Tag: Update

Categories
Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

The End…?

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The Hannah Carmichael Chronicles is at 70 instalments this month – 70!!!! Which is the END to a large PART ONE of her adventures.

When I reached this ‘ending’ it made me feel accomplished, but also a little sad – because it really is like the end. So, what happens now? Do I keep writing something that has brought me so much joy, or put it away and come back to it a little ways down the road?

It did also make me think about other endings. Like endings of a season of life (like being a teenager, being single, or finally retiring), and the end of a chapter (in a book, but also maybe dating somebody and either breaking up, or getting married, or maybe the chapter of mental health issues is closing?).

What chapter or season of life are you closing the book on? And what are you stepping into next? I’d love to know as I step into a new chapter of the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles.

Yes, there are more Hannah Carmichael that I have in store, and that I’m excited to continue writing and releasing, but it feels like the end of an era in a way!

Let me know YOUR transitional time in the Comments or on the CGSP Facebook page!

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace 

Categories
Fiction

Happy New Year…BANG (Furious Fiction)

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Below is a Furious Fiction written for the AWC in January 2020 – Enjoy!

 

Happy New Year… BANG

“Three, Two, One! Happy New Year!” Cheering echoed through the city.
“Cue the fireworks,” Elliot chirped beside me, as the sky lit up. I peeled my eyes away from the spectacular display in my binoculars, and focused on our target instead.
“New Years Eve is perfect for this type of mission,” Elliot said.
As I pulled the binoculars down, he moved to his sniper perch.
“Nobody hears the shot when all the fireworks are booming,” He flashed a side smile in my direction. “It’s just serendipity that our target is in the city tonight.”
I sighed and pulled down the eye glasses, watching as he set up the long-range sniper rifle.
“Do you ever feel bad?” I asked.
Elliot chuckled, then turned to face me, “You knew what this gig was, why feel bad now?” He frowned and continued setting up the rifle.
“This mission is in the high double digits for me, maybe I’ve done enough.”
Elliot paused then let go of the gun, his voice now a whisper, “Careful what you’re saying Stella, the walls have ears.”

As he turned back to the rifle again, I glanced around the room.
‘Good reasons don’t always mean good actions’
My mothers the words from childhood echoed through my thoughts.
Maybe it was time for me to get out.
I spotted the emergency burner phone sticking out from one of the gear bags, and I checked again on Elliot. As he stared through the sniper scope, I silently slipped the phone into my pocket.

This target was supposed to be a traitor, but there was no concrete proof. It was as good a person as any, to warn of the impending consequences.
Fireworks continued to crack above us and I pulled out the secure phone, unlocking it. I typed in the number, then a warning message and took in a deep breath, hitting the button and sharing the assassination plans.
Slipping out the battery, I then pulled out the SIM card and snapped it in half, tossing the phone back into my bag.

As I pulled up the binoculars once again, I heard Elliot inhale, “Ok, I see the target. I almost have a clear shot.” We watched as the spy checked her mobile phone.
After a moment, she put it back into her pocket, then in a sudden burst, dove onto the floor.
“What’s she doing?” Elliot asked. Shots from the spy’s apartment flew towards us, and we ducked, waiting for an opening to return fire.
“We’re blown, we’re blown! Agents need backup!” Elliot yelled into his radio.
It was done. I was out, one way or the other.

Hope you enjoyed this ‘Furious Fiction’ short story! For more, check out the ‘ADVENTURES’ page and search for Furious Fiction!
See You in The Adventures
CG

Categories
Inspiring

Label, Label, Pick a Label

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I’ve been labelled, I’ve labelled others and others, I know, have labelled themselves.

We live in a world full of labels.
I’m smart, i’m stupid, i’m pretty, i’m ugly.
I’m tired, i’m happy, i’m sad, i’m depressed.
I’m poor, i’m rich, i’m alone, i’m a loser.

So what label have you (or has someone else) attached to your self worth? What have people labelled you? Do you find that you stay in that label?

Labels can be dangerous. We can cling to them and stay there. We can ignore any positive labels that we’re given after that (like no, you’re not stupid – you’re so smart!) and just linger in the ones that feel strangely comfortable, or easy to believe.
Words matter. What you say, or someone says to you Matters. More than we like to believe, and more than we think.
I’ve had labels spoke over me (and to myself by me) like Anxious, tired, alone, sad, heavy, fat, not good enough but i’ve come to realise that these labels are NOT where I want to live. I don’t want to spend time believe those things about myself.

Labels can be broken (that’s the good news)!
You can break out of labels which have been spoken into your life.
We need to CHOOSE to focus on the labels that matter. The ones we should stick to – from people we love, trust and from God.
Labels like, we are forever loved, stronger than we could expect, saved, redeemed, happy, hopeful, always moving forward…

The list of labels which can improve our self worth, our hearts and our lives are almost endless – you just have to know where to find them, and to believe that they’re true. Even when they don’t feel true.
I remind myself all the time of some ‘positive’ labels, especially those days when I don’t believe them.
Your perspective of yourself, your life and your worth can change things!
You can change things!

Cling to the positive, cling to the TRUTH, and cling to each other.

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Hannah Carmichael Chronicles

Who is Hannah Carmichael?

Hannah Carmichael (Super spy working with the CGT agency)
Daughter of Evelyn and James Carmichael (Criminal & Believed to be Dead, Respectively)
Wife of Zeke Anderson (Secretly Working for the Government)
Best friend of Stephanie Winchester (Fellow CGT Agent)

If you’ve been following my adventures for a while now, you know who Hannah Carmichael is – but 70 instalments later, maybe you’ve forgotten how we came to where we did with Hannah and the Conspiracy of the CGT spy agency!

Hannah Carmichael’s husband Zeke Anderson (No, they don’t have the same last name, and Yes, that is a thing that people do these days) went missing. Along her way to finding him, Hannah discovers that her mother Evelyn (a criminal on the run), knew where he was.

As she finds him, she realises that not only is he okay, he’s also a part of her world – the spy world. He tells her the beginning of the conspiracy – that her agency CGT is actually working for their own profit, not the good of the country.
Hannah agrees to go back in, but undercover this time, and stop them from the inside.

While trying to expose CGT, Stephanie and her friend (and former boyfriend) jump on the bandwagon, with a shot taking down Ian forever (spoilers).

This is where we leave the FREE download of the Updated, Edited and Re-Designed eBook for PART ONE of The Hannah Carmichael Chronicles. Once we move forward, the conspiracy on CGT and how far it goes deepens, we see family and friends coming and going – death and resurrection continue as Hannah goes deeper into the world of spies, double agents, faked deaths and good vs evil.

I’ve loved finding this character along the last year and a half. She is someone very dear to my heart, which is why, the full 70 instalment eBook is going to be available for you too!

The first 30 instalments are FREE at the link below, but keep your ears perked and hands over your mouse/keyboard for the announcement very soon, of when you can download your Hannah Carmichael Chronicles eBook!
I can’t wait for you to fall in love (or rediscover your love) with Hannah Carmichael – just like me.

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Fiction

The Picture (Furious Fiction)

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Below is a Furious Fiction for the AWC – Enjoy!!

 

The Picture

My own wheezing breath swirled through my ears and I bent over, trying to inhale deeply.
“Hey, are you alright?” A distant voice asked.
I sapped upright and gave a shaky nod, then turned and bumped into another woman on the footpath. Through the fog I heard ‘Rude’ and ‘Must be on drugs’ but I kept propelling forward without uttering an apology.
Why did I just do that?
I spun around a corner, keys jingling in my pocket as I smashed my back against the wall. A sharp stab in my left leg sent pain sensors coursing through my body, and I winced.
How could I have just done that?
The street was jam-packed full of commuters, and as they zipped past me as I inhaled sharp breaths. Swallowing hard, I carefully peeked to where I had been standing a few moments earlier.
It’s still there.
I closed my eyes and counted to ten. My mind was racing with the possibilities of the next 24 hours. I tried to take deeper breaths.
It would be fine right?

As my right eye twitched open, I saw him. He was driving the Australia Post van.
Flicking both eyes open fully, I flung myself forwards towards the stranger; the one who held my future in his hands.
He hopped into the driver’s seat and pulled his van into traffic. Frantic, I searched the cars for my own, then stumbled over my feet as I began a race with the disappearing van. He was going to deliver the letter, the one with…. the picture.
I shook my head and slammed my door closed, punching the gas pedal and screeching forward. What was I thinking? Our relationship didn’t need more sizzle. If anything, it needed less.
How could I have done that?

As the van got further and further away, I felt the panic rising. Clicking onto the Voice Activation option, I screamed an order at the steering wheel to call Dean.
“Hello?” Dean answered, his voice croaky.
“Were you sleeping at two o’clock in the afternoon?” I asked, shaking my head and swerving into the left lane, “Never mind. It’s coming today and you have to ignore it.”
“What?” Dean asked, yawning loudly.
“A letter is coming today. Just ignore it,” I said as the van turned into my street.
“What are you talking about, what letter?”
I groaned, “I sent you a letter.”
The van pulled up next to my house and I slammed on my breaks.
“Hang on, there’s someone at the front door. I think it’s the mail,” Dean said as I tried unsuccessfully to squeak out words, any words to stop it.
He groaned and whispered the worst four words I’ve ever heard, “I’ll call you back.”
The line clicked.

I hope you enjoyed this Furious Fiction short story!
If you want more, head to the ADVENTURES page and search for ‘Furious Fiction’
See You in The Adventures!
CG

Categories
Life

Stairs…?

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Four flights of stairs?? No thanks!

I couldn’t image having to go up four flights of stairs every day, never mind 20 flights!

Recently in the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles instalment THE FALL (HCC 69) Hannah had to chase someone up 20 flights of stairs!
Even though I don’t really address the absolute EXHAUSTION that she was probably facing after that trek, I was very much aware of it myself.

I’m not the most fit human being in the world (although I am working on that!), so the though alone, of having to trudge up 20 stories, 20 sets of 10 or more stairs, was the WORST thing I could think of.

Luckily, Hannah had athleticism and adrenaline on her side – although what happened next wasn’t the BEST out of the possible options (but you’ll have to check out the story to see what I mean).

After thinking about this, I realised there are people who are FORCED to go up stairs every day – those people who live in apartments with no elevator!
Four floor walk ups, or buildings with six stories and no lift…. ugh.

Props to those people, but if I wanted to rent/buy an apartment, it HAS to include an elevator!

I’d love to know which type of person YOU are. If you had the choice, would you use the stairs or the elevator? Pop your answer in the comments below, or head to the CGSP Facebook page and let us know!

If you want to see what Hannah does once she’s gone up those 20 flights of stairs, check the link below:
https://atomic-temporary-148610121.wpcomstaging.com/2020/03/18/the-fall-hcc-69/

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Inspiring

STRENGTH in a Time of Weakness

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I think I can, I think I can, I think I can

Right now, the world is crazy. It’s being stuck inside, it’s being told you can’t do something you’ve done your whole life, it’s not working or going to school, it’s not seeing your friends and family, it’s crazy.

I went on a hike the other week with my sister and brother-in-law. We headed towards a waterfall, somewhere to give us beauty during these difficult times.
I’d been before, so naturally I was the ‘leader’ who decided which path we went down. Unfortunately, my skills a navigating were less than exciting, and we ended up going down the wrong path.

Instead of heading down the 40meters to the viewing platform, we trekked down a 2km hike through forest, rivers, fallen trees and so many bugs I don’t even want to think about it.
Once we’d gotten to the end of the track, we realised – we had missed the waterfall, and instead gone to the bottom of the road.

Thus, the true hike began! We had to head up this VERY STEEP gravel road, back to the carpark, and back to the falls. Even though Google Maps said it would be a 7minute walk, with the slow pace we were moving, it took us well over double that to get there (but i’m getting a little ahead of myself).

First, I want to share just how amazingly impressed I was with my sister! She has asthma, but she trudged up that hill anyway (stopping for breathing breaks), and my brother-in-law was so great about stopping and waiting with her (and sometimes me) to make sure she wasn’t alone!

Okay, now that i’ve covered that part, I want to shift back to the main reason for this post. I am TERRIBLY Unfit – just putting that out there.
When I heard we had to get up this huge incline, I was less than thrilled. As my sister and brother-in-law continued up the hill, I dawdled behind them and tried my best to continue with the journey.

At one point, I was walking alone, a bit behind them, and I reached a difficult moment. One where I didn’t think I could keep going up this road. I was going to sit and wait for them to bring the car back down to me – I was going to give up.
I hated the idea that I was giving up, but my body screamed at me that it was the only option. Then, I had a small idea. A teeny tiny voice that decided I needed music to help move my steps forward.

Okay, okay
I thought to myself. So, I pulled out my phone between deep and over exaggerated breaths, and I put a playlist on which I knew would make me feel better – I put on a Praise Playlist.
If you don’t already know, I am a Christian, and I do believe in God. So when I was going through this tough spot (as silly and insignificant as it seemed), I knew that ‘Praising’ while I was struggling, was something which could pull me out of my pain, my exhaustion and my defeatist attitude.

As I walked up the hill, I found myself ignoring the puffing of my breathing, and instead SINGING ALONG! I found my steps were lighter, my heart was higher and my attitude had shifted. It was no longer ‘I can’t do this. I give up. They’ll come and get me’ It was now, ‘I can absolutely make it. I’m almost there. I’ve got this!’
When I reached the top, I felt light, free and happy.

This experience for me, was something i’ve talked about, heard about and advised so many people, but it was incredible to experience.
To keep pushing through what your body tells you, what the world is telling you, and what you’re telling yourself is impossible, and to make it to the other side, was so empowering!
Right now especially, we all need something to hope for; something to give us STRENGTH when the rest of the world, and when we ourselves, can only see the weakness.

What’s something you find gives you a boost when you can only see the negative?
I would LOVE to walk through a tough time with you (although we may need to stand 1.5meters apart), so share the ways that help YOU get through YOUR Mountain.

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

Categories
Life

Changing Things Up

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WIFE – “Do you notice anything different about me?”
HUSBAND – “What?”
WIFE – “I changed something, what is it?”
HUSBAND – “Ummm, did you change your clothes?”
WIFE – “No! What’s different?”
HUSBAND – “…….”
WIFE – “I changed my hair colour!”
HUSBAND – “It’s still blonde…”
WIFE – “It’s a darker SHADE of blonde.”

I have to admit (and no judging here), i’m usually a lot like the Husband in that scenario. I’m not good at picking up on subtle changes, but sometimes I have my moments. My sister in particular, is someone who changes things up all the time! Her hair is a different colour, style, length etc every few months – THAT, I can usually notice. BUT, if she changed her earrings, forget it Jack – I wouldn’t pick it up at ALL.

When it comes to changing up your look, if you’re going for a drastic change, most people would be able to tell that you look different. Recently, I got my sweeping side fringe back, and the amount of people who commented (either that I looked different, or noticing the fringe) was huge!

Hannah Carmichael recently had to change up her look; after the world and the spy agency CGT thought she was dead, she couldn’t very well head out looking the same! If someone spotted her, their undercover advantage would be gone!
So, she changed her hair, put in colour contacts and dressed differently – small changes, but if you looked at her at a glance, you probably wouldn’t put it together (particularly because the world thought she was Dead)
I’ll pop the link to Hannah’s transformation instalment at the bottom of this post so you can check out her changes yourself!

I steer away from changing how I look too much – it took me 26 years to colour my hair for the first time! But, I think if I was going to change it up COMPLETELY, I would go with an eclectic quirky vibe (like all those Brave souls in cities all over the world – wearing whatever they want, regardless. Like a dress made of meat :P).
Sometimes I can be brave with my fashion choices, but if I could go down to Kmart wearing pool floaties on my arms, a pink tutu and long knee high purple socks with sneakers, I would… maybe

But not every style suits every person – I know for a FACT, that I wouldn’t suit the grunge look or attitude! Then again, if I was on the run, it’s the opposite of my personality, so maybe it would be a good look to go for…. hmmmmmmm

How many times have you changed up your hair, or your personal style? I want to hear about the cool, unusual, and perhaps regrettable changes you’ve made! Comment below and share the stories – and don’t forget to Like this post and share it with a friend who’s gotten a bad haircut, or a good one – or maybe they wore only Pink for four years… who knows!

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace