Guest Post with Alex Hughes ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Alex Hughes

Alex Hughes, the author of the award-winning Mindspace Investigations series from Roc, has lived in the Atlanta area since the age of eight. She is a graduate of the prestigious Odyssey Writing Workshop, and a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America and the International Thriller Writers. Her short fiction has been published in several markets including EveryDay Fiction, Thunder on the Battlefield and White Cat Magazine. She is an avid cook and foodie, a trivia buff, and a science geek, and loves to talk about neuroscience, the Food Network, and writing craft—but not necessarily all at the same time! You can visit her at Twitter at @ahugheswriter or on the web at www.ahugheswriter.com.

TEN THINGS I LEARNED IN SCHOOL - A BLOG POST BY ALEX HUGHES

Jean asked me to write about the greatest thing I learned in school, and it’s such an interesting question. There’s a lot, so I decided to make a list.

Feed your peasants. Seriously, most of the world’s revolutions could have been avoided if they’d bothered to follow this basic rule.
Kids (and people) like to travel in packs, and they can be kind or cruel, and sometimes both at once.
You haven’t really learned something until you can explain it to someone else. Corollary: teaching somebody else is a great way to learn.
He who commits the most wins. Bring three armies to your opponent’s one, and you have to screw something up to lose. On the other hand, don’t screw something up just because you brought three armies.
Opportunity cost is a real thing. You don’t just give up time or money, you give up the thing you could have had with the same time or money you just spent. Also, guessing this concept correctly while on the spot gets you free pens from the teacher.
If you work hard enough and ask for enough help, you can learn anything. This includes calculus, the right way to interact with a touchy peer, and the winning debate strategy.
Do your research. The stupidest idea in the world sounds a lot smarter with ten pages of detailed citations.
All things being equal, the one who speaks with confidence wins. In other words, B.S. it and you might just get an A.
The key to school (and life) is to figure out what the teacher (boss, customer) wants and give it to her. With a smile. Following instructions.
And the big one: all history (and political science, and every other kind of human opinion) is biased. It has a point of view that affects the story that’s told, and you should know that going in. Don’t listen to the Encyclopedia Britannica on Irish history, don’t ask a barber if you need a haircut, and when you’re trying to get at the truth, read widely from many sources and see where they agree and where they don’t. The first guy who tells you a story may not have it right.

FORESEE NO EVIL.

Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.

When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.

Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.…

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