🔵The 8 Most Underlined Highlights of The China Pandemic written by me, in 2013.
And a Personal Life Update... 🙏
Graham’s Resolution News!
Up next! By the numbers, I can tell you are all excited to get back to this world. As am I. Scheduled to be released in May but expect sooner. I will share chapters with exclusive members as I’m confident they’re ready for viewing. 😊
New in Audiobooks 🎧
$0.99 or FREE with Kindle Unlimited 🚀 🐾 🔥🔫 👀
Have you read them all?
🔵 Graham’s Resolution, Book 1 - The China Pandemic
🔵 Surrender the Sun, Book 1 - Bishop’s Honor
🔵 Dawn of Deception, Book 1 - Unbound
🔵 Remember the Ruin, Book 1 - Rebel Blaze
🔵 Watch the Wreckage, Book 1 - The Drone Keeper
🔵 Times of Trouble, Book 1 - In the Meantime
🔵 House of Light, Book 1 - See the Light
🔵 Motel at the End of the World, Book 1 - The Coffee Killer
🔵 Look Good, Book 1 - Look Good
🔵 Disasters in a Jar, Book 1 - John’s New Place
☕️ For the price of a latte once a month, you get quite a lot of value.
This is one of my jobs, and I put a lot of work into it. I believe in paying people for their work (especially where work is undervalued and, therefore, resources are limited). If you love this newsletter, get value out of it, and believe in paying people for their work, consider a paid subscription.
🔵 Life Update:
As of Friday morning, Kat relayed that if they pass the inspection, I’ll be moving in Sunday.
🙏 for me.
🔵 The 8 Most Underlined Highlights of The China Pandemic written by me, in 2013.
After ten years, I decided to go and look back now at the popular highlights Kindle provides in your reading app to see what struck a chord with my readers. And some of them are quite surprising to me.
1. Introduction -
It started like this - …it spread like wildfire over the globe,…
“…exterminating more than a billion souls. To the two percent remaining that were somehow immune, they became carriers of the virus. As for the virus itself, it became known simply as the China Pandemic.”
Looking back, after what we’ve been through, I can see why that line was particularly poignant. I think this resonated with readers because things can always be worse. As they were in the novel.
Why do you think this verse was particularly highlightable?
2. Digging Graves - There were 3 highlights…
”Everyone he’d ever known was now gone. From his friends to the lowly beggar, and to the President himself, no class went untouched. It was an equal opportunity pandemic, where no one could be accused of racism or class warfare.”
I think in comparison to our most recent past, this also became a reality. Would you agree?
3. “The act of listening became a survival ritual.”
I particularly like this highlight because it’s something I’ve always done. And has saved me countless times. Either listening to the tenor of a stranger’s voice, no matter the words or to the silence around you or your own heartbeat (instincts). This can save your life.
(☕️ Become a paid member for the price of a coffee to read more.)
4. “He wanted to be human and show her humanity in her dying moments. Because in spite of it all, he missed humanity and the kindness of the living.
I still like that line and I’m not sure where it came from but it explains Graham’s inner soul.
5. “Doxycycline - is a tetracycline antibiotic. It kills certain bacteria or stops their growth. It is used to treat many kinds of infections, like dental, skin, respiratory and urinary tract infections. It also treats acne, Lyme disease, Malaria…”
This is readers’ taking notes 😊. I do this as well as a reader.
6. “You know that predator animals have to be treated differently right?” she asked Graham. By the look on his face, she didn’t think he knew what she was talking about. “They carry the Trichinosis parasites, so we have to cook it thoroughly with no pink center. We can slice it…”
More note-taking. But I have to say, that in the writer’s world, there’s something called data-dumping. And it’s to be avoided. That would not make an enjoyable read. Of course, when I see a subject that I have to research a little more to write about, I come across all kinds of great interesting facts. But you can’t include them all or the story would evolve into a manual. I love data and love learning. But in this case, I only took the tidbits I needed to make the story flow.
7. “Perhaps humans have a natural instinct that says, when the world goes to hell, head for the trees.”
I’m sure there are studies on this. But it all comes down to natural instinct. I remember when the not-too-distant past, when alarms went off in Maui, parents were trying to stuff their children down manholes in the street. Trying to get them underground quickly. Trying to save their lineage, in the earth. To me, this is the same thing.
Have you ever been surprised at how you reacted in a crisis?
8. “I love you, Daddy,” Addy said. “I love you too, Baby. See you tomorrow,” he said and she turned around, reaching for Dalton’s outstretched hand. Dalton waved at Sam and he waved back, then Sam watched as they retreated back the way they came. When Sam could no longer see…”
Tear jerker…for me. I have to admit this scene likely came from my own childhood experiences all meshed together. And some have suggested it made for a cliffhanger ending. I would argue that was never the intention. Had the story stopped, I would have let this go as a standalone. But the story,
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Stories by Author A. R. Shaw to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.