A Writer's Blog

Tim Cook, CEO of #Apple - 'Proud to be Gay'

10/30/2014

Today in an op-ed for Bloomberg Business Week, Tim Cook confirmed the rumors that had been swirling about his sexuality for some time - and announced he is gay. Read the entire article here.

The quote that I wished to share with my readers is as follows from Mr. Cook.

"I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

The reason I share this as follows

1) The very fact that Mr. Cook must make an 'announcement' and confirm/deny rumors about his sexuality means we still have a ways to go in the fight for equality. In my own personal life - there wasn't a moment I needed to pull my parents aside and also pen an op-ed in the school paper to announce - Folks, "I'm straight!!!."

2) People have asked - what does this mean for Apple?

You mean as a company? Nothing. Zero. Apple's CEO is gay. The world won't stop spinning, nor will the sun explode. It's only a story because America has yet to achieve equality.

Hopefully, soon we will and there will be a day when this news story isn't necessary.

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My Writing Process: How to Keep Going When Life Intrudes - Keeping a Journal #MondayBlogs

10/27/2014

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A writer I met through twitter asked and after much delay, I'll now tackle the subject of how to keep the writing train on the tracks when life intrudes.

The life of being a writer can be trying, but actually finding time to write can be the biggest struggle of all. With jobs, attempts to have a social life, and the demands of paying bills - carving out a proper writing schedule presents challenges. I do advise writers to put something on the paper each day - to keep the well-spring of inspiration rolling.

However, that is not always possible. I'm aware people may work two jobs or work as well as go to school. There are certain days you may not find time to write at all. What happens to the 'train' and continuity at that point? Missing days can throw the train off the tracks. Many writers struggle with this issue. What if you can only write on weekends or a few days a week? How can you 'pick up the thread of inspiration' after a certain space of time?

To combat part-time writing, I advise keeping a journal. Many writers outline novels and stories, but after a few days off have lost the 'feel' of it and an outline doesn't do much to get back on track. This is where keeping a journal can help.

In the journal I keep - I make notes of where I am in the story and how it feels to me. Where is my character at the moment I stop? What was that character experiencing/feeling and what mental state? I take careful notes of the last major 'stop' - time/place/changes to circumstances. I read these notes on days I can't do any actual writing to keep current with my characters and stories.

Taking notes in a journal about your story can help you get back on track when you do have time. Here is a sample from my latest journal entry.

Ella has just disclosed, after much violent denial, Ray 'abused' her. She admitted this to his daughter, Mary and it was an emotional scene that bonded them in a very fundamental way. Going forward, it's clear that Ella will be more of a mentor to Mary than mother and I can see pieces of scenes with them and Ella's 'toys'.

Note - this isn't an outline. It just gives me the basics of the last scene I posted so I can make a quick jump back into the action when I have time to do so. Yes, I also have an outline of scenes to come in the near future of this story, but those details do little to tell you where you are at present.

In conclusion - I find keeping a journal to be of the utmost important for a writer. Let yourself have the freedom to talk about the story. Where do you see it? What is happening and how has the story changed with the most recent scene? Keeping a log of these important matters can help you get back on track quickly if you are a part-time writer due to a hectic busy life.

Best of luck writing and if anyone has questions - do let me know.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

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The Problem in America - Workers Don't get Fair Share of Profits/Productivity

10/25/2014

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People wonder where America went wrong. Why are things so difficult for so many? Why is it next to impossible to make a living off one job anymore? Well, here it is in one chart.

The One Percent are stealing it all. Since the 70's - real wages have been stuck even while productivity and profits have doubled. I hear workers tell me all the time - I feel like I'm doing twice the work for the same money - and LITERALLY, you're right. The company you work for is literally getting you to do twice the work for the same money as workers did 40 years ago.

Once upon a time in America - wages went up with PRODUCTIVITY. As in - merit based raises. If I made a company more money - they would be interested in giving me a raise to keep me employed. That has all but disappeared in this country. Wages are stagnant and have been for decades. Corporate balance sheets swell with cash and profits, almost none of which is shared with employees.

Executives and a handful of 'important people' in a company receive nearly ALL the compensation. America can't continue in this fashion. The bottom will drop out - as in - the working poor. The working poor are barely holding on. Having not received raises in many years - a good number rely on food stamps, which are also being slashed.

We can't have an economy that just works for a few percent. That will lead to collapse. People hate government regulation, but corporations need to be and have always needed to be checked. They don't have the needs of Americans on their minds - they are after profits. Never forget that.

And no - neither party in American politics offers an answer. Both are 100% owned by big business and dedicated to screwing the working poor. This is what we need to change.

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Lewis Black Says F#%! Voter Suppression @TheLewisBlack

10/25/2014

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To fight voter suppression - VOTE!!! Get out and vote. No excuses. Go vote during this year's mid-terms.

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Price Point of Indie E-books

10/22/2014

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Due to the ELLA e-book being the first release from Moran Publishing, I didn't have any data to work with when deciding on a price-point for the product. I took input from other indies authors, but clearly no two authors are the same, nor are their readerships.

When it came to pricing the e-book, it came down to two different pricing levels - $2.99 and $4.99. I chose the $4.99 price level with the thought that I could easily change/drop the price if the feedback from readers pointed in that direction.

I have indeed received quite a bit of feedback from potential and actual buyers about the price-point. I won't share those opinions yet, because the point of this post is to gather more information and I don't want to start with a biased sample.

The basic question: Has the $4.99 price point kept you from purchasing the ELLA e-book and would a drop in price to $2.99 (at least temporarily) be enough of an incentive to take a chance on an 'unknown author'? Or, does the difference in price not matter in your decision to purchase or not?

Thank you to anyone that gives feedback and I hope to arrive at a consensus soon.

From Las Vegas,

Stephen Moran

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The Next Book from Moran Publishing...

10/21/2014

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I've posted previously that the ELLA novel wasn't the 'first' part of the story. There are actually 4 novels that come before it in the timeline and overall story. However, I published ELLA first because it was the most 'ready' as it were.

The big question is - What book shall I publish next? Do you (the readers of this blog) want me to go 'forward', as in - tell the continuing saga of Ella after the last page of the current book? Or perhaps would you like to hear the back-story of Ray and Ella?

I'll list a few options in a poll and hopefully garner some discussion on the subject. I'm curious as to what folks think and what the readers want to read next!

Here are the basic synopsis of each book to help you make a decision.

Preface to a Suicide - Ray's first person account of the fateful days leading to Ella's Thirteen birthday and the climatic scene with her father.

Little Black Book - Ella's collection of stories detailing the kills and romances in Las Vegas. This book immediately follows the timeline of ELLA.

Fortune - A third person account of how Ray got the money from his father. A tale of betrayal, greed and violence.

The Killers: A Love Story - Describes the meeting of Ella and Ray. How will he deal with the knowledge that she is a serial killer?

Tell me the book you would like to read next!

From Las Vegas,

Stephen John Moran

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Chart of the Morning: $KO - Coke Slammed After Earnings #Cramer #CNBC @jimcramer

10/21/2014

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Shares of Coca-Cola are getting slammed this morning on the back of a weak earnings report - one that analyst Jim Cramer called 'Ghastly'. He also charged that the company is not well run at this point and needs change at all levels. I do not share Cramer's pessimism on the company and urge caution on reading too much into the results of a single quarter. The company's stock had been on a tear as of late and was priced for 'perfection', so any weakness in results would be an excuse for investors to take profits.

However, is it more than that? Is the continual swing towards healthy choices by Americans a permanent drag on sales for Coke? That's a question the CEO needs to answer. I'll be reading the transcripts of this conference call for answers. Stay tunes.

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Moran Publishing Presents: ELLA - A Novel #WhoisElla #SerialVegas #Vegas

10/20/2014

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I am pleased to present my first published novel - ELLA. After many fixes and tweaks, the book is ready and available at Amazon.com.

Meet Ella Thomas - A beautiful, young writer recently released from a mental institution. Overwhelmed with dark secrets, she flees her small hometown in Massachusetts and embarks on a journey to Las Vegas, Nevada in search of adventure and material for her first novel. She is followed by violent reminders of her past and the FBI. A series of events bring her to Vegas, where she searches for a man from her youth that holds the key to her story of abuse, murder, and her heart.

Who is Ella Thomas? Is she a writer, a killer, or will she be defined by the fortune left to her by the mysterious man she seeks? Will she find this man? And will she discover the truth about herself?

Click the book cover picture to visit the Amazon page. The book is on sale for $4.99. To the college students and others out there struggling at the moment (and I'm aware this economy is leaving many behind), contact me about a discount. I hope all of my friends and family and readers enjoy this first offering from Moran Publishing. Many more titles will follow.