Love a game of bridge?

Bridge2Success is a unique bridge networking initiative that aims to develop essential skills through the game and bring more international bridge players of any level together – and I’m happy to be listed as one of the official partner ambassadors for Bridge2Success.

Among other things, on the cards is the International Bridge Festival in Warsaw, Poland on the 11^th of May, 2019 – and a unique training hub for players.

More information is available from the Bridge2Success website (English or Polish), the World Bridge Federation, Youth World Bridge Federation or the Bridge2Success YouTube Channel.

Many more articles on bridge are also available from Great Bridge Links – your go-to stop for everything bridge.

“Don’t Fear the Dark” is a children’s book by author Lav Nandlall, illustrator Kaylee McHugh and layout artist Jeanine Breuer detailing the history of heavy metal music for children – and it could just be one of the coolest things you see this year.

Their initial press release for the book describes it as what would happen if “Dr Seuss and Ozzy Osbourne spent a crazy night out on the town”, and it features heavy metal bands illustrated in cartoon-fashion with fitting write-ups to match.

About the book, Lav says, “There’s a huge misrepresentation and misconception about heavy metal or rock music in general, so this series of books was born out of the need to educate a new generation not to ‘fear the dark’. The books are also here to celebrate the headbangers of our past and those that led the way for our future.”

 

“Tony chopped off his fingers at the factory / And unintentionally made heavy metal history / By tuning his guitar to a lower key / And mastering 3 tones, of which 2 are a D.”

Who wouldn’t love that?

The book aims to detail the history of heavy metal with a difference, and Don’t Fear the Dark is the first in a series of 11 different books.

Copies can be ordered directly from the author.

Scaring For Pay: Horror Markets for Writers is listed at #8 on Writers Weekly’s list of 2018 reader’s favorite articles – thanks for the continued support!

Click here for the entire list of reader favorites where you can read the article in full.

 

South Africa’s Constitutional Court recently moved to decriminalize Cannabis for personal growth and use. While reactions to the landmark legal decision on the 18th of September have been mixed, the news has been all over social media since.

Several posts focused on the possible introduction of Cannabis infused soda by beverage giant Coca-Cola, but it seems people might have to wait a little longer.

Responding to an inquiry on their official Coca-Cola Africa Facebook page on the 12th of October, the beverage company cleared up the matter.

“Hi Alex, the Coca-Cola Company has made no decision on the use of Cannabidiol (CBD) as an ingredient in beverages.

CBD is the non-psychoactive ingredient in cannabis and along with many others in the beverage industry, we are watching the growth of this ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world. The current discussion had in North America is purely exploratory. The Coca-Cola Company has no interest in cannabis or marijuana itself, thanks.”

 

Research is what makes a story. Click here to read my article for Writers Write featuring 12 useful newspaper archives for journalists and writers.

In this week’s issue of People Magazine, read a personal story from a reader who survived a modelling scam — and advice from some of SA’s top agencies on how to avoid similar scams.

 

Are you looking for tips or advice on how to write Young Adult (YA) fiction? Here’s my article for Re:Fiction about How to Write Young Adult Fiction Like a Pro.