#1 BOOK ON AMAZON UPDATE
91 BOOKS SHORT OF 1,000. C'MON FOLKS. I KNOW THERE ARE 91 READERS OUT THERE. GREAT READ AND FATHER'S DAY GIFT.
https://t.co/Tpvl9QRD1e
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A BIG ASK! 💙💙
I have a small favor to ask, and I hope it comes across in the spirit it’s intended — not as desperation, but honesty.
Yesterday I had a long conversation with my publisher about the slow sales of THE FAIRWAYS OF WISDOM. In the past four days, only eight copies sold. He was kind, but direct. The truth is, when my account was hacked the night after Rebecca died, I lost more than 30,000+ followers overnight — an audience that took nearly eight years to build.
Sure, some were probably bots or trolls. But many thousands were real people. Compassionate people. Loyal readers. Friends who walked beside me through some of the hardest years of my life.
My old account averaged nearly 500,000-750,000 impressions a week, with close to a 65% engagement. My new page — Michael & Rebecca
@Michaeljos92972 — has fewer than 5,000 followers and reaches only a fraction of the people it once did. The engagement is down dramatically. In simple terms, most people simply are not seeing what I write anymore. It's all about ALGORITHMS!
And that hurts.
For years, I’ve tried to write honestly. I brought all of you inside the Whelan family through cancer, COVID, job loss, Bella’s broken back, and most painfully, Rebecca’s long battle with Parkinson’s. Many of you were there with me on March 5th when she passed away. You watched our lives unfold in real time — the beauty, the heartbreak, the exhaustion, the love.
Writing has never been about fame for me. It’s been about connection. About advocacy. About trying to make people feel less alone.
I still want to do that.
I still want to write books. Essays. Stories. I still want to fight for caregivers, patients, animal rescues, and the people who feel unseen in this world. But in today’s social media landscape, if people can’t see your words, it becomes almost impossible to keep going. So far I have written almost two million words. That takes a lot of time, thought and love.
So here’s my ask:
If my writing has ever meant something to you… if one essay ever made you feel understood… if Rebecca’s story touched your heart… if Bella ever made you smile or shed a tear please consider recommending my page to a few people you trust. Maybe 3. Maybe 7. Maybe 10. As many as you can. And I've learned that when you ask people a favor YOU must explain the WHY.
That simple act could help rebuild what was lost. It could push the algorithms enough so these stories start reaching people again instead of disappearing into the noise.
And if my work isn’t for you, that’s completely okay too. No hard feelings. Just quietly scroll on and let others decide for themselves.
I know this is a big ask. Asking for help has never been easy for me. But I also know something else:
The kindest communities are built one human being at a time.
Thank you for reading me. Thank you for carrying Rebecca’s memory forward with me. Thank you for allowing me into your lives all these years.
And if you choose to help, please know this — you are not just helping an author.
You are helping a grieving husband keep his voice alive.
With love and gratitude always,
Michael
*IMPORTANT*
Please read & share, it could save you or a loved one from a lifetime of chronic system-wide illness. 🙏❤️
Today I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease.😔
I was bitten by 4 ticks 30 days ago & had a red rash come up around one of the bites, that soon started spreading.
As there was no 'bullseye', I didn't think it was Lyme, I assumed it was just a reaction, especially as the rash wasn't painful or itchy..(see photo)
It WAS Lyme!
Any rash around a tick bite is diagnostic.
I didn't know this. 😕
I was bitten at Shapwick Heath on the Somerset Levels.
I've since learnt some areas of the UK have a higher risk of Lyme, and the Somerset Levels is one of them.
If you go out in the countryside, take care... stick to paths and try to avoid brushing up against vegetation, that's how the ticks get on you.
Always check yourself over for ticks when you get home. The longer a tick is attached to you, the higher the chance of infection.
If you find a tick, don't panic, remove it carefully with a tick removal tool or tweezers, being careful not to squeeze the tick.
Keep an eye on the bite for the next month... if a rash starts to develop at the site of the bite in that time, go to your doctor ASAP!
Explain that you were bitten by the tick, and have now developed a rash at the site... they will prescribe antibiotics, usually Doxycycline, for at least 3 weeks.
You may be asked to have a blood test too, but these aren't reliable in the early stages of Lyme, insist on starting the antibiotics immediately.
Sometimes, you don't even get a rash. In these cases, if you get flu-like symptoms in the 30 days after a tick bite, go and see a doctor, it's probably Lyme Disease and you'll need antibiotics.
Many people with debilitating advanced Lyme Disease didn't see the signs, or they just ignored them.
Lyme Disease is usually curable in the early stages, but can become a chronic lifelong illness affecting every system in your body, if left untreated! 😔
I'm not posting this to scare anybody, but because I was ignorant to the rash, and if it hadn't been for my youngest daughter badgering me to get it checked out, I'd not be sat here taking antibiotics for Lyme Disease... I wouldn't even know I had it, and many of the later symptoms are confused with other illnesses!
A case in point is the fabulous musician @Renmakesmusic, who was only diagnosed with Lyme Disease 6 years after being infected! 😯
He really suffered in those years, spending much of it in bed, too ill to get up, but not having a clue what he was suffering with.
I'm obviously no medical expert, all I've written here has come from my own research & experience, so in case there are some inaccuracies, learn more from @UKLyme 🙏
However, you get the picture... if this post prevents just one person getting advanced Lyme Disease, I'd be delighted!
Prevention is better than cure, so please be careful out there!
Don't be ignorant to the dangers of ticks, rashes and Lyme Disease.. don't be like me! 🙏❤️
IT'S HERE!!!!
I JUST RECEIVED MY AUTHOR COPY. PLEASE, IF YOU CAN GO TO AMAZON AND PURCHASE THE BOOK. IT'S NOT A GOLF BOOK AS MUCH AS A TALE OF LIFE. I hope you enjoy it .💙⛳️
Took younger daughter (who wants to be a paleontologist) to a lake near Peterborough last night. We found these Jurassic microfossils-teeny ammonites & crinoid ‘ossicles’-these little rock stars were part of the stems of crinoids/sea lilies-animals with 5 axes of symmetry related to sea urchins 🐚
Each spring, playful and energetic bison calves or "red dogs" join the herd. Just minutes old, this newborn with its mom fights against a slight breeze to balance and hold itself up for the first time.
Photo by Neal Herbert / NPS
@Michaeljos92972 Michael, here is a thought. Maybe you could sit outside with the birds that Rebecca so loved & keep the birdbath full of fresh water for them. Their song might help soothe you somewhat & she would surely smile at that. Remember that your fur babies still need you.