem is, when you’re accessing other realms in this way, you’re putting things into your body that are not meant to be put there – especially the stuff that has been tampered with by man. It’s only a matter of time before the body starts to get sick.

We’re not meant to access other realms in this way. The place drug users end up in when they’re on a trip is a place that trained psychics are able to visit when they access their subconscious mind. It’s also a place we go when we sleep, as our conscious mind shuts down and our subconscious mind takes over. It’s a form of magic – that’s why practitioners of magic will often be asked what drugs they’re on, even though they won’t touch the stuff.

When the subconscious mind is accessed through drugs during a state of consciousness, it opens them up to everything. Not just the good, but the bad also. There may be experiences of other-worldly bliss, but there’s also paranoia, fear and terror. When you’re accessing other realms through drugs, you’re going in there without any form of protection or knowledge about what you’re going up against. It’s like sending someone to a warzone without any protective gear, weapon or knowledge about where he’s going or who he’s fighting.

Toying around with the subconscious mind and other realms isn’t a joke. That’s why drugs ruin lives one way or another. You’re messing with things you don’t understand and ultimately you’re mistaking it as a solution for something, when the solution is to tackle whatever is driving you to take it in the first place.

It’s usually some form of restriction or trauma. Why else do so many people who work in the city take cocaine? They might say it’s because it’s the ‘in thing’ to do but that’s just an act, even if they don’t realise it’s an act (the conscious mind isn’t usually capable of looking beneath the surface at the deeper meaning behind everything). In reality, they’re forced to hide their true selves, day in and day out, to keep their jobs and keep the system going. Needing a form of escape is inevitable.

There is only one way to truly escape – face whatever lurks in your subconscious that is hurting your soul and conquer it.

Why Dominic Lawson Has Got the Dog Meat Ban So Wrong

I am honestly in shock that journalist for the Daily Mail, Dominic Lawson, who claims to be an owner of four dogs himself, should put forth such a strong case against banning dog meat in the UK, and moreover that he should derogatively lump it under the label of “virtue-signalling”.

I’m not entirely sure why Mr. Lawson appears to be so opposed to a ban, so much that he has sought to influence readers across the country and wider world into thinking it’s nothing more than a pious act of self-indulgence, but I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he simply knows very little of the Dog Torture Trade in general – though one would think he would have sought to do some research before writing an article in a national newspaper on the subject.

Let’s start with his thoughts on how a ban in the UK would affect the lives of dogs who are suffering in the Trade across SE Asia – or rather, according to him, wouldn’t. Lawson states:

“Very moving. But scarcely justification for a new law which will make not the teeny-tiniest difference to the life of a single pooch.”

Oh, but it would, Mr Lawson. In fact, it may help many pooches, not just one. In your entire article you have failed to mention that the United States recently passed a ban on dog and cat meat themselves after extensive campaigning on the issue. You have completely bypassed that Canada and Japan are similarly being targetted to ban dog meat – and most importantly, you have completely and utterly failed to recognise that the more countries who openly condemn this practice and ban it in their own countries, the more pressure it exerts on China, Vietnam, South Korea and dog-eating nations to end it. The only way to end the Trade is with global condemnation and international unification. By trying to kick an influential country such as the UK out of this circle of unity, you are weakening the fight against the barbaric practice and unwittingly aiding the cruelty yourself.

 

There’s only one fool around here, Mr Lawson. And it’s not the MPs.

 

There is nothing ‘virtue-signalling’ about wanting to protect millions of dogs from the extreme cruelty inflicted on them in the Far-east. And if it is virtue-signalling then, as Giles Watling said, thank God we are virtue-signalling! I would far rather be called a sanctimonious virtue-signaller than watch apathetically as millions of helpless dogs are blow-torched, skinned and burned alive.

And that’s another thing you have failed to mention in your article. The extreme cruelty involved. The way one reads your article, anyone would think we’re merely pontificating in an attempt to intrude upon another’s culture – is culture an acceptable excuse to torture loyal and loving companion animals to death? Would you say the same of FGM, child marriage or other methods of inhumane slaughter, which are all done under the guise of culture or religion? You similarly fail to mention that the majority of these dogs (up to 70%) are stolen pets, though you did mention that you yourself own four dogs. How would you feel if your dogs were stolen from your home before being brutally tortured and maimed to death? This is the reality for millions of people across South East Asia – we virtue-signallers are no different to them; the only difference is that we are lucky enough to live in a country where such brutal cruelty is forbidden and they are not. And as a country which has long been proud of its status as a dog-loving nation, we are obligated more than others to end the cruelty to man’s best friend on the other side of the globe.

 

A statement from a Vietnamese citizen, one of millions who witnesses the horror first-hand. She would clearly not agree with Lawson’s article.

 

So yes, I suppose the ban is about virtue-signalling. There is no corruption of virtue more devious and horrific than what happens to these loyal companion animals in the Far-East. If I, and the many people who call for a ban, are labelled virtue-signallers because of it, then we wear the label proudly; anyone who opposes it, yet calls himself a dog lover, is either ignorant of the facts or has no problem with millions of dogs being subjected to treatment so vile that it has millions of South East Asians weeping and many more in the west shouting in outrage.

Dominic Lawson has called MPs who propose the ban “fools” and accused them of wasting time when we have Brexit on the table. I didn’t realise that Brexit was an excuse to sweep issues that demand compassion and justice under the table. As a proud Brexiteer myself and someone who campaigned under Vote Leave in 2016, I’m repelled by his assertion that MPs should ignore an issue as serious as this. He fails to see the link between Brexit and the Dog Torture Trade, and yet there is one; a crucial one. When we leave the European Union, we will be in a stronger position to further our influence against animal cruelty throughout the world. We did this with the Commonwealth nations and we may do so again once we are free from the shackles of the EU. My campaign group, Operation Hound: United Against the Dog Torture Trade, is embarking on a campaign for an international treaty, an Anglosphere Treaty, between the nations of the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, countries with a common cultural and heritage background, each of them expressing their opposition to this cruel practice across the world. Brexit is intertwined with this campaign, and a ban on dog meat in each of these countries gives more power to the possibility of a treaty itself. As I mentioned, global unification is the only way to end this abomination. Both a ban on dog meat and an international treaty bring us one step closer to this goal.

 

Maybe not just the British. But Britain and America and Australia and Canada and every other country on earth – then they might just stop and think, yes.

 

So I would respectfully ask Mr Lawson to retract his claims that a ban would have zero effect on any dog’s life and that it is a pointless endeavour. He may wish to speak directly with the hordes of people in the Far-East who would be appalled at the stance he is taking. As a proud nation of dog lovers and one that has had a wealth of influence on countries across the globe in regard to animal welfare and whose influence will only grow post-Brexit, the UK is better-placed than many to end this horrific Trade.  One would think as an ardent Brexiteer, Lawson would have seen this.

Why You Don’t Have to Be Vegan to Fight for Man’s Best Friend

I am writing this because I want to make one thing very clear to everyone: to fight the unspeakable cruelty towards dogs in South East Asia, you do not have to be a vegan. Or a vegetarian. Or pescatarian. Or any other label that people like to slap on themselves to justify why they are permitted to fight the Dog Torture Trade and others aren’t. Whether vegan or non-vegan, it is your right to fight for whatever cause you want to and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is doing so out of a misguided sense of moral superiority, nothing more. And that’s not a good enough reason to discourage others from opposing blatant acts of evil.

The Dog Torture Trade across SE Asia is by far the most heinous and cruel practice inflicted on any animal. Up to 30 million dogs are tortured and slaughtered for their meat and fur every year. 70% of these are believed to be stolen pets, snatched from loving homes. Why is the rate of stolen pets so high? It’s because a dog that has been cared for in a family home is more likely to be plump and disease-free – fit for human consumption, in other words, which adds a whole other level of depravity to this monstrous trade. The confused and terrified dogs will rarely fight back, having been taught to love and honour their human friends – their loyalty is rewarded with being skinned, blow-torched and burned alive, sometimes for hours on end.

The horrors of the trade are so potent that it is common for people to shut their eyes to it, unable to tolerate the extreme cruelty involved. Others will join the fight against it, dutifully recognising that it is our moral responsibility to protect the one animal that has been granted the privilege of ‘Man’s Best Friend’ due to the service and companionship he has given us for thousands of years. When I created my campaign group, Operation Hound, this was exactly what I had in mind. In the year and a half it has been operating from our Facebook Page, Operation Hound has risen to almost 5,000 members worldwide, sent thousands of letters and emails to various governments across the world, worked with politicians to end the barbarity, helped pass crucial legislation against the Trade and spread awareness among national media.

And yet, there are those among the vegan community who have done their utmost best to destroy us due to their own selfish, misguided agenda, peddling the notion that to fight for Man’s Best Friend, one must be a vegan. I am not a vegan, nor a vegetarian. I oppose any animal being subjected to cruelty before death, but I oppose certain animals being eaten at all – dogs, included. I’ve been called a ‘speciesist’ and a hypocrite, synonymous with the dog thieves and butchers themselves because I like to enjoy a boiled egg. I’ve been called heartless and cruel for pointing out the distinct difference between livestock and companion animals and for highlighting the fact that we do not steal people’s pet chickens, goats and pigs before torturing them to death. The fact that China, Vietnam and Cambodia have no animal welfare laws, whilst we do, seems to bypass these people. These are the same people who will feed their dogs and children a strictly vegan diet to appease their own sense of guilt.

It is not hypocritical to protect dogs who are being subjected to unimaginable cruelty and consumption; it’s not ‘speciesism’ to acknowledge the unique bond between Man and Dog, which is shared with no other creature on earth. We domesticated the dog in a way we domesticated no other – he is our friend, protector, worker and ally. It is unrealistic and ridiculous to demand that before this cruelty to dogs is stopped, we in the west must first all turn vegan. If this were the case, we might as well all turn our backs and leave the dogs to suffer. In the United States, an estimated 0.5% of the population are vegans. A proportion of these are Militant Vegans who have a tendency to prioritise the Dog Torture Trade last. Who, then, is left to fight for the dogs if the vegan militia have their way?

It is the right thing to honour this bond we have with dogs and speak up for them. It is the right thing to speak on behalf of the millions of people across South East Asia who are crying out for help from the international community because their own governments refuse to listen to them. Dog Torture Traders use the guise of culture to justify their cruelty, when in reality it is nothing but a devious money-spinner – Militant Vegans unwittingly aid this cruelty when they try pushing meat-eaters from the fight with their accusations of hypocrisy and speciesism.

If I am a ‘speciesist’ then I am proudly so. Like millions of other people out there, I love dogs and will do anything to protect them. I believe we owe them that much, considering the love and service they have provided us with over centuries and, more than this, the cruelty they are subjected to is unacceptable, something even non-dog lovers agree on. There is a growing resentment in society towards veganism and it is because of a few, loud, select few who shout down the Dog Torture Trade with farm animal comparisons and assert that if you’re not vegan then you need to get out of this fight. This is a shame, because there are many decent vegans out there who welcome non-vegans, acknowledging the simple fact that the more of us there are, the greater chance we stand  of ending the Trade. They are noble people who work tirelessly to end cruelty in all forms and they have my respect. Unfortunately, their entire image is tarnished by vegan militia.

For the Dog Torture Trade to end, both vegans and non-vegans must unite. The silly blockages and bickering must come to an end. Comparisons with livestock must be removed entirely (I find the whole “The Dog Torture Trade isn’t that important because of what the pigs go through!” argument extremely nauseating and detrimental). There has to be an acknowledgement of the unique bond between humankind and dogs, one we share with no other living creature. This is the only way it will end.

The Dog Torture Trade is not about Animal Activism. It is not a cause unique to Animal Activists. It’s about honouring the bond our ancestors made when they invited the first wolf into their cave and shared scraps together, eventually morphing into a team of allies and protectors. Anyone who loves dogs or objects to such inhumane cruelty has a moral duty to protect the dog. Militant Vegans have no right to control this fight or decide who stays in and who goes out. This is a fight for the world and for our own sense of humanity as human beings. If we do not have this unification, then this evil wins and I, for one, am going to do everything I can to ensure this doesn’t happen.

 

Be Brave – Don’t Turn Away. Man’s Best Friend Needs You!

Millions of us across the world love dogs for their companionship, comfort and utter devoted loyalty they have towards humans. Since the first wolf was domesticated 35,000 years ago, dogs have been the most loyal and loving of Man’s friends, comforting us, assisting us, protecting us, defending us and loving us unconditionally.

And yet, in countries such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea, these same dogs are treated in the cruellest, most brutal manner. Most people are aware that dogs are eaten across South East Asia; they are not, however, conscious of the cruelty involved, the unspeakable torture inflicted both on street dogs and stolen pets. There are millions across SE Asia who love and own dogs; many of them have wept and despaired, having lost their dogs to dog thieves. And we in the international community express a reluctance to intervene, unwilling to condemn another’s “culture” – well, just to be clear, there is nothing cultural about it, as the hundreds of thousands of SE Asians who’ve had their pets stolen and tortured would testify. There is nothing cultural about cruelty and every single person on this planet has a moral duty and firm obligation to protect the dog who is widely considered Man’s Best Friend for a reason. There is no difference between the dog who bounds happily towards you and lovingly licks your face, and the dog who suffers a cruel, brutal fate at the hands of Traders. Every dog is under our protection, as was ordained when the first Man and the first wolf joined forces all those years ago; they cannot speak for themselves. We must speak for them.

Please watch the video below. Operation Hound is dedicated to fighting this abhorrent practice. Our goal is to ‘flood’ the White House with letters expressing our fierce objection to the Dog Meat Trade. Everyone in the world must get on board. Please join us and fight for Man’s Best Friend.

Operation Hound: We’re going to ‘flood’ the White House!

Several years ago, I stumbled across a video on social media that changed my life forever. It was of a dog, hanging from a pole, being skinned alive by an unknown man; most of the dog’s flesh was visible; the screams and wails from the dog were of such astronomical agony that I felt my blood freeze, unable to comprehend what I was watching. I thought at first I might have accidentally chanced upon a scene from a (banned) horror film, but it soon became apparent that this horrific video was real and the footage came from the Dog Meat Trade in South East Asia; the tears came fast and furious, the weeping ensued for a number of days. I discovered the torture I had witnessed was a daily occurrence for dogs in countries such as China, Vietnam and South Korea and that was when my venture into this hellhole began, for the seen cannot be unseen, and this was certainly the case here. Further research informed me of exactly what it is that these dogs go through – pets are stolen from their homes, dogs are plucked off the streets, and then transported via trucks to the slaughterhouses; here, they are boiled alive, skinned alive, electrocuted, beaten to death – death is often slow and agonising, because apparently prolonged torture makes the meat ‘taste better’. That the perpetrators should butcher and consume man’s best friend in this manner is shocking enough, but the agony they subject them to is downright evil and inhumane. China, where shockingly evil acts arise in regard to the way they treat their animals, is almost positively shameless in its savagery, as is evident by the recent incident involving a gentle Golden Retriever who was mercilessly beaten to death for several hours by a police officer.

Millions of us around the world own dogs as pets for a reason; the loyalty and love of a dog is second to none. (Don’t get hissy, cat lovers! I haven’t forgotten them; keep reading for more on this). Dogs not only provide comfort and companionship to millions of individuals, but they aid our blind and deaf, assist our police, console those with PTSD and emotional trauma issues, watch over our cattle and fight in our wars. The fact that tens of millions of dogs are tortured and butchered in South East Asia every year is testament to the astonishing lack of gratitude among some humans and a complete and utter refusal to acknowledge the undisputed emotional bond between man and canine. The consumption of the dog, therefore, and the manner in which it’s done is one of the greatest stains on humanity at this time and it is imperative that all of us, dog lover or not, who possesses a conscience of morality takes action to put an end to this heinous trade once and for all. There are some, like Antony Worrall Thompson who recently appeared on Good Morning Britain and peddled his ignorance to millions of British viewers, who take the stand that it is in their culture and we have no right to intervene. Let me make this clear: there is nothing cultural about cruelty. There is nothing that suggests the Dog Meat Trade is anything but a barbaric, cruel and monstrous practice, and anyone who claims otherwise is either lying, morally skewed or ignorant. And most of the time it’s the latter, because the fact of the matter is that most people are good people, and if they were aware of the exact horrors involved in the trade they would toss the culture argument in the bin where it belongs.

Which brings me to the main point of this article. The ignorance surrounding the Dog Meat Trade is huge. I myself was only made aware of it in my mid-20’s and that was purely through accidentally stumbling upon a Facebook video. How many more hundreds of thousands individuals are there out there who, like me prior to 2014, have absolutely no idea the trade even exists? How many of these hundreds of thousands would – if made aware – join us in helping to put an end to this hideous cruelty? It is an evil which flourishes underground and behind closed doors, hidden from sight and that is why it thrives; it can only be defeated if it is brought out into the open. And that is why I have created a campaign called Operation Hound. It is a mass letter demonstration to the President of the United States and absolutely anyone in the world can take part. The intention is to flood the White House with letters, stating our condemnation of the trade in an attempt to generate exposure for it, to draw it into the open so the world can see just how widespread and prosperous this hidden evil is. Millions of South East Asians who love dogs and abhor the trade are desperate for our help; their governments will not listen to them and we must do everything we can to alert our own authorities, in the hope they may be able to exert some influence over nations where this abomination exists.

The fight against the trade should not be limited to activists and dog lovers alone; anyone who believes in a civilised world and objects to acts of cruelty and brutality should join us. If this is you, then please join Operation Hound via the Facebook link below. It is the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Zodiac; how ironic that the one country that should be honouring them will instead be committing all kinds of devastation and violence on them. With even greater irony, China is set to host the World Dog Show 2019. How many of those watching will be aware of the hell they subject their dogs to? And it’s not just dogs, either – cats, another beloved pet to man, also fall prey to this monstrous cruelty and are very often the forgotten victims of the trade. This is another reason we want Operation Hound to be a success; if we can generate exposure for the dogs then we can help the cats as well. So please – join Operation Hound and help us put an end to this barbaric practice once and for all. In the words of Edmund Burke, ‘The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’. Please do not be one of those who do nothing – stand with us.

LINK TO OPERATION HOUND: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1954614731419993/

The Experiment of Professor Polgas – new release!

I am thrilled to announce the release of my third novel, a children’s book, ‘The Experiment of Professor Polgas’ in June 2016. Here is the cover for the novel – and what a magnificent cover it is! It is by Luke Ahearn at Creative Covers. I stumbled upon Creative Covers on Facebook one day and one glance at Luke’s prior designs was enough to convince me that his artwork would be an excellent match for my story. With only a few email exchanges, I gave him a rough idea of what I was looking for, including the first few pages of my novel. The result was astounding and better than I could have hoped. It was as though he had ploughed away at my imagination, picked up various, scattered creative bricks in my mind and constructed the perfect model! It is a talent that is hard-pressed to come by and I could find no fault with the final result.

As the author, it is extremely important to me that the cover of my books matches the overall mood/tone to my stories; for this reason, I tend to create my own covers, but this time I took the plunge and branched out. I am, of course, very pleased that I did and count myself very fortunate to have found a cover designer with such a keen eye and intuitive insight into what I was looking for. As well as this, Luke is an extremely courteous, friendly and easy-going person – and fast! I was blown away by the speed with which he worked. He had the final product back to me within a couple of days. I can only say that my experience with Creative Covers has been a fantastic one and I highly recommend him to my fellow authors and anyone looking for an original, creative piece of art. Link here for anyone who’d like to check him out! http://lukeahearn.com/

Keep an eye out, folks – this is my first released children’s novel. It’s a fantasy set in London, the prologue to How the Wolf Lost Her Heart, and revolves around the lives of three teens who are invited to take part in an experiment one day. This experiment changes their lives in ways they never could have imagined. An update to come!

How the Wolf Lost Her Heart – FREE on Amazon!

Great news, everyone! My Young Adult Paranormal Romance with a Dystopian twist ‘How the Wolf Lost Her Heart’ is currently FREE on Amazon today (Wednesday 3rd February) and tomorrow during a special two-day promotional offer! So if you wanted to get your hands on a copy, now would be the perfect time to do so. A run-down London two centuries from now where thugs and criminals rule the city, heroes and heroines who can shapeshift into their spirit animal on command, twists, thrills and a blossoming romance, it’s the perfect read for both Young Adults and Adults alike. Has gathered excellent reviews worldwide since its release last year. Get your copy here while you can!

How the Wolf Her Heart USA – DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY HERE

How the Wolf Lost Her Heart UK – DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY HERE

How the Wolf Lost Her Heart Canada – DOWNLOAD A FREE COPY HERE

*Can also be purchased direct from Amazon Eu and Amazon Japan*

 

The Subconscious Mind

It’s funny how, the instant you mention there’s a side of your character which is more spiritual than physical, people automatically assume you’re a crackpot who watches too much Supernatural.

I’ve got a vested interest in other realms, dimensions and entities, because they’re a solid part of my life, just as I have a big interest in more physical matters – politics, human nature, current affairs – because they are also part of my existence. The subconscious mind interests me more than the conscious one does – it holds far more secrets and depths to explore. But one big mistake that people make, particularly in the psychiatric sector, is thinking that the subconscious mind is simply there to obey the conscious mind. That’s not all it’s there for. The subconscious mind is a gateway to the spiritual world and a direct tool we can use to access our soul. It’s what enables us to astral project, lucid dream, see spirits, communicate with spirits and have psychic experiences. Some of this stuff is dangerous and that’s why the subconscious mind remains locked – mankind is still too immature to deal with it.

The only people who don’t believe/scoff at the spiritual world are those who are scared of it, ignorant of it or too arrogant to think there’s anything THEY could not possibly know. Their conscious mind is too powerful – a bit like every average person in society. You can only truly free your mind, both conscious and subconscious, when you free yourself from the constraints of society.

Interview with Sarah Brownlee

Hey everybody! I am interviewed here by bestselling author, Marysol James. This is one of my favourite interviews yet so please take a look!

Marysol James

Ooooh, a sweet and smart YA Paranormal Dystopian Romance, and one that I really enjoyed! Meet the author, Sarah Brownlee, below…

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When did you start writing? What was the first thing that you ever wrote?

I started writing from a very young age – as soon as I could pick up a pen and form a word! The first thing I wrote was a short story about a dragon. No one liked him in the local town because he was so big and ugly, and he went to go live in a cave; he was befriended by a human girl who’d got lost on a hiking trip. No idea how it ended, I’m afraid!

Is writing your full-time job? If not, would you like it to be, and why? If so, what are the most rewarding and challenging parts of full-time independent writing?

I am a part-time author, but…

View original post 1,246 more words

20th Anniversary Tribute to Suikoden: The Suikoden Family

There is a saying that exists – “Like attracts like” and, while simplistic in its expression, it is profound in so many other ways. It is the first thing that springs to mind when I think of Suikoden and its loyal fan base.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of the Suikoden series is the strong implementation of morals and values it instills in its storylines. Very often, the main character must make difficult decisions which result in tragic sacrifice; betrayal is not an uncommon theme, but very often such betrayal is not done with the intent to be cruel or selfish; this only serves to highlight the fantastic complexity of characters in this series. Emotion is an important aspect of Suikoden; courage vs cowardice, noble vs dishonour, strength vs weakness. And as emotion is such a crucial focal point of human existence, it is only natural that people who are particularly drawn to such feelings and challenges should be drawn to one another. This, from my experience and observations, is what has brought together the Suikoden family.

Like most families, the Suikoden family has its own share of values and beliefs: loyalty, honour, and the courage to stand up and do what’s right. They are qualities which, in a day and age where self-serving materialism and opportunistic gain lie at the heart of so many, are few and far between. This game has not only brought us hours of joyous play, bestowed us with some of the most beautiful music to grace our ears or tugged at every emotion imaginable; it has provided us with a community of like-minded thinkers and doers; people who embody attributes of the series itself. They are passionate people, dedicated people, courageous people; they have a strong sense of justice, a desire to make a difference and an innate thirst to do what’s right in a world where, so often, things go wrong. They are the type of people who will not sit idly by and do nothing in the face of corruption. They are, in essence, a reflection of the very games that stole their hearts.

The Suikoden family come from all walks of life; different nationalities, different races, different religions, different social backgrounds. They can be the best of friends or the worst of enemies; they can arrange delightful get-togethers, relishing in one another’s company; or they can fight like cat and dog, as many families do. Anyone can join this family and new additions are welcome with open arms. I do not believe I speak only for myself when I say that Suikoden changed me as a human being in more ways than one; this is the phenomenal power of the games and it is a feature that so many of us share.

And now, on the 20th Anniversary of our beloved series, the Stars of Destiny have gathered once more in a family reunion, a community rich with passion which does Suikoden itself justice. I am proud, as ever, to be able to say I am a part of it.