Help!

Yes, I unashamedly ask for you to pass my website on so that I can sell my books. Self-publishing is so hard. I am competing against the ‘big boys and girls’ and breaking into the mainstream sales mechanism is all but impossible. I am selling a few through Wheelers books and some library suppliers here in NZ and Australia. If you have read any of the three books; ‘Coastal Yarns,’ ‘Roskill’ and ‘Talk To Me,’ and you enjoyed any of them, please put my contact links on your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Then of course I repeat my plea for you to ask for my books at your local library. I suspect a few sales have happened that way.

Am I embarrassed about making my plea for help; heck no! What have I got to lose apart from a few people who have hated my books? I really want to put out my next ones, but that will have to wait. The bank overdraft can only go so far-----at my age!

www.authorneilcoleman.com    Get your fingers working and feel free to contact me through my email.   neilcolemanauthor@gmail.com

Fireworks on a dry hot summer night----bloody crazy!

Last night there was a serious fire on Mt Eden, which threatened nearby houses. It is thought it may have been caused by fireworks. We already know that for the days around Guy Fawkes Night, there are the inevitable fires and danger re injury, but at this time of the year the potential risk are much more serious. Public displays are the only way to go, whether it is for Guy Fawkes or other celebratory occasions.

Surely during a dry hot summer it is absolute madness to allow individuals to let off fireworks. The inherent danger to people and property is obvious. We do not need bush fires and there is enough to raise the danger level, without the human element re idiots who do not take necessary precautions to prevent ‘accidents.

Have we not arrived at a time where the need for fireworks should be limited to ‘public display’ only? We now have Guy Fawkes, Diwali, Chinese New Year and Matariki and I am sure there are other ‘festivals’ that will assume importance as NZ becomes even more ethnically diverse. It is great to have celebrations but we have to consider the greater need for public safety. We can still celebrate with beautiful fireworks, but lets be a bit more sensible and have those ‘who know what they are doing’ create the display. Unfortunately, all one needs for a ‘disaster in the making is, weather conditions, alcohol fuelled stupidity and ignorance re safety features to all combine and we are all the losers. We also have the days of loud explosions, casing mayhem to our animal friends.