I’m going to make a blanket statement based on my research and reporting. IF YOU ARE A PUBLISHED AUTHOR and you receive an email from a “ Book Club” to be “featured” and their email is a GMAIL account, IT IS SPAM/SCAM.

I won a Booky: Most Actionable Business Booky for Kenya Safari: A Guide for the First-Time Visitor by Jim Walker. https://www.bookyawards.com/winners/kenya-safari-a-guide-for-the-first-time-visitor-jim-walker-843

Hi everyone, I wanted to share a really exciting piece of news with all of you here in the Big Book Love community! My debut novel, The Night Driver: A Diego De LaCruz Thriller, is officially being carried by Librería Central, one of the largest independent bookstores in Asturias, Spain. Since my wife and I spend our summertime at our home up in Asturias, knowing my work is sitting on the shelves of such a respected local institution is a surreal and incredibly rewarding feeling. It is one of those moments that makes all the hard work and editing completely worth it. Thank you all for the constant support, advice, and inspiration in this group. To everyone else working on their drafts and pushing toward publication—keep going! All The Best, Damien Suriel

Hi everyone. I have been absent for a few weeks but they have been busy weeks! I launched my newest book and have a trailer! Very excited! My newest is "Lazy Sunbathing and Wildflower Tea". A 'memoir with a message' about my foraging adventures and beneficial tea making.

The weather influences human activity, productivity, and liveliness. Three weeks ago, our Sunday walk was postponed to 5:30 p.m., instead of the usual 3:30 p.m., because of the “canicule” heatwave. One of the walkers and I exchanged cheerfully what we did that week of 40°C, which was the highest recorded temperature in France. She spent most of the time eating watermelon in front of an electric fan, while I ate 300 grams of home-made avocado sorbet next to an air circulator while playing chess online (I lost most of my games). Bright, sunny days encourage outdoor activity, social interaction, and physical exercise. Studies have shown that exposure to natural light stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with improved mood, alertness, and mental well-being. As a result, people often feel more energetic, optimistic, and productive during periods of pleasant weather. However, sunny days with scorching heat make us less inclined to exercise, socialise, or engage enthusiastically in work, leading to lower productivity and a diminished sense of vitality. Of course, the weather’s influence is also shaped by culture and adaptation. My French friends have commented: “What are you complaining about; you’re from Queensland, where the average daytime summer (December-February) temperature is 29-35°C. Also, you were born in the Philippines with a tropical climate, so you should cope well with this sweltering heat. Well, 35°C is not 40°C, and I never experienced the heat getting into my skin while in Australia, unlike in France. I’ve lived longer outside than inside the latter. There you are; I’ve my excuses for being less active during “canicule” in this country of baguette, buttered snails, and camembert. The weather affects not only productivity or happiness; it influences family, group, or company decisions. For instance, companies have introduced workplace policies and practices that respond to extreme weather conditions, e.g. teleworking, flexible working hours, and providing free or subsidised air-conditioned transport. Recognising the significant effects of weather allows individuals and societies to better support health, well-being, and performance throughout the year.