Monthly Archives: February 2016

As a writer, will I ever become famous?

I had better cancel my viewing of that luxury apartment in Mayfair then …

One of my all time literary heroes – Eric Blair aka George Orwell 1903 -1950

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Probably not. All that any of us who are serious about what we do can ever hope for is to keep on writing. Most of us are lucky if we make a few pounds/dollars per year. Very few ever achieve fame and fortune. J.K.Rowling immediately springs to mind as an obvious modern day exception to the rule.

Even once you have shuffled off this mortal coil, there are still no guarantees of fame, despite the world’s book shelves being full to overflowing with dust covered books penned by dead writers. But then again back here in the land of the living, so is the list of those who were never read, or are ever likely to be by all accounts, despite the majority of them being gifted writers.

But will anything I write do…

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Results Of The Poll To Choose A Book Cover For “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”

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A big thank you to everyone who voted and commented in response to my request for help in choosing a book cover in respect of my collection of poems, “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”. As of today (19 February) cover number 11 has attracted the most votes (a total of 8). In addition number 11 has gleaned the most favourable comments. I have therefore decided to use that cover for the forthcoming print edition of “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”.
Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who participated in choosing the book cover, either through voting, commenting, liking my post or sharing via social media.

Kevin

Please Help In Choosing A Book Cover For My Collection Of Poems, “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”

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The purpose of this post is to ask for your help in choosing a book cover for the print edition of my recently published collection of poetry, “Lost In The Labyrinth Of My Mind”,

To this end I would appreciate it if you could please vote for your favourite cover (numbered on bottom left of each cover). It would assist me if you could add comments explaining your choice.

The following poem, “Lost”, provides a flavour of the poems to be found in the book and will, I hope aid you in choosing a book cover:

Lost

My thoughts lost on the damp air
Going who knows where.
The sodden grass
I pass.
Where children play
But not today.
No ball
Or bird call.
Only the rain’s incessant fall.

Many thanks for your help.

Kevin

Current Cover

New Cover Alternatives

POLL IS NOW CLOSED

The Politics of Writing Diversity: Guest Post by Elizabeth Roderick

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As someone who is visually impaired (I am registered blind but possess some limited residual or mobility vision), I was interested to read the author’s perspective on the portrayal of diversity. I agree, authors should not self-censor as this leads, almost inevitably to pedestrian writing. The writer also addresses the complex issue as to what extent people are objectively disabled and to what degree society causes them to be so. The fact of the matter is that I am blind. No amount of obfiscation can alter that fact. I also regard myself as being disabled in that I have difficulty in performing certain tasks, for example finding my way around in unfamiliar environments. However the perspective of others undoubtedly impacts (sometimes very significantly) on the lives of people with disabilities or other health conditions, (for instance poorly designed environments can make it extremely difficult for visually impaired people to live and work independently). Kevin

Amy Reece

Today I am thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Roderick, a colleague from Limitless Publishing, with her thoughts on some complex issues having to do with diversity. Please make her feel welcome and leave a comment.

The Politics of Writing Diversity

Note to readers: I use the term “neurodiverse” in this piece. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, it refers to people generally called “mentally ill”. I prefer “neurodiverse” for reasons I will explain in the article. Thank you for reading.

Writing is a complex art. Words can be interpreted in so many different ways, depending on the background, culture, and experiences of the person interpreting them. We have to be aware of this, especially when we touch on emotional subjects such as diversity. However, if we have political concerns in the forefront of our minds—if we are walking on eggshells trying not to offend anyone—we run the risk of self-censoring, of…

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Icicles

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The school grounds I pass.
A ball flies through the grass.
The sound of children playing.
I wish you could be staying.
But you went away
Many a day
Ago.
Do you remember the snow?

I recall
Frost hung on the wall.
Delicate and white
In the sun’s light.
Your passing smile
While
The ice shimmered on the tree.
Watched by you and me.

The frost did not stay
And melted away
Leaving a blank wall
Yet the icicles I recall
And still the water doth fall
On a winter’s day
Far away.

The Kind Of Love

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Valentine’s Day

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Roses red
Speak of bed
To some.
How life does run
On.
Soon Valentines will have come
And gone
As the pendulum swings on.

I doubt tomorrow will be fine
Yet women and wine
Are surely divine?
The line
Betwixt leg and skirt.
Lonleness does hurt.
Will she stay
On Valentine’s day?

My Blog’s Tagline Has Changed

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I have changed my blog’s tagline from “this WordPress.com site is the bees and ees” to “newauthoronline | K Morris, Poet and Author”. The new tagline clarifies that I am both a poet and author, while the previous generic description conveyed little (if anything) about either the blog or myself. The change in tagline in no way impacts on how you access this site, which remains at the same location (newauthoronline.com).
As always, I am keen to know what you (as readers of newauthoronline.com) think. Please feel free to leave a comment below or, if you prefer contact me at (newauthoronline (at) gmail dot com).

Kevin

Five Fascinating Facts about Thomas Hobbes

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I read history and politics at University College Swansea. Hobbes “Leviathan” was one of the works read as part of my study of political thought. I still have his “Leviathan” on the bookcase in my study. Kevin

Interesting Literature

Facts about the life and work of Leviathan author Thomas Hobbes

1. Thomas Hobbes was born premature, because his mother was worried about the imminent invasion of the Spanish Armada. Hobbes was born in April 1588, several months before the Spanish Armada of Philip II of Spain set sail for the English Channel. In the months leading up to the invasion, England was full of fear about the coming attack. As Hobbes later put it, ‘my mother gave birth to twins: myself and fear.’ Hobbes would live a long and productive life. Although he famously described human existence as ‘nasty, brutish, and short’, Hobbes himself lived to be 91, dying in 1679.

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