I have updated my About page to include links to my guest posts on other authors’ blogs. These already appear on my blog however, due to being posted some time ago many are difficult to locate, hence updating my About page.
I would like to thank everyone who has kindly hosted me on their site.
To visit my About page click here: http://newauthoronline.com/about/
As a visually impaired author (I am registered blind but possess some residual vision enabling me to see outlines of objects) I was interested to come across the blog of a fellow blind writer (http://leapingtigerbooks.wordpress.com/). Apart from information about Thomas’s books, his blog also contains interesting and amusing posts regarding the unique issues faced by blind writers. Thomas’s post regarding the necessity of relying on sighted assistance when checking for formatting errors in manuscripts resonated with me. Please do consider checking out Thomas’s blog.
Book Review: SARAH’S STORY BY SARAH PRESTON (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0072HUZXQ/ref=pe_385721_48721101_TE_M1T1DP)
This is a true story of the horrific abuse of a young child by a paedophile. Sarah comes from a troubled background. Her mother is addicted to bingo and frequently takes her daughter, Sarah to the bingo hall when she should be attending school. Sarah’s mother has a scheme (scam) going with the bingo caller, Bill which allows her to win once or twice a week. The winnings are then split between Sarah’s mother and Bill.
One day Bill asks whether Sarah can help him prepare sanwitches. Sarah does not like Bill (a very perceptive child) but despite her reluctance to assist him Sarah’s mother pressures her into doing so. Over time Sarah is taken to Bill’s flat (the first time the excuse is that he has forgotten a cheque book). On the first visit Bill touches the 11-year-old Sarah inappropriately but on subsequent visits he rapes her.
The book is extremely well written and makes for harrowing reading. It is heart breaking to read how Sarah tries to pluck up courage to tell her parents about the abuse but due to Bill’s threat that no one will believe her she never does so.
The marriage of Sarah’s parents breaks down and her mother leaves home. Following this Sarah’s father who should have protected her begins to abuse his daughter. The abuse stops following Sarah’s mother’s return to the family home but, unsurprisingly the relationship between Sarah and her father can never be the same again.
Eventually, at the age of 14 Sarah stands up to Bill telling him that she will report him to the police if he continues to abuse her. Breathtakingly he responds that he thought Sarah liked it but seeing that she is determined not to be abused any more he takes her home and the abusive behaviour ceases.
Sarah has been happily married for many years but her traumatic experiences make her suspicious of strangers. She is suspicious when her young son says how he likes a particular teacher and asks whether the man has touched him. Her confused son confirms that he is just a good teacher and Sarah’s mind is set at rest.
I would highly recommend this true account of the horrendous abuse of a young child.
Today I was delighted to welcome my 950th follower (you can find there blog here which is well worth checking out, http://roughseasinthemed.wordpress.com/).
Many thanks to all of my followers. It is your comments, likes and simply reading my posts which makes blogging worthwhile.
All the very best
Kevin
“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.
An interesting list of 25 rules on how to write a novel, http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/writing/writing-tips/41/. I especially agree with the following points:
“4. Right now, forget about money. It eats imagination”.
“11. Ignore discouragement. You’ll never know real negativity until you tell people you are writing a novel. The last thing a human who spends their day
selling home insurance in an office that smells of egg sandwiches and despair wants to hear is that their old school-friend is going to be an international
bestselling author. So ignore them. All of them. Well, except that latter-day Malcolm Bradbury, Katy Perry: ‘Make ’em go, oh, oh, oh/ As you shoot across
the sky”.
“13. Write as though your mother will never read it”.
“19. Write the book you most want to read. That will be the best book you can write”.
“23. Read it aloud. You’ll notice more mistakes that way”. (Points 24 and 25 also resonated strongly with me).
I am not sure about point 16, that it is OK to write about people you know provided you change the names. Surely a character who is portrayed in an unflattering manner may object and, in extreme cases take legal action. Even if the name has been changed that person may still recognise themselves in your writing and if they can prove you portrayed them in an unflattering light (damaged their reputation) you are, potentially in hot water of the legal variety.
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/.
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.
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
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
K Morris - Poet 