Authorpreneur Dashboard – Peter Mulraney
Making Space For The Divine
Religion & Spirituality
Peter Mulraney is a modern day or urban mystic. Unlike ancient mystics, he’s not secluded in a monastery or ashram but lives an everyday life much like yours.
Making Space For The Divine invites you to join Peter in reflecting on some of the insights he’s received from making space for the divine in his busy life.
Peter sees himself as a mystic and not a guru, so this is a book of insights to contemplate, not a set of teachings you will be asked to believe.
Hopefully, while you’re reflecting on Peter’s insights, you’ll receive a few of your own.
Book Bubbles from Making Space For The Divine
Introspection
Introspection is not something we’re used to doing in our busy lives but, as I have discovered through exploring the process over many years, spending time examining the assumptions and beliefs underpinning your behaviour and outlook on life is life changing. In reality, the only thing you actually need to change is your mind - but you need to know what’s in your mind before you can change it - and introspection will help you with that. I hope you find these insights helpful as you take a few quiet moments to delve into some introspection during your busy day.
Desolation
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Murder Mystery
When an unseasonal downpour uncovers the skeletal remains of two missing teenagers in a national park, jaded cold case investigator Detective Sergeant Pat Travers finds himself in the mid-north town of Burra with his new partner, Detective Constable Lina Palumbo, trying to unravel a thirty year mystery. It’s a big ask and Pat’s not confident of an outcome. In fact, he suspects he’s expected to fail.
A lot of things have happened in the intervening thirty years since the teenagers disappeared. People have aged and moved on from the trauma, and they’re reluctant to re-examine the details of an old story they believe will never be resolved.
But, confidences are betrayed with devastating results.
Book Bubbles from Desolation
Creating mystery
Mystery draws you into a story. Mystery is a puzzle wanting to be solved. It's something unexplained happening that leaves you wanting to find out why it happened or who was involved in making it happen. This is the opening scene in Desolation. It's crafted to give you enough information to want to know what happened to Jane and Andrew. How did I do? Do you want to find out what happened to them?
Desolation - a word with two uses
Desolation - a state of complete emptiness - a word used to describe the appearance of a place, like a desert, or the depth of a feeling, like despair. In writing this story, I envisaged both uses of the word - to give you a sense of the setting and a sense of the emotional state of the players as events unravel their relationships. The story is set in what is described as marginal farmland - red dirt, rocky outcrops and stunted vegetation - where it sometimes rains but mostly doesn’t. The events concern the resolution of a thirty year mystery that shattered several lives - and destroys others in the telling. I hope you enjoy it.
The Identity Thief: Stella Bruno Investigates
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Murder, mystery, and a little intrigue. Detective Sergeant Stella Bruno investigates the murder of ‘nice guy’ Bob Cunningham, and discovers he wasn’t who he claimed to be. To solve this one, Stella not only has to work out who the victim was, she also needs to find out why he was pretending to be someone else. And, there’s the distraction of Shaun Porter, the new man from Public Prosecutions, who walks into her life. If you enjoy a good murder mystery with a little intrigue, you’ll love this quick read from Peter Mulraney’s new series.
Book Bubbles from The Identity Thief: Stella Bruno Investigates
Read some Aussie Crime
We do things a bit differently down here on the underside of the world but that doesn't stop some of us from doing the wrong thing. This story explores the idea of identity theft in a way you might not expect and sends DS Stella Bruno on a journey of discovery. It's a quick read, so why not come for a trip down under without leaving home to read some Aussie crime?
Make a virtual visit to South Australia
The Stella Bruno Investigates series of quick reads is set in and around picturesque Adelaide, South Australia. We'd love you to visit. Most years we host thousands of foreign visitors who come to sample our wines and stay in hidden holiday spots in places like the Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island and the Barossa Valley. We even have mild winters at this time of year. So, why not come down now before the next bushfire season starts and see what Stella's up to as she investigates cases around the state. Stay safe.
Writing Stella Bruno Investigates
I set out to do three things when writing this series: (1) create a strong female lead character; (2) showcase my home state: South Australia; and (3) write an entertaining story you could read in a few hours. A lot of us, me included, like reading about foreign places, and it finally dawned on me that what was so familiar to me was foreign to most people in the world. There are plenty of British or American, but not that many Australian, police procedurals in the market place. Australians have their own unique ways of doing things so I hope you enjoy reading about something happening is a place that is not New York or London or the west coast of Scotland.
They're mates even if she's the boss.
One thing about working with people is you end up sharing snippets of your life with them. I wrote this little exchange to give you an insight into the relationship between Stella and Brian and to highlight the informal nature of their working partnership.
North Wind
When the wind blows from the north in South Australia during the summer - it's hot! Australian summers are times of high temperatures and low humidity. In these two paragraphs, I've painted a picture to give you some idea of what it's like to step out of an air-conditioned car into a hot summer's day. South Australia is one of those places where heat waves (days of 40C ) are a regular feature of summer.
Mystical Journey: A Handbook for Modern Mystics
Religion & Spirituality
Modern tools for modern mystics. Modern mystics don’t get to hide away in monasteries and ashrams or a cave in the mountains like the holy men and women of the past. In these secular times, modern mystics are ordinary people called to the mystical journey in the everyday world. Perhaps you’ve heard the call to the mystical journey but you’re not quite sure what to do next. Maybe you’re wondering what this mystical journey stuff is all about. You’re in the right place. In this handbook for modern mystics by Peter Mulraney, author of My Life is My Responsibility, you’ll find a clear description of the mystical journey, inspiring insights, and a helpful set of tools for navigating your way. This is a handbook for those ready to start the mystical journey - and for those who have set out on their own.
Book Bubbles from Mystical Journey: A Handbook for Modern Mystics
Making Space For The Divine
Everyone contains a spark of the divine, whether they’re aware of it or not. You don’t have to be anyone special to see it but you do have to make space for it in your life. Unfortunately, we spend too much time and energy trying to find the divine out there, when it’s right here inside us. God’s not hiding in heaven but inside you and everyone else. Making space for the divine is what I call the Mystical Journey. With this book I'm inviting you to join me in making space for the divine.
Self discovery
The only way you're going to find those answers you're looking for is to stop looking for them outside yourself. As hard as it seems to grasp, the answers are not out there hidden in the noise of the world. They're hidden within your heart. Going within to find them is what I call the Mystical Journey. In this book I share a few of the answers I've found and some tools to help you find your own answers to life's questions.
Who am I? The mystical question.
Mystics are not saints. They are people like you and me. Mystics are simply people who have asked the question: Who am I? and then stuck around long enough to learn the answer to their question. The mystical journey is one of self-discovery, and we're all on it whether we know it or not. I wrote this book to give you a few pointers if you're only just starting out or if you're looking for some tools to help you move along towards answering your question.
Set aside time for not doing
I didn't make any progress on my journey of self-discovery until I understood the value of setting aside time for not doing. When you're busy all the time, it's easy to tell yourself you haven't got time to stop and have a minute to yourself. Most of us avoid sitting with ourselves through doing things. What I'm suggesting here is you make time for yourself. Make time to check in with yourself and what's going on in your life. Make time to sit quietly so you can hear what you're saying to yourself. Make time to stop and dream. Make time to simply be with yourself. How do ever expect to get to know who you really are if you never spend any quality time alone with yourself?
Questions
We're all indoctrinated into the stories of our culture, the stories that tell us who we are and how things work in the world. Some of those stories are thousands of years old. Some are more recent. Too many of them, though, get passed on through unthinking retelling by parents and teachers. Some are are spread through the media by people with a specific agenda. Some are designed to simply maintain the status quo and keep us in our place. A modern mystic is simply someone who asks questions about the stories they have been told and goes in search of answers to the fundamental questions: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing here?
Being Peaceful
It's easy to complain. It's not so easy to live consciously, but it can be done. One of the benefits of living consciously is being able to decide what type of world you want to live in and, then, living that way. Committing to create a peaceful world by living peacefully with the people around you makes sense to me, and it doesn't cost you anything either. Works for me. How about you?
Collaboration
Life is a collaboration, not a battle. It's a dance, not hand-to hand combat. It's a love story, not a war story. Offer your hand to the person in front of you, and ask them to join you in the dance.
Being Compassionate
Be Compassionate is from a chapter titled: 10 ways of being for birthing a better world. I wrote this insight from a place of knowing you can bring about or birth change by being the change you want to see. This is not a knew idea but it's a powerful idea, because it allows you to do something about your world situation by being what you desire to see. If you want to experience more compassion in your life, start by being more compassionate to yourself and those around you. And, if you're not sure what being compassionate means, it's acting out of love.
Being the hero in your life
Being a hero isn't what I thought the spiritual life was about when I started on this path. But the further along I travelled, the more I realized it takes courage to embrace transformation and change. Everybody wants everyone else to change so the world will be a better place. It takes no courage at all to demand others change. As a pilgrim on the mystical journey though, I discovered that the only person that needed to change for my world to be a better place was me. Funnily enough, a lot of that change was letting go of stuff like limiting beliefs and other people's opinions about me. Yes, it takes courage to make changes in your life - but that's what heroes do.
Time for some self love.
We spend so much time doing things for others or working for a cause, we often forget about the most important person in our lives. The end result is often burn out. You don't have to go there. You have another choice, to love yourself and to put yourself first in your life. The Mystical Journey is all about learning to love yourself. It's only when we love ourselves that we can really serve. It's time for some self love.
The essential first step.
If you want to make sense of your life, you need to give up your addiction to doing. I used to think I was too busy to spend time doing nothing. Now, I don't get anything done unless I spend time doing nothing before I begin.
Are you a mystic?
Are you seeking the answer to life's most profound question: Who am I? If you are, you're on the mystical journey. No need to freak out. Modern mystics are not required to hide in caves and renounce the world. In fact, we're called to go on the mystical journey right here in the middle of the mess we call the modern world. This little handbook, full of the tools I use, will help you navigate the way home.
Hearing the call
When I started looking into mysticism, I thought it was a special kind of calling to devote your life to God. That’s how the ancients saw it, and they often retired into seclusion in monasteries, ashrams or the hills. There are still people who do that, but mysticism is no longer restricted to such people. We are all called to be mystics, people who make space for the divine in their lives, but it’s often a difficult call to hear. In the West, we are living in what are called secular times, where the influence of the major religions is falling away but people are still searching for something. They know they are missing something but they’re not sure what it is. That’s how the call often shows up and, when we hear it, some of us throw ourselves into changing the external world - saving the planet, alleviating poverty or fighting corruption. Others stumble upon the inner, mystical journey and come to realise they first have to remember who they are, before they can effectively change the external world in which they are living their human lives. This is a handbook for those of you who have stumbled upon the inner way.
Beyond the Words: Reflections on I Am affirmations
Religion & Spirituality
You use affirmations every day – whether you’re aware of doing it or not. Every time you use I am statements you make an affirmation reinforcing what you believe about yourself. The meaning of the words you use in your affirmations is determined by the context of your life. In this book, I explore what the affirmations I shared in I Am Affirmations: the Power of Words mean to me. This collection of easy-to-read reflections will expand your awareness of what your affirmations mean and encourage you to contemplate the meaning of the words you use in your I am statements.
Book Bubbles from Beyond the Words: Reflections on I Am affirmations
I Am Here
You don't need a time machine to travel into the future or into the past. Seems to me we have an inbuilt, innate ability to time travel whenever we choose. Some call it daydreaming but often it's denial or escapism. The only place you can live life and fully engage with what is going on where you are is here. That's the challenge and the reminder of this affirmation - to be here, now.
Sharing the Journey
Religion & Spirituality
You are on a journey. The nature or purpose of that journey comes down to what you choose or refuse to believe. If you’re at that point in life where you’re noticing that things are not working out the way you thought they would, and you’re questioning the beliefs underpinning it all, you’ll find some refreshing insights in this book of reflections. In Sharing the Journey, self-confessed reluctant mystic, Peter Mulraney, invites you to reconsider the journey you think you’re on and lets you know that you are not alone. If you’re not ready to examine your beliefs and push the boundaries of your mental comfort zone, this is not the book for you. If you are ready to take a look at your beliefs and start living consciously, you’ve found a friend for the journey.
Book Bubbles from Sharing the Journey
Personal stories
We all have a personal story associated with the events of our life and our family or tribal history. It's tempting to define yourself as being your story, and many of us believe we are what our story says about us. I know I did until it finally dawned on me that some of the things I believed about myself, my circumstances, and my family were not true. They were just stories that had been passed down to me. They were just opinions others had delivered as if they were fact. I decided to write my own story, and edit it any time I felt it needed a change to reflect the person I was becoming. You can do that. You don't need anyone's permission to come out from behind the mask of your story.
Food for Thought
Most of the essays in this book started life as thought provoking blog posts. I wrote them when I was finding my public voice as a writer. The 50 essays in Sharing the Journey cover a range of topics designed to get you thinking about life and what you believe. There are also a few that are reflections on what I saw going on in the world around me while I was them. The approach I took with these essays was to use them as invitations for you to start thinking about your place in the world and the cosmos. I'm not interested in pushing answers - I'm more interested in asking questions and imagining alternative possibilities. You'll definitely find food for thought in Sharing the Journey.
General Manager of the Universe
For years I was addicted to current affairs. Always keeping up with what was going on in the world. One day I stopped and asked: Why? What difference did my interest make? The answer was a little disturbing: it made no difference to what was going on. It only resulted in feelings of powerless and anger at the injustice of it all. I decided to give myself a break. I resigned as general manager of the universe. You can do the same. You'll feel better and have more time and energy to share with your friends and loved ones.
Christmas Reflection
No matter what religious beliefs you hold, or what colour your skin is, or which language you dream in, you are a gift to humanity. And, if you are such a gift, so is every other person on the planet. Merry Christmas
You are a storyteller.
The person you tell the most stories to is yourself. Then there are all the stories you tell other people about yourself. This reflection invites you to question your story, and to consider that you are not your story. When I first came across this notion of not being your story, I realised that I could change my story, and that's very liberating, especially if you are telling yourself that you are a victim or that you are defined by the events that have shaped your life story.
The New Girlfriend
Romance
For reasons known only to science, there are men who believe they can’t live without a woman in their lives. Dave Chambers is one of them. Unfortunately for Dave, the woman in his life dies on him. The New Girlfriend is Dave’s story of how he copes with that unexpected and poorly timed death, and meets ‘the new girlfriend’. As any man can tell you, finding a new girlfriend is not as easy as it sounds when his friends, usually in a pub somewhere, are encouraging him to get out and meet someone new. Like most love stories, Dave’s experience of ‘the new girlfriend’ is not all smooth sailing. It has some heartache, some funny moments, and a promising ending. If you enjoy a light hearted look at life, even at some of its darker moments, you’ll enjoy The New Girlfriend.
Book Bubbles from The New Girlfriend
Keeping a promise
I wrote this book in the months following my retirement from the public service to keep a promise I'd made to a couple of my younger associates to write a book about their obsession with new girlfriends. It was also an opportunity to reflect on retirement and the possibility of finding myself in the situation of being the one needing a new girlfriend. I enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it.
The fun begins
Looking for something light for your next read? The New Girlfriend might be just what you need. It's got some sad bits, but mostly it's a fun read inspired by the antics of some of my male workmates and my experience of the retired life. I had fun writing this one.
Come for a ride
Even though it's got some sad parts, The New Girlfriend is primarily a fun read. It's the first book I wrote from a first person perspective, so it's like hearing the story from the person it's happening to. Usually, I write crime fiction, so you can expect some twists and turns - that's the kind of story I write best. I enjoyed writing this one - hope you enjoy reading it.
Broaching the subject
We've all experienced moments around raising a sensitive subject with our significant other. And, if your experience has been anything like mine, you'll be familiar with your significant other knowing what you want to talk about as soon as you raise it. You broach the subject tentatively but your anxiety dissipates as soon as the conversation starts because it's not the shock you thought it was going to be. Here's how it goes when Dave decides to tell Jane he wants to retire.
Transitions
The New Girlfriend is a story of transitions, which a lot of us do not handle very well. We tend to rush from endings to new beginnings so we don't have to deal with all the stuff that inevitably comes up to. In a way, we let fear drive our lives instead of going with the flow and trusting the process. In the story, Dave goes back to work so he doesn't have to deal with his wife's death. I slipped in this dream as a reminder for him to let go and trust the process, because dreams are one way we talk to ourselves when the conscious mind is asleep.
You always need a girlfriend
I met with the guys I worked with most mornings for coffee around 10.30. Often those coffee shop encounters were working meetings where we thrashed out issues away from our screens, but sometimes, especially in the year leading up to my retirement, we were entertained with new girlfriend stories, like the one described here. It was at a coffee shop meeting like this that I got the idea for writing this story. I had a lot of fun writing this. Hope you get a laugh out of it, after you get through the sad bit.
The East Park Syndicate: Inspector West
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Murder Mystery. Detective Inspector Carl West investigates the murder of the mayor of East Park – businessman and political insider – Doug Clarke. Carl struggles to find a motive for Clarke’s murder until his detectives explore the activities of the poker playing East Park Syndicate. If you like a story with twists and surprises, you’ll enjoy The East Park Syndicate.
Book Bubbles from The East Park Syndicate: Inspector West
A murder mystery to solve
Game on. I've created the mystery. Let's see if you can work out who did it before DI West and his team do.
Tapping into emotions
This scene appears to be about Doug Clarke, who is not actually present. He's expected. He's worked hard for this moment - yet he does not show up. But, this scene is about Joanna Clarke and how she is able to restrain her emotional turmoil for the sake of appearances - one of the prices one often pays in public life. I don't know about you, but I'd be freaking out if my spouse didn't turn up as expected and didn't call to explain in a situation like this. How do you think she'll react when the police tell her that her husband is dead?
A Gun of Many Parts: Stella Bruno Investigates
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Criminals, Guns, and a Licensed Post Office. Easy to use and conceal, Glock pistols are the weapon of choice in the Australian criminal underworld, even though possession of a Glock is restricted under Australian law. When a Glock with multiple serial numbers is discovered in the wreckage of a car after a senseless shooting, Detective Sergeant Stella Bruno investigates and finds herself on the trail of a group of gun smugglers making creative use of a Licensed Post Office. If you enjoy mystery and intrigue, you’ll love A Gun Of Many Parts, the second book in Peter Mulraney’s Stella Bruno Investigates series of quick reads.
Book Bubbles from A Gun of Many Parts: Stella Bruno Investigates
It started with an irrational act.
This story is based on a true crime that police would never have become aware of if it hadn't been for the actions of one hot-headed young man. This is my version of that one irrational act that led police to the gun of many parts. The real investigation starts after this first incident.
Another can of worms
How many times have you solved one problem only to realize your answer raises another problem? It happens to the police too, and in this case, the answer that looks like it will close one case poses the question that leads to another.
Bones in the Forest: Stella Bruno Investigates
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Murder, Mystery, and a Cold Trail. A skeleton, found after a fire in Wirrabara Forest, is identified as a young man reported missing five years before the fire. Detective Sergeant Stella Bruno investigates. The trail is cold. The evidence is circumstantial. Stella wonders if they’ll find a way to solve the case. Detective Constable Brian Rhodes has his own ideas on this one. If you enjoy mystery and intrigue, you’ll love Bones in the Forest, the third book in Peter Mulraney’s Stella Bruno Investigates series of quick reads.
Book Bubbles from Bones in the Forest: Stella Bruno Investigates
Deathly silence
In this opening scene, I wanted to take readers out of their comfort zone. I did that by placing my city based detectives inside a burnt out pine forest, an unfamiliar place. Pine forests are quiet places at the best of times, especially in Australia where they are plantations of an introduced tree. But after a fire, a pine forest is a place of deathly silence. There are no animals. There are no pines needles rustling in the breeze. Everything is black, as far as the eye can see. Just the right setting to find a skeleton and open a murder mystery.
Everyday Project Management
Business & Investing
Projects involving billions of dollars require serious project management by highly qualified and experienced project managers. You probably won’t be doing any of that if you’re looking at this book, but that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from applying the principles of project management to your everyday work or personal projects. In Everyday Project Management, author Peter Mulraney uses a conversational style to demystify project management for untrained project managers, and gives you access to tools the professional use - without having to read hundreds of pages or take a test. Everyday Project Management is informed by Peter’s twenty years of playing in the project space in banking and government, and his application of project management principles to writing and publishing numerous books.
Book Bubbles from Everyday Project Management
Project Management Help
Need a little help getting your project up and running? Everyday Project Management might be just what you're looking for. I wrote it to dispel the myth that project management is complicated or takes years of study to master. You can easily apply the principles of project management to complete any task and without having to buy some fancy project management software package. In a lot of cases, simple Post-it notes will help get you underway, which is why I chose them for the cover.
Project management made easy
Project management is a useful skill but you don't have to invest big dollars or hundreds of hours in study before you can do it. Despite all the mystic, project management is not all that difficult. All you need is an understanding of the basic steps and a few simple tools and, before you know it, you're on your way to becoming a project manager. I've made this an easy-to-read introduction to project management to give you a set of skills you can use to manage any personal or small business projects you're likely to undertake. Hope you find it useful.
It's not rocket science.
Project management is a way of breaking down what seems like a big job into a series of smaller tasks. The secret is taking some time before you start to work out what has to be done and the order in which it has to be done. In nearly every project I worked one, we started with Post-It notes - they are a project managers best friend. They're visual and you can easily move them around. And they're cheap. You can edit and replace them without breaking the bank while you're working out the details. In this book, I share the essential steps you need to manage any project - and, it's not rocket science. It's applied common sense.
An Essential Step
This is where a lot of projects fail. When you don't take the time to really spell out what it is that you're trying to achieve or what problem you're aiming to solve, you end up wasting a lot time and effort for little or no outcome. This is one step you cannot afford to skip. It's also one you cannot afford to rush through so you can get started. The time you spend defining your project will be time well spent and will save you a few headaches later, so don't rush it.
Project management for all.
One of the fun parts of project management is playing with Post-it Notes. They help you see that big jobs can be broken down into lists of small activities, and make it easy to work out the order in which things can, and in some cases must, be done. Even professional project managers start with Post-it Notes. Everyday project managers don't really need much else, unless like me, they like playing with spreadsheets.
My Life is My Responsibility: Insights for Conscious Living
Religion & Spirituality
Words of wisdom from a modern-day mystic in a language you can understand. Conscious living involves being aware of what’s going on in your life and, more importantly, what’s going on in your mind. How you experience life depends on what you choose to believe. If you never take the time to examine your beliefs, or to question your assumptions, you end up living unconsciously. When you live unconsciously, you live your life according to somebody else’s beliefs. You end up trying to meet somebody else’s expectations and not your own. The insights in this book flow from a sense of being aware that you can change the world, but not in the way most of us think about doing that. Real change happens when you accept that there is only one thing that can be changed: how you choose to see things.
Book Bubbles from My Life is My Responsibility: Insights for Conscious Living
Becoming self-aware
Becoming self-aware is the secret to changing the world you live in. Becoming self-aware is the process of noticing what you're doing, what you're saying, and what you're thinking when you're doing it. It's about noticing the impact your actions and words have on those around you. It's about discovering how your thoughts and beliefs distort your interpretation of reality. Real change only happens when you change what you're doing, saying and thinking. And, you can't make that change unless you first make the effort to find out what it is that's going on in your life. Becoming self-aware is the first step on the path to enlightenment.
The first step on the road to freedom
Freedom is not being able to do whatever you want whenever you want to do it. Thats' hedonism. Freedom is about being yourself without being bound by somebody else's beliefs. Most of us are not free, even when we think we are, because we're still following somebody else's rules. The reason I wrote this book was to give you an opportunity to review the beliefs governing your life and to prompt you to question the validity of each and every one of them. It's your life and it's time you took responsibility for how you're living it, instead of relying on what you were told when you were growing up. Some of that stuff simply isn't true.
Taking the first step.
If you want things to change in your life, you need to take the first step - stop blaming everybody and anybody else and accept responsibility for the way you're living your life. Not easy, but essential. When you accept responsibility for your life, you can choose conscious living as a way of setting yourself free from all the crazy ideas you were taught by well intentioned but misinformed people. And, when you're free, you can inspire others to free themselves - but you can't do it for anyone but yourself. And, no-one can do it for you but you.
We need to talk about death
Death is the one guaranteed event in every life, yet so many of us don't want to think or talk about it. I wonder why that is? I suspect it's because we have lost our appreciation of the spiritual. Now we want a scientific explanation when there isn't one. Maybe it's time to change your perspective and think of yourself as a spiritual being instead of being a bag of flesh and bones. Spirits know all about death - it's only bodies and egos that die.
Restart your life in 2021
If you keep looking at life the same way you've always looked at life you'll get to see what you've always seen. If that's what you want for 2021, then don't think about buying this book. BUT, if after what 2020's brought your way you'd like to see things a little (or a lot) differently, the insights I share in this book might be just what you need to refresh your outlook on life. Enjoy.
Food for Thought
I've spent a lot of time asking questions and reflecting on the answers I've received to those questions. I've contemplated on the meaning of life and what my purpose might be. Over the years, I've had a few insights that have helped me come to terms with what might be going on in what I call my life. I don't know all the answers. Maybe I don't know any of the answers but I felt called to share these insights. You can make of them what you will. I hope you find them useful or at least thought provoking as you consider taking responsibility for your life. I think giving up on being a victim is one of the greatest gifts you can give to yourself and if that's all you get from these insights, that's okay.
That control question.
As we're sitting here this weekend, wondering when it will be safe to hug our friends again, it might be a good time to think about what it is that you can control in life. When I was younger, I used to think I was in control of life. I had a plan. I made things happen. I guess none of us believe that any more, now that some virus seems to be calling the shots. What I point out in this insight is there is one thing you absolutely do control, and that is how you respond to circumstances. You always have control of how you choose to behave. The secret is being aware enough to realise that and to exercise that control consciously.
Are you sleepwalking through life?
If you've ever lived with a sleepwalker, you'll be aware of the sometimes hilarious and sometimes dangerous antics a sleepwalking person can get up to. I still laugh at some of the things my sleepwalking son did when he was a child. I also remember we had to deadlock the doors at night to keep him inside the house. Fortunately, he grew out of it and survived to be an adult.This insight was inspired by that experience and by my observations of people sleepwalking in the workplace and wondering why they were often misunderstood or not liked. We're all guilty of it to some extent but, like my son, we can grow out of it through conscious choice.
Going into the darkness
Whenever daylight saving or summer time ends we complain about the days getting shorter. It seems we prefer the longer days of summer to the longer nights of winter. I wrote this insights for those who seek to avoid the dark, whether actual darkness or the darkness of life. We all need to delve into our shadow, the dark part of ourselves if we are to grow into fullness. Enlightenment doesn't come from chasing the light but by allowing the light to penetrate your darkness. But, for that to happen, you first need the courage to be in the dark. Winter provides plenty of opportunities to explore those dark places where your dragons live.
Seeing my true value
It's the darkness of the night sky that allows us to see the beauty of the moon. When the moon appears in the day sky, it's just a flat white circle in the sky, often hard to see in the glare of the sun. When I give into the temptation to compare myself with New York Times best selling authors, it's easy to doubt my value as a writer. But, when I step out of the glare of their fame and take a look at what I have achieved, I can see my value and the value of what I have to offer. This insight is an invitation for you to do the same - to stop measuring your value by comparing yourself to the rich and famous. Step out of the glare and let your lights shine.
Are you sure it's worth getting upset about?
Have you noticed how you feel more peaceful when you don't let things upset you? I have, and my life has been a lot more enjoyable ever since I stopped letting myself get upset by all those annoying little things that show up every day. Why not give it a go? You won't regret it.
Nothing is personal
This is one of those 'the truth will set you free' insights. And, the good thing about it is you have the power to set yourself free any time you choose. It all come down to how you choose to think about things.
The starting point
Life gets better when you quit complaining and stop blaming others for all the things that happen to you. In other words, life gets better when you accept responsibility for your life. At least, that's my experience. I wrote this book as a way of sharing my insights into living consciously, that is, being aware of what you believe and how that influences your behaviour. It's not prescriptive. It's an invitation to consider another perspective, to try a different way of living your life. I hope you find it useful.
Turning off the light.
Sometimes, there is too much light. Whether that 'light' is too much information, too much noise, or simply too much going on. In those moments, you need to switch off and sit in the dark and give yourself a chance to 'see' what's really go on. Give it go.
Inspired by Byron Katie
This insight was inspired by Byron Katie, who told us there are three types of business: MY business; OTHER PEOPLE'S business, and GOD'S business. She also told us that we only have to focus on MY business and let others and God worry about their's. Give it go. See if it works for you. It works for me.
Everything is always changing
This is one of the most comforting insights when you understand it.
Holy Death
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Murder. Arson. Revenge. Detective Inspector West investigates the grisly deaths of two elderly priests: one in a suspicious fire; the other obviously murdered. The inspector is not the only one hunting the priest killer. If you like murder mixed with mystery and conflict, you’ll probably love the suspense and intrigue in Peter Mulraney’s Holy Death, the third book in his Inspector West series.
Book Bubbles from Holy Death
Turning the tables
More and more survivors of sexual abuse are coming forward and telling their stories. We've had official inquiries into the sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy. Not everyone is happy with the outcome. Not every abusive priest has gone to prison. In writing Holy Death, I wanted to explore what happens when the victims of sexual abuse take the law into their own hands. Why was I not surprised to find a world of unintended consequences? And, before you jump to conclusions, I was an altar boy for more that ten years and for all that time was never molested by a priest.
The day after a big night out.
Ever had one of those days after a big night out? You know, those days when you want to hide and let your body recover from the too much of whatever you subjected it to the night before. I thought I'd start this investigation by giving Carl and Harry one of those days and then throw them into the thick of it to see if they'd cope.
The bad guy always has a reason
Most crimes are not random acts and they do not happen in isolation. Every criminal has a life story, just like you and I do. In this scene, I introduce you to John, and start painting in the picture of his life so you can get an understanding of why he does what he does in the story.
The Human Side
Carl and Harry are officers of different ages and rank but this little window into their relationship tells us they're also something else - friends.
Playing with darkness
There are some dark issues in this story. I chose to open it with a scene set in darkness with a twist at the end - to illustrates that just because there is light it doesn't necessarily show you anything. What do you think? Does it work to get you to want to turn the page?
The Holiday
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Murder. Kidnap. Redemption. Inspector Carl West investigates the murder of seventy-five year old Kieran Moore and the disappearance of his ten year old great-grandson, Toby, after the pair secretly steal away for a holiday weekend. If you like mystery mixed with intrigue, you’ll probably love the twists and surprises in The Holiday, the second book in Peter Mulraney’s Inspector West series. Grab a copy today.
Book Bubbles from The Holiday
A little tale of intrigue
The Holiday. This is my favourite Inspector West story. It explores some interesting issues - and one in particular you won't be expecting.
The holiday fun begins
Join Toby as he escapes from his current reality to go on a secret holiday with Grandpa Kieran. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, actually, especially when Grandpa Kieran's past catches up with him while they are on the road. This is one holiday you don't want to miss.
'So, he's run away from home.'
We all make assumptions based on what we think we know. Often, those assumptions are little more than wishful thinking or an expression of hope that things aren't as bad as they seem. In this scene, Kevin, Toby's maternal grandfather, asks what happened and then comes to his own conclusion based on Terry's answers - a conclusion allowing for the possibility of Toby coming home. Of course, some of us are always optimistic like Kevin. Others are more like his wife, Mary, who, as you'll find if you read The Holiday, has a much darker view of life.
Yesterday's news.
I'm one of those guys that likes to read the weekend newspaper from end to end. These days, most of what's in those papers is opinion and not fact, and what news there is is definitely yesterday's news. If you want to know about today's news as it happens, you need to be online or tuned into the radio. In this scene, the news of the day tears Carl away from his quiet weekend read of the paper. I don't know about you, but I know how he feels.
He can't have gone too far. He's a ten year old on
We all make assumptions, often to minimise the pain of the potential outcome. In this passage, early in the first chapter, I wanted to show how easily our assumptions can be destroyed when we fail to consider something obvious. Terry assumes Toby has run away - literally - on foot. With the arrival of the police dog that assumption is quickly shown to be incorrect. The Moores have a much bigger problem on their hands than they had dared to think about. Toby could be anywhere.
Exposing Carl West
The Holiday is more of a traditional crime story than After, the first book in the series, which focuses on the response of Paul Ford to the murder of his wife. In The Holiday, the story reveals a lot more of Inspector Carl West, as he goes about investigating the death of Kieran Moore and the disappearance of young Toby. There's plenty of action and a few twists, but I chose to place a spotlight on Carl and his relationship with Nina, to give you a better understanding of Carl, the man. I hope you enjoy reading the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
After
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Mysterious death reveals her secrets. Inspector West investigates the murder of school teacher, Josie Ford. Her husband faces impacts beyond grief as Josie’s secrets are revealed. If you like mystery mixed with suspense, you’ll probably love the intrigue and surprise in Peter Mulraney’s debut murder mystery: After. Grab a copy today.
Book Bubbles from After
Sexual tension
I thought a little sexual tension between a married couple might be a good way to introduce the dynamics of their relationship, before it all falls apart under the scrutiny of a murder investigation. Men being fascinated by sex might be an ongoing urban myth but it's still fun to play with.
Seeing it from Paul's perspective
After introduces Inspector Carl West but much of the story is told from the perspective of Paul Ford, who's dealing with the unexpected and unexplained death of his wife. I wrote this story when I was coming to terms with my wife being in the USA for work while I was still working in Australia and wondering what it must be like for the spouse of a murder victim. Our separation was temporary and interspersed with Skype calls and international trips. The separation resulting from murder is more challenging - and it's permanent. This is one for putting yourself in another person's shoes. Hope you enjoy it.
Observing life around you
One of the fun parts about writing crime fiction is incorporating observations on life into the telling of the story. After all, crime stories always happen within the larger story of life. Here's an observation based on my experience of riding the bus to work for twenty years. It's amazing what assumptions you can make just watching people in public spaces - which is something we writers are doing every time we're with you. So, be warned. You could easily end up as a supporting character inside someone's next book.
Gatherings
Funerals are one of the more significant gatherings in many families. People often travel long distances to be with their family following the death of a family member. They gather to both celebrate a life and to offer support to each other. I am part of the Irish diaspora. I've been to a number of wakes for family members over the years, and those experiences coloured how I decided to describe the gathering for Josie Ford's funeral.
Being receptive
According to Dr Michael Newton, young people are more receptive to receiving messages from the dead than adults, especially in the period immediately following death when souls try to contact their loved ones to reassure them. See Journey of Souls of Dr Michael Newton. Worked for me, so I let Matthew be the one. How do you think you'd respond to hearing what Matthew says if you were Paul?
Seeing your reflection in your children.
The way you respond to a situation says a lot about you. Matthew's response tells us he is curious about his father being home early - he asks the surface level question. But Luke's question tells us he's picked up a deeper level message from his father. Children often mirror their parents. This scene gives us an insight into Paul through Matthew and a reflection of Josie in Luke. Paul does his best to put on a brave face and normalise the situation but you're left wondering whether he's really convinced the boys that everything will be okay.
Inspiration for writing
A couple of years before I wrote After, my wife went to work in New York, for the duration of the American school year. It was the first time we'd spent such a prolonged time apart since we got married. Watching how I coped with her absence, got me thinking about how someone might respond to the unexpected death of his wife. This scene was inspired by my own way of coping. I spent a lot of time drawing portraits of my wife during that first year. I think it was a way of working through a grief process, and it helped me realise that grief is not only for coping with death. That comes out somewhere else in the book.
Responding to death
This is the scene where Paul confronts the reality of Josie's death. It's a moment of shock but this moment is only the beginning of his response. When someone is killed they're dead today, and they're dead tomorrow and the day after that. Exploring how Paul responds to Josie's death over time is what I'm doing in this story. I like the mystery side of crime stories (and it's a lot of fun building that side of the story) but I'm also intrigued by the way people behave.
Opening tension
The relationship between Paul and Josie is central to the main theme of the story. I chose to open the story with a picture of their relationship that any married couple could identify with - and a touch of humour to Paul's interior monologue. A man might not think of sex every 10 seconds - as per the urban legend - but he thinks of sex every night, while his wife is only thinking of sleep or what she has to do in the morning.
After She's Gone
Self-Help
When a man finds himself alone at the end of a long term relationship, or during a prolonged separation, often it’s the first time in his life he’s had to look after himself. This little book will be a big help when you are learning to do those things she used to do for you. Are you one of those guys who can make all kinds of things but can’t make himself a meal? Or one of those guys who manages multiple projects at work but doesn’t have a clue when it comes to managing his personal space? This book is for you. It covers the basics of: • buying food and preparing meals • keeping the place clean • doing the washing, and • looking after yourself, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It’s a survival guide written by a fellow traveller, who has survived alone, to let you know you can too. The other title in this series is Cooking 4 One.
Book Bubbles from After She's Gone
The bright side of being alone.
Don't you love that song from the Monty Python crew -Always look on the bright side of life. There is a bright side to being alone.
Sitting in silence
This excerpt is from the chapter on Looking after the inner man. I'm plugged in like everybody else. My smartphone beeps in my pocket and I read on my tablet when I'm riding the bus. But, I've discovered that spending ten to twenty minutes sitting in silence, doing nothing except maybe watching thoughts float by, in the morning before I go to work and again in the evening when I get home from the office, makes a big difference to how I see the day. Give yourself permission to just sit and do nothing for a little while each day.
Friendly advice
My intention when writing this book was to share my insights on living on my own. I write from the view point of a friend giving advice, so it's got an informal style. I'm just telling you what works for me so that you've got somewhere to start. I want you to feel that with a little know how you can look after yourself.
Cooking 4 One
Cookbooks, Food & Wine
Living on your own? Sick of eating takeaways? This little book will help you master the art of feeding yourself. Cooking 4 One is a basic, no-frills cookbook. There are no intimidating pictures. There are no fancy recipes you need a degree in food science to understand. The focus is on cooking for yourself, so the instructions are about how you do it for one. If you’ve never cooked before, take comfort in the knowledge that if you can boil a pan of water on a cooktop, you already possess one of the main skills required for success in the kitchen. Cooking 4 One covers buying and storing food, and preparing meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It has sample menus to help you plan your meals and a section on entertaining - for when you’ve mastered the basics. Written by a fellow traveller, who unexpectedly found himself on his own, this little book dispels the myth that cooking is complicated.
Book Bubbles from Cooking 4 One
When I was a kid, spaghetti came in a can.
Pasta is one of the easiest foods to cook. It's basically boiling water and dropping the pasta in. When it's cooked - and they even tell you on the packet roughly how long that will take, you simply drain it, stir in a few spoonfuls of your chosen pasta sauce and add some grated cheese. Enjoy with a glass of mineral water or wine. You don't have to be Italian. All it takes is a little practice and it's not expensive. Even my mother knows how to cook it the right way now!
This cooking thing is not difficult
The experts tell us that the best learning experience is 'on the job'. It's so much easier to pick up a new skill if someone shows you how it's done. My goal with this book is to explain the processes you use to cook, as if I was standing there next to you talking you through it. The language is simple but the message isn't. I hope this book helps you develop some confidence in your ability to feed yourself. I enjoyed writing it and never imagined I'd be writing over 800 words on cooking eggs. Peter
Sanity Savers
Self-Help
Living alone and feeling bored or lonely? You need to read this book. Sanity Savers, written specifically for men living alone following the end of long-term relationships, is packed with ideas for doing interesting things with your time. Inside you’ll find seven boredom-busting strategies for using your alone time, each illustrated with numerous tips. You will also find two strategies for avoiding loneliness, which highlight the value of committing to personal growth and engaging with others. Sanity Savers is a reminder that being on your own does not mean you have to stay home alone.
Book Bubbles from Sanity Savers
Looking for something to pass the time?
I wrote this book for men who found themselves living alone after the end of a long-term relationship. But, anyone finding themselves alone thanks to the current pandemic restrictions can make good use of the strategies discussed in this book. Check it out and see if there's something here that will help you pass the time while you wait for the world to open up again.
Overcoming loneliness
One of the downsides of living alone is loneliness, which is a known trigger for depression, so it's something you probably want to avoid. I know I do. This little book is full of ideas to help you do that - if loneliness is something you're looking to overcome. The real secret to overcoming loneliness is to become your own best friend and reach out to others. I hope Sanity Savers will help you do that.
Overcoming boredom and loneliness
When you first find yourself alone it can be a bit of a novel experience but it doesn't take long for the novelty to wear off. Reality kicks in pretty quickly when you have to start looking after yourself. If you don't have things to do when you're home alone you can easily end up spending a lot of time with the TV. When I found myself on my own I started looking for things to do. The results of that search are presented in this book for you to consider. I guess the contents reflect my interest in reading, writing, art, travel, family and personal growth. What I did discover that might be useful to others is that there are lots of things you can do and there are lots of ways to do them. Enjoy!
Whistleblower
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
A whistleblower exposes other people’s secrets. Death exposes the secrets of all, including a whistleblower’s. Inspector West investigates the death of a public service whistleblower, and discovers the whistleblower has a few secrets of his own. If you like murder mixed with mystery, and a story full of twists and surprises, you’ll enjoy Peter Mulraney’s Whistleblower, the fourth book in his Inspector West series.
Book Bubbles from Whistleblower
Whistleblower
Whistleblowers are in the news these days, especially in the USA where someone must have felt like John Drake does in this story. John's a loyal public servant who's discovered something he knows is not right and feels compelled to tell someone. Like his US counterpart, he opts to use the officially sanctioned channel for reporting his concerns. As anyone who has worked in government knows, whistleblowing is a dangerous activity - it is often career ending or worse. It's supposed to be safe for those who use the sanctioned channels but this isn't always the case. It's definitely not safe for those who choose to bypass official channels and go to the media.
Even heroes have doubts
Too often the characters in crime fiction seem like superheroes. I've made a conscious choice to portray DI Carl West as an ordinary human. He might be a man doing a difficult job, but he's a man with the same fears and doubts the rest of us face.
Risky business
Whistleblowing is always a risky business, despite what governments promise in their lofty acts of legislation. Doing the right thing by the community often leads to the effective end of a career. Whistleblowers might not lose their jobs but there are many ways of ensuring they are denied any promotion opportunities. It's a doubly dangerous act when the corruption being exposed involves parties outside of government, who take a somewhat different approach to silencing such voices. It's no wonder most people opt to leak anonymously. John Drake is one of them, as you'll discover if you read on.
Twisted Justice: Inspector West
Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Revenge. Betrayal. Murder. Detective Inspector West scrambles to stop a serial killer and smash a car-stealing racket. Trent Mitchell is a man with a grudge and a list of people to execute. He’s started on his mission. Ian Holden is a car thief with a problem. Someone wants him dead. Can Inspector West bring them to justice before Trent kills everyone on his list and Ian disappears without a trace? If you like a story with twists and surprises, you’ll enjoy Peter Mulraney’s Twisted Justice, the fifth book in his Inspector West series.
Book Bubbles from Twisted Justice: Inspector West
Twisted Justice
There is the justice administered by the judicial system with all its checks and balances to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. And, then, there's the twisted justice administered by those who believe the system has let them down and by those who think the system doesn't apply to them. This is the story of two men caught in the grips of twisted justice for very different reasons, and of the investigators seeking to bring them both to justice before it's too late.
What if you know who the killer is?
A lot of the fun in reading a crime novel is working out who the killer is. But, what if you know who the killer is right from the start and who he's going to murder? That's the set up I chose to start Twisted Justice. You know some things the investigators don't: the name of the killer and the number of people on his list. Makes it a different read, don't you think?
Setting up the driving question.
Usually, I keep the identity of the killer hidden for as long as possible to draw readers into trying to work out who did it along with the investigators. In Twisted Justice, I decided on a different approach and revealed the identity of the killer up front - this scene is from the second chapter - but I let readers know something the investigators wouldn't find out about until much later - the killer has an execution list with five names on it. This sets up the driving question for readers ofTwisted Justice as: Will they stop him before he gets to the end of his list?
Living Alone
Self-Help
Living alone following the end of a long-term relationship? This book is for you. Living on your own, after having shared your life with someone else for a long time, can be challenging. Not only do you have to look after yourself physically, you also need to face the demons of boredom and loneliness. In Living Alone, you’ll find all the content from the three books in the Living Alone series: • After She’s Gone • Cooking4One • Sanity Savers After reading Living Alone, you’ll have all the information you need to look after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. Not only will you find out how easy it is to cook for yourself, you’ll also discover seven boredom-busting strategies for using your alone time, each illustrated with numerous tips. You will also find two strategies for avoiding loneliness, which highlight the value of committing to personal growth and engaging with others. Living Alone is a reminder that being on your own does not mean you have to stay home alone.
Book Bubbles from Living Alone
Feeling lost and lonely?
Finding yourself on your own can be a bit of a shock, especially if someone else had been looking after your daily needs. Happened to me - and my partner had only gone to work in another country. But it meant I had to learn to look after myself 24/7. It was a bit of a challenge but I found ways to enjoy being home alone. That's how this book came about. I thought I'd share some of the things I'd learnt that helped me cope with the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of being alone. Hope you find it useful.
Making the most of it
If you sit at home alone doing nothing, it's easy to fall into loneliness, but have you ever noticed how when you focus on something else your troubles seem to dissipate? That's what prompted me to write Sanity Savers - to give you a smorgasbord of activities to choose from to shift your focus away from feeling isolated. There will be times when you're on your own, so you may as well make the most of them doing something enjoyable - like engaging in the never ending quest of finding out who you are and what you want to do with yourself.
Solitude is not loneliness
One of the great lessons I learnt about living on my own was that being alone is not the same thing as being lonely. Solitude is a gift, especially when it becomes a gateway to knowing yourself, to becoming your own best friend. Loneliness, on the other hand, is that sense of feeling alone, isolated, or cut off from others. Enjoy your solitude but be aware solitude doesn't help when you're feeling lonely. The only cure for loneliness is to get out there where the people are. We are, after all, social beings and we need to be with other people. Friendship is the cure for loneliness. Engaging in life with others helps you avoid loneliness, even if you enjoy own company.
New Normal
We're all wondering what the new normal will be like post pandemic BUT that's not the only new normal out there. Men have been finding themselves coming to a new normal long before covid-19 came along, and that's where this book comes in. I had to come to terms with a new normal in 2009 when my wife went to New York for work and left me 'home alone' in Australia. One of the things I realized, as I came to terms with looking after myself, was I had skills I could transfer from the workplace to home that would complement my basic cooking skills - things like project management, writing instructions, and having fun. The information in this book will help you start the journey of living alone. Good luck!
Being in charge.
There are some upsides to living alone. One of them is being in charge of your living space. When you're on your own you no longer have to compromise or put up with someone else's idiosyncrasies. Of course, all that freedom comes with a downside - you're also in charge of every household chore. One of the reasons I wrote the book was to give you the information you need to take charge of all those tasks she used to do for you. Hope you find it useful.
Information for men living alone
Living Alone is the 'boxed set' of the Living Alone series. I really enjoyed writing the books that make up the Living Alone series. It's a real buzz sharing information that you know is useful. I hadn't intended getting into this sort of non-fiction writing. I thought it was too close to what I did in my day job, where I wrote procedures for tax auditors. I wanted to focus on fiction or storytelling. I'm glad I changed my mind. I hope you find this book both helpful and entertaining.
