Rayne's Newsletter: Pets, Writing, Bulgaria

Sunshine and Hail

I’ve had such a beautiful day today. I got up early and went out into my orchard. The sun was shining, and the sky was bright blue. Birds were twittering and chirping everywhere, each with a different song.

In the meadow to my left, four storks strutted through the wildflowers to hunt snails, while to my right a mother cow grazed and her baby calf rested in the shade.

My neighours, have a small farm, came to the fence to give me some eggs from their chickens. I reciprocated by picking some fresh asparagus for them. Aspargus i grows well in Bulgaria but is relatively little known, so it’s nice to give away my surplus to neighbours who don’t have any in their gardens.

I exercised - stretches, light cardio, chair yoga, tai chi - with the dogs at my feet. I developed plot ideas for stories, repeatedly distracted by my cats who asked to be petted. Then I planted out some seedlings and extended the drip irrigation lines.

In the afternoon, the sky turned greenish-dark, jstreaked with lightning bolts. Thunder roared and hail hammered down. Tiny hard white balls bounced on the patio.

The hail wasn’t very good for the delicate, newly planting seedlings, but the vaguaries of weather are are part of my life.

While I hurried to shelter my equipment, the dogs took refuge in their cosy dog houses, and the cats darted indoors.

The cats are now here with me: Uhura (Yura) is purring on the desk between my arms. Chekhov has made himself comfortable on the printer, while Sulu has chosen to take a nap on my laptop bag.

McCoy hasn’t come inside, but I’m sure he’s found himself a dry spot somewhere, maybe in the neighbour’s barn or cowshed.

The hail has turned to rain, and it’s pouring. That’s great, because it waters the plants and fills the water barrels. Water is often short here in rural Bulgaria, so I welcome the rain. Since the rain stops me from gardening, I use the time to write this newsletter for you.

The Blessings of Tranquility

After my previous newsletter, several of you have written to me to marvel about the peace and quietude here. Yes, it’s very tranquil here.

In part its because of the location. I live in rural Bulgaria, at the edge of a small village, some distance from high-traffic roads and busy cities. I’ve created my own personal paradise by planting trees and flowers for myself and the wildlife to enjoy.

It’s also about lifestyle choices. I’ve (mostly) opted out of consumerism, and this takes away a lot of stress and creates calm.

Another source of tranquility comes from the heart. I simply chose to avoid, as far as possible, anythign that causes stress and strive. For example, I no longer insist on being ‘right’ in the eyes of others. When I know I’m right, that’s enough. It’s not necessary for everyone else to acknowledge it. So when there’s no point arguing to make others see that I’m right.

Sometimes I forget this principle and get involved in squabbles - but not for long. I remember that my tranquility is more important than some online squabbler’s views. I simply disengage, or even hit the ‘Block’ button, and my tranquility is restored.

My Special Writing Chair

This is my writing chair. I had it purpose-built from reclaimed material (metal parts come from a discarded old iron bedstead, wood is leftover from a buildingproject), with broad armrests on whic I can place a coffee cup and a notebook for writing. My cats of course consider it their chair. The broad armrests are especially popular. Clockwise from top left: Sulu, McCoy, Chekhov. Uhura came a moment later, claiming the centre of the seat like a throne.

Update About the AI-free Writing Contest

One of the judges has been taken ill, another had tech issues, and this has delayed the selection process.

To help out, three fine writers have agreed to step in: Lee Murray, Tracy McBride and Barbara Büchner.

As the contest’s sponsor, I need to keep out of the judging process. To ensure fairness, every story will get seen by at least two independent judges.

I expect to announce the results in May.

My Books Have Been Stolen by AI

As soon as I have written and published a story, it gets plagiarised. AI takes my story, mixes it with some stories stolen from other writers, and ‘creates’ a ‘new’ story.

It’s not worth writing stories anymore, because everything immediately gets stolen and plagiarised.

Those of you who use AI, please be aware, that every time you use AI to create some or part of your stories and books, it’s material stolen from writers like me. This costs our livelihoods.

AI companies have also used my Writer’s Craft books, without my knowledge or consent, to train AI. All the decades of studying how writing works, analysing literature, breaking it down, writing books about it - it’s been taken from me. I didn’t get one cent.

Yes, my livelihood has been stolen. Many hardworking writers have been robbed of their livelihoods.

And yes, you users of AI are the recipients of these stolen goods. I’m not saying you’re thieves: I’m saying that you’re recipients of stolen goods. Please be aware that this is what you’ve done.

It’s devastating. It’s with a broken heart that I have to give up writing any more books. The Writer’s Craft series, which I was so happy and proud to create for you, is over. There will be no further books. I’d planned so many more books, to help real writers learn real writing skills. But it’s no longer worth it.

I will finish a couple of books which are already almost complete - one short story collection set in Bulgaria, and a non-fiction book on a different subject. But I won’t write the rest of the Writer’s Craft books, nor the Bulgarian parnaormal thriller series I had looked forward to so much, nor the sequel to Storm Dancer I’ve plotted.

Fortunately, I earn some money teaching German conversation. Some people still prefer learning real German from a real German, instead of bot German from an AI bot. So I’m better off than most professional writers who had their livelihoods stolen and face destitution. I can still feed myself and my beloved pets.

I’m not letting AI rob me of my peace of mind. Although AI can deprive me of my income, of my work earnings, of ownership of my creations, AI can’t take away the birdsong around me. It can’t take away the love of my pets, nor the fresh green leaves of the trees and the healthy vegetables in my garden. It can’t take away my tranquility.

For the moment, I’ll continue this newsletter, but I don’t know for how long, since it’s intended for the readeres of my books.

If you want to support me - and other writers - please buy our books. The real books, not the stolen imitations.

Thanks.

I’m buying real books by real writers.

Since I want to help other writers - real writers, not AI users - I’m buying books by real writers. I’ve already downloaded the samples of many AI-free books and will choose ten books to buy.

If you’re a writer who has published books without AI, please send me an URL, and I’ll add yours to the list I’ll consider.

Buy buying ten books I won’t change the world. I won’t prevent writers losing their livelihood, and I won’t stop this crime. But it’s something in my power to do, and I will do it.

Greetings from Rayne in Bulgaria :-)