Date: 2025 November 24
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“APOK is where morality fractures, loyalty dissolves, and a single man’s unraveling becomes the spark that could collapse the world. It’s dark, intelligent, and uncomfortably close to what we already know.”
NEWS:
Been a busy couple of weeks since APOK CrossFire was released. My mind has aggressively switched gears from writer / editor mode into marketing madness. Despite the abrupt start up sequence, I think my internal promotional engines are fired up and are rattling the rust off that part of my brain. Lots to learn and do, but at least my mind is thinking in those terms now.
In the last month, we have bounced from Library to Christmas Markets to a Books and Beer event and as mentioned, this is only the beginning. Thank you to all who have come forward with your suggestions helping down this marketing path.
Reviews are starting to come in! These are huge for INDIE writers like me. Reviews help new readers find that piece of gold in a field full of stones. BIG thank you to anyone who took the time to go online to AMAZON, INDIGO or GOODREADS and post.
- If you share a review, please let me know, so I can work at getting you some APOK swag.
- Bookmarks
- Stickers
- Ball Caps
- Shirts
- Sweaters
MORALITY FRACTURES:
The APOK Series journey started January 2011, at a time when my own MORALITY was FRACTURED. While I don’t spend a lot of time or energy focusing on the negative, in recent years I have learned of BETRAYAL TRAUMA, which is described as the emotional impact a person experiences after their trust is violated either by a person or an institution that is significant in their lives.
Many police officers suffer from this, and after careful reflection, I am fairly certain this was exactly where my mind was at when I first started writing. Working out has always been my stress reliever, however with this one case, no amount of working out made the stress go away. It haunted me, and if I think about it, still bothers me to this day.
Somehow, writing APOK made the ache bearable. It gave me something of my own. It offered me hope. And it developed a confidence in me that reminded me that no one could stop me, but me. In short, I received freedom. Freedom to be me; whatever that looked like.
2013 April 29 – APOK was released.
2022 October 10 – APOK Derailed was released to a fiery start.
2025 October 22 – APOK CrossFire was released to complete the series.
With God’s help and through my writing process it gave me the strength to heal, and along the way I created a story that mimics the torment that I have experienced: interesting how pain can be used for good.
If you happen to be struggling and can’t seem to find the door to relief, find your APOK, find that thing that lightens the day and be thankful. Remaining focused on those two things helped me, and I hope they can help you.
Have a great week!
Mike
Author of the APOK Series
Website: www.michaelwalton.ca
Email: apok.thenovel@gmail.com