K. Morris's Blog, page 772

Retrievers

Can someone please explain why my guide dog Trigger, who is a lab/retriever is adept at getting his blanket out of the dog bed, running around, tail wagging furiously, but leaves the blanket in the middle of the floor for me to pick up or trip over? I was under the impression that retrievers – retrieve? Obviously I have been labouring under a misapprehension on that score! In point of fact Trigger will greet me and my guests with all kinds of fascinating objects ranging from shoes, socks and, of course his beloved blanket. It is merely that my four legged friend point blank refuses to return said objects to where he found them!

I think that there is a case for the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association (GDBA) to train our canine helpers to put things back precisely where they found them. In fact lets forget about training guide dogs to assist blind people to cross the road, putting my shoes back in the exact spot where Trigger discovered them is far more important even if that spot was not well chosen, by me in the first place! I shall close now. I’m off to pen a letter to the Guide Dogs setting out my suggestion that they concentrate training on the retrieval and return of objects rather than on piffling matters like getting blind people such as myself from a to b safely. I’m sure they will be receptive to the idea, or maybe not!

The Prostitution Debate

Feminist Times has an interesting debate regarding the adoption of the Nordic Model under which the selling of sexual services is decriminalised while the purchasers are criminalised, being subject, on conviction to a fine and/or imprisonment. Essentially proponents of the Nordic model argue that prostitution is, almost always not a free choice and the state should discourage prostitution’s damaging effects by targeting those who sustain the industry (I.E. the buyers of sex). Supporters of the Nordic approach state that prostitution has decreased following the introduction of prohibitions on the purchase of sex.

Opponents of the Nordic model dispute the view that most women engaged in prostitution are unwilling victims of pimps and traffickers. The majority of prostitutes are, they contend voluntarily selling sex. Criminalising clients would, they believe lead to the selling of sex being driven underground and women being forced into the arms of pimps.

For the radical feminist perspective, in support of the Nordic Model please visit http://www.feministtimes.com/prostitution-harms-women-radfem-uk-the-nordic-model/. For the opposing perspective please go to http://www.feministtimes.com/comeback-why-the-nordic-model-harms-women/.

As an author the motivations of those engaged in prostitution fascinate me. Prostitution is a highly complex issue and the reasons why people (mainly but not exclusively women) engage in it are many and various. In my story, “Samantha” Sam is forced by her brutal pimp, Barry to become a prostitute. In contrast, in “The First Time” Becky, a graduate with a first class degree in English literature becomes an escort in order to clear her debts.

 

For details of “Samantha” and “The First Time” please visit http://newauthoronline.com/about/.

Today I want to share with you three awesome ways to sell more books right now without any additional traffic.

drewdog2060drewdog2060:

Good advice. I haven’t heard of Squeeze but I am off now to check it out. Kevin

Originally posted on theowlladyblog:

Whether you’re a brand new author with only a few sales or an experienced author with thousands of raving fans, these three simple tips will help you sell more books without any additional traffic, fans, or promotion.

 
In fact, all you have to do is make three small tweaks in 5 minutes to start getting more sales from your existing fan base:
 
1. Link to your squeeze page
 

The first and most powerful strategy is to link to your squeeze page inside your book. (If you don’t know what a squeeze page is, go watch my free video training series on email marketing at http://goo.gl/Aj09Pd)

 
You can link to your squeeze page at the very beginning of your book (usually underneath the copyright information on the title page), and at the end of your book (usually either before or after your author bio.)
 
In…

View original 406 more words

How Many Reviews Does A Book On Amazon Have?

When purchasing books online most people will look at the reviews. One or more good reviews may encourage the potential reader to part with their money. Amazon have, fairly recently allowed reviews appearing on amazon.com to show on the amazon.co.uk site. This is to be welcomed, however matters are somewhat confusing. Take, for example my collection of short stories, “Sting In The Tail and Other Stories” (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-tail-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54/ref=pd_cp_kinc_0). As of today anyone visiting the UK site will, at first glance see that “Sting In The Tail” has received 1 review. However, read down the page and (under the review which was posted on the UK site) appear 3 reviews written by readers who have purchased the book on amazon.com. It might be argued that people should carefully read all the information about a particular book. However, in the real world potential readers will frequently just glance at a book description, note that it has (apparently) 1 review and pass on to the next title. The situation is worse for authors when no reviews appear on the UK site but books have been reviewed on the US website. Again one can argue that readers (if they look at the whole page) will see that the book has, in fact been reviewed on amazon.com, but how many readers will read so far?

My suggestion for resolving this issue is for the total number of reviews on both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk to appear near to the top of the book’s page (after all a review is a review irrespective of which country it was written in).

As I said at the start of this post it is wonderful that Amazon do include reviews written on amazon.com on the UK site. However, in my opinion the total number of reviews should be made clearer ensuring that the potential buyer has the maximum amount of information at his (or her) fingertips and, hopefully helping authors to sell more books.

Would You Like To Write A Guest Post?

I am looking for guest posters. If you are interested in writing a guest post, on any subject (preferably with a vaguely literary angle but you can, within reason write about anything)! Please contact me at newauthoronline @ gmail . com (the address is given in this manner to try and defeat the scourge of modern life, spammers)! I look forward to hearing from you. Kevin

An Incident At The Playhouse

“It all got a bit out of hand didn’t it sir?” the sergeant said.

“Yes, I admit it. What with everyone shouting “get him off” and the booing I just couldn’t help myself” the man said.

“But a man in your position should have known better sir. I mean you are not unfamiliar, pardon me for saying so, with people exhibiting this kind of behaviour. You should have controlled yourself. There really is no excuse for what happened this evening is there sir?” the sergeant said.

“But everyone else was doing it. I saw eggs, rotten tomatos and bananas being thrown at the stage”.

“Yes sir. We have examined the CCTV and spoken to witnesses who all confirm that things got out of hand but there is, as I said no excuse for your behaviour is there sir?”

“I just couldn’t help myself. I got carried away” the man replied.

“So you admit shouting, “You don’t think I’m funny. How’s this for a laugh? See who’s laughing now” as you sprayed red paint, using a high pressure spray gun, indiscriminately around the playhouse?”

“Look sergeant. I am only human. A comedian can only take so much!”

A Review Of My Collection Of Short Stories: “Sting In The Tail And Other Stories”

On checking to ascertain whether the free promotion of my books had resulted in any further reviews, I came across the following review for my collection of short stories, “Sting In The Tail And Other Stories”:

 

“Dark, suicidal short stories. However, well thought out. Left me feeling very gloomy. Way stories are woven still reminiscent of S. King”. (http://www.amazon.com/review/R9HE7R51U7CEQ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00DFK6R54). Thank you to the reviewer for taking the time to read and review “Sting In The Tail”.

 

Reviews And A Thank You

I was excited to see that my collection of short stories, “An Act Of Mercy” has received the following 4 star review:

“A series of short, dark stories that one can easily relate to although most would not find themselves in the situations the stories involve. Thoroughly

thought provoking”. (For the review please visit http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PVJFPC6DWJDQ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm).

 

In addition, my collection of short stories, “Street Walker And Other Stories” has received a 4 star review from the same reviewer:

“The first page led me to believe this was to be a book of ladies of the night. Then it turned to little short stories reminiscent of Stephen King. But the

final entry joined them together in a way that sticks with you”. (For the review please go to http://www.amazon.com/review/RMGILYKK6L3ZV/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm).

 

Thank you to the reviewer for the above reviews and to all of you who have helped to promote my writing by reblogging and liking my posts. It is very much appreciated. Kevin

Dogs Prefer Physical Contact To Verbal Praise Study Claims

A study has concluded that our four legged friends prefer being petted to verbal praise and being fed over petting. Now there’s a surprise. I never, in my wildest dreams would have guessed that dogs prefer food over strokes or pats! To be fair this is a summary, in the Daily Mail of what is a rather complex piece of research and I am sure, as is often the case, that the press have simplified the findings. None the less I (along with millions of other dog lovers) could have told the researchers that canines prefer food to a good old fashioned fuss.

For the article please visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2744762/Don-t-bother-talking-Fido-PET-Dogs-prefer-physical-contact-vocal-praise-study-claims.html

The Free Promotion Of My Books Ends On 6 September 2014

The free promotion of my books ends on 6 September. For further information or to download my stories free from Amazon please go to http://newauthoronline.com/2014/09/01/free-book-promotion-4/.