Why this Substack exists
G'day. I'm an Aussie author who started writing after cancer & chemo blew my world apart. Sadly, that wasn't the greatest pain I suffered in that winter of life. Two of the greatest things that helped me heal from the long-term damage I still battle have been writing thrillers and becoming a pet sitter. Unsurprisingly, many of the animals I’ve cared for appear in my thrillers.
Fyi, I’ve cared for 56 dogs (from a Great Dane to Maltese Shitzus), 18 cats, 32 chickens, 11 ducks, 10 goats, 5 sheep, 4 Guinea fowl, 2 geese, a Guinea pig, various parrots, plus too many fish aquariums & ponds to count. And that amazing menagerie included several pets requiring medication, injections, and one beautiful yet messed up cat who needed to be held down as I administered a 15-minute IV drip 3 times a week - try doing that by yourself!This substack has been designed with multiple sub-substacks in mind.
Firstly, there are the abridged versions of my thrillers, released as online serials (they contain ~60% of the novel). As my stories often merge fact with fiction, the written posts are interactive, including embedded music to help you get in a character’s mood + links to learn more about real-life facets incorporated into my thrillers. There are also audio versions for those who prefer to listen.
Secondly, there are posts with a real-life focus. These include humorous stories from my pet-sitting days + what it’s like doing life with an incredible woman who I enjoy picnics with as we travel through the valley of the shadow of death.
I wrote my first story (originally called 'The Dream Walker') as I learned to dream again post-cancer & chemo. It was a time when I struggled merely to walk because of the chemo’s intense side effects. I could not use a knife & fork because of how badly my hands burned from the inside out. Yet, I could still dream. As I crawled out from the dust & debris my life had turned into, I discovered the joy of living again. I started to dream anew and became a storyteller.
I’ve written 4 full-length thrillers so far (Feb 2025), though I’ve only published the first one. Not long after my first novel was published, I realised that I could not trust my publisher (something proved correct in late 2024). I kept writing but decided not to publish anything until I regained full rights to my first novel. That 3 years ended in mid-2024. So, now it’s time to ramp things up. Hence, the sub-substacks I will be adding for each thriller along the way.
As for the real-life posts, they will be a mix.
At least once a month, I’ll provide an update on what’s happening with my thrillers, plus share my thoughts on writing & publishing in a world where political correctness has gone a step too far & some are now trying to over-correct it, at a time when AI’s influence will only grow.
If you want to learn more (and blow your mind) regarding where our world is heading with emerging tech, a good book to read is "The coming wave: AI, power & the 21st century's greatest dilemma" by Mustafa Suleyman (he has a ton of cred in this area)I’ll also dig a monthly hole in the cyber-dirt & drop a post about my pet-sitting exploits. You’ll get to meet the incredible pets I’ve been entrusted with (some of them are in the photo above), as well as hear many, mostly humorous, stories about what happened during some of those stays.
Lastly, I will regularly post something a little more inspirational. One of my unforgettable moments from 2024 was standing on top of the Great Wall of China (a climb many people fail to complete) with the woman I love & adore. Despite the evil disease that tries to devour her, she continually finds a way to live a life worth living. It’s hard for me not to be inspired by her strength, energy, faith, hope and love for life & the people around her. I hope I can encourage you with some of her joy & strength.
So, grab yourself the best coffee you can get your hands on (or maybe a large glass of the most amazing red wine you know) and settle in for the read.
And, please, let me know what you think. Post a comment and/or like any posts that you enjoy. That way, I will know what helps make your day a little bit better just because you stepped into the world of MikeHarrisStories.
Hang on! Before you take that first sip …
I’d love you to become a subscriber. The main reason to subscribe is so you never miss a new post, delivered straight to your inbox.
Okay, it’s time to take a big sip, press the button & read on, McDuff!
If you specifically want to read Sitter Tails from my pet sitting daze …
