K. Morris's Blog, page 772
September 11, 2014
Snatches Of Conversation
“I picked up the can, threw it at him and”.
As an author, the above snatch of conversation, overheard by me while on my way into work this morning had me intrigued. I longed to hear the remainder of the incident but the speaker, a teenage girl, rapidly disappeared into the distance, her words lost to me forever. What kind of can was it? What, if anything did it contain? And, most importantly what caused the young woman to throw it in the first place? In an alternative reality the following exchange between me and the speaker took place,
Me, “I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation. I am intrigued. Why did you throw the can? And what was the reaction of the person you threw it at?”
Teenage girl looking at me as though I had just appeared from outer space, “P.. off. What has it got to do with you?”
Me, “I’m an author, I can’t help tuning into people’s conversations. I’m interested as to what motivated you to throw that can. Perhaps there is a story in it somewhere”.
Teenage girl,walking quickly away from me, “Get lost before I call the police”.
There is, in the above incident the makings of a story. I would love to hear your thoughts as to how the tale might go. Also I am sure that I can’t be the only writer who can not help but speculate on snatches of overheard conversations.
September 10, 2014
Kevin Morris: Author Of The Month
Thank you to Kev for this post which links to an author interview with myself conducted in March of this year. Kevin
Originally posted on Kev's Blog:
Kevin Morris has wonthe spotlighton Author Of The Month for March 2014 and has a picture and direct link to his book posted for a limited time on Kev’s blog!
Presenting, Kevin Morris, Everyone!
http://kevs-domain.net/2014/03/05/author-interview-presenting-kevin-morris/
For more information on how YOU may have the same opportunity to appear on Author Of The Month visit my Author Interviews & Contact Info Page.
September 9, 2014
How To Write A Novel: Advice From The Book Trust
An interesting list of 25 rules on how to write a novel, http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/writing/writing-tips/41/. I especially agree with the following points:
“4. Right now, forget about money. It eats imagination”.
“11. Ignore discouragement. You’ll never know real negativity until you tell people you are writing a novel. The last thing a human who spends their day
selling home insurance in an office that smells of egg sandwiches and despair wants to hear is that their old school-friend is going to be an international
bestselling author. So ignore them. All of them. Well, except that latter-day Malcolm Bradbury, Katy Perry: ‘Make ‘em go, oh, oh, oh/ As you shoot across
the sky”.
“13. Write as though your mother will never read it”.
“19. Write the book you most want to read. That will be the best book you can write”.
“23. Read it aloud. You’ll notice more mistakes that way”. (Points 24 and 25 also resonated strongly with me).
I am not sure about point 16, that it is OK to write about people you know provided you change the names. Surely a character who is portrayed in an unflattering manner may object and, in extreme cases take legal action. Even if the name has been changed that person may still recognise themselves in your writing and if they can prove you portrayed them in an unflattering light (damaged their reputation) you are, potentially in hot water of the legal variety.
Kev’s, Author Of The Month!
Many thanks to Kev for awarding me Author Of The Month for March 2014 and highlighting my short story, Samantha. Thank you Kev!
Originally posted on Kev's Blog:
Ok folks, I’ve upped the ante! (or was that the uncle?) ;)
From now on, brought directly from Kev’s Author Interviews, I present you with… Author Of The Month!
On Author Of The Month, the most popular author interview for any given month will win a spot with a direct link to their book at the top of my blog for a limited time! It can’t be any simpler than that!
That’s right folks… this gives even more exposure with a direct link (without even having to read through a post)to the author’s work that won her/him the spotlight on Kev’s Author Interviews.
Check it out… there’s one on my blog right now in the top upper right corner.
Any queries, please use my interviews and contacts page which I have recently updated.
(Note: I’m going back to when I first started Kev’s Author Interviews so that nobody loses out…
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September 8, 2014
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!
September 7, 2014
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.
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…
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September 6, 2014
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!”
