Dr Rory Ridley-Duff

On 3rd September 2009, English academic Dr Rory Ridley-Duff reached a milestone in electronic publishing by achieving more than 10,000 downloads from the US-based document repository Scribd.  In the same month, he surpassed 1,000 downloads for his academic papers from SHURA, the Sheffield Hallam University Research Archive. 

Two of Rory's books have become particularly popular at Scribd.  The first book is Rory's novel Friends or Lovers, a story that brings to life issues raised by his academic research.  This has been downloaded over 2,000 times since being posted to the site in June 2009.  His most popular download, however, continues to be Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy, a scholarly work that explores the power of sexuality and emotion in the workplace.  The first and second editions of Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy have been downloaded over 4,000 times.  Both books develop themes that first appeared in his PhD thesis, completed in 2005.  To Rory's amazement, the PhD itself has been downloaded over 500 times.

He commented that "this is a significant milestone for an academic author because we're so used to publishing articles that very few people read.  Scribd offers a new way for the academic community to reach millions of potential readers by disseminating work that is mostly funded by taxpayers.  Using this route, it can be made freely available for download."

The US-based site www.scribd.com was established in 2007.  It now houses millions of documents and receives more than 60 million visitors each month.  With the goal of putting the process of publishing back into the hands of ordinary people, Scribd has built one of the largest collections of electronic documents in the world.

Rory's next book Understanding Social Enterprise: Theory and Practice will be published by Sage Publications in 2011.

June 23rd 2009: New eBook releases of Rory's book have been featured at book publishing site www.scribd.com, and raised Rory's profile as a writer. 

Friends or Lovers, Rory's first published novel, achieved 1,600 downloads in the first week of availability.

Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy achieved over 2,000 downloads before its second release.  The new eBook edition achieved 700 downloads in the first week of availability and has become one of the most popular books on the site.

1st March 2009: After 3 years of seeking an agent and publisher for his novel Friends or Lovers, Rory has elected to publish it on-line at Scribd.  Written to novelise issues uncovered during a 3-year programme of research, the book tells the story of Penny Leyton, an ambitious young woman who manages a Human Resources department.  As Dr Poonam Thapa writes:

Friends or Lovers does not just explore and critique the combustible situations that ignite the workplace, it dares to celebrate them. This novel is the story of a woman standing on the edge of the precipice of her life, her humanity long lost.  Will she take the right track in the face of adversity?  It is now for me to know and for you the reader to find out... Here is a clue... there is affinity, lots of adventure and wonderful banter.  Anyone who cares about love will give this book to a friend or lover, partner or spouse, sister or brother".

Dr Poonam Thapa
Gender, Culture and Sexual Health Expert

When asked why he decided to publish on-line, Rory said:

"I had a struggle to get my other book Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy published, and eventually found a small publisher who helped out. After a year of slow sales, I decided to part company with the publisher and upload to Scribd (www.scribd.com). With over 1,000 downloads in six months, it seems there is considerable interest after all. It is clear that there is an issue publishing something of genuine public interest that might cause controversy so I am taking the risk myself and uploading the novel to see what interest it will generate."

Rory has been included in the 2009 edition of Marquis's Who's Who in the World?  This directory, celebrating around 50,000 of the world's leading thinkers, artists, politicians and contributors to society, recognised Rory for his dual contribution to music and academic thought. 

24th December 2007 - Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy has just been added to Amazon listings.  100 books are on order and will be delivered in January.  Make your order from Amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/o/ASIN/0975430017

12th October 2007 - The new album by Protos, The Noble Pauper's Grave with music composed and arranged by Rory, is now available from CD Baby and New Horizons Music.  At present, the album is available for download from digital stores (e.g. iTunes).  The Retail CD version will be available from a number of outlets shortly and further news will be posted when it is available in specialist stores.

You should be able to order the album from this site by the 18th October:

Rory's book Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy has experienced further delays with typesetting but the publisher assures me that it will be available this year.

Catch you soon
Rory

The first sample of this forthcoming was not an acceptable standard so we're experiencing delays in publication.  Men's Hour Books may switch printers so that they can develop a closer working relationship with Amazon.  We expect to receive a new sample, and proceed to publication in July 2007.

Rory's first novel is now going through the final stages of pre-press.  The text has been sent to the publisher and the cover is now under preparation.  The goal here is to be ready August/September.

Best wishes
Rory

Reviews for Passing Decades continue to appear on-line....

The best summary page for reviews now appears at www.soundclick.com/roryridleyduff.  This site also contains many samples of music, and one that you can download.  For those of you interested in self-publishing music, I have shared my experiences on a number of topics at www.newhorizonsmusic.co.uk/news.htm.  The most recent newsletter contains an article on getting music reviewed and contains a critique of the feedback received so far.

All the best
Rory

9th February 2006 - Never mind about a week being a long time in politics, it is also a long time in music.  This week there has been an explosion of interest Rory's music as he achieved the #1 spot in SoundClick's 'Hottest Bands' chart. 

For the full story, see www.newhorizonsmusic.co.uk/news.htm.

1st January 2007 - On 24th December 2006, Rory's music (both solo and as part of the band Protos) started to make a big impact on SoundClick the "#1 Artist Music Community" on the Internet.  'The Fugitive' from Protos's album One Day a New Horizon reached #1 in the 'Progressive Rock' charts over the Xmas holidays and also entered the Top-20 in the more generic 'Rock' charts. 

Rory's solo music was also making its way up the charts with Hunting Extremely Large Animals from the album Passing Decades, entered the Top 20 of the Instrumental Rock Charts.

To find out more, visit:

www.soundclick.com/roryridleyduff

www.soundclick.com/protos

Watch out for Into the Mouth of the Tiger released by Protos on 8th January 2007.

20th December 2006 - Just before Xmas, Rory returned the proofs of his first international journal article to Blackwell Publishers.  This will be published in the journal 'Corporate Governance: An International Review' in February/March 2007.  Rated in the top 100 academic journals worldwide, this marks Rory's arrival as an academic of considerable stature.

Following the successful conference on Social Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University at the end of November, Rory attended the parliamentary launch of a report into Employee Ownership on 14th December 2006.  At present, many companies are closed down unnecessarily when multinationals relocate profitable businesses elsewhere (or when companies are taken over to acquire and liquidate the assets).  The UK Government changed the law in 2002 to encourage the survival of companies whenever possible.  The lack of concrete action resulted in supporters of the Employee Ownership Network meeting with MPs, leading trade unionists and the head of the insolvency profession to consider this new report and press for changes.  In 2007, a parliamentary working party will begin work on this matter.

10th November 2006 - The music and writing projects are progressing.  Four albums have been released and CDs are now with distributors in Japan, the US and England.  Interest is coming in from Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Greece, Finland, Germany and the UK so it is something of a roller coaster and I'm navigating the e-mails day-by-day.  A further album will be released on 8th January 2007 - an album celebrating Protos's emergence as "the top progressive rock act since England in 1977" (according to Marquee Prog Rock Magazine).

As for the writing, the text and cover of Emotion, Seduction and Intimacy is now in final draft and has been sent to the publisher for production.  Secondly, the academic article Communitarian Perspectives on Social Enterprise has moved into the production phase at Blackwell Publishers.  Both should be available February/March 2007. 

Life still has its ups and downs, but it is never dull .

5th October 2006: The official release date of 15th October 2006 for all four albums is approaching fast.  Orders went in over a week ago and I expect to get the first batch of CDs on 16th October.  Over half the One Day a New Horizon CDs have been pre-ordered by outlets in Japan and the US, with sales of Passing Decades also strong.  New Horizons Music is organising production of more CDs soon.  Place your order too and look forward to a new musical experience!

11 September 2006: Negotiations are progressing with distributors to put four music CDs on general release before Xmas 2006.  If all goes to plan, the following albums will be available from on-line music stores, and some shops, before Christmas:

• Passing Decades (Rory's collection of progressive jazz/rock music)
• A Question of Expression (Rory's collection of classical compositions)
• One Day a New Horizon (a re-release of Protos's original LP with bonus tracks)
• Space (and Other Singles) (a compilation of 'singles' from four proposed albums).

CDs will be published by New Horizons Music Ltd, and distributed digitally by CD Baby.  Far East distribution is being arranged through Marquee (progressive rock magazine).  A UK distributer will be sought shortly.  CDs are also being ordered for US stores, particularly those specialising in prog rock music..  Independent record shops and distributors can now place orders using the New Horizons Music Ltd web-site.

6th September 2006: Social Exchange Ltd has agreed to publish two more titles by Rory.  Silent Revolution - a text for social entrepreneurs about creating and managing businesses will be published in Spring 2007.  Rory's second novel The Silent Assassin will be published during the summer.

01 September 2006: The poetry collection "The Growing Years: Collected Poems 1987-2006" is now available from the poetry page.  Featuring poems by both Caroline and Rory Ridley-Duff, it provides a fascinating portrait of family life in poetry.  Click here for more details.

25th August 2006: Rory is in the final stages of contract negotation with Men's Hour Books to publish two of his works.  In February 2007, a non-fiction work Emotions at Work: Seduction and Intimacy in Organisation Behaviour will be published.  In August 2007, Rory's first novel about workplace life, Friends or Lovers, will hit the streets.  While targetted at different audiences, and written in quite different styles, both books explore how relationships inside and outside the workplace shape organisation behaviour.

15th August 2006: The academic article "Communitarian Perspectives on Social Enterprise" has been accepted to Corporate Governance: An International Review.  It is due for publication in Volume 15, Issue 2 and should appear March 2007.  For more on Rory's academic writing, click here.

9th August 2006: Social Exchange Ltd has been registered by Dr Rory Ridley-Duff and Caroline Ridley-Duff.  Human and sexual rights campaigner Dr Poonam Thapa (of Kama Leela Ltd) will also be a director of the company.  The company will promote "support for the thinking business" by publishing articles and books, and hosting discussion forums for business people, policy developers, politicians, pracitioners, academics and professionals interested in developing the concept of social enterprise.

For more information see www.socialexchange.org.