M.J. Penny's Blog, page 5

May 6, 2013

Has social media redefined objectivity?


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Has social media redefined objectivityJournalists used to report the majority of breaking news, but social media has revolutionized the way that many headlines are now reported. With a click of a Smartphone camera and a few more flicks of the finger, a bystander can capture news as it happens and then post it to Facebook, Twitter or YouTube. Within a short amount of time, that content has the potential to go “viral” and reach people across the world.


While there are many advantages to this, there are also some disadvantages. During the early 1900s, journalists narrowly viewed objectivity as facts without interpretation or opinion. This has slowly evolved throughout the last century to allow writers a certain amount editorial independence, but journalists are still bound by a strict code of ethics to report news truthfully and impartially; however, the average person isn’t bound by the same set of rules.


This doesn’t necessarily mean that everyday citizens are lying or reporting false information when they post news through social media forums, but what they post and how they post it is more likely to be coloured by their personal belief system. Margaret Sullivan, Public Editor of the New York Times, has called social media a “double-edged sword,”explaining that it often “perpetuated inaccuracies but then quickly worked to correct them.” So, although something may be reported inaccurately, there is an “entire world of public editors” that tends to correct the misinformation quickly and sometimes quite brutally.


In an effort to help manage the news so that it is viewed impartially and fairly, the newly launched website,Unbiasly.com, has developed a platform where users can access information from both traditional journalistic sources and various social media sites. CompuTimes has touted the website as an “evolution of news where normal people can have as much influence as the media and events can be looked at both objectively and subjectively.”


Founder of Unbiasly.com, Devin Dixon, explained that the site was designed to “give people a full perspective of current events by allowing them to compare traditional media reports with social media posts. It allows members to take control of what they read and then rate the quality and objectivity or subjectivity of the piece.”


It seems rather obvious that social media has revolutionized the way that current events are reported and received by the general public, and this trend is likely continue to grow and evolve. The challenge for many readers will be discerning the truth and objectivity of the news as it is posted on various social media outlets.




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 A Willing Servant by E.R. Thompson & How to Cure Insomnia  The One Thing You Must Know To Get Through ANYTHING  When will you be happy?  10 Simple Ways to Build Self Confidence  When choosing what to wear, listen to your brainwaves Copyright © M.J. Penny [Has social media redefined objectivity? ], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on May 06, 2013 01:18

How Authors can Get More Followers on Twitter – Georgia Tech Research


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How Authors can Get More Followers on Twitter - Georgia Tech ResearchAll authors thrive on the people who follow them, those loyal readers who through social media platforms not only buy books but spread the word through their own network.  But how does an author go about finding an audience?  New research into the mechanics of twitter psychology has revealed a pattern to gaining more Twitter followers. But unless you’re a celebrity, it can be difficult to build your Twitter audience (and even some celebs have trouble). Looking at a half-million tweets over 15 months, a first-of-its-kind study from Georgia Tech has revealed a set of reliable predictors for building a Twitter following.


The research was performed by Eric Gilbert, assistant professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing. Gilbert found that Twitter users can grow their followers by such tactics as:


• Don’t talk about yourself: Informational content attracts followers at a rate 30 times higher than content focused on the tweeter. The study found users talked about themselves in 41 percent of their tweets on average.


• Be happy: Twitter is mainly based on weak social ties (most followers do not know each other offline), which makes it more important to stay away from negative posts such as death, unemployment and poor health.


• Cool it on the hashtags: While hashtags are definitely useful tools for expressing emotional commentary or tying tweets to larger events or issues, they can be abused. Researchers found that the higher a Twitter users’ “hashtag ratio,” the less likely they were to attract new followers.


“To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study of follow predictors on Twitter,” Gilbert said. “For the first time, we were able to explore the relative effects of social behavior, message content and network structure and show which of these factors has more influence on the number of Twitter followers.”


Working with Ph.D. student C.J. Hutto and Sarita Yardi, now an assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s School of Information, Gilbert examined the tweets of more than 500 Twitter users. After identifying 2,800 terms that convey positive and negative emotions, the team scored each term based on a sliding scale of positivity. They were then able to determine whether Twitter users who used each term gained or lost followers.


The team discovered that certain identifiable strategies in message content and interaction with other Twitter users, as well as the structure of one’s Twitter network, have a predictable effect on the number of followers. For example, Twitter “informers” (users who share informational content) consistently attract more followers than “meformers” (users who share information about themselves).


“Followers are Twitter’s most basic currency, yet little is understood about how to grow such an audience,” said Gilbert. “By examining multiple factors that affect tie formation and dissolution over time on Twitter, we’ve discovered information that could help technologists design and build tools that help users grow their audiences.”


The team’s findings are summarized in the paper, “A Longitudinal Study of Follow Predictors on Twitter,” which will be presented this week at the ACM SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Paris, France. To view research by other Georgia Tech researchers at SIGCHI, visit http://chi.gatech.edu.




Tags:  Authors, Good Reads, help, positive, writing




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 The One Thing You Must Know To Get Through ANYTHING  10 Simple Ways to Build Self Confidence  Oiled Wheels by E.R. Thompson  The10 Best Self Help Phone Apps  Unlock Personal Power Through DreamsCopyright © M.J. Penny [How Authors can Get More Followers on Twitter - Georgia Tech Research], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on May 06, 2013 01:11

Pick up bargain books during the Book People’s Week of Wonder


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the book peopleLeading online book retailer the Book People is preparing to launch its Week of Wonder, giving customers the opportunity to pick up great discounted books at bargain prices.


Following the success of the Weekend of Wonder last year, a whole host of great deals on a wide range of titles will appear on the Book People’s website from May 6th to 10th. There’s already a teaser page live on the website to give customers an idea of what they can expect and promising them “offers to bring the house down” – and day by day, more will be revealed as the Week of Wonder progresses.


Inspired by the Wizard of Oz, there’ll be a different, specially-themed offer for each day. To mark the Week of Wonder, customers can pick up L. Frank Baum’s original Wizard of Oz, as well as Oz, The Complete Collection, from the Book People for just £2.49 and £3.49 respectively.


“Our Weekend of Wonder was a big hit with customers last year, so we’re hoping the Week of Wonder will receive a similarly warm response,” said Lindsay Eyers, social media manager at the Book People. “Money might be a bit tight for a lot of people at the moment, but thanks to our bargain Week of Wonder deals customers can still treat themselves to great books.”


“We’ve got a huge selection of wonderful titles for all the family to enjoy. But remember, each of our Week of Wonder deals will be available for one day only – so if you want to take advantage, you’ll need to move quickly,” she added.


The first Week of Wonder offer will go live on Bank Holiday Monday and the Book People will also be promoting the Week of Wonder via email campaigns, Facebook and using the Twitter hashtag #TBPWOW.


To find out more about what else is on offer from the Book People, simply visit the website today.




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 Curing the Blues  6 ways to build your self esteem and maintain your self-confidence  Conquering Shyness by E. R. Thompson -The Human Machine  Are you really you?  Oiled Wheels by E.R. ThompsonCopyright © M.J. Penny [Pick up bargain books during the Book People's Week of Wonder], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on May 06, 2013 01:00

Unlock Personal Power Through Dreams


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Unlock Personal Power Through DreamsIn Unlock Personal Power Through Dreams, an experienced psychologist provides logical interpretations of dreams. The book focuses on the use of dreams to answer major life questions. Anonymous actual dreams that were used for major psychotherapy breakthroughs give support to how accurate interpretations can lead the questioner to the right path for his or her life.



Steven G. Fox, Ph.D. is proud to announce the publication of “Unlock Personal Power Through Dreams: 40 Keys to Find Your Unique Path,” an interpretive guide to the meanings of 40 of the most common dream elements. This handy reference is now available as an ebook on amazon.com 


Unlock Personal Power Through Dreams is designed for use by fellow clinicians, but its straightforward approach and non-technical language makes it easily comprehensible to the interested layman, as well. This is by no means an exhaustive list of dream symbols and interpretation; it is designed to serve as a useful starting point for those seeking an easily accessible and logically explained collection of dream meanings.


Fox, a private-practice psychologist with over 25 years experience, says, “Having this book at the beginning of my practice would have reduced the amount of time it took me to get to where I am now by at least ten years.”




Tags:  attitude, Authors, Behaviour, Books & Literature, Good Reads, lifestyle, positive thinking, self help




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 Don't Worry by E.R. Thompson  Ladder Building  When will you be happy?  Curing the Blues  When choosing what to wear, listen to your brainwaves Copyright © M.J. Penny [Unlock Personal Power Through Dreams], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on May 06, 2013 00:52

April 26, 2013

A Great Big Thank You


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The Human Machine E. R. Thompson
The Goodreads Giveaway – The Human Machine, E. R. Thompson, M. J. Penny

It’s just a quick one but a grateful one.  For those who entered the Goodreads giveaway for a chance to win a copy of my latest book, The Human Machine…Thank You.  Unfortunately I don’t get to choose the winners, the guys at Goodreads do that, but I was staggered at your response (874 entered).  For the 20 winners who won a copy, congratulations, my publisher will forward you your copy early next week, so you should receive it by May 7th.


If I’m a bit quiet lately, don’t worry, I haven’t gone to ground, just working on my latest project.  But once again Thank You:)




Tags:  Books & Literature, E. R. Thompson, Good Reads, The Human Machine




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 Research reveals ageing related to genetic programming  No Scientific Basis for Prohibiting Same-Sex Marriage  Exercise Shields Children from Stress  The Will to Learn by E. R. Thompson - The Human Machine  Praising Children for Their Personal Qualities May BackfireCopyright © M.J. Penny [A Great Big Thank You], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on April 26, 2013 00:15

April 20, 2013

How to Deal with Writers Block


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How to Deal with Writers BlockIt’s not just writers in general who suffer from the dreaded ‘writer’s block’ from time to time.  Even school children writing essays or those whose mind goes blank when faced with writing a shopping list will get it.  Even people can suddenly feel overwhelmed when faced with filling in forms, or even something as simple as writing an email.


No, it’s not just writers who suffer from it, but for a writer, finding yourself cursed with this ‘condition’ feels more like a malady, after all your life hangs on the words you write.  I find writers block akin to penile erectile dysfunction, it becomes worse the more you stress over it and the more you think about it.  And just like penile erectile dysfunction, if you gear yourself up to act, to give it a try only to fail putting words onto paper, the result can set you back further-frustrated with your own performance and a loss of confidence in your abilities. In short you feel less than what you should be.


So how do you deal with it?  Everyone’s different, but when it comes to the ‘block’ there are two important issues you need to deal with-not one. The first is obvious, to find away to get the words and ideas flowing again, and the second is how you should react to the ‘block’. And it is this latter point you need to deal with first.


When you worry about something, when you can’t control the way you think and feel about something to the point you let it affect your life and your mood, you are sending a very strong message to your mind, you are in fact telling your mind ‘This is how I deal with Writers Block’!


The mind is like predictive text, it remembers this reaction and saves it on its hard disc, or in psychological terms saves it in the subconscious, ready to serve the same reaction when faced with the same problem at a later date. It has in fact become a HABIT.  So when faced with writers block you need to create a new reaction, a positive reaction that helps and serves your purpose, not hinder it.  And the only way I have found that works for me is to say: F***k it!  Seriously you need to tell yourself it’s nothing and not care.  You simply need to forget about it.  Have faith in the knowledge that sooner or later the words and ideas will come and understand there is something wrong with your thinking or more probably something on your mind that is affecting your writing, not your writing ability.


A great way to take your mind off writers block is to read.  I tend to trawl Goodreads when I find myself in a writing slump and look for interesting books with good reviews to read.  If I’m reading something I get lost in, sooner or later, the words will have evoked the writer in me once again, and I’ve come away from it refreshed.


How to get the Ideas and Words Flowing Again?


For me, a structured day and writing routine is the key to ideas and words. I always work to a word count regardless of how badly I’ve written, anything can be edited later, and I always leave off where I know I can pick up the next day.  As soon as I sit at my desk the following day, I need only write where I picked up the day before.  It’s that simple.


I probably have more quirks than I like to admit, for instance when I’m writing fiction, I do myself a ‘play list’.  On Microsoft media player, I compile a playlist of songs and music, something that puts me in the mood of the piece I’m writing – If it’s a deep piece, filled with emotion, I tend to go for something from Ludivco Einaudi, if it’s an upbeat piece or a magazine feature, Fatboy Slim or something similar tends to get me in that mood.  In fact each short story I have written has its own corresponding play-list.


But everyone is different and what works for one writer may not necessarily work for another.  So what other tools can you use to overcome ‘writers block’?



 Read as much as you can, but keep your mind on what your reading, don’t let it go wondering off;
Make yourself a writing routine, a structure of your writing day and stick to it.  If you abandon the structure, even once because you could not be bothered or were feeling lazy, you are creating a habit.
If nothing is coming to you, just write, write about anything, your day, the weather, a TV programme, anything.  More importantly, you are telling your mind to find words and you are writing them down, this is a good habit and sooner or later, your brain will be serving you up words automatically on everything that passes your mind and more importantly you are practising your craft.
Write a passage on someone you see one day in the street, someone innocuous.  Write how they looked, what they were wearing, what feelings they evoke in you, who you think they are and where they live and what life they lead. Do they harbour untold desires and feelings that they have been unable to express.  This is a pretty good writing exercise to kick off your imagination, and maybe something from what you have written will have sowed a seed for a future bestseller.

But more importantly, don’t stress yourself out worrying about writers block, you’ll only make it worse. Just make sure you write every day, anything, no matter how daft or unimportant the piece you write. You are in fact practicing, exercising you writing muscle, instilling a habit that will serve you the rest of your life.  Just as gymnastics and sprinters practice even if they are not competing, they still need to practice their sport all the time to improve, in order that one day they will become the best they can be.


Good Luck…..




Tags:  attitude, Authors, Behaviour, Books & Literature, Good Reads, positive thinking, positive thought, writing




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 Are you really you?  Think Straight    Exercise Shields Children from Stress  Don't Worry by E.R. ThompsonCopyright © M.J. Penny [How to Deal with Writers Block], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on April 20, 2013 03:11

April 12, 2013

The Hardest Part About Writing


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The hardest part about writingFor any seasoned writer, let alone an aspiring one, the actual process of putting words onto paper or a screen of a laptop or PC can be frustrating.  Harder still is writing words that are good, make great reading and flow with natural rhythm and style.  But like anything else, the answer lies in practice, practice and more practice.


Over the years I’ve written thousands of articles, blogs, magazine features and sales literature as a copywriter.  It has got to the point, that the minute I sit at my laptop, regardless of where I am, who is with me or what’s happening around me, I simply write.  Without realising it, I acquired a Habit, one which has embedded itself so deep into my subconscious that it has become automatic, just like driving a car.  I’ve not only trained my mind to sit and write, but as soon as I’m commissioned to write something, my brain has already formulated the angle, told me what statistics and research I need….and all that in a split second.


However when it comes to writing fiction it’s completely different.  As a copywriter, I just need an angle, some facts and arrange them in engaging sentences and phrases.  Writing fiction is another thing completely.  Why? Because it requires imagination and a different type of inspiration.  But still it should require the same process, Habit.  So how do you acquire a writing habit.



Write everyday, even if it’s only a page.  If you write fiction, try writing a diary in third person in the style of a fiction writer describing the mood, showing instead of telling.
Read as much as you can, especially good literature, preferably in the genre you plan to write for.  If you’re reading something that doesn’t capture your imagination, ask yourself what is wrong with the writing style and commit it to memory so you don’t make the same mistake.
Throughout the everyday things in life when your thinking about shopping, work, household chores or doing something boring, practice writing fiction in your mind.  As you go about your task, think in your mind how you would write a passage describing that task.

For example;

‘The cold wooden floor felt rough against her bare feet as she swung out of bed.  Reaching for her robe, her fingers brushed his skin as he slept beside her, his warmth a reminder of the security of her bed.  Looking at the neon numbers on her clock, time was not on her side, and with steely resolution she made her way to the bathroom, she would not be late for work today.’
Set yourself word targets.  I make myself do 1,600 words everyday, even if most of them are rubbish.  Sooner or later, the habit kicks in, and you’ll find one day most words work well.  It’s only a couple of hours, not a lot when you think about it – it all depends on how serious you are and how committed you are to writing.
If you’re embarking on a long term project such as a novel, make sure it’s a story you feel passionate about, that holds your interest.  The biggest mistake is to undertake something and find your interest waning.

Above all else, keep the momentum going, get into that habit, so that eventually, you will HAVE to write and it will seem like second nature:)


 




Tags:  Authors, Behaviour, Books & Literature, writing




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 Why Taking Time Off From writing is Stressful  Gender Gap Disappears in School Math Competitions  A Willing Servant by E.R. Thompson & How to Cure Insomnia  The Drill Sergeant by E.R.Thompson  6 ways to build your self esteem and maintain your self-confidenceCopyright © M.J. Penny [The Hardest Part About Writing], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on April 12, 2013 06:42

April 9, 2013

Why is Liverpool Rejoicing at Thatcher’s Death?


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Thatcher Liverpool 1980'sAs a Liverpool working class kid, growing up or rather trying to survive during Thatcher’s reign in the 1980′s was to say the least a depressing time.  Much of the world today will be bemused at the reaction Margaret Thatcher’s death has evoked from the people of Liverpool, the irony being the people she tried so hard to divide and break, today stand together, resolute and strong through her death.


If the reaction of  such joyous relief that a former prime minster’s demise can instill in a city is bewildering to you, you need only look at the decimation of communities, poverty and suffering the people of Liverpool endured at the hands of a person who’s aim was to fracture a society, bring them to heel, while creating a pool of cheap labour powerless and living under an oppressive state.


It’s not just the policies she employed to starved Liverpool of money and resources, to create poverty in order to bring the working man or woman to heel, but the underlying structure to create a mindset through a nation, a whopping great divide, one that the scars of her actions are still visible today.  She created a mindset or rather forced it, one that decided societies structure – working class people were there for the grace of the wealthy and as such a disposable society who’s only use was cheap labour.


It sounds rather like some Dickensian, outdated ethic, and yet, there in the latter of the 20th century it was happening.  At 15 I collected food parcels for starving miners and their families as their strike continued, faces that still haunt me today.  Conscription to the Youth Training Scheme for 16-year- olds was brought in, and for £27.50 you got the privilege of working 35-hours a week.  Considering transport would set you back £10 per week, try living on £17.50 each week to clothe and feed yourself, let alone enough to rent a flat, if you were without a family, such as I was.


Youth Training Schemes were terrible, being placed in businesses and companies, the amount of children used and tossed out at the end of their term were horrendous and no doubt I was not the only 16 year old that found the sexual harassment at the hands of some bosses abhorrent.  But something else was evident about it all, Thatcher’s policies were creating a mindset.  In the 1980′s an ex KGB officer gave an interview discussing the process of indoctrination – he said it took only 3 generations to condition a society.  Throughout the working classes in the 1980′s a seed had been sown, Thatcher’s policies instilled in the working classes their place in society, their only use being the cheap labour they brought to industry and the UK marketplace.


As I watched the Jimmy Saville child sex abuse case unfold recently, casting light on his awful behaviour to children in the 1980′s, I wondered how many of the children he abused were working class and how many came from middle class families.  My guess is working class kids were far more easy to abuse and were easy pickings.  This was the state of the 1980′s.


But I digress, why is the city of Liverpool rejoicing in Margaret Thatcher’s demise?  Probably on the closure of an era, one in which she created such a dystopian society that robbed Liverpool’s sons and daughters of opportunity, pride and hope.  When 96 men, women and children died in the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, the Government were quick to sweep it under the carpet and protect those in power who were responsible for the accident – after all they were only dead Scousers, no-one of any real value!


The people of Liverpool with their indomitable spirit, their strong resolution for justice where a tough people for Thatcher to break.  They care not if you are a prince or a road-sweeper, Liverpool people will address either in the same manner, status or wealth is a consequence not an identity. Truth is a way of life for Liverpool people and as a result of such spirit, Liverpool would not give in to her policies, they fought her every inch and as such Thatcher retaliated in the only way she knew how – bullying and force.


But even after Thatcher, her legacy carried on, instead of creating opportunities for people, she created victims, and as such a new manner of manipulation was found by other political parties.  Victims do not take responsibility for their life, they give responsibility to the State, and as such give their power away.  After all you ultimately choose the poison that kills you.


As my respects do go out to her family, as a mother they will no doubt miss her, as Prime Minster, I must raise a glass to you Mrs Thatcher, you did not create the broken society you had hoped for in Liverpool, instead you created a city of fighters who found strength and resilience in their darkest hour.  This is our legacy we will hand down to our children – Truth & Justice in the face of adversity!




Tags:  1980's, liverpool, thatcher death




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 The One Thing You Must Know To Get Through ANYTHING  E.R. Thompson - The Human Machine, Secrets of Success  The10 Best Self Help Phone Apps  Who do you think you are?  Music's role in building a baby's brain Copyright © M.J. Penny [Why is Liverpool Rejoicing at Thatcher's Death?], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on April 09, 2013 03:13

April 8, 2013

Bluey and the Great Spirit Moon


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Bluey and the Great Spirit MoonIn a world of insurmountable challenges: global warming, natural disasters, depleting resources, war, greed and poverty, what lies ahead for the future of the human race?


Robert Karl Hanson believes the answer rests with our children and in their education on personal relationships and global issues. By presenting realistic solutions and promoting compassion, Hanson hopes to inspire positive change in youth throughout our world.


In his new children’s book, Bluey and The Great Spirit Moon, Hanson’s main character, Bluey, overcomes similar global issues on his home planet, giving readers hope and belief that Earth can be saved too.


With help from his adoptive family and an unlikely friend, Bluey inspires peaceful, prosperous change by convincing the ruling armies to disobey orders, to lay down their arms, to forgive the past, in order for everyone in their world to return to a natural, sustainable, harmonious existence.


“Bluey will help educate the uneducated. He will share his unconditional love with the unloved and his uplifting story will inspire the hopeless, who believe there are no solutions to our ever increasing global issues.” Hanson says.


With an applicable message towards conflict in the Middle East, Hanson uses his main character Bluey to express that love is the most effective weapon in the fight against evil. That the only way to end ignorance is through education and that the only way to move forward into a bright future is through forgiveness of the past.


With engaging characters and epic landscapes, Hanson’s surreal artwork takes the reader into a magical realm of child-like imagination. Directed at school aged children Bluey and The Great Spirit Moon opens their eyes to a world outside their own as they explore their blossoming personalities.


“I want to show kids that there is hope. My message to them is that no matter how small you are, if you follow your dream and if you never give up, nothing is impossible.” Hanson says.


Robert Karl Hanson, from Tasmania, Australia, originally created Bluey and The Great Spirit Moon as an animated feature film concept. It took a decade for him to complete the production package, which includes the screenplay, artwork and a CD of the soundtrack he composed and produced on multiple instruments, including character vocals. It is his ultimate goal to produce this film and to donate a portion of his profits to the poor. His first goal is to visit refugee camps with Bluey, to share the story on a huge projector screen and to perform his live music show.


 




Tags:  Books, Books & Literature, children, lifestyle, writing




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 Why Taking Time Off From writing is Stressful  Are You a Rapid-Fire Talker? Then You May Suffer From 'Cluttering'  The Most Valuable Question You Can Ask  Who do you think you are?  The Will to Learn by E. R. Thompson - The Human MachineCopyright © M.J. Penny [Bluey and the Great Spirit Moon], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on April 08, 2013 02:59

Singapore based writer unseats Stephen King as Number 1 Horror author on Amazon


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A revolution has been brewing in the publishing industry, driven by the growing popularity of ebooks and Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing program, which lets independent authors reach out to readers worldwide. Many authors have used this over the last two years to strike gold on Amazon, often eschewing traditional publishers. Recent estimates say that as many as four out of ten bestselling Amazon ebook titles have been published through this groundbreaking program.


A recent example is that of Indian author Mainak Dhar, who currently lives in Singapore. Dhar, a Singapore PR who has been living in Singapore since 2001 and is employed as General Manager with multinational giant Procter & Gamble had been widely published in India by major publishers, and one of his novels (Herogiri) is being made into a Bollywood movie. In late 2011, he started using Amazon KDP to reach out to a worldwide audience through ebooks, and the success he has seen reached a peak last week when he unseated Stephen King as the #1 Most Popular Horror author on Amazon’s Kindle store. That heady feeling lasted much of the day before Dhar slipped back to #2. Says Dhar, “Mr. King has been an inspiration, and just being on the same page as him is an honor”. Dhar’s most popular work has been the Alice in Deadland series, an adventure set in a dystopian future world. He has already self-published four books in the series on Amazon and is currently working on the fifth.


Amazon’s KDP not just gives authors a worldwide reach, but also means significantly higher royalties- up to 70% on ebooks priced above $2.99, compared to 7.5-10% on traditional paperback deals. Dhar has sold an estimated 150,000 ebooks on Amazon and says that, “Embracing technology and the revolution of ebooks and digital marketing has been a game changer for me in terms of connecting with readers worldwide.’




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 Be Interested by E.R. Thompson  Oiled Wheels by E.R. Thompson  Monica Dumont creates The Children's Self Help Series  How to Concentrate (1) by E.R. Thompson  Be Punctual by E.R. ThompsonCopyright © M.J. Penny [Singapore based writer unseats Stephen King as Number 1 Horror author on Amazon], All Right Reserved. 2013.
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Published on April 08, 2013 02:17