K. Morris's Blog, page 804
November 16, 2013
The BookSeller Crow On The Hill
Some 10-15 minutes walk from my home is the independent Bookseller Crow (http://www.booksellercrow.co.uk/) in Crystal Palace. As a child I have happy memories of visiting WH Smiths with my grandfather to buy clasics by children’s authors such as Enid Blighton, however Smiths is part of a large chain and sells many items besides books. The beauty of shops such as Bookseller Crow is that they specialise in books and are run and/or owned by book lovers. Even if the Bookseller Crow doesn’t have a particular title in stock they are more than willing to order it for you.
The shop also hosts events such as one where the comedian, Mark Steel, who lives locally read extracts from his book and autographed copies.
On a personal level I am grateful to the owner of the store, Jonathan Maine for allowing me to place cards advertising this website, newauthoronline.com in his shop. As an author living in Crystal Palace its great to know that there is a local book shop, independent of the huge chains to which I can turn to promote my writing.
Who Chooses Your Books?
Recently my friend Brian and I where enjoying a pint or two in my favourite local when the conversation, as so often happens turned to books. Brian argued that a powerful minority of reviewers and literary critics largely determine the choices of the book buying public. If an influencial reviewer rates your work highly you are, as an author far more likely to prosper than if the same person provides a bad review or ignores your book.
I believe that my friend is correct upto a point. The kind of review an author receives in a leading national newspaper or periodical (assuming he receives one at all) can exert a powerful influence on the book buying public by (firstly) drawing the writer’s work to their attention and (secondly) by influencing the public in favour or against the book. However I believe that my friend is overly pessimistic as, with the rise of the great leviathan (Amazon) and other e-book retailers the world of reviewing and literary criticism has been democratised in that anyone can now leave a review. So if lots of Jo Blogs and Joan Smiths leave positive reviews on Amazon an author’s work is likely to prosper. Having said that I am sure that if the same author has his or her book slated in the press this will, quite possibly impact negatively on book sales.
The rise of e-books has also expanded the reach of authors across the globe. Until very recently a writer wishing to publish either had to be offered a contract by an established publisher or pay to have their work printed privately. With the birth of e-books a book can be published on Amazon today and within a matter of hours be available in most (in some instances) all of Amazon’s online stores. Of course this is by no means the end of the story as, once a book is available the challenge of getting people to look at your Amazon author’s page (let alone buy your books) begins.
In conclusion my friend, Brian is right in that positive reviews by influencial critics in mass circulation newspapers and magazines can greatly influence the purchasing habits of the reading public. However the rise of Amazon and other similar outlets does enable ordinary book lovers to post reviews and by so doing assists, to some extent in democratising the world of literary criticism.
For my Amazon author page please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
November 15, 2013
Can I give you my card?
A couple of weeks ago I ordered 50 business cards from moo.com (http://uk.moo.com/products/business-cards.html) to promote my website, newauthoronline.com. The cards say
“Kevin Morris author” followed by the address of my website, newauthoronline.com and details of how to contact me. There is also a picture of me together with my guide dog Trigger, pint in hand (obviously it is Trigger rather than myself who is clutching the pint)!
I am impressed with the cards, however moo.com advise that they are not wholly satisfied with their quality. They will, as a consequence be sending 50 additional cards completely free of charge. Whoever said that good customer service is dead was wrong, it lives on in the form of moo.com!
For my Amazon author page please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0.
November 13, 2013
A Review of Miedo by Kevin Morris
Reblogged from Chris The Story Reading Ape's New (to me) Authors Blog:
Hi Chris,
My home PC has gone on strike so I'm sending this from work during my lunch hour. Would you be able to put the below post on your blog please and I'll reblog it once everything has been resolved with my computer?
I recently finished reading Miedo by Kevin Cooper on my Kindle
Miedo is a psychological thriller.
Many thanks to Chris for blogging this for me while my my computer was unwell! A bunch of bananas are on the way to The Story Reading Ape!
Back Up Your Files, Blogs and ESPECIALLY your WIP Novels!
Reblogged from Chris The Story Reading Ape's New (to me) Authors Blog:
Hi Chris,
I'd be very grateful if you could please post the below for me on the importance of backing up files (a subject close to every author's heart)!
Many thanks,
Kevin
We all know, both as computer users and authors that we ought to back up our files just in case our ancient workhorse of a PC shuffles off this mortal coil and joins the choir of defunct computers in the sky.
A big thank you to Chris for blogging this on my behalf while my computer was in intensive care! I am pleased to report (famous last words!) that my PC is now behaving again. Cheers, Chris!
Update to book review page
I have updated the page which contains reviews of my books.
For the updated page please visit: http://newauthoronline.com/reviews-of-my-books/
November 10, 2013
'Dulce Et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen
Reblogged from A poem for every day:
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.
As Emily says it is difficult to know what to say about this poem.
The First Time By Kevin Morris Free Until Friday 15 November
For a limited period (10-15 November) I am giving away free copies of my e-book, The First Time which retails for £1.91 in the Amazon Kindle store. In The First Time we meet Becky a young graduate who enters the world of prostitution as an escort in order to clear her debts. The story takes an honest look at why young women enter the world of sex work and the impact of working as as a prostitute. Other stories explore what happens when robots attain the capacity to act like humans. For information on The First Time and my other books please visit my Amazon author page at http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0. To obtain your free copy of The First Time please send an e-mail to drewdog2060 at Tiscali .co.uk (the address is rendered in this manner to defeat spammers). Alternatively you can leave a comment here which automatically notifies me of your e-mail address. Please note, your personal information will be used solely for the purpose of providing you with your free copy of The First Time. You will receive no marketing e-mails! Happy reading!
(please note, this is being posted with the help of a sighted friend due to the recent problems I have been experiencing with my screen reading software (Jaws) and the WordPress interface).
Testing!
Just testing that I am now able to post independently again!
