♠⛥ The End ⛥♠

This is the end, beautiful friend

This is the end, my only friend

The end of our elaborate plans

The end of everything that stands

OK, maybe not everything. But it’s the end of these regular weekly blogs/posts/podcasts. For a while, at least.

Why? I’m getting old. As simple as that. I need to prioritize my time as it streams past my incredulous eyes in ever-faster, ever-shorter bursts. The time previously dedicated to churning out these weekly messages will now be better spent elsewhere.

I’ll still post from time to time, when I have something specific to say. A new book, a new story, a new collection of Short poems. Book fairs, special discounted prices, or whatever else comes up.

If anyone cares what happens to Connor and Dale in Big Day Out, they’ll have to grab a copy from the usual places, all listed at www.bit.ly/BurningBookLinks

Or from me.

It’s been a blast. Keep on rocking in the free world. Or wherever you may be.

Cheers.

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to extremely amateurish Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

Also now on www.bullhorn.fm/burning-books

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

♠ Fate’s warning ♠

“This is nuts. You’re going to kill millions to create your vision of the world.”

“Oh yes,” agreed Debbie. “It’s for the …”

“Greater good?” ventured Connor. “The Nazis practiced genocide on an industrial scale. What you’re proposing will make that seem like a bar brawl. In an empty bar.”

Debbie beamed at him, mouth slightly open. Her tongue ran across her upper lip.

“But we have ways of convincing people. We get some people to buy in just because they don’t want to die. Some believe as we do, that humanity needs to be purged. Some see the old systems as corrupt and are looking for a new solution. Some people’s lives are so mundane they are looking for escapism. Some people want to build a better world, wipe the slate clean, starting with all our fabulous new technology. People like you can be slightly problematic, but let me put it this way.” Debbie edged closer to the bars.

Connor took a step back. Arms folded.

“We need people like you, Connor,” Debbie whispered through the bars. “Survival rates for women are nearly four times greater than men. We will have a shortage of fertile men and a glut of women. Women aching to repopulate the world. When our goals are complete, don’t you fancy being put out to stud?”

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

♠ No more mister nice guy ♠

“Wait.” Connor looked from Debbie to Dale. “If I have any kind of virus, then the radiation, or whatever, given off by this clown,” he gestured to the top bunk where Dale had hidden himself under a blanket, “will be killed along with me?”

Dale’s breath was quickening. Connor hoped it was because of the lack of oxygen under the blanket, but the gentle squeaking from the bunk bed suggested otherwise.

“That’s right. Anyone who comes out alive after four hours with Dale has proved to be virus free and earns themselves a place in our New World. Can you imagine a human race free of viruses?”

“You’re insane,” glared Connor. “Hot, but insane.” He had dated several women like that pre-lockdown.

Low groans came from under the blanket.

“And is that normal?”

“He’s a breast man.” Debbie smiled. “You’ve only got twenty minutes more to go, so it seems you’re going to live. And … well … you know.”

“I don’t know, but I’m getting there. If I had died then you would have left me here for Dale. As a plaything.”

“Just for a couple of hours. He doesn’t like it when the bodies get too cold. He doesn’t mind male or female. It’s weird really, because, like I say, he’s definitely a breast man.”

“Yes!” cried Dale.

Please don’t show me, thought Connor.

“How are you going to test seven billion people if he insists on humping each one he kills? There just isn’t enough time.”

“Seven billion? Where have you been? World population is under six now. There was far too much economic uncertainty after the lockdown. Many didn’t feel it was the right time to raise a family. Death rates were small, but one of the experimental vaccines’ side effects was male sterility. Plus, we’re taking stem cells from him. We’re growing little Dales. We’ll have a virus-free world in three years.”

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

♠ Angel of death ♠

Connor had to tear his eyes away from Debbie’s smile – and her more distracting assets – when Dale started whooping like a banshee on heat. The kid had leaped off the bed and was bouncing around in circles, whirling his arms above his head and spraying saliva everywhere.

“Are you sure he’s been tested?”

Debbie laughed softly behind him. “Oh, he doesn’t have the virus. But anyone who comes into contact with him, if they have the virus, or any other virus – even if they’ve never shown symptoms – Dale’s special genes will reactivate the disease, accelerate it to the point where immune systems spike off the charts and the underlying virus burns itself out.”

Connor looked back at her. “So he’s the cure? You don’t need me?”

She laughed. So did Dale, but his was less jiggly. “You could say that. Dale will clean the world of every virus. But when they burn out, those viruses take the host bodies with them.”

Connor looked back at Dale. “The angel of death…”

Dale threw his hands in the air, head whipping back and forth. “Infamous! Butcher! Angel of Death!”

Connor took a step back from the manic scream that erupted from the little man’s throat. “What the…?”

“We let him listen to music now and again. He has a few favourites.”

Now Dale’s thrash fit was over and he beamed angelically across the room. “Debs, will I get my usual reward if I do what you ask? If I’m a good saviour?”

“Of course, Dale, my poppet.”

Dale’s eyes grew wide, seemed to spin in opposite directions. Connor spun round to the bars, but was too slow. Debbie was lowering her top back into place.

⛥

Check out the Smashwords “Read an eBook Week” sale, now on. Free & discounted books, including mine.

www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

♠ Welcome home (sanitarium) ♠

“I haven’t got the virus. I’ve been tested.”

“Then you’ll die from something else. Suffocated in your sleep, most probably. If you live that long.” Connor walked the three paces to the door and pulled on the handle.

“You’re funny. I like you. I’m Dale. Did I mention that?”

“You mentioned that you were going to tie the sheet around your neck and hang yourself from the top bunk.” Connor sat down again.

“I did not.” Dale started laughing.

“What are you, Dale? Black ops? The Drop? Or just another lab rat?”

Dale giggled into his hands. With his Cheshire cat grin removed, Connor noticed his eyes for the first time. One was blue, the other brown. They weren’t both on the same page. One looked at Connor – in fact, seemed to look straight through him – while the other one roamed the cell.

“I’m the saviour of humanity.”

Right. That explained everything. Connor had finally been thrown into a padded cell. A cheap one, with no actual padding.

Debbie spoke from the allegedly sane side of the bars. “Imagine. You’re finally doing something positive with your life.”

Connor approached the bars. Not the kind of bars he was used to approaching. And not the kind of reception he was used to receiving.

“Alright. You’ve made your point. Now let me out. Or get your top off. Or both.”

Connor grinned at her through the bars, hoping they hadn’t installed some kind of shock collar while he was out. He reached a hand towards his neck, to check.

But she smiled back sweetly. “All in good time. We’ll be moving out shortly. This place has seen too much movement over the past few days. Somebody must have noticed. Once we’re in the new safehouse, we can get down to business.”

“And save humanity?” Dale was on the edge of his bunk, bouncing up and down with unrestrained excitement.

“Yes, Dale.” She looked over Connor’s shoulder, smiling even more sweetly. “Now you get to save us all.”

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

♠ Enter Sandman ♠

Connor woke with a searing headache and blurred vision on the bottom bunk in another small room. At least he wasn’t tied up this time. He sat on the flimsy mattress and rubbed his head, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He looked around the room. Harsh fluorescent tube lights tried to penetrate his skull.

He stood, groggily, and ran his fingers through his hair. Mouth dry, head pounding, bars on the door. This wasn’t the first time he’d ended up in jail after a bender. He went to the stainless-steel sink and ran the tap. He drank and washed his face and couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he wasn’t hungover and he was still trapped in the same nightmare.

“You’ve been out for hours,” came a voice from the top bunk. A voice so cheery and full of optimism, Connor wanted to punch its owner.

“Shut up,” he growled.

“You were snoring.” A face peered from the top bunk. Wide eyed and smiling. “Debbie brought you in.” The face formed a leering grin. “You must be special for her to be involved. I’m Dale, by the way.” He held out a bony hand.

“Tell me Dale, were you dropped on your head a lot as a baby?” Connor scanned the room for anything he could use to hit him with.

“I don’t think so. I don’t remember so well. I’m Dale, by the way.” Dale’s hand was still extended in greeting. Connor ignored it and Dale waved instead.

“Since when do we shake hands, Dick?”

“It’s Dale.”

“I haven’t shaken anyone’s hand in greeting since lockdown. Grabbed a boob or two.” Connor grinned. “That’s how the virus spreads. Morons like you shaking hands.”

⛥

Read Big Day Out in weekly installments on FaceBook or WordPress. Receive notifications via Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, GoodReads, or Amazon, where you’ll find the whole mad mercenary romp through the dystopian nightmare that Covid-19 might have become. Might still become, if we don’t keep our self-appointed leaders on a very short leash.

Download FREE sampler previews of all my books – and some complete short stories – from PCloud at www.bit.ly/FreeBurning. Or read them on Kindle Unlimited.

No charge. No obligation. No sign-in. Read for free. Share with your friends.

⛥

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.
www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.
www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q

⛥

For a different experience, listen to these weekly episodes as Spotify podcasts, Apple podcasts, or Google podcasts.

⛥

If you have a book you’d like to publish, contact me to claim your 15 minutes of bestselling fame at No.1 on Amazon. Find all the above details and links at www.amazon.com/author/burning.

In case you missed the link while listening to the podcast, that’s www.amazon.com/author/burning.

⛥

Cheers.

($) The final cut ($)

If you save regularly, in a disciplined manner, prioritize your savings goals and control your monthly expenses, you have a good chance of building wealth over your working career.

At the very least, you should be able to avoid the worst financial pitfalls that affect even the rich and famous.

Take control of your money. Make it work as hard as you did to earn it. Stop living from paycheck to paycheck.

With hard work, and a little luck, you can escape the rat race and live your dreams.

But remember. It’s just a game.

In the words of singer, novelist and politician Kinky Friedman – “Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make him wag his tail.”

($)

This is the last extract from Hard Money. It’s a short book, because basic financial principles are simple. Despite being hard.

The book has just been picked up by the Department of Education, who bought a large batch for their libraries. Hopefully this will contribute towards financially-savvy learners, who will go on to become financially-savvy parents, workers, entrepreneurs and leaders.

Only time will tell.

Cheers.

($)

Get your ebook copy of Hard Money for only 99c until Monday. Anywhere except Amazon. Also available in paperback. https://books2read.com/b/Hard

($)

Stop living from salary to salary. Achieve Financial Independence. Retire Early. Join the FIRE movement igniting the world.

Follow these weekly posts for solid advice on how to escape the rat race, covering material contained in Hard Money.

This is no get-rich-quick scheme. It won’t be easy. That’s why it’s called Hard Money.

Work while they sleep. Learn while they party. Save while they spend. Then live like they dream.

($)

Anyone in Johannesburg who would like a signed copy (of any of my books, or Shorty’s Poems) can have one delivered to their door by Big Bad Wolf Motorcycle Maniac Deliveries. No charge for delivery.

Or have them delivered anywhere in South Africa via Bakgat Books. https://bakgatbooks.co.za/all-stores/burning-books/

Also available in Edenvale from Inner Journeys bookstore.

www.facebook.com/InnerJourneysdnr

Or from Profound Books in Bramley.

www.facebook.com/Profoundbooks

And they’ll always be available on Amazon.

www.amazon.com/author/burning

www.amazon.co.uk/John-West/e/B072833D7Q