Just a thought... tattoos rant

I was at a spa today, a usual thing, and I noticed how many people were covered in tattoos. They've always bothered me, mostly on people who smoke/vape/do something they feel makes them tough in some way, or at least better than other people. 'Least that's how they walk.

Anyways, I was ranting on in one small pool about tattoos, how they used to be important to everyone, how they showed which tribe you belonged to, what experiences and achievements you'd made in your life. Everyone had them, but then the civilised world took over, and tattoos became something for the sailors, soldiers and Hells Angels, ie. members of groups... until they become fashionable, which is quite recent, only in the last 30-40 years. I then said tattoos nowadays are bullshit, unless you're part of one of these groups. I turned around and a couple, I think Spanish, were giving me 'the stare'. I laughed. I don't care.

Apparently, there ARE tattoos today which represent something. For example, a semi-colon represents that you tried to take your own life but decided to continue on... 1. don't you already have a scar? 2. Yep, another thing to grab attention, 'cause suicide chumps, that's all you wanted in the first place... anyway... here's a whole list of those kind of tattoos for self-important people...

https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/extrasensory-perceptions/tattoo-meanings.htm

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against tattoos, like I'm not against religion. Just don't try and think that because you have a tattoo, or a religion, that you're better than anyone else. You're just an arsehole like the rest of us, going on about your own selfish business and destroying the planet we were placed on...

Activity: I think I made a dollar!

I think perhaps someone bought all my little collections and short stories off Amazon, and that made me... a dollar! A whole dollar! Okay, 92 cents. "It's not about the money... What? It's always about the money!" (that was a quote).

Anyway, that made me check my 'FREE BOOKS' website, and there's been quite a bit of activity, with these books getting downloads in triple figures, so hey, that kinda spurs me on to finish this last/latest book. It might take a while...

Marika part 2: The time to finish a 'series'

 Yep, if I get this right, no more books are needed from this series, 4 from Karina, 4 from Bohatch, and only 2 needed from Marika. And it all rolls into one nice neat 10-book deal.

Tried Gubasci with Chat GPT to change it into a screenplay - just Chapter 1 - and it said... "the chapter translates surprisingly naturally into screenplay form. The voice, dark humor, and world-building are already quite cinematic."

So, there ya go, even Chat GPT likes my writing. Shame not many others do. 

Well, I'm having a bash at finishing Marika 2 (Among Those of Many Colors).

Keep reading!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H8GNYKP

Time flies when you're not really having so much fun... BUT... NEW READER!

 It's been three months since my last post... sounds like some AA intro.

Been working, proofreading, surviving this crazy world. But hey! Got a NEW READER in the world somewhere! Whoever you are, thank you! I hope you enjoy the books. 'Ascension' is said to be my best.

Anyway, as for writing, the next book is STILL in the works.Due to the situation in the world right now, it's STILL relatable, maybe even more so. Anyway, I'm sure to get it done one day.

In the meanwhile, keeping reading!

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dani-J-Caile/author/B00CDX0HSM

FREE books in a NEW place

A new reader! Hope you enjoy 'Reif's Return'!

Maybe I'll get some time to complete Marika 2 this Christmas, who knows!

Anyway...so this is where my FREE books are now. For some reason Smashwords gave them away to...

https://books2read.com/ap/nE6NLY/Dani-J-Caile

Blog interest...???

 Yep, there were quite a few reads back in September. Hadn't noticed. Sold a few books too. 

Still working on Marika book 2 (Among Those of Many Colors). Trying to find the time to incorporate new ideas and twists.

Other than that, proofreading keeps me going... 

...watched a young mother and her 1st grader son in the Chemist's today. He was an MC, thinking it was his playground, while all the mother could do was say "Tomi, don't do that... No, Tomi... Stop that..." Back in the day, one good smack on the arse was socially acceptable. But now... no violence, huh? Every action has a reaction. He messes around, upsetting customers and employees, there should be consequences. And what about school? So his class teacher has to teach little Tomi how to behave in a public place? I think that's the parent's responsibility. Nah, they just throw their brat into school and think he'll act like an angel. There should be training for parents, so many uneducated people breeding offspring to spew on us all. Oh, and no religion, either. That's one thing the Czech Republic do correctly. Only one thing, though.

Hey, my books are over here...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H8GNYKP

New covers...

Radnoti X NEW COVER for Paperback!

 Yes, Line by Lion Publications have brought out a NEW COVER in paperback for Radnoti X!

It's yet again another fantastic cover by Thomas Lamkin Jr. and as the months go by I'm sure I'll see the whole series come through (he's working on it).

Anyway, if you STILL haven't had the joy of reading the book yet, why not buy it in paperback with the NEW COVER!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F8QDZL4X

IKEA STOLE my Father's 80th gift!!!

I wasn't expecting this...

What do you give a father for his 80th? He has everything... except a good parasol in the garden, one that hangs over the garden bench giving much more shade than the usual straight rods. 

So, way back in January, from IKEA I ordered him one of those parasols (BAGGON) with sandbag weights (IGGON) to hold the support down. As it was a gift, I didn't show my father the invoice. And of course, he's in the UK, and I'm not.

Moving onto now, I get to the UK for a week and find there's no parasol in the garden. What gives? My father left me to put it up. Okay... so where are the sandbag weights for the support? What sandbags? ... turns out IKEA didn't deliver the weight.

It's  been months since the delivery. No paperwork was given, all I have is the invoice emailed to me way back in January.

First stop: the UK IKEA website. 'Contact Us' is just a spiralling maze of pages which get you no closer to contacting anyone or anything. I wasn't expecting that a successful worldwide store like IKEA has a website with no actual contact given.

Second stop: Twitter (X). After days of constant messaging,  the situation is that they have a photo which proves all items were delivered, a photo which they cannot show me due to the fact that delivery photos are for internal use only, and that it is now a 'losed matter' (their words).

So, the little guy is f#%ked once again.  IKEA is no different to any other large company, waiting for the opportunity to screw anyone they can, the smaller the victim, the better. No customer satisfaction, nothing, just take the money and run (quite literally in this case with dodgy protocol and delivery driver).

Conclusion: IKEA stole a gift from my father. IKEA lost half a dozen customers (they don't care, they're so popular) and gained decades of people spreading this story across the world (my family reaches all corners of the globe).

A Sale! Radnoti X!

 Yep, while I was struggling to write the next book, someone went off and bought a copy of Radnoti X!

Thank you, whoever you are! I never know who buys my books. It's rare any friends or family do, so I know it's a complete stranger, unaware of the treasures hidden within this literary masterpiece... yeah, right. Hope you enjoy it, whoever you are!

Yes, still writing Marika 2... it's like forever. My problem is I keep rewriting it, and not actually completing a full draft to work on. If I did that, I might be able to get somewhere. Anyhow, struggling on!

Here's the link to Radnoti X, if anyone wishes to follow in my latest reader's footsteps...

Oh, by the way, Radnoti will soon have a new Paperback look, from my publisher! 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08H3KL9BX

Gubacsi Dulu Audiobook!

Having a go at audiobooks, and put Gubacsi Dulu through the new Amazon Beta virtual voice! There were some pronunciation problems, names mostly, plus I had to put the speed up, but other than that, okay. And cheap.

Perhaps one day I'll have enough money to get a real person to read it all out! ...nah...

And... (checks the room)... I might get Book 2 of Marika up and running soon. Who knows! I surely don't (don't call me Shirley!)

Anyway, here's the link to the Audiobook!

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF54WC25/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0

An interview! Wow! What an honour! (scam)

 Just received an email for an interview. It was such a long email, single sentences and everything. It looks like I must have some fans in Africa, as a certain literary society there wishes to give me an interview! Oh, I'm so honoured, so blessed to receive such an opportunity! And for only 58 dollars! Wow! Thank you, thank you so much! I'll get right on that money, 'cause people think it grows on trees. Mmm, I wonder what I should wear... 

I wish readers would send me messages and not scammers asking for money. Anyway, such is life.

Check out the beginning of a great story!

https://www.amazon.com/Gubacsi-Dulu-Book1-Humanity-English-ebook/dp/B08FTJTYCD

A few sales and a Scammer!

 Received some sales in these last few weeks, which was nice.

I also had someone pretend to be Mega Support and told me my Facebook Page would be removed due to thrid-party copyright... firstly, all that's on that page is mine, secondly, the account which pretended to be Mega Support was some personal account. For sure someone had hacked into it and sent me this fake message. The link even had a proper 'removal' image. But if you go over to my Dani J Caile Facebook page, it's still alive... I think. Hang on... yep, still there.

So far this year, I've been mainly proofreading, but there are a few sentences here and there in the new book. Really. Not kidding. Not enough to finish but some. So... I keep on plugging on, hoping to find the time, the patience and the brains to complete this one. 

Check out my usual!

https://www.amazon.com/Gubacsi-Dulu-Book1-Humanity-English-ebook/dp/B08FTJTYCD

Back on the Writing track: Marika part 2

Today I had a look at the second book in the Marika series. I've rewritten the first three chapters and it's looking good. I don't know how long I can go on with this but I will see. Perhaps I can finish it this time!

Anyway, if you STILL haven't had the joy of reading the first book yet, why not buy it in paperback with the NEW COVER! I've had some sales!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948807262

Another New Reader! Oct 2024!

And another new reader! If I keep this up, I'll have about a dozen new readers by the end of the year... yep, slow times. But hey, THANK YOU whoever you are! 

Still proofreading and editing, always dreaming of finishing that last sci-fi series, but just sooooo busy.

And the story? It can be found here...!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H8GNYKP

New Reader! Yeah!

Things are kinda picking up again. I seem to have collected a new reader, quite possibly someone who bought the new paperback and decided they couldn't wait for the new covers to read the story. Good on ya, whoever you may be!

And the story can be found here...!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H8GNYKP

Gubacsi Dulu NEW COVER for paperback

Yes, Line by Lion Publications have brought out a NEW COVER in paperback for Gubacsi Dulu!

It's a fantastic cover by Thomas Lamkin Jr. and as the months go by I'm sure I'll see the whole series come through (he's working on it).

Anyway, if you STILL haven't had the joy of reading the book yet, why not buy it in paperback with the NEW COVER!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1948807262

'Pants'! How to Build a Castle... Amazon, huh?

 I just had a quick look at my Amazon page, and the thumbnails included this...

Well... yeah, some said the book was 'pants' but this is a bit harsh from Amazon.

Going down the page, the original fantastic cover is there, but if you click on the thumbnail. you get 3 pictures of the blue shorts.

So I did an image search, and the 'exact searches' were...

I think Amazon made a little mistake somewhere. I asked the publisher and they said it's now their 4th book Amazon have done that to. This just ain't right. Struggling authors such as myself, with images of blue shorts running around the internet... actually, they look pretty good, I might get myself a pair...

Here's the REAL cover of the book, by the way. Better than blue shorts.

A Sale! "Slaughter Under the Bridge" (B.C. book 2)

...and I didn't even know it. A sale! From last week!

Thank you, whoever you are! Another copy of "Slaughter Under the Bridge" is out there, somewhere...

Sales have been sparse since those times of the lockdown. Those were the 'golden years' for indie authors, I guess, a time when people would spend a few bucks on something different, something new. But now... back to the ol' same ol' same ol' Amazon desert, where the winds blows and the sand covers any proof of movement forwards...

Getting new covers for the Humanity H2O series! Once it's published by Pixel & Pens, I'll put it up here!

Until then...links to the sci-fi series!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H8GNYKP

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XBJBF6Q

Smashwords books moved to Draft2Digital

 It happened a while ago, but I've been waiting for them to create a link for my 'page', but... nothing.

So, here's a link to one of my FREE books, 'All for Love', a novella written some time ago.

There are nine other booksavailable but... still looking for an 'author' link...

https://www.draft2digital.com/book/1413962

Anybody out there?

 It's again been a while since I posted.

I've been busy reading, editing and proofreading other authors' books, and not been able to move on with my own writing.

The Humanity H2O series and the Bohatch Chronicles paperbacks... I handed that over to my 'How to' publisher, and they're working on new covers, one already complete. So you'll see that come up on Amazon soon, or in a US bookfair near you!

Anyway, still thinking on the next few books.

Hope readers are still out there somewhere across the world.