Category Archives: short stories

The Handbag

“Oh please darling, I like it” Cindy said allowing her hands to caress the soft leather of the handbag.

John watched mesmerised as his girlfriend’s hands stroked the shiny black leather. Softly as though stroking a cat Cindy’s delicate fingers moved back and forth.

“Its beautiful John. Your little bunnykins wants it” she purred, her eyes holding out the prospect of the evening to come.

John glanced at the price tag.

“We can’t afford it babe, £350 is a lot of money. Sorry sweetie”.

John glanced up at the dark sky as they exited the shop. Black clouds loomed threateningly overhead.

“It’s going to pour down. We’d better run to the car before the heavens open!”

“You don’t love me” Cindy said turning away from him.

“You know that isn’t true darling. I’d do anything for you” John replied taking Cindy’s arm.

Cindy shook herself free angrily.

“Mean man, there is always money for going down the pub with your mates. Nothings to much trouble when you’re meeting the boys but when ever I want something its always, “sorry sweetie, it’s too expensive”. You’re a selfish bastard, you don’t give a shit about anyone else”.

“That isn’t true!”

“Yes it is and you know it!” Cindy said turning away from John and walking in the opposite direction to that in which they had been heading.

“Where are you going?”

“Anywhere to get away from my mean boyfriend!”

“Don’t be like that Cindy” John said striding after her.

“I’ve had enough John, its over”.

“Just because I wouldn’t buy you an overpriced bloody handbag. It was probably made in Thailand for peanuts and its being sold here for £350! Anyway who bought you those designer boots you’re wearing and the leather coat?”

“I know darling but, please buy your bunnykins that lovely bag. I like it. Cindy loves her Johnykins” she said taking John’s hand and smiling that bewitching smile which never failed to produce the desired result.

“Well I suppose I could use the credit card”,

“Oh you do love me darling” Cindy said standing on tiptoe to kiss her boyfriend full on the lips. John shivered at the prospect of the delights to come.

“We’d better hurry before the shop closes” he said.

 

 

“That’s disgusting, some girls have no pride”.

John had been drifting off to sleep following a particularly energetic bout of bedroom antics but at the sound of his girlfriend’s voice he turned to face her.

“What’s that my darling?”

Cindy gestured towards the television which stood on a stand in the corner of the bedroom.

“Look at her. I’d die of shame before I’d do that”.

“What Cindy?” John said rubbing his tired eyes.

“Sleep with men for money. Christ some girls have no pride. Turn it off darling, it’s horrible, I can’t watc

 

The end h it” Cindy said with a shiver.

Caught In A Trap

In order to sell books you need reviews as, in general readers are not going to pay cold, hard cash only to discover that they have been sold a pup. Of course my books together with those of many other writers are not pups but, as a potential reader it is hard to distinguish between a pup and a full grown pedigree dog in the absence of reviews. Now comes the rub, in order to get a review someone actually needs to have read your masterpiece and taken the time to put fingers to keyboard but, in the absence of any reviews why should one of those lovely readers out there shell out their hard earned money for my (or your) books?! We are, dear reader caught in a vicious circle from which it is impossible to escape!

Well that is not quite the case. Authors can provide free copies of their books in return for what is termed “an honest review” where the recipient of the book writes an unbiased review and states that they have received a complimentary copy of the author’s work. I have gone down this road with my collection of short stories, The First Time (you can find the resulting review here, https://cupitonians.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/the-first-time-book-review/). Writing to bloggers and others who write honest reviews is most certainly worth doing, however, prior to doing so check out what genres the reviewer reviews in order to avoid wasting both the reviewers time and your own!

Another excellent way to obtain reviews is by offering your books free or at a discounted price using Amazon’s KDP Select Programme, https://kdp.amazon.com/select. Human nature being what it is people are, in my experience more likely to take a chance on an unknown or relatively unknown author when their books are free (after all what has the reader to lose other than the time expended in reading the writer’s pearls of wisdom)? If you have a blog and/or a website use it to inform your visitors/followers that your book is available free and provide links facilitating it’s easy download.

I have had some success with KDP Select. My short story, Samantha has attracted 5 4 star reviews as a consequence of me offering it free via KDP Selectand publicising it’s availability via this blog, newauthoronline.com.

Ah but what about the elephant in the room I hear you ask. Free downloads don’t put money in an author’s pocket. This is, quite blatantly correct. However reviews gained as a consequence of offering your books free (assuming they are good reviews) means that it is more likely readers will open their wallets and purchase your books. Good luck with your writing and book sales!

(For my Amazon Author Page please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/K.-Morris/e/B00CEECWHY/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0).

A Thank You

My collection of short stories, Street Walker And Other Stories was free, in the Kindle Store from 25 February until 1 March. During the free promotion Street Walker was downloaded a total of 84 times (well give or take a download either way as I find it difficult to read the sales reports in KDP Select. Am I the only one who has this difficulty)! Irrespective of whether the number of downloads was 84, 83 or 85, many thanks to everyone who downloaded Street Walker. I hope you enjoyed reading my book and I would love to hear what you thought of it. Thank you also to all who reblogged the free promotion bringing it to the attention of a wider audience. The mutual assistance of bloggers is one of the great things about social media!

You can find Street Walker And Other Stories here, http://www.amazon.com/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4

The Free Promotion Of Street Walker And Other Stories Ends Today (Saturday 1 March)

The free promotion of my collection of short stories, Street Walker And Other Stories ends today (Saturday 1 March). If you would like to obtain your free copy of Street Walker please visit either http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4 (for the UK) or http://www.amazon.com/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4 (for the US).

MEPS VOTE TO CRIMINILISE BUYING SEX

On 26 February Members of the European Parliament (MEPS) voted to criminilise paying for sex, http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/feb/26/meps-vote-criminalise-buying-sex-european-parliament. The vote, which is non binding may, none the less put pressure on members of the European Union where paying for sex is not illegal to introduce such a prohibition. Proponents of the Nordic model argue that Sweden and the other nations which have followed the Swedish example have seen a decrease in prostitution since the introduction of the ban. They contend that prostitution is, in effect rape and that those who use the services of prostitutes are helping to fuel trafficking and encourage sex slavery. Opponents of the Swedish style law, including many sex worker organisations argue that prohibiting paying for sex merely forces prostitution further underground placing sex workers in danger from clients. Other opponents also argue that the state has no business to interfere with consenting adults do in private and that resources should be concentrated on combating trafficking. In response to opponents of the ban it’s supporters argue that there is no such thing as genuine choice in prostitution, those engaged in it are desperate persons being exploited by the buyers of sex, pimps etc. It will be interesting to see how the debate plays out over the coming months.

 

My collection of short stories, Street Walker And Other Stories is free in the Kindle Store until Saturday 1 March. To Download Street Walker free please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4

Street Walker Free In The Kindle Store From 25 February Until 1 March

My collection of short stories, Street Walker And Other Stories, is free in the Kindle Store from today (25 February) until 1 March.

In this collection of flash fiction we meet a variety of characters, many of whom have been deeply damaged by life. The stories range from a young prostitute

who walks the dangerous streets of London to tales of vengeance and comeuppance. Serious issues of abuse of power are touched upon. Anyone who is looking

for a comfortable read should avoid this book.

To download Street Walker free please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4 (for the UK) or http://www.amazon.com/Street-Walker-other-stories-Morris-ebook/dp/B00HLRNDP4 (for the US). If you download Street Walker And Other Stories please consider leaving a review on Amazon.

 

I hope you enjoy Street Walker together with my other stories.

 

Kevin

The School Library

Escape into tranquillity. The scent of books reassures, beckons me in. A world of wonder fills the shelves. Some volumes stand atop high bookcases, tantalisingly out of reach of a small boy. Poe, Hardy, so many authors call to me.

I sit, the only sound that of a clock ticking and the occasional turning of a page. Engrossed, safe from the hurly burly of the playground. Footsteps pass the door. I hold my breath, friend or foe? Will I be chased out to god’s fresh air?

Sometimes the footsteps pass, peace lays her gentle hand on me once moreand I return to my books. On other occasions the door opens and a friendly teacher enquires what I am reading. An exchange ensues, oh the delights of not being talked down to, discussing books man to man with a kind adult.

The dreaded voice

“go outside and get some fresh air. Play with your peers”.

Sadly the book is replaced and, casting a backward glance I exit the peaceful harbour to swim in a sea of children.

Protecting Teenage Prostitutes?

Yesterday I came across an interesting debate on Youtube regarding a Private Members Bill being piloted through Parliament by the Labour MP John Mann which, if it becomes law would make it illegal to pay for sex with a prostitute aged under 21, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHukn6AHHi4. Under UK law the age of consent is 16 for both men and women. It is, however illegal to pay for sex with anyone under the age of 18. John Mann and his supporters believe that those aged over 18 but under 21 are particularly vunnerable so making it illegal to pay for sex with this group would reduce the demand for young prostitutes giving these ladies (and men) breathing space and the chance to explore alternative career paths.

Opponents of the proposal argue that it is unenforcible and that the law should be left as it currently stands. Others believe that the Swedish model should be implemented under which those who pay for sex are prosecuted while men and women engaged in the sex industry are assisted to exit prostitution.

In my story, Samantha, Sam is forced into prostitution in the city of Liverpool by her brutal pimp Barry and it is touch and go as to whether she will survive or end her brutalised existence in the murky waters of Liverpool’s Albert Docks. In The First Time we meet Becky, a young graduate who becomes a prostitute in order to pay off her debts. The First Time explores the psychological effects of working in the sex industry on Becky and her fellow escort and friend Julie. In neither story do I refer to the age of Samantha or Becky, however I had in the back of my mind that Becky is 21 while Sam is 18 or 19 (Samantha is studying at university when she becomes entrapped into prostitution).

 

For Samantha please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samantha-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00BL3CNHI (for the UK) or http://www.amazon.com/Samantha-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00BL3CNHI (for the US).

For The First Time please visit http://www.amazon.com/First-Time-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00FJGKY7Y/ref=la_B00CEECWHY_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393147163&sr=1-1 (for the US or http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-First-Time-K-Morris-ebook/dp/B00FJGKY7Y (for the UK). For a recent review of The First Time please visit https://cupitonians.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/the-first-time-book-review/.

My collection of short stories, An Act Of Mercy is free in the Kindle Store until Tuesday 25 February. To download An Act Of Mercy free please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS (for the UK) or http://www.amazon.com/An-act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS (for the US).

Ode To A Troll

Not a second glance do you bestow on me as I hurry by, unassuming, heading for my lair.

Wrapped in darkness, encumbered by hate I sit fingers tapping oh so busily tapping, on keyboard spewing hate. I care not for you, my pleasure is your pain. Hatred like a stench fills the air, I am a troll ensconced in his lair.

An Act Of Mercy Free In The Kindle Store From 21 February Until 25 February 2014

My collection of short stories, An Act Of Mercy And Other Stories, is free in the Kindle store from 21 February to 25 February. To download An Act Of Mercy free please visit http://www.amazon.co.uk/An-act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS (for the UK), or http://www.amazon.com/An-act-mercy-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00EHS74CS (for the USA). If you download An Act Of Mercy or any of my other books I would appreciate it if you would please consider leaving a review.

 

Kevin