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FutureQuest – Building an Awesome World Future by Albert Sedlmayer

FutureQuest is a book about the future – a new sustainable world future. A future that everyone can take part in and help to build. We all share this planet and we can all do something towards improving our current situation. No matter how small you feel your part may be, its still important in creating the future as we want it to be – free from war, free from poverty, free from violence, suppression and abuse. It is only with YOUR help that this can be done, no part is too small, it all counts.

FutureQuest engages thinking people everywhere who want to build a sustainable, peaceful future but are overwhelmed by the immensity of the task. Since everything we individually and collectively do today has an effect on the quality of our future, and presents a generic approach free of political, religious and ideological influences.

FutureQuest is split into eight chapters, and containing sixty-one sub-chapters.

Chapter One provides orientation on scope and methodology to build confidence that a great world future is indeed achievable. My opening paragraphs paint an image of the future we could have, and set that as our goal.

Chapter Two examines Man – the individual. We look at our motivation and influences and how we can optimise our own actions to facilitate our goal. Essentially, all groups and organisations comprise individuals, some of whom will read this book and become inspired and empowered to do their part in building a better future, in turn motivating their respective organisations.

Chapter Three deals with group structures and how mankind functions within its diverse groups. In particular we examine ways to mitigate friction between groups, including the use of information-age technology.

Chapter Four takes a critical look at government systems and their effect on our future. We focus on those government structures and attitudes detrimental to survival, and how we can adjust them.

Chapter Five simulates a typical process of starting and running a business, particularly along a path of maximising profits. We consider how the power of shareholders and decision-makers influence our future. Problem areas of globalisation are examined and prototype solutions proposed.

Chapter Six discusses our key institutions and organisations, and how human fears tend to veer them into destructive directions. We propose ways of keeping them on course.

Chaper Seven looks at trans-governmental matters, including the United Nations Organisation. We examine the ‘Tragedy of the Commons’ script, sustainability and the real possibility of mankind’s extinction. We then see how we can change the script.

Chapter Eight looks at how all these civilisation structures and systems work together in shaping humanity. Here we take stock of where we are now and where we want to go. The last chapter summarises the steps we must take to build our awesome future.

A thoroughly-researched bibliography of 323 ISO 690 Numerical Reference citations concludes the book. My FutureQuest website replicates the bibliography with active hyperlinks to most citation sources, to encourage reader participation.

FutureQuest is a book about YOUR future. Be in it!

To be released in Paperback POD and eBook.

Release date: December 2012

How to Get your Book into the Hands of a Publisher

Have you wondered HOW to get your book into the hands of a book publisher?

Start with a FREE appraisal! Most appraisals are offered for FREE. This will not only tell you if your book is publishable, but also what might be needed in the way of editing. It’s often not as much as  you think.

Being an author is hard work these days, there are so many books already on the market and more arriving faster than the speed of sound. Its no wonder a new author might feel rather overawed by the whole process. You not only have to create the story and write a book, you feel it has to be better than the one you’ve just read. This is something even time-seasoned authors strive to achieve. It can be done – with a little expert advice, the assistance of a good editor, and an understanding publisher.

‘Where do I find one of those?’ you shout out loud in frustration. They are around, although finding them can be a time consuming process.

Having your manuscript appraised is the first step to becoming a published author. The appraisal will tell you whether your story is worth publishing and a few sample chapters will tell an editor what type of editing will be necessary to bring your book to publishing standard; it might be a little copy editing or a combination of copy and structural editing.

If you conduct a little research, you will find that all well-known authors have their book edited. No author can write a book and expect it to be perfect, and they are just emotionally too close to their work to have the objective point of view.

What exactly happens with an appraisal? How do I know they will be honest with me? What can I expect back in the way of a report? How will this get me nearer to being published?

All these questions will run through the mind of a new author. I’ll take them one by one…

A free appraisal means sending three or four chapters of your manuscript to an editor, who will read it objectively and create a short report. This might include any inconsistencies in the writing, comments about the storyline, suggestions as to layout and chapter titles, and a quick assessment of what editing might have to be done.

As it is only an appraisal, do not expect a full, long report on the storyline, characters, flow, structure, etc. That is the job of an Assessment. An appraisal is to let the author know if the book is publishable. Its the starting point of becoming a published author.

If an editor is honest about the story, the editing requirements, and your chances of getting the book published, then they are doing their job diligently. It’s in their own best interests to be upfront at the outset or it could affect their own circumstances.

When you have your appraisal, its time to think about having your manuscript edited. These days a publisher will only look at your book if it has been professionally edited. Those people who think they do not need their work edited are only hurting themselves, and their book. Editing is necessary for the objective amendments that might have to be made. An editor is not emotionally involved and therefore can be quite tough about that to keep and what to remove. It’s in the author’s best interests to listen to what their editor says, and although the author can overrule the editor its not often the case. Even if you have decided to ‘self publish’ (and by that I mean do it all yourself and not through any publisher whatsoever), the manuscript still needs editing. Who wants to buy a book (or obtain one for free) where there are spelling mistakes, sentences that do not gel, or bits of the story that seem to just disappear into the page…

When all of the above is done, then its time to think about how you are going to publish. What method are you going to use? Self publish, traditional publisher or the new POD and eBook publisher? Here one has to work out how long it might take, how much distribution will the book receive, and how cost effective will the different processes be. Its not necessarily the cheapest that wins the day.

If you self publish – yes there are many online bookstores, although some of them are available to publishers only. You will have to do everything yourself including the cover design, typesetting, distribution and of course, promotion. Traditional publishers will usually take about a year before you see your book in print, and then it might be in a couple of bookshops. POD and eBook publishing gets your book worldwide distribution, no warehouses with copies of your book going to dust, it is available On Demand, and can be lodged with all pertinent online bookstores, and made available for retailers to find in the worldwide retailers catalogues (the retailers choose which books they wish to stock).

If by now you are not wiping your brow, sitting in an unfathomable trance, or pulling your hair out, then you stand a good chance of having enough energy to keep going until your book is in print (or digital eBook).

And finally Aurora House offers FREE manuscript appraisals, no strings attached, for those authors who are serious about getting their book published. We can give you upfront recommendations and suggestions for your manuscript.

Three chapters is all it takes…

 

 

 

Sophie Goes for a Walk

The story is written, and typed, by Rhianna Hudd, age 8. She loves writing stories, and this could be the first of many.

 

 

Sophie goes for a walk

Sophie is a young sun bear, who is still living with mum and dad. One day Sophie thought it would be fun to have an adventure. So, Sophie asked her mum if she could go for a walk in the forest.

“Of course you can dear,” her mum answered.

“Thanks Mum!” Sophie exclaimed.

So, Sophie  went to find her straw hat, then she set out into the forest. Sophie was whistling a tune as she wondered down the forest path. Just then a huge gust of wind blew off Sophie’s hat.

“Oh no,” cried Sophie as she ran after her hat.

“Got it,” she shouted Sophie when she caught it. Soon, Sophie was getting hungry.

Just then Sophie saw some berry bushes.

“Oh yum,” she said to herself quietly. So, Sophie went over to the bushes and started eating the berries. By the time Sophie was full she had eaten all of the berries.

“Oh, they were delicious,” Sophie cried. Just then, she realised that her cheeks were colder than the rest of her body. “Oh no!” she cried aloud, “I have berry juice all over my face.” So she got up and hid her face behind her hat till she got to the river.

“That felt good,” said Sophie as the shook her head from side to side. She had to have a quick drink before she kept going. Slurp… Slurp… Sophie drank quite quickly. “Oh, I should be getting home,” she thought aloud. So up she got and started running home.

As she was running, she bumped into Bo, one of her friends. Bo is a brown bear, and bigger than Sophie.

“What are you doing here?” Sophie said to Bo. “Well, I was coming over to your place for a sleepover, but you weren’t there so your mum asked me to go and find you. So I did,” explained Bo.

“But where’s Bella?” asked Sophie.

“She’s helping your mum with dinner,” Bo answered.

“Ok,” Sophie said.  So home they went.

When they got there, fish stew was on the table.

“Oh yum,” cried Bo as he sat down.

Soon, they had finished dinner and Sophie’s dad was home.

“Hi Dad,” Sophie said to her Dad.

“Hi, Sweetpea,” he said as he kissed her on the forehead.

“Ok, children, it’s time for bed.” Mum gave all three a hug.

“Night,” they all said together and off they went to bed.

“Goodnight,” Sophie’s parents said to them as they turned off the light and close the door.

 

The End.

 

John McDougall Stuart – Book Review

John McDougall Stuart was one of Australia’s greatest explorers. He was relentless in his quest for a way through the centre of Australia and finding a route to the top end. He led six expeditions , each time pushing himself and his men to the brink of death. He travelled light with minimum provisions and horses, and just a few men.

Stuart’s expeditions started in 1858 in search of Wingillpin. Thinking there was an inland sea in the middle of Australia, the brave explorer forged his way from Adelaide to the centre. From there he moved ever northward, looking for the coast and the Gulf of Carpentaria. He discovered and accurately mapped land, ranges, rivers and water holes, enabling stock routes to be formed and the first overland telegraph to be laid from Adelaide to the north coast of Australia. His last expedition in 1862 took him a year and finally he forced his way through to the sea at Point Stuart, on the edge of Kakadu National Park. He had won the race for the first white men cross Australia from south to north.

John McDougall Stuart died in 1866, in England, a poor and sick man. He was 50 years old.

John Bailey has written an incredible historical account of a man who was grossly under-acknowledged for his achievements in the founding of Australia. The research and detail in the book are phenomenal. He managed to capture the essence of John McDougall Stuart, what made him tick, and portrayed the force within that pushed him, time after time, to keep returning to outback Australia and find a route from the south coast to the north.

The book is compelling reading, both in its narration and adventure of the story. It portrays a man totally driven, for reasons known only to himself, and how it finally destroys him. The skill with which John Bailey has documented the events are second to none. I wholly recommend reading this book – it will forever etch in your memory the great men who arrived in a hostile and arid land and, with force of will, beat the elements and mapped our future.

Short Story – Appearance by Kate Peterson

It was during the first snowstorm of the new year. The color green was something you saw in pictures tacked to the wall or in a memory from what felt like years ago. I was living alone in a studio apartment in a shitty section of west Cleveland. Everything was the same color in that neighborhood, even in the summer. It was the kind of dirty grey that gets swept up into the air of unfinished basements and cold storage warehouses. There were no stairs to get to my apartment. I was as far down as you can get without going under. I slept in the same room as the oven, but I liked the smallness of it. When I was young my sister and I used to zip each other into suitcases. We would drag the suitcases up and down the stairs, and all around the living room, laughing hysterically.

That first morning I wrapped a scarf around my neck and lit the stove. I tripped over my shoes on my way to the sink to fill the pot. I looked down at them accusingly, as if anyone but me could have put them there. I looked up after kicking them across the room and that was when I saw him for the first time. I wouldn’t find out until later that he had been there for weeks. Inches away from me as I slept. An arm’s reach as I showered and dressed each morning. He sat with me while I overcooked my eggs and searched the internet for a cat to adopt, each time deciding against it because I could imagine it snowballing into two or three until I became one of those women.

The outside world that day, and every day since I had been living there, was a white swirling mixture of ground and sky. Set against the bright seamless backdrop was the outline of a man. He was fading in and out with each gust of wind, like a Polaroid gone backwards. But I saw him. I saw the tip of one of his pink fingers poking out of a hole in his glove. His hands were up against his mouth which was covered in a thick dark beard and his breath came in a long slow billow of white smoke, like the mouth of a gutter under a frozen street. His hood was pulled up over his head which made his eyes ever brighter in the shadow. I couldn’t tell what color they were, but they seemed to have a reflection inside them like the round outline of a flashbulb in the eye of a magazine model. I didn’t scream. I felt nothing like adrenaline, or dread. Or that feeling when your heart beats so fast it makes you want to throw up. Nothing like that happened. If someone told me that they saw a strange man staring at them through their window I would have expected to hear them say, “And then I screamed and dropped my glass and it shattered and I ran to the phone and dialed 911 and then I ran to my front door and pulled the deadbolt across and then I hid in the bathroom with the door closed and I couldn’t stop shaking.” But I didn’t do any of that. I stood completely still as if someone was holding me there, and I watched as the man I saw so clearly disappeared into the endless white.

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Keeping Your Manuscript Safe

It is amazing how quickly and easily manuscripts can become confused, especially with different versions of the same one. If you have more than one copy of a manuscript, make sure they are all well labelled and even dated to ensure mistakes will not happen. There would be nothing worse than sitting for hours, writing or editing, only to find that you have been working on the wrong version. I have a system which I find works quite well:

1. When adding the file name to your original manuscript, make sure you add the word ‘original’ into the title. And then put that copy away if its complete, keep it as a reference. It will also safeguard against any unexpected happenings. Make a new copy to work with and number and/or date it. (I prefer to number it).

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