K. Morris's Blog, page 803
November 21, 2013
Racism In America
Today’s Daily Mail has an article about the role played by black people in the history of the White House. The majority of those who built the White House where negro slaves while until very recently black servants where not considered equal with their white counterparts. I was, obviously aware of the history of racial segregation in the United States, however this article provided me with information of which I was previously unaware. For the article please visit http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2510890/New-film-The-Butler-reveals-White-Houses-shameful-history.html?ico=home
November 20, 2013
Its All About Me, Really!
An interesting short piece on the use of social media by authors. The article argues that users of social media should ensure that the focus of their posts is not solely on “me”, rather the focus should be on building a community and providing space for your followers to express themselves and participate. For the piece please visit http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/newsletter/nov13-using-social-media.php
An act of mercy and other stories by K. Morris
Reblogged from The Story Reading Ape's Short Stories Bookcase:
A collection of dark and intriguing tales encompassing blackmail, murder and sex.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/act-mercy-oth...
http://www.amazon.com/act-mercy-other...
Many thanks to Chris (The Story Reading Ape) for including my collection of short stories, An Act Of Mercy in his Bookcase. Chris maintains an excellent blog with posts about books, articles by authors and tips for writers.
November 19, 2013
Reading Blind
Growing up as a blind person in the 1970s and 1980s there existed extremely limited opportunities for a visually impaired book lover like me to slake my thirst for books. Then (as now) only a fraction of the books available in print could be found in braille so if you wished to read Wuthering Heights then all fine and dandy, however if you wished to enjoy the latest thriller there was virtually no possibility of obtaining it in braille.
I supplemented my reading of braille books by listening to spoken word cassette versions of the classics together with books of more recent vintage such as Where Eagles Dare. However many of these recordings, although often professionally read where, for all that abridgements of much lengthier books. While some books no doubt might benefit from being abridged many others did not but, as a blind reader I had, by and large to make do with what was available.
The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) offered (and still provides) a talking book library of full length works ranging from the classics to the latest detective stories. Again, however only a relatively small proportion of the books available in print found their way onto the shelves of the Talking Book Library. All this changed with the coming of the e-book and, in particular the invention of the Amazon Kindle.
I received my first Kindle, as a Christmas present in 2011 and it opened up a world of print literature which had, hitherto been barred to me. My Kindle possesses a text to speech facility which enables me to have most of the books in the Kindle store read aloud. A few authors/publishers do not enable the text to speech facility but most do.
For a long time the Kindle app for the Ipad was inaccessible but this has now changed and my poor Amazon Kindle languishes in a cupboard feeling most unloved while the Kindle app on my Ipad is used on an almost daily basis. With Voiceover (Apple’s screen reading software) it is extremely easy to navigate around my Kindle library, to select and listen to books. The disadvantage to the Kindle iPad app is that it is not possible to purchase books although one can send an e-mail to yourself or add the title to your wish list as a reminder that you wish to purchase a title.
Amazon has recently released two further Kindles both of which the RNIB have reported as being even more accessible than my ancient Kindle, http://www.rnib.org.uk/livingwithsightloss/reading/how/ebooks/accessibility/amazon/Pages/kindle_devices.aspx#H2Heading1.
The world has certainly come a long way since I sat, in the school library lost in Palgrave’s Golden Treasury. I can still recollect the feel of the cloth bound volumes the braille worn down by countless fingers. I still read braille and enjoy doing so, however vast vistas of literature have been opened up by the Kindle and other similar devices which would, until recently have been beyond the dreams of visually impaired people.
For my Amazon author’s page please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Sting in the tail and other stories by K. Morris
Reblogged from The Story Reading Ape's Short Stories Bookcase:
A collection of short stories, many of which have an unexpected twist in the tale. The stories range from ghostly happenings through to tales of crime and moral conflict.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-tail-ot...
http://www.amazon.com/Sting-tail-othe...
Many thanks to Chris (The Story Reading Ape) for adding my book, Sting In The Tail to his Bookcase. If you have read Sting In The Tail it would be great if you would please consider leaving a review. Many thanks, Kevin
November 17, 2013
Which Social Network is Best for Authors?
Reblogged from Savvy Writers & e-Books online:
On Social Media you have an opportunity to talk with your readers, learn about them, and empathize with your followers. However, there is not a single perfect Social Media network site for authors, rather a combination of several pages - each one with its pros and cons.
.
Goodreads has more than 20 million members and is THE site for authors.
Some useful tips here for writers on the use of social media.
Distractions
As a writer I hate distractions. Off goes my mobile together with my e-mail. I make a cup of tea or coffee and get stuck into my writing. Not so this morning. Bump, a wet nose was pushed against my elbow. I stopped writing and caressed the head of Trigger my brindle lab/retriever guide dog. OK now I’ll return to my writing I thought. Hardly had I typed a single word when, bump, bump a cold wet nose was, once more frust against my arm. Once again I ceased my scribbling and paid attention to my four-legged friend.
Owning a dog is incredibly therapeutic. When I stroke Trigger I feel myself relaxing. There is something almost hypnotic about the feeling of contentment induced by the back and forth of my hand across Trigger’s coat. I can feel my stress levels reduce as Trigger relishes the attention. Yes Trigger can be a distraction but he is a very welcome one.
For a photograph of Trigger please visit my Amazon author’s page which can be found here, http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Keep The Cat In The Bag
On Friday evening I was enjoying an excellent curry and a good bottle of red wine in the company of one of my oldest friends. While I never intentionally tune into other people’s conversations, on occasions one simply can not help doing so and Friday evening was a case in point.
“It isn’t her fault that her mother was a prostitute” a lady sitting with a group of people announced in a voice which carried across the restaurant.
“So will you use this in your next book?” my friend asked in a low tone.
“Its amazing what you overhear and, if I did use it no one would have their identity revealed” I replied.
As it happens neither my friend nor I where acquainted with the people in question and the statement quoted above, if used in a story would not in and of itself breech the privacy of the speaker unless of course I was acquainted with the histories of the individuals to whom the lady refered and I used this knowledge in a future plot. This would, of course be ethically wrong and has the potential to land me or any other writer in hot water of the legal kind where I or any other person to be so unethical as to use personal information without the explicit permission of those concerned.
Watch what you drink for when the wine flows it is amazing what people will let out of the bag!
November 16, 2013
My Dark Angel
Reblogged from A Topsy Turvy World:
You slithered into my heart
you sneaked in through the back door.
You shut the door and swallowed the key,
locking us in a beating drum.
The air was hot, filled with blood,
I couldn’t breathe, and you:
you were there, an intruder,
smiling cheekily at my expense.
The drumming grew louder, faster,
it felt like death had stepped in.
This lady is talented. Please check out her blog and, in particular her poetry.
St Clare
Suzanne Vega is one of my favourite artists (to the best of my knowledge I own all of her albums). St Clare is hauntingly beautiful and brings tears to my eyes, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvekoHGK8i0
