Tag Archives: social media

Akelite

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I published my first e-book, a collection of short stories entitled “The First Time” in December 2012. I have subsequently published 1 long short story, “Samantha” and 2 further collections of stories, “Sting in the tail and other stories” and “An act of Mercy”. My experience of self-publishing in the Amazon Kindle store has led me to the conclusion that the best method of obtaining exposure for my books is to enrol them in the KDP Select Programme which allows authors to promote their work free of charge for upto 5 days in any 90 day period provided that titles are exclusive to Amazon. As a consequence of KDP Select my books have received a respectable number of downloads together with several 4 star reviews. In addition to utilising KDP Select I use Twitter and this blog to promote my writing.

Yesterday I came across a Tweet with a link to a promotional video by the seller of software called Akelite. The video states that using Akelite anyone has the potential to make thousands of dollars (well in my case pounds). Akelite does (according to the video) show which topics are trending on Amazon thereby allowing the author to write about popular subjects which will generate an impressive income stream. The developer suggests that people may wish to pay someone to write a book on their behalf in order to benefit from the earning power of Akelite. Authors do not as usually contended require reviews to assist in driving traffic and sales. Akelite dispenses with the need for reviews.

I listened to the presentation with a growing sense of incredulity. The presenter’s statements regarding Akelite simply do not chime with my experiences of self-publishing on Amazon nor do they fit in with anything I’ve read by other self-published authors regarding their experiences.

I attempted to research this product by Googling Akelite, however all of the results appear to lead back to the person who invented (sells) the product or people affiliated to him (I.E. there seem to be no independent reviews of Akelite).

I haven’t used Akelite, however the idea that by employing a piece of software people can make thousands of dollars without putting in the hours (sometimes months or years) required to produce well written books is to me quite simply incredible. In the words of Victor Meldrew in the British comedy “one Foot in the Grave” “I don’t believe it”!

I would love to here from anyone who has used Akelite. All comments positive or negative will be published. The inventor of Akelite is, of course also free to comment.

Thank You

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Thanks to you, my readers newauthoronline.com has, as of today (4 September) achieved a total following of 307. I very much appreciate all your likes, comments and other feedback.

While writing just a quick note to let you know that my collection of short stories, Sting in the tail and other stories remains free to download until 6 September. To download Sting in the tail please visit http://www.amazon.com/Sting-tail-other-stories-ebook/dp/B00DFK6R54.

Twitter Ebook Voted Onto The Man Booker Prize Long List

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One of the contenders for the Man Booker Prize, The Kills, started life on Facebook and Twitter where the first section was given away free. I must admit to having been surprised on first reading the article in the Telegraph that a 900 word story is classified as a novel, however on re-reading the piece I see that it runs to 900 pages so can legitimately be so classified. That will teach me to speed read articles! For the Telegraph’s article please visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booker-prize/10198682/A-Twitter-e-book-voted-on-to-the-Booker-Prize-longlist-How-very-novel.html

The Joy of Housekeeping

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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 …

I Am Taking A Break And I May Be Some Time!

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I shall be taking a break from blogging for a week or so while my mum and her partner visit my sprawling estate in the country. Err I mean my flat in Crystal Palace (the estate was wishful thinking)! I must go now due to the need to brief the servants on the preparations for tonight’s banquet. See you all in a week or so. Kevin

Don’t Make Me Blush!

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A week or so ago I was at my local station on the way into work when I fell into conversation with a gentleman who works as an editor. As a writer this was a perfect opportunity for me to discuss writing and perhaps (naughty me) even obtain some free advice! What did I do? I listened politely to my companion’s description of his work but not one hint of the fact that I am a writer did I give!

I am by nature shy and relatively reserved. I find it easy to promote my writing using this blog and other social media tools such as Twitter. Sitting here at my laptop my face retains it’s natural colour when I say “I am a writer”, however face to face with a stranger I blush with embarrassment and am at times almost apologetic when stating this fact. I guess that I am typically British in that I’m deeply imbued with the belief that it isn’t the done thing to blow one’s own trumpet. Of course as an author I need to promote myself, but this doesn’t prevent me from feeling embarrassed when telling an acquaintance that I write. Maybe I’ll get business cards produced saying “Kevin Morris writer” with my blog address printed on them and press the cards into the hands of random strangers irrespective of whether they wish to receive them or not. Then again maybe I will continue to blush when informing people that I write while remaining hidden behind this computer screen!

Change for Change’s Sake

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Yesterday evening as I browsed through the books on my bookshelves I was struck by the beauty of the hard back titles. The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) used to provide books either in soft paper covers or, alternatively in what they described as cloth . boards. I am of the view that books are long term friends so purchased the hard back versions. Sadly RNIB no longer offer cloth bound volumes so the blind person wishing to purchase titles has Hobsons choice (they must like or lump the soft cover books sold by the Institute).

The hard cover books feel permanent and possess a wonderful scent wholly lacking in their soft bound alternatives. It is a real pleasure to take down Wuthering Heights in it’s cloth boards not only because it is a marvellous story but also due to the volumes being a pleasure to handle. They feel as though they where made to last and the braille protected as it is by the robust covers remains easy to read unlike some of my paper bound books. Where I to be a sighted person I would purchase hard backs in preference to paperbacks as they exude a sense of permanence and dare one say it stability.

As I browsed my books my mind wandered and I began to ponder the issue of permanence more generally. On occasions it seems as though we are, as a society obsessed with the ephemeral. Next time you are on public transport witness the number of people who are engrossed in madly texting rather than reading a book. Some of these texts are no doubt important, however especially with teenagers one suspects that many are wholly inane and are being sent to people whom the teen has only just left. Again the constant checking of Facebook fosters a view of the world in which nothing is permanent, things change constantly and one must always be moving forward on a roller coaster from one exciting post to another.

To sit down with a book is in contrast an experience to be savoured. With a good book one must concentrate and yes sometimes struggle. However the pleasure to be derived from comprehending a complicated plot or a difficult subject does (in my view) outweigh the shallow pleasures which eminate from the obsessive use of social media. In time (a very short time) most of the posts on Facebook will be forgotten, however Emily Brontae, Charles Dickens and other great writers will remain as proof that there is more to the world than a vapid ever shifting obsession with change for change’s sake.

I hope that I am not turning into an old fogey before my time!

 

Kevin

 

 

Please Like My Author’s Facebook Page

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In order to promote my collection of short stories, The First Time and my forthcoming book, Samantha I have an author’s page on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/newauthoronline). Please like my page on Facebook. Many thanks, Kevin

Going to hell in a hand cart

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On occasions I feel that I’m caught up in a technological maelstrom from which it is impossible to escape. On the positive side of the coin Twitter and Facebook offer the opportunity to promote my writing, however social media and technology more generally can suck us into a world in which deep thought is replaced by constant (and often unthinking) clicking on links which happen to take our fancy at a particular moment in time. Who among us has not gone online meaning to quickly check their emails only to find themselves an hour or so later browsing the internet?

One of my happiest recollections as a child revolves around sitting in the school library reading. Sometimes I’d randomly take down a book from the shelves and find myself captivated by Andrew Lang’s rendering of the Greek myths. On other occasions I would pick up the Oxford Book of English Verse and read old favourites such as Wordsworth’s Solitary Reaper. I could sit there for hours or at least until one of the staff chased me out into the great outdoors to play! In my school days I lacked the distraction of the internet and of mobile technology. Not so today. In 2013 I, like so many others face the temptation of constantly checking my mobile to see who that text who’s beeping disturbed my concentration came from and, of course to reply to the sender. If it isn’t texts or browsing the internet then I’m tempted to check to see if my friend has responded to my email asking whether he is free for a drink on Friday.

A year or so ago I took the decision to go without using the internet for 5 days. To clarify I still had to use the internet in connection with my full time job, however I didn’t go online for personal browsing during those 5 days either on my computer or my mobile. During that time I read a lot and also enjoyed walking in the local park. It was a good experiment and I’d recommend it to my readers. See how much more you read and do other things when access to the internet is prohibited (by yourself) for a week or so.

People have been saying for centuries that the world is going to hell in a hand cart so isn’t my concern about modern society’s obsession with technology merely a manifestation of this old and frequently overblown fear? Of course technology offers many positive benefits. As a blind person I embrace the freedom which the text to speech facility on my Kindle gives me to enjoy ebooks. Again blogging is a wonderful way of connecting with like minded people and of sharing ideas. Technology is neither good nor bad it is how we employ it which is the issue. Is the internet going to remain our servant or will it become our master? I don’t know the answer to that question but what I do know is that we need quiet time for reflection and reading. If we lose that then we will all become poorer.

 

(Note: while writing this I heard a text being delivered. I am in the spare room and my mobile is sitting on the bedside cabinet. I made a decision not to check my mobile and as of now the text remains unread).