This photograph was taken by my friend John. It shows my friend Brian and I, not forgetting my guide dog Trigger. I’d certainly recommend The Robuck, as my friends tell me it has wonderful views, and the beer was certainly excellent.
Monthly Archives: June 2013
Kevin Morris reading his limerick ‘Claire’.
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A recording of me reading my limerick, ‘Claire’.
Kevin Morris reading his limerick ‘Beth’.
Beth by Kevin Morris.
Me reading my poem ‘Park after Rain’.
A recording of yours truly reading my poem ‘Park after Rain’.
Can anyone detect a Liverpool accent?
On Sitting At My Desk Hearing Traffick Pass
Listening to cars passing their engines lost in the distance never to return. Like seconds ticking the traffick moves inexorably onwards. What is the purpose? Why must I die and be forever lost in the emptiness of death?
The Joy of Housekeeping
I hate housekeeping and I’m not talking about housework although as it happens I dislike that also. I’m refering to the need to update the static content on my blog. While I enjoy blogging I find it a chore to update my About, My Books and My Reviews pages. It is a necessity but it’s importance makes it not one jot the more interesting! Oh well I’ll stop belly aching and get on with adding my collection of short stories, Sting In The Tail And Other Stories (http://www.amazon.com/Sting-tail-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54) to my static pages. Oh hold on a minute I fancy a nice soak in the bath not that I’m putting off the dreaded task you understand …
Thought Provoking
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons
than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment
us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.”
I came across the above while browsing the blog Economics for Morons http://economicsformorons.wordpress.com/ and on using trusty old Google discovered that C S Lewis is it’s author. Thought provoking …
The Dismal Science
On Monday I attended the first part of a course on economics. The course was offered free to people in the organisation I work for and, knowing little about the subject I decided to attend.
One of the arguments advanced by the lecturer was that the value of things lessens the more of them we possess. So, for example many of us find it useful to own several pairs of shoes as it is helpful to be able to alternate them. However the more shoes we own the less value they possess as we can not possibly wear 20 pairs (or more) on a regular basis (no jokes please about ladies who have wardrobes full of shoes)!
It struck me that the argument holds good for shoes and many other consumables, however I do not feel that it holds water as regards books. For the lover of literature the more books one owns the greater the joy as one has more works in which to lose oneself. Merely possessing a small number of books would drive the average book lover to distraction.
When I raised this point with the lecturer his response was that one can only read so many books. Indeed one can but I still can’t help thinking that economics, while it undoubtedly has it’s uses falls down when applied to matters pertaining to culture. Not everything is susceptible of economic analysis thank the lord!
Just When You Thought That It Was Safe To Turn On Your Computer
On 15 June I published my collection of short stories, Sting In The Tail And Other Stories, on Amazon (see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sting-tail-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54). I thought it would be interesting for me (possibly painful for my listeners) where I to make a recording of a chapter from Sting In The Tail and place it on this blog. With the help of a sighted friend I may even record a video. I’m planning to make the recording in the next week or so, you have been warned …!
Selling Your Book – A Dose Of Realism
Selling books isn’t easy unless, that is you are an established author with the support of a publishing house. My short story, Samantha has received 2 4 star reviews, one on amazon.com and the other on amazon.co.uk, however I haven’t sold a single copy. How can that be I hear you ask? Amazon offers a programme called KDP Select. If an author enrols their book in the programme they are entitled to offer their books free for upto 5 days in any 90 day period. Samantha is enrolled in KDP Select and all downloads (and reviews) have been forthcoming during the free promotion of the short story.
I don’t regret having enrolled Samantha in KDP Select (it was instrumental in bringing my story to the attention of over 100 people), however it would be nice to actually sell a few copies.
To anyone starting out as an author I’d certainly recommend considering enrolling your book in KDP Select as it is, in my experience a great way of promoting your work. I would, however add the caveat that using KDP Select doesn’t mean that readers are going to buy your work (they will, almost certainly download it free but free downloads and, hopefully reviews will not, necessarily translate into people parting with cold hard cash. Anyone thinking of using KDP Select should also read the small print and, in particular the stipulation in Amazon’s Terms and Conditions that while enrolled in KDP Select a book may not be offered for sale anywhere other than amazon. Amazon do check so, if you use KDP Select I’d advise that you ensure that your work is only available on Amazon while enrolled in the programme.
To visit my Amazon author page please go to the following link http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
K Morris - Poet 