Category Archives: short stories

Snatches Of Conversation

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“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.

Retrievers

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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!

The Prostitution Debate

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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/.

How Many Reviews Does A Book On Amazon Have?

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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?

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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

A Review Of My Collection Of Short Stories: “Sting In The Tail And Other Stories”

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On checking to ascertain whether the free promotion of my books had resulted in any further reviews, I came across the following review for my collection of short stories, “Sting In The Tail And Other Stories”:

 

“Dark, suicidal short stories. However, well thought out. Left me feeling very gloomy. Way stories are woven still reminiscent of S. King”. (http://www.amazon.com/review/R9HE7R51U7CEQ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00DFK6R54). Thank you to the reviewer for taking the time to read and review “Sting In The Tail”.

 

Reviews And A Thank You

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I was excited to see that my collection of short stories, “An Act Of Mercy” has received the following 4 star review:

“A series of short, dark stories that one can easily relate to although most would not find themselves in the situations the stories involve. Thoroughly

thought provoking”. (For the review please visit http://www.amazon.com/review/R3PVJFPC6DWJDQ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm).

 

In addition, my collection of short stories, “Street Walker And Other Stories” has received a 4 star review from the same reviewer:

“The first page led me to believe this was to be a book of ladies of the night. Then it turned to little short stories reminiscent of Stephen King. But the

final entry joined them together in a way that sticks with you”. (For the review please go to http://www.amazon.com/review/RMGILYKK6L3ZV/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm).

 

Thank you to the reviewer for the above reviews and to all of you who have helped to promote my writing by reblogging and liking my posts. It is very much appreciated. Kevin

The Free Promotion Of My Books Ends On 6 September 2014

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The free promotion of my books ends on 6 September. For further information or to download my stories free from Amazon please go to http://newauthoronline.com/2014/09/01/free-book-promotion-4/.

Reviews Of My Books “An Act Of Mercy” And “Street Walker And Other Stories”

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I was delighted to receive the following 5 star review in respect of my collection of short stories, “Street Walker And Other Stories”:

 

“I’ve read several short story collections and stand-alone stories by this author; this one features the same good quality writing and attention to characterization”. (For the review please go to http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00HLRNDP4/ref=cm_cr_dp_syn_footer?k=Street%20Walker%20and%20other%20stories&showViewpoints=1).

 

I was also gratified to receive the below 4 star review as regards my collection of short stories, “An Act of Mercy”:

 

“A collection of well-written stories (set in the U.K) that had me engrossed from beginning to end. I like this author’s style and have not been disappointed

Yet”. (For the review please visit http://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B00EHS74CS/ref=cm_cr_dp_syn_footer?k=An%20act%20of%20mercy%20and%20other%20stories&showViewpoints=1).

 

I am grateful to the reviewer (the same person in both cases) for taking the time to write the above reviews. Both titles are free to download in the Kindle Store until 6 September.