Category: chapter

  • A Heartfelt Thank You – And What’s Next

    A Heartfelt Thank You – And What’s Next

    Today I just want to take a moment to say thank you — to each and every one of you who has preordered Waking Up, shared the link, talked about it with friends, or simply followed this journey. Your support has meant more than I can say.

    As of today, the preorder phase is over as Waking Up was officially launched yesterday. The ebook is now available at its normal price of $4.99 — a price I plan to keep stable. I don’t want the price to go up and down like in some campaigns. My hope is to keep it affordable, so as many people as possible can access the story and its message.

    Also, the ebook will shortly be available on more than just Amazon! If you prefer Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, or another platform, you can now find Waking Up there too. The book is now also available as paperback on Amazon. (You can use this link to find your preferred store:

    GET YOUR COPY

    Whether you just discovered this project or have been following along for years, thank you for being part of this vision. The world of Waking Up is only just beginning — and I’m grateful to share it with you.

    And just briefly — why did I write this book?

    I wrote it as a test.

    A quiet invitation.

    A question to humanity:

    Are we ready for something new?

    If we truly are, I believe it will be reflected in how many discover this book in the months and years to come. And maybe, just maybe, that discovery will spark something deeper.

    Thank you for being here.

    For reading. For caring.

    For imagining a better world with me.

    — H

    GET YOUR COPY

  • Waking Up Is Live — The Vision I’ve Carried Since Childhood

    Waking Up Is Live — The Vision I’ve Carried Since Childhood

    Launch Day: $0.99 today only. Tomorrow it’s $4.99.

    This isn’t just the launch of a book.
    It’s the sharing of a vision that’s been growing in me since I was a child.

    Ever since I was young, I felt something was off. The world didn’t feel right — not because of one specific injustice, but because something deeper was missing. I didn’t have the words for it then, but I sensed it: a disconnection. A deep forgetting of who we are and what life could be.

    Even in the sci-fi stories I loved, the future was almost always dark — dominated by machines, greed, control, or survival. But I dreamed of something different. I longed for a future that was beautiful — not naive, but healed. A future where we had awakened from the madness. Where humanity had finally grown up.

    That’s the seed behind Waking Up.

    The story first took shape as a film script in 2011 after I had met The Venus Project the year before. but really, the story has been with me all along. But then, in 2015, everything changed. A massive stroke stopped me in my tracks. My body broke down. My life was split in two.

    But that’s when something deeper also broke through.

    What followed was my own journey of awakening — of humility, healing, surrender, and rediscovery. I poured that into the story. The protagonist, Benjamin Michaels, wakes up 100 years in the future in a world beyond money, war, and fear — but he doesn’t wake up completely whole. He carries some brain trauma, emotional instability, confusion. I gave him those traits because I knew them. I had lived them.

    This book is fiction — but it’s also a mirror. A memory of what we once dreamed. A reminder of what we still can become.

    👉 Waking Up is live now — and just $0.99 for today only.


    Tomorrow, the price returns to $4.99.

    And no — there’s no excerpt this time.
    If you want to keep reading, you’ll need to take the leap. 

    Preorder period is over, you will receive the e-book today.

    From the depths of my heart, thank you.


    Let the awakening begin.

    👉 Get the book here 👈

    — H

  •  Countdown to launch:  Day 7 –  1 day left to launch

     Countdown to launch:  Day 7 –  1 day left to launch

    Only one day left! 🚀 This is your last chance to preorder Waking Up before the official launch tomorrow!

    Preordering today not only guarantees you the special launch price — it also helps boost the book’s visibility when it goes live. Every early order makes a real difference! 🙏✨

    ORDER HERE


    To celebrate how close we are, I’m sharing a powerful moment from Chapter 7. Greenhouse, where Benjamin Michaels faces the breathtaking transformation of a world he no longer recognizes… and begins to wonder if he still has a place in it.
    Here’s today’s excerpt:

    7.  Greenhouse

    Benjamin Michaels staggered into what he once knew as his office—a place where deals had been struck, fortunes amassed, and empires expanded. Now, his sanctuary of power and influence had been transformed beyond recognition.

    The smell hit him first. Damp earth, the faint sweetness of blooming flowers, and a sharp tang of citrus filled the air. The sterile, corporate atmosphere he had once cultivated was gone, replaced by something warm, organic, and… alive. He looked up, and sunlight filtered through glass panes high above, bathing everything in a soft, golden hue.

    Rows of lush greenery surrounded him. Papaya trees stretched toward the ceiling, their vibrant fruits hanging like ornaments. Vines crawled along the walls, their tendrils weaving intricate patterns. Brightly colored flowers he couldn’t name formed splashes of red, yellow, and violet amidst the green. Water trickled softly somewhere, its sound blending with the rustling of leaves. 

    Ben stood frozen, his heart pounding in disbelief. His old desk—the mahogany monstrosity that had once been the centerpiece of the room—was gone. In its place stood a simple table made of polished bamboo, its surface adorned with a cluster of small potted plants and a little box projecting some kind of holographic data feed. 

    He stumbled forward, brushing against a vine. “What the hell is this?” he muttered, his voice hoarse. 

    A voice answered from behind him. “It’s a community greenhouse now.”

    Ben spun around. A man in his late forties stood there, his face weathered but kind, dressed in a loose shirt and pants that looked as if they’d been designed for practicality over fashion. He carried a small watering can in one hand and a pair of gardening shears in the other. 

    “Who are you?” Ben asked, his tone sharper than he intended.

    “Daniel,” the man replied, setting down the watering can. “I’m part of the team that maintains this place. It’s a community effort.”

    “A community effort?” Ben repeated, his voice filled with disbelief. He turned back to the plants, his gaze falling on a papaya tree. “This was my office,” he said, his voice trembling. “And my daughter’s inheritance…”

    Daniel was quiet for a moment, then spoke gently.

    “It still is, in a way. Just… not the way you imagined.”

    He gestured around them, to the trees, the vines, the soft trickle of water.

    “She inherits this too. All of us do. The whole planet. It’s not about property anymore. It’s about shared stewardship. No one owns it — we belong to it. To the planet.”

    We’ve read about you. Benjamin Michaels, right?”

    Ben nodded numbly. 

    “You’re part of history,” Daniel continued. “What you built… it helped pave the way for the systems we have now. The world changed. It had to. The way things were… it wasn’t sustainable.”

    “So you tore it all down?” Ben snapped, gesturing wildly at the greenery. “Turned it into this… this jungle?”

    Daniel’s expression didn’t waver. “We didn’t tear it down. We grew something new. Something sustainable. Everyone here shares in the work, and the harvest. It’s a place of abundance and sharing, not competition and hoarding.”

    Ben felt a lump rise in his throat. His legs wobbled, and he sank into a nearby bench—a simple, sturdy thing made of reclaimed wood. He buried his face in his hands, trying to steady his breathing. 

    The memories came flooding back: the deals closed in this very room, the laughter of his team as they celebrated their successes, the nights he’d spent alone, plotting his next move. And now… now it was all gone. 

    “I don’t belong here,” he whispered devastated, more to himself than to Daniel. 

    Daniel didn’t sit down but stood nearby, giving Ben space but staying close enough to be a quiet presence. “It must be hard,” he said gently. “Waking up in a world that feels so different. But you’re here now. Maybe that means you have a part to play in it. Here, have some papaya, they’re just ripe” he said, handing Ben a plate with orange papaya cubes and a fork.

    Ben looked up at him, his eyes glistening. He wanted to argue, to tell Daniel he was wrong. But deep down, he knew the man was right. He was here. For better or worse, this was the world he had woken up to. And as much as it terrified him, a part of him couldn’t help but wonder what his place in it might be. The papaya tasted good, hungry as he was.

    For now, though, the only thing he could do was sit and eat papaya, try to breathe, and wonder… What had the rest of the world come to..?

    History is made by those who dare to dream. Preorder Waking Up today — tomorrow, a new world awakens. 🚀🌍

    MAKE HISTORY HERE

  •  LAUNCH COUNDOWN: Day 6 – Just Two Days Left to launch

     LAUNCH COUNDOWN: Day 6 – Just Two Days Left to launch

    A Glimpse of New York… 100 Years later...

    Yesterday, on day 5, I shared the first 10 pages of the first chapter set in the future; chapter 5. Panic — Ben waking up and panicking  in a world transformed.

    Today, I want to take you a little further with chapter 6. New York,
    Into what was once the heart of Ben’s world.
    But now into a city that has… evolved.

    This is just a glimpse of what’s coming.
    In just 2 days, the full story is yours if you preorder it now for just $0,99:

    PREORDER HERE

    Transitioning from the last paragraph of chapter 5:

    The capsule began to slow, a soft hum filling the air as it approached the Velocity Terminal in New York City. Ben leaned forward, his heart pounding with a mix of hope and trepidation. What would he find in the city that had once been his home?


    ———

    Here are the first 3 pages of chapter 6. Enjoy.


    6. New York

    Benjamin stepped out into a world unrecognizable. Towering green walls dripped with vines, and sunlight filtered through vast canopies of trees that lined the streets. The air smelled fresh, like after a summer rain, and the low hum of activity came not from honking cars or thundering motorcycles but from people laughing, talking, and working together in the open spaces.

    Everything was immaculate yet alive. Areas of neatly tended grass stretched between the buildings with clusters of trees and vibrant shrubs, while wildflowers peeked through in charming, untamed bursts. Some of the old buildings still stood, preserved as relics of the past, but the spaces between them had been reimagined as lush forests. Cozy, meandering pathways wound through the greenery, dotted with people walking, biking, and pausing on benches to enjoy the serene atmosphere. The fumes Ben was used to from New York was gone, replaced by fresh forest air.

    As Ben stepped onto a meandering path, the city unfolded before him like a living, breathing canvas of color and motion. The people were as varied as the wildflowers and trees lining the pathways, each an expression of individuality unbound by convention. A man strolled past wearing a deep green jacket with intricate leaf-like patterns embroidered into the fabric, his boots softly crunching against the gravel. Nearby, a woman walked with confidence in a dress that refracted light into faint rainbows, the effect subtle and mesmerizing as the sunlight caught its edges.

    A child skipped ahead, dressed in what looked like a patchwork of vibrant, hand-painted fabrics, each square a tiny story. Her hair was adorned with glowing beads that pulsed softly in rhythm with her steps. Two others followed her, one in a sleek jumpsuit of smooth, matte material that hugged their form, the other in a loose tunic and trousers, dyed in shades of blue that seemed to mirror the sky above.

    Ben’s attention was drawn to a young woman weaving gracefully through the crowd. Her movements combined the elegance of ballet with the fluid power of gymnastics, as though the pathway was her stage. She leapt and turned with effortless precision, her long, flowing garment trailing behind her like a whisper of wind. The fabric shimmered faintly, catching the light in fleeting moments but remaining understated. Those she passed paused to watch, their smiles warm and appreciative of the spontaneous performance.

    Above them, a young man on a floating platform sailed gently over the crowd, his outfit a simple blend of earthy tones that harmonized with the greenery below. He waved at those on the path, his expression serene, as the platform adjusted its height to navigate the curves and archways of the park-like setting.

    Everywhere Ben looked, the city thrummed with life and creativity. No one hurried, yet the streets were alive with energy—conversations, laughter, song, and the occasional melody from a handcrafted instrument carried on the breeze. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen: a world not just alive but flourishing, every person a brushstroke in a masterpiece of humanity.

    Above the grass-covered streets, sleek golden, egg-shaped Anti-Gravity Vehicles (AGVs) glided soundlessly, their motion so smooth it was almost hypnotic. They emitted no noise, no pollution—just an elegant, purposeful presence that complemented the diverse scene below. Humanoid robots moved among the gardens, pruning bushes and tending to flowers, but they weren’t alone. Humans worked alongside them, their interactions harmonious and unhurried.

    It was like stepping into a vision of paradise. 

    But to Ben, the sight brought a different sensation—something cold brushing against the edge of his thoughts.

    The robots were elegant, sure, moving with a strange fluidity, even grace. Their gestures mimicked human care as they trimmed leaves or handed tools to gardeners. One even knelt to tie a child’s sandal before continuing on its way.

    But rather than feeling inspired, Ben felt something twist inside him.

    “They’re doing the work,” he thought. “All of it.”

    He scanned the area again. No one seemed in charge. There were no supervisors, no bosses, no payroll, no urgency. The people nearby were smiling, exchanging ideas, experimenting with new plants, sketching designs on invisible screens in the air, but the labor—the maintenance, the heavy lifting, the tedious bits—seemed to fall on the machines.

    In his world, work had meant survival. Money meant security. And jobs—however soul-sucking—had given structure, purpose, identity.

    “If the robots are doing everything,” he wondered, “then what do people do? What am I supposed to do?”

    He looked down at his own hands, suddenly hyper-aware of their stillness. For the first time since waking up, he didn’t just feel out of place—he felt obsolete.

    Ben’s feet carried him forward, almost without thought, as he took it all in. His awe was tinged with disbelief and confusion, his mind struggling to reconcile this idyllic city with the chaotic New York he remembered. Then, through the haze of wonder, his eyes locked onto a familiar landmark: the Freedom Tower.

    ———

    Do you like this and are curious for more..?
    In just 2 days, the full story is yours if you preorder it now.

    👉 Preorder Waking Up for only $0.99 before the launch on May 2:

    PREORDER HERE

  • Day 5 — 3 Days Left until Launch

    Day 5 — 3 Days Left until Launch

    Today, I want to share the first ten pages of Chapter 5: “Panic.”

    This is the moment where the future really begins.

    Until now, we’ve followed Benjamin Michaels in a world that feels uncomfortably close to our own — a man of wealth, power, and terminal illness, making one last bet on a future he may never see.

    Then… he wakes up.

    And nothing makes sense.

    This is the first chapter set in the future. It’s long. It’s raw. It’s where everything he thought was real begins to unravel — and where his real journey begins. Not just across time, but inward. Because waking up isn’t just about cryogenics. It’s about transformation.

    Thank you for following me on this countdown. If you’ve preordered already — truly, thank you. And if not, the book is still just $0.99 until launch day.


    👉

    GET YOUR COPY

    Now, here is:

    Chapter 5: Panic

    (excerpt begins below)

    5. Panic

    A faint, rhythmic beeping pierced the black void. Muffled voices murmured nearby, pulling Benjamin Michaels from the abyss of unconsciousness. Slowly, the darkness began to crack, light bleeding through in soft, overexposed patches.

    “All systems are working now,” Dr. Alvarez said, her voice firm and clinical. Her long black hair framed a face both striking and calm, her faint Spanish accent giving her words a soothing cadence.  

    “Okay,” Dr. Carter responded, his youthful enthusiasm barely concealed under his professional demeanor. This one male. Tinged with curiosity, “Let’s see if there’s any consciousness in there.”  

    Ben’s mind floated somewhere between awareness and confusion. He tried to anchor himself, but the words drifting through the haze made no sense.  

    “Not too much cell damage, at least on this one,” Dr. Alvarez continued.  

    “Yes, he’s from 2015. They’d come quite far with the vitrification process by then. These people actually have a chance. Only thirty years earlier, and they’re… mishmash.” Dr. Carter added.

    Mishmash? Ben’s groggy mind grasped at the term, but it slipped through his mental fingers like smoke.  

    The man’s voice took on a note of excitement. “Pretty incredible, this project. I’m glad there was a consensus on waking up the stiffs. I mean, we’re waking up people from a century ago! Imagine the mindset differences. He’s in for quite the surprise.”  

    “Let’s hope he can integrate easily,” Dr. Alvarez replied. “You’re new here, aren’t you? This is my hundredth wake-up.”  

    Her tone softened, and Ben felt the weight of her words pressing against the fog in his brain.  

    “He could come around any time now.”  

    The light grew sharper, shapes beginning to form. A blurred ceiling loomed overhead, sterile and sleek, punctuated by the hum of advanced medical equipment. Two figures hovered in his periphery, their faces indistinct.  

    “I think the time is now,” Dr. Carter said. “His eyes are open.”  

    Ben blinked, the blurry shapes sharpening into the faces of a man and a woman dressed in futuristic white coats. 

    A third figure, a nurse, stood off to the side, observing silently.  

    “Mr. Michaels?” Dr. Carter asked.  

    Ben struggled to form words. His throat felt dry, his tongue leaden. “Wh… where am I?”  

    “You’re at the Cryonics Hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona,” Dr. Alvarez answered. “I think you should rather ask ‘when,’ not ‘where.’”  

    “When?”  

    “The year is 2115 in your time frame,” Dr. Carter said, smiling slightly.”Although we call it 56 YC now. You’ve been asleep for a hundred years. Welcome back.”  

    A hundred years? Ben’s breath caught in his throat. He tried to sit up but was immediately overwhelmed by dizziness. The woman reached out, steadying him with a firm hand.  

    “Take it slow,” she said. “Can I call you Ben?”

      He nodded weakly.

    “We just need to run a few basic tests,” she continued, holding up two fingers. “How many fingers do you see?”  

    “Two,” he muttered, his voice hoarse.  

    “Good. Can you tell me your full name?”  

    “Benjamin Thomas Michaels. YC?”

    “Yes. The Year of Civilization. The first year no human was killed by another human on the planet.” Dr. Alvarez replied.  

    She looked into the air in front of her, her gaze flickering as if reading something only she could see. “Your mother’s name?”  

    “Sarah,” he said automatically.  

    “And her maiden name?”  

    “Johnson.”  

    “Excellent.” The woman straightened, sharing a brief glance with her colleague. “How are you feeling, Ben? Any headaches?”  

    “A little…” He reached up, brushing his fingers against his face. His hair was longer, thicker than he remembered. His chin, usually neatly shaved, felt strange with a wild and untamed beard.  

    “We wash it but let it grow,” Dr. Carter explained. “Letting you decide your style for yourself later.”  

    Dr. Alvarez adjusted his bed, easing it into a sitting position. “Let’s see if you can sit up without dizziness. There are still some nanobots in your bloodstream, repairing damaged cells. You might feel them as a faint tingling, but can also give you a headache now in the beginning.”  

    “Nanobots?”  

    “Yes, nanites, tiny machines that fix your body at a cellular level. After a freeze like this, there’s always some work to do.”  

    Ben’s heart raced. The surreal words—nanobots, freeze, a hundred years, 56 YC—were too much to process. He clung to the one thought grounding him: his cancer.

    “My cancer…” 

    “Gone,” Dr. Carter said gently. “The nanites repaired the damage. But there’s still a little healing left for your brain to handle.”  

    Ben swung his legs over the edge of the hospital bed, the cool floor beneath his feet grounding him in the moment. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic, and the hum of distant machinery filled the air.

    “Ben, you shouldn’t strain yourself too much just yet,” Dr. Carter cautioned, moving toward him with outstretched hands.

    “But I feel fine,” Ben replied, brushing off the concern as he steadied himself. Then, after a pause, he added softly, “And my family…?”

    Dr. Alvarez and Dr. Carter exchanged a glance, the kind that carried unspoken weight. 

    “Ben,” Dr. Alvarez began carefully, “it’s been a long time. We don’t know of any…”

    “My trust,” Ben interjected, cutting her off.

    Dr. Carter tilted his head. “Your trust?”

    Ben pushed himself upright, ignoring their cautioning gestures. The doctors moved to steady him as he took tentative steps, his movements unsteady but determined. He looked around, almost marveling at his own ability. 

    “And you… did this? Cured me? I actually feel fantastic!” Ben exclaimed, a smile breaking across his face.

    “Well, it was…” Dr. Carter hesitated. “You still have some very minor brain damage from the freeze. We recommend letting your body repair itself fully.”

    Ben’s mind raced, calculating, speculating. He murmured under his breath, half to himself, half aloud, “One hundred years of value increase… oh my god… that’s at least…” His eyes widened. “I have to find my office.”

    Ben’s excitement boiled over as he suddenly leaned forward, gripping Dr. Carter’s shoulders with a burst of energy. His voice trembled with intensity. “I feel fantastic! You’ve done something incredible. Thank you. Truly. Just… let me out of here so I can access my trust!”

    Dr. Carter blinked, startled. “Your trust?”

    “My assets! My money!” Ben’s voice rose with excitement.

    Dr. Carter took a step back, his hands raised in a calming gesture. “Mr. Michaels, you have to get back in bed. You shouldn’t excite yourself too much right now. There’s still some brain repair to complete. It might make you a little emotionally labile for a few weeks.”

    Ben frowned. “Emotionally labile? What does that mean? I have brain damage!?”

    Dr. Carter hesitated, searching for the right words. “It means…”

    “Brain repair?” Ben interrupted, his voice sharp and anxious.

    Dr. Carter sighed. “…that you might become somewhat emotionally…” He paused again.

    “Just tell me!” Ben demanded, his frustration boiling over.

    “…Unstable. Like impatient, for instance,” Dr. Carter finally admitted.

    Ben’s hands shot out, grabbing the front of Dr. Carter’s coat and pulling him close. “Just… take… me… to… my… money!” he growled, his face inches from the doctor’s.

    Dr. Carter’s eyes widened. “There isn’t any money anymore,” he stammered.

    Dr. Alvarez sent Dr. Carter a stern look, as if to silently reprimand him for the bluntness. Ben froze, his grip loosening.

    “What do you mean there isn’t any money!?” Ben’s voice cracked with desperation.

    “Ben, please get back into your bed,” Dr. Alvarez said gently, trying to guide him back.

    “What are you talking about? The trust! Is it gone? What the…” Ben’s voice rose again, panic setting in.

    “No, no,” Dr. Carter said quickly, trying to soothe him. “Everything will be explained later during your integration. Just…”

    “Tell me!” Ben shouted, clutching his head as a sharp pain shot through it. “Aaaah!”

    “Please calm down, Ben,” Dr. Alvarez said firmly. “The bots are still working. You’ll get a headache if you exert yourself too much right now. Please relax. Lie down.”

    Ben groaned but allowed himself to be guided back into the bed. His breathing was heavy, and his eyes darted between the doctors, still filled with worry.

    Dr. Alvarez’s voice softened. “You’ll have a little headache for a while, but it will pass as the nanites finish their work and your body adjusts to being alive again.” She hesitated before adding, “When it comes to money and the lifestyle of this new world, you’ll get an introduction very soon that will help you integrate into society.”

    Ben’s lips trembled. “So, what are you saying? My trust is gone?” His voice broke, and he clutched his head again. “Aaaah!”

    “Don’t worry, Ben,” Dr. Carter said, his tone soothing. “Everything is fine. Just relax, and it will all be clear in a few days. There’s nothing to worry about.”

    Dr. Alvarez picked up a small device. “Here, I’ll give you a light sedative to help you sleep.”

    Ben felt the slight pinch on his arm and murmured incoherently as the medication took effect. His eyelids grew heavy, and his final words before sleep overtook him was a barely audible, “My money…”

    Darkness consumed Ben, but it didn’t offer peace. Fragments of memories and emotions crashed through his mind. He was back on the streets of New York, but everything was warped, dreamlike. He sat on the cold pavement dressed in rags, an  empty tin can trembling in his hands. The city skyline loomed, mocking him, while faceless figures walked by, their laughter sharp and cruel. One figure threw a penny into his tin can.

    “Thank you,” he mumbled to the passerby, his voice hollow. The tin can clinked with two single coins, their sound echoing in the void.

    The figures began to morph, their faces becoming his own—dozens of Bens staring back at him, their eyes empty. “No money,” they chanted, their voices merging into a deafening roar. 

    Exhausted, Ben leaned his head against the wall behind him, nodding off a short minute.

    Then, in the dream, he awoke suddenly, finding the tin can empty. A frantic search began, crawling on all fours, his fingers scraping against the pavement, hunting for the lost coins. His breath quickened as realization hit him: everything he had in this world was gone.  A sense of dread tightened around his chest, echoing even as he awoke in the hospital. 

    “My money!” He screamed sitting up in his hospital bed, his voice echoing in the empty room. No one was at work this early in the morning, save for a lone robot in the hall.

    Did you like this and want to read the whole book? Ok, then preorder is still only $0,99 until May 2. 2025

    PREORDER HERE
  • What Do We Actually Want? (And Do We Really Want to Live in a Bunker?)

    What Do We Actually Want? (And Do We Really Want to Live in a Bunker?)

    Day 4 of the Countdown – 4 Days Left until launch

    I like the Silo series.

    I’ve read the books. I’ve watched the show.
    And I get the appeal — the suspense, the mystery, the tension… it’s gripping.

    But I have to ask:

    Do we really want to live in a bunker?

    Cut off from the sky. From the Earth. From each other. (spoiler alert:) Do we really want to obliterate the whole of humanity with nanotechnology and move underground for hundreds of years…? Maybe we instead can use nanotechnology to help save humanity and the planet…?

    Maybe I like dystopias like Silo because they make the contrast so clear.

    They remind me of what I don’t want.

    And that helps me clarify what I do want.

    And when we step out of fiction and look at what people actually say brings meaning to their lives, the answers are remarkably consistent:

    📊 Here’s what global and U.S. research shows people truly value:

    1. Family and Relationships
    In most countries, family is the number one source of meaning. In the U.S., it’s consistently first.

    2. Health and Well-being
    A global Ipsos survey showed health and wellness as the top contributor to happiness worldwide.

    3. Purposeful Work
    71% of Americans say work they enjoy is key to a fulfilling life.

    4. Friendship and Community
    61% of U.S. adults name close friendships as essential.

    5. Financial Stability
    Important, but never the whole story. It’s what supports the deeper things.

    ———

    Waking Up is about building a world that reflects these values.
    Not a bunker. Not a silo.

    A world rooted in joy, community, meaning, and care.

    Today marks 4 days left until the book is released.

    And since we are HALFWAY ON DAY 4 WITH 4 DAYS LEFT, I would like to share the whole of chapter 4 with you. Ben has collapsed tucking his 4 year old daughter in and has been rushed to the hospital to commence his plan… Please enjoy:

    4 .Transition

    Hectic activity filled the hospital environment. Ben had just been declared dead, and his body was rushed to the preparation room. He was rolled down a hallway surrounded by doctors and nurses in hurried conversation. Bags of ice surrounded his pale face, his eyes closed, lifeless.

    “Quick, quick, we have to get him to the preparation room,” the doctor urged, running alongside the gurney.

    They arrived at the room where the cryonic staff waited, their movements precise and practiced. The attending doctor addressed the cryonic specialist.

    “He’s declared dead now. He’s all yours. What are his chances?”

    As the team began to drain Ben’s body fluids, the cryonic doctor spoke, his tone calm but optimistic. “Well, with the techniques we have available today, it’s not impossible he can be revived sometime in the future. We replace his fluids with cryoprotectants and vitrify his body to minimize cell damage.”

    The attending doctor watched, intrigued but skeptical. “Well, I wish him the best of luck.” 

    The sound of hissing tubes and the faint hum of machinery filled the air as liquid nitrogen vapors curled around the cryonic tank.

    A worker carefully rolled the tank into storage, its surface gleaming under the dim lights. It joined a long row of identical tanks, standing like silent sentinels in the dark space. A small panel on its side blinked steadily, indicating that the freezing process was commencing.

    The cryonic tank settled into place, surrounded by a faint mist of liquid nitrogen. As the storage room fell silent, the world outside carried on, transforming in ways Ben could never have imagined. 

    While he remained in stasis, the Earth continued to spin, and humanity faced both its darkest challenges and brightest transformations. In the wake of war, famine, and pollution, a profound shift began. Conflict gave way to cooperation, as people around the globe worked together to rebuild a world worth living in. 

    Deserts started to green, reclaimed by flourishing ecosystems. Forests grew dense and vibrant, while clean rivers wound their way through the land due to pollution being completely halted. Cities rose anew, powered by sustainable technologies, their designs harmonizing with nature rather than conquering it. Across the skies, the sun rose and sat over landscapes that teemed with life, a testament to human collaboration and ingenuity. 

    A century passed in an instant for Ben, his frozen form unaware of the new world taking shape outside his tank. Yet, the Earth itself bore witness to the transformation, evolving into something far greater than what he had ever imagined…

    If this resonates with you, you can preorder Waking Up for just $0.99 until May 2. And read the whole story.

    We’re at 19 preorders. The goal is 200. Please don’t hesitate.

    What do we actually want?

    Maybe it starts with asking the right questions…

    📘 Waking Up launches May 2.

    GET YOUR COPY

    Stay tuned for a new excerpt tomorrow…

  • LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 3: 5 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH!

    LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 3: 5 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH!

    This is not just a book launch. It’s a mission. And I need your help.

    In just 5 days, Waking Up goes live.

    This isn’t a big-budget release backed by a publishing empire.
    It’s me — one person, one vision, and a story I’ve carried for over a decade.
    And now, I’m asking you to help carry it out into the world.

    Amazon’s algorithm is everything.

    It’s the invisible force behind every book that breaks through — or disappears.
    And here’s the truth: the algorithm doesn’t care about hype or hope.
    It cares about numbers. It watches what people do — not what they say.

    That’s why these final days before launch matter so much.

    💡 Here’s how it actually works:

    • Preorders stack — Every preorder made before May 2. counts as a sale on launch day. This is crucial for building momentum.
    • Early momentum = visibility — The more preorders go out on launch day, the more Amazon promotes Waking Up to new readers.
    • Amazon’s algorithm is everything.
    • Just a few sincere reviews during the first 48 hours can make a massive difference.
    • Engagement matters — Clicking the link, sharing it, adding the book to your wishlist — it all adds up and tells the algorithm: this book matters.

    This isn’t about manipulating the system.
    It’s about working with it — to lift up something meaningful.
    Something that, if enough people see it, could genuinely help shift the way we imagine the future.

    So here’s what I’m asking:

    👉 Preorder the book (if you haven’t yet) — it’s just $0.99 until launch.

    PREORDER HERE


    👉 Tell someone — a friend, a family member, anyone who might resonate with the story.
    👉 Mark May 2. to leave a short review. Even one or two lines help enormously.
    👉 Visit and share wakingupstory.com — every click supports the cause.

    Whether you want to support me as a friend, or the cause — a vision for a better future on planet Earth — it only costs one dollar right now .

    📌 A special note to my friends in Norway and Sweden: I know some of you have faced frustrating challenges with ordering the book due to platform restrictions. If you’re unable to order it, I completely understand — but please don’t give up on the mission. You can still play a vital role: share it far and wide. The more people who see the link — especially in countries where ordering is easier — the better chance we have of waking something up in the world. You matter to this movement more than you know. In Norwegian:

    SIDEN DU HAR LEST SÅ LANGT SOM TIL HIT ANTAR JEG AT DU VIL HJELPE. SÅ I ET SISTE FORSØK: PRØV Å GÅ TIL AMAZON.DE OG SKRIV INN: “WAKING UP A JOURNEY TOWARDS A NEW DAWN FOR HUMANITY” I SØKEFELTET. DA SKAL DU FINNE BOKEN. OG DET BURDE VÆRE MULIG Å BESTILLE FRA NORGE. For om man skriver inn amazon.no i en nettleser vil man automatisk bli omdirigert til amazon.de. M.a.o. amazon.de er norges Amazon nettbutikk…

    Tusen takk for at du ikke har gitt opp… 🙂

    This book was written with love, fire, and faith in what’s possible.
    If it speaks to something in you — help me carry it the last five days to the world.

    We’re not just launching a book.
    We’re planting a seed.

    Let’s do this together. 💚

    🚀 Call to Action:
    Visit wakingupstory.com now and preorder Waking Up for just $0.99.
    Let’s show the algorithm what a hopeful future looks like. Or just click the link below to preorder:

    PREORDER HERE

  • LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 2: 6 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH

    LAUNCH COUNTDOWN DAY 2: 6 DAYS LEFT TO LAUNCH

    6 DAYS  

    (a sunrise in verse) written by chatGPT. Prompted by HNS

    The sky is shifting.  

    Subtle at first —

    a breath,  

    a shimmer,  

    a whisper of light.

    We stir in our sleep,  

    not knowing the dream is ending,  

    not knowing  

    we are already waking.

    The systems we built  

    — of numbers, walls, and worth —  

    begin to crack,  

    not from violence,  

    but from the pressure of truth  

    pressing gently from within.

    Can you feel it?

    Something ancient rises  

    not to conquer,  

    but to remember.

    We were never meant  

    to sell our hours,  

    to cage our joy,  

    to fear each other  

    in the name of survival.

    We were born to belong.  

    To build without barter.  

    To give without guilt.  

    To grow without fear.

    And maybe  

    — just maybe —  

    this is the dawn  

    we’ve been waiting for.

    Only 6 days now.  

    ✨ Hold the light.  

    🌱 Preorder the book.  

    🔥 Be part of the awakening. Preorder for  Only $0,99 until May 2.2025

    PREORDER HERE

    👉

  • LAUNCH COUNTDOWN: Day one – The Final Week Begins

    LAUNCH COUNTDOWN: Day one – The Final Week Begins

     Seven days.  

     That’s all that remains between now and the release of Waking Up.  

     But this isn’t just the final stretch of a book launch. For me, it’s the closing of a much longer journey — one that began in the ashes of collapse, illness, and radical questioning. A circle that’s been quietly forming over years, finally ready to complete itself.    

     This story — born as a film script over a decade ago, then transformed through the fires of stroke, solitude, and soul — is now emerging as a novel. Not just any novel. A signal. A seed.  

    Waking Up is a message in a bottle, cast into a stormy sea, hoping to reach those who feel — deep down — that a different world is not only possible, but necessary.  

     A world beyond money, beyond control, beyond the illusions that divide us.  

     A world built on something real:  

    Gratitude. Love. Joy.  

     And now I’m asking you — heart to heart:  

     👉 Would you spend one dollar to support a vision of a better future for humanity?  

     For just $0.99, you can preorder Waking Up and help push this story into the world where it belongs.  

     This isn’t about me. It’s about us.   

    Right now we’re at 15 preorders. The goal is 200 before launch day.  

     Not because of charts, money or ego — but because every single order tells Amazon the algorithm, “This matters. People care.”  

     If this vision resonates with even a small part of you, now’s the moment. Let’s cross this threshold together.  

     Because this is more than a countdown.  

    It’s a crossing.  

     And the new world?  

     It’s closer than we think.  

     — H  

     📘 Waking Up launches May 2.  

     Preorder for $0.99 here:

     

    GET YOUR COPY
  • New excerpt – Chapter 3. Family and Legacy

    New excerpt – Chapter 3. Family and Legacy

    It’s been a while since I last shared an excerpt from Waking Up, and I’m excited to continue the journey. If you’ve been following along, we’ve already explored some key moments in Benjamin Michaels’ story:

    – In the prologue, we met Ben as he made a life-changing decision to undergo cryogenic preservation, hoping for a better future in a world that was unraveling around him.

    – Chapter 1 saw Ben watching the world outside his office, where protests and unrest mirrored the deep turmoil within his own body. He began to question everything he thought he knew about the world he had built.

    – Chapter 2 introduced us to a more personal side of Ben, as he prepared to leave his legacy behind. In a reflective moment with his driver, Theobald, and a brief, eye-opening encounter with a beggar, Ben was forced to confront the deeper meaning of wealth, freedom, and success.

    Now, I’m excited to share the whole of Chapter 3 with you in this article! This chapter takes us deeper into Ben’s personal life and the emotional dynamics between him and his family, particularly his wife, Priscilla, and his daughter, Bianca. As Ben faces a health crisis, the tension between his legacy and the fleeting moments of connection with his loved ones becomes even more apparent.

    But be warned, this chapter ends with a cliffhanger that sets the stage for what’s to come. It’s a pivotal turning point that will leave you wondering what’s next for Ben—and his future. Please enjoy the full chapter 3 here:

    Chapter 3. Family and Legacy

    When Benjamin Michaels stepped into his mansion, the warmth of the entryway did little to ease the tension in his chest, in spite of the brisk walk he had just finished. Priscilla’s voice called out from the living room. “You’re early.”

    Ben walked in to find her perched on the edge of the sofa, a glass of wine in her hand. Her gaze flicked to him, sharp and searching. “You canceled all your appointments again, didn’t you?”

    “I needed to think,” he replied, loosening his tie further as he sank into the armchair opposite her. “And I finalized the trust.”

    Priscilla’s lips thinned. “The trust. Right. Everything for Bianca. And what about us?”

    Ben’s jaw tightened. “It’s for all of us. For the future.”

    She shook her head, swirling the wine in her glass. “You’re so obsessed with this future of yours, you’re forgetting the present.”

    Before he could respond, the nanny appeared in the doorway with Bianca, clutching a sketchpad. “Dad? Can I show you something before I go to bed?”

    Ben’s expression softened as he beckoned her over. She climbed onto the arm of his chair and held up her drawing: a vibrant scene of a city filled with green parks and smiling people.

    “It’s beautiful,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Is this the world you’d like to see?”

    She nodded eagerly. “It’s for everyone.”

    Ben sat on Bianca’s bed, tucking her in as he felt a pang in his chest, sharper than he expected. He had just given her a delicate green pendant, saying softly “Whenever you hold this pendant I’ll be with you, wherever you are”. A sudden dizziness overtook him. The edges of his vision darkened, and he slumped to the floor beside her bed. “Dad?” Bianca called out anxiously. 

    There was only silence.

    Preorder for only $0,99

    If you like this and feel like checking out the whole story, you can preorder the ebook until May 2. 2025. For only $0,99.

    GET YOUR COPY HERE

    I will post more excerpts later. If you’d like to be notified, please sign up below.