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Andi

@asmichaels

A writer, a witch, a wanderer. Believes in merit, equal opportunities & justice. Loves words, mountains, the sea, and above all, Mia, the world's best dog. Lives in Spain, heart stayed in Ireland.

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17.11.2024
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Latest posts by Andi @asmichaels

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I was talking to my dog, Mia, about our old cat Barbie. She was thrown into our garden at a few days old, & lived with our family for 20 happy yrs. I did the math: Barbi passed in the same year that Mia was born! I'm now sure Barbi sent her πŸ’š

06.03.2026 19:48 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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I haven't realised how concentrated population is in Spain. One easy solution would be motivating companies to support WFH - I personally would immediately move to Galicia with 0 regrets 😎 english.elpais.com/spain/2026-0...

03.03.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

You know what real luxury is? Sitting on a bench at 9am on a workday while my dog sniffs around - rather than hurrying into the office, stressing about delays or crowds. While I won't finish at 5pm like most others, I'm very grateful for flexible working hours that accommodate this schedule.

02.03.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

especially when he is big and bulky, while the woman starves.
But it has absolutely gorgeous lines like "if life was measured by the lessons I learned, I would be immortal"
"Love...was leaving you with nothing but space"
"Since the dead can't speak, I thought I'd sing for them"
I'm torn.

01.03.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I've started to read Us Dark Few about life in a sci-fi prison. I hesitated to buy it but in the sample the words were so beautifully put together, I decided it would be worth the gloom. Unfortunately I missed that it's a romance, &I have big issues against falling in love with someone who hits you

01.03.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm standing in front of the bathroom mirrors at work, trying to make my hardly-there hair look less unruly and more voluminous but it's a struggle.
Random colleague I've never seen before: "You look fabulous. In case you were wondering," she adds.
Ladies, this is how we lift each other up.

28.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I started to watch The Magicians, 3 episodes in: is Quentin ever gonna stop being a bitch?

23.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Murder she wrote, 1991. Love the name of the firm 😝

22.02.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Haha good point 😎

22.02.2026 13:23 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I am proud to announce that after years of hard work, I've avoided sunburn on the first spring hike. I remembered suncream! So now only my muscles hurt, not my skin. Progress!

22.02.2026 10:37 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Newsletter - 9-12 February 2026 - Strasbourg plenary session | 09-02-2026 | News | European Parliament Newsletter - 9-12 February 2026 - Strasbourg plenary session

The European Parliament voted this month to push for an anti-poverty strategy that would eradicate poverty in the EU by 2035 but didn’t we have this target practically every decade?

20.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm watching SWAT and every episode they kill like every criminal they meet. Strange way of policing, no?

19.02.2026 21:03 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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EU leaders meet to counter pressure from Russia, China and Trump German and Italian leaders are pushing deregulation, rebooted ties with Washington and more trade deals.

EU leaders gathered to debate how to reduce dependence on the US & China and it's an important discussion on what real sovereignty actually costs, and who pays for it. When my characters enter a seemingly idyllic village, they soon face the same questions. There are no easy answers.

19.02.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œPain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” - Haruki Murakami

Even in writing this is valid.

19.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Hoy salΓ­ del trabajo a las 6β€―p.β€―m. en Barcelona.
4,5 horas despuΓ©s, por fin estoy en casa.
Vivo a 45β€―km.
Gracias, @renfeoperadora.bsky.social por organizar autobuses para sustituir trenes con eficiencia negativa.
Los accidentes pasan, pero no hacΓ­a falta convertirlo en un desastre.

18.02.2026 21:24 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œThe purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” β€” Albert Camus

Either by creating beauty or warning signs.

18.02.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Some call it muse, and angel, others call it a demon, a pest.

β€œWriting a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.” β€” George Orwell

18.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I'm quite pleased about this. Not only France, UK but also Spain and Ireland are taking steps to protect us from deepfakes.

Paris cybercrime unit searches X office; Musk summoned | Reuters www.reuters.com/world/europe...

17.02.2026 21:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Two peas in a pod.

β€œI write for the same reason I breathe β€” because if I didn’t, I would die.” β€” Isaac Asimov

β€œWriting is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else.” β€” Gloria Steinem

17.02.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

When you doubt if you should continue writing that story or poem or create that art - the answer is yes. Always yes. Even when you think it's shit. Especially then.

β€œYou fail only if you stop writing.” β€” Ray Bradbury

17.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Genuine question for writers: does this process ever speed up? Do you develop the skill to polish and draft simultaneously without losing momentum? Or is this simply the reality of making something truly representing your soul?
Did you get faster with practice, or just better at accepting the pace?

16.02.2026 18:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Even with another week off, progress slowed. The culprit? I've entered the polishing phase whilst simultaneously writing final chapters. You know this, spending 30 minutes on a single paragraph, weighing every word, ensuring each sentence earns its place. The joy! The pain!

16.02.2026 18:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

How much time for you need for polishing your sentences?
December: 3 glorious weeks off, massive progress on the novel. I dared to dream:Book 1 finished by March, Book 2(already 40% done!) by summer.
Then January happened.

16.02.2026 18:55 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œThe true alchemists do not change lead into gold; they change the world into words.” β€” William H. Gass

Welcome fellow magicians!

16.02.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œI hate writing, I love having written.” β€” Dorothy Parker

At least I have one thing in common with DP.

16.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

β€œOne day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.” β€” Jack Kerouac

You speak my truth, Jack!

15.02.2026 19:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Positive thinking or stupid daydreaming? As an introvert and mostly intuitive writer, I'm already dreading being interviewed 😎 my book is not even finished 🀣🀣

15.02.2026 14:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Art of Slow Writing: Pacing Yourself in the Digital Age β€” Nicole Gulotta | Writer Slow writing is rooted in the belief that less is more, that our writing careers are long, and there’s no rush, no race, or reason to push ourselves to the brink of exhaustion.

Does anyone follow the practices of slow writing? I read a lot of posts about authors finishing AND publishing books in 4-5 months, I'm looking for the opposite here.

The Art of Slow Writing: Pacing Yourself in the Digital Age β€” Nicole Gulotta | Writer

15.02.2026 07:32 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

1. Six logo-like designs for the worlds in my fantasy book
2. One newsletter header in similar simple design
3. Three social media badges in the same style

14.02.2026 17:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

What's the right price for this design package? I'm new to the design market so I would appreciate some some opinions on how much is a fair price for the below. I know I could do it myself but I've neither the patience, nor the time, and definitely not the skill to do it right.

14.02.2026 17:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0