Tag Archives: writing

KDP Select – An Evaluation

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The results thus far of the free promotion, using Amazon’s KDP Select programme (https://kdp.amazon.com/select), of my story, Samantha have been disappointing. For anyone unfamiliar with the programme, KDP Select allows authors with books enrolled in it to offer their titles free for 5 days in any 90 day period. As an alternative writers may sell titles at a reduced price (known as a Kindle Countdown Deal) for up to 5 days in any 90 day period. To qualify for KDP Select books must be exclusive to Amazon.

The free promotion of Samantha began on 19 November and ends on 23 November. Despite the book being free in the Kindle store and the kindness of other bloggers in publicising this fact, Samantha has, at the time of writing been downloaded 5 times from amazon.com and 3 times from amazon.co.uk. Both sites show that my book has sold 4 copies of Samantha (2 on both sites) in November.

The results thus far are causing me to evaluate the effectiveness of KDP Select. Samantha has a total of 6 reviews (counting both amazon.com and amazon.co.uk. Just over half of these have been generated by fellow bloggers while the remainder have eminated from people who, to the best of my knowledge have come across my book as a consequence of previous free promotions of Samantha. The position is roughly similar with my other titles (approximately half of reviews coming from bloggers and the remainder from readers who have, I assume come across my titles via KDP Select promotions).

The results of the current free promotion of Samantha are, as I say above disappointing. Where I to take a decision to remove Samantha and my other books from KDP Select the incentive to do so is compelling in terms of the current promotion. However, standing back and surveying the bigger picture, reviews have been forthcoming as a result of previous promotions, consequently I am not inclined to dismiss KDP Select out of hand. I will monitor how the remaining days of the free promotion of Samantha pan out and look at the results of the forthcoming free promotions of An Act Of Mercy and Street Walker to ascertain number of downloads together with any reviews generated. On the basis of these results I will take a decision regarding whether to keep my books enrolled in KDP Select. The evidence thus far seems to indicate (despite the current slow downloads of Samantha) that the use of both KDP Select free promotions and social media help in obtaining downloads and reviews.

 

(The 4 sales refered to above entail people purchasing Samantha, while free downloads are, as the name suggests just that – readers downloading Samantha at no cost).

Save, Save and Save Again!

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Yesterday I breeched one of the cardinal rules of computing. I had taken the day off from the job which pays the bills (with my boss’s permission of course), With the aim of getting stuck in to some serious writing. Having treated myself to a healthy breakfast consisting of hash browns, bacon, sausages, eggs and beans (with several slices of tost just in case I faded away), I sat down at my laptop and began typing.

I worked merrily away, words populating virtual paper until, oops the machine froze. So intent had I been on my writing that I had neglected to save the document. The laptop, showing no immediate desire to behave itself, I took a deep breath and went to make a cup of tea. Fortunately the computer had, by the time I returned unfrozen allowing me to save my work.

I don’t know what caused the machine to freeze but suspect it may have been connected with Windows Update prompting me to install Microsoft’s latest updates. Whatever the cause I was lucky not to have lost the story I am working on – the lesson I draw is that work should be saved, on a regular basis to avoid hapless computers being thrown against walls by angry authors who, through their own forgetfulness have neglected to save their manuscript. I am pleased to report that my laptop has survived to drive me mad on a future occasion.

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Young Offender Part 2

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Below is part 2 of my story, Young Offender. For Part 1 please visit (http://newauthoronline.com/2014/11/07/young-offender-part-1/).

 

Jenny stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

“Little bitch”, Jenny said examining the deep scratch above her right eye. God it stung like hell. Why did she put up with her cousin’s violent outbursts? Casting her mind back Jenny remembered a conversation with her former boyfriend, Rob,

“That kid will end up in jail”, Robert had said.

“Rob, can you put down that bloody paper and have a proper conversation about Luan?” Jenny had said her voice sharp with exasperation.

“You know what I think Jen”, Robert had said, throwing his copy of a leading national tabloid on to the dining table. “The kid’s a no hoper. Bring her here and you saddle us with a delinquent teenage criminal. There’s a piece in the paper saying that criminality is largely genetic”, Robert had said picking up the newspaper and opening it at an article on page 3 entitled, “Scientist says criminals are born, not made by society”.

“So Luan’s behaviour is all down to genetics, it has nothing whatever to do with the fact that her mother is a drug addict and feeds her addiction by prostituting herself? That poor kid, ever since she was a toddler there have been men visiting Grace’s flat for sex. Its no wonder that Luan went off the rails growing up with a mother like that”, Jenny had said, her face flushing with anger.

“It’s bad jenes. Grace has them and the kid’s inherited her mother’s criminal genetic make-up. It’s the pig that makes the sty, not the sty that makes the pig”, Robert had said, reaching for his cigarettes.

“How dare you call my cousin a pig. How dare you do that! You sit in our comfortable home, coming, as you do from a middle-class family and you dare to judge people who have been brought up in an environment which you can barely imagine, and don’t you dare to light up”, Jenny said glaring at Robert’s cigarettes, “you know how I hate smoking. Oh, by the way is your cigarette habit genetic?”

“Don’t be bloody ridiculous”, Robert had said.

“Well its just as ridiculous as you saying that Luan’s behaviour is caused by genetics and we should give up on her. Your mother and father smoked so, obviously smoking, like criminality is genetic isn’t it?”, Jenny had said, twisting the tissue in her hand into a tiny ball.

“If that kid comes here then I’m leaving”, Rob had said.

“When we met Rob I fell in love with you for your forthright opinions. I liked the way you weren’t afraid to express yourself irrespective of what others might think of your point of view but, having lived with you for the last 2 months I find you haven’t got a single original thought in that head of yours. All your opinions are parroted from the tabloids”, Jenny had said.

“You know who you remind me of? Rob had said.

“No but I’m sure you are going to tell me”, Jenny had said.

“You remind me of that joke about the social worker who finds an elderly lady lying in a pool of blood on the street. She is, quite obviously the victim of a vicious mugging.

“My god”, says the social worker, “whoever did this to you needs my help”, Rob had said.

“You are pathetic Rob. A pathetic narrow minded bigot who rights off a young teenager because he is to pig ignorant to understand that the environment affects people, that we are not created bad but our shaped by our upbringing. Just pack your things and get out”, Jenny had said.

 

Downstairs the clock struck 10:30. The sound brought Jenny back to the present with a jolt. Turning from the mirror she exited the bathroom and crossing the landing entered her bedroom.

Jenny dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Should she put on that necklace her mother had given her for Christmas? Why not, it was a beautiful piece of jewellery and she felt good wearing it. Jenny reached for the necklace on her dressing table. It wasn’t there. Frantically she searched under the dressing table, in every drawer, under the bed, in fact Jenny looked in any place, however unlikely the necklace might be.

“Not Luan. Surely Luan wouldn’t do that to me?” Jenny thought, her eyes hot with unshed tears.

addiction

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I wake my head heavy, mouth dry, in desperate need of a fix. Shakily I get out of bed and on trembling legs make my way to the stash of powder.

I grasp the packet, desirous yet fearful to indulge my addiction. Could I get through the day without my fix? Perhaps so but, as the day progresses I know that my body’s craving for illicit pleasures will cause snappiness, lack of concentration and other classic signs of addiction.

With trembling hands I open the packet and watch as powder fills the receptacle. A few minutes later I sigh with satisfaction – this cappuccino tastes so dam good …

Gifting Kindle Content

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As an author I would love to gift my Kindle titles to family and friends. If I lived in the US this would present no difficulty owing to the facility, on amazon.com to “give as a gift”. However, as a UK-based writer the ability to gift copies of my books is not available. I am at a loss to understand why a facility available to US authors can not be extended to writers based in the UK.

Amazon has many great author features including KDP Select which enables writers to promote their works by offering them for free, or at a reduced price for upto 5 days in any 90 day period. I am, on the whole a fan of Amazon but I can not grasp why the ability to gift publications is restricted to US-based authors.

After having posted this I will send a word copy of my latest collection of short stories, “The Suspect And Other Tales” (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Suspect-other-tales-Morris-ebook/dp/B00PKPTQ0U), by e-mail to my mum. It would be wonderful if, instead of having to do this the title could be gifted by me from the Amazon Kindle Store. I will raise the suggestion with Amazon and will post their response once received.

Fireworks

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As I sit at my desk I can hear the distant pounding of guns. Oops, for guns read fireworks!

Personally I can take or leave fireworks. I understand the attraction to children and the role fireworks play in celebrations such as Chinese New Year and, of course today’s event, Guy Fawkes or Bonfire Night. Unfortunately my guide dog, Trigger is not so relaxed in his view of fireworks. Like most animals he hates them.

On Saturday evening I had popped out for a couple of pints in my favourite local. On the way home heaven was rent asunder by the sound of fireworks going off. A few bangs and Trigger starts to shake, however a continuous stream of explosions causes him to freeze, begin to tremble violently and to seek shelter in the nearest building. Fortunately, when the noise started we where passing my local Sainsburys and Trigger almost dragged me in there so keen was he to escape what must, to a dog with very sensitive hearing be an incredibly distressing experience. After purchasing a few items (I didn’t really need them but felt, being in the supermarket that I should buy something) I telephoned a taxi so as to avoid Trigger having to experience the racket outside. I live some 10 minutes walk from the supermarket but, by the time the taxi arrived and conveyed Trigger and I home some 40 minutes had passed.

Today I chose to work from home in order to avoid Trigger being subjected to fireworks again. I took him out at lunchtime for a walk and he is now curled up in his bed. Unlike some animals Trigger is fine inside where the sound of exploding fireworks don’t bother him but he won’t go out again this evening, the explosions would only distress him.

I don’t wish to be a killjoy but it strikes me that fireworks should be limited to a few times a year and, possibly to designated displays only. At present, even when November 5th ends people will, no doubt still be letting off fireworks into late November/early December. Then, of course we have New Year’s Eve so Trigger won’t have a complete rest from fireworks until mid to late January. There surely must be a better way than this.

Dark Angel By K Morris On Calamities Press

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I am delighted that Calamities Press has accepted another of my poems, “Dark Angel” for publication. For “Dark Angel”, which first appeared on my blog, newauthoronline.com please visit the following link (http://calamitiespress.com/2014/11/02/dark-angel-poetry-by-kevin-morris/).

Early Morning Call

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The below is dedicated to the person who rang me at halfpast 2 this morning from a withheld number.

 

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Why do you ring me at halfpast two? Tell me, please do.

The sound of my mobile echoing around, dragging me from sleep profound.

I answered the phone, no one there, cursing inwardly I return to my lair.

Whoever you are, whatever you do, refrain from calling me at halfpast two!

Anthology To Raise Money For Guide Dogs – An Update And A Request

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This post is by way of an update on the anthology to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (GDBA), the UK based charity which trains dogs for the blind without receiving any financial support from the government. Thus far I have received contributions from the following people:

Sue Vincent – http://scvincent.com/

Kev Cooper – http://kevs-domain.net/

Anju – http://cupitonians.wordpress.com/ and

Sally Cronin – http://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/

 

Many thanks to Sally, Kev, Anju and Sue for their contributions. Thanks also go to Dave Higgins who is editing the anthology free of charge and to everyone who has offered to provide a story, poem or other contribution. The anthology is still in need of contributions. If you can provide a poem, story or other animal (preferably dog related but it doesn’t have to be) content then please do get in touch. You can contact me by e-mail at newauthoronline (at) gmail . com (the address is rendered in this manner to try and defeat spammers).

 

Kevin