Diane M. Johnson's Blog, page 11
March 3, 2021
Prophet Reborn Giveaway Update
March 1, 2021
Winners have been selected
I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, feel free to drop a review!
Thanks for your support.
February 14, 2021
As An Author, I Take Time To Leave Reviews
It's my way of paying it forward for the reviews I receive, because every indie author hopes for honest reviews, but no indie author wants to be trapped by the prospect of being asked to write an honest review as a favor. So, I pay it forward. Don’t ask me to review your book. But appreciate it if I choose to. Screenwriting is a different story, but we had better know each other well enough before you ask.
But that's not entirely why I'm writing this post. I recently reviewed a rather popular self-help book on Amazon, and because of Amazon's rules and regulations about book reviews, my review was denied. Indie authors can offer a litany of complaints about Amazon's policies when it comes to garnering reviews, but this occurrence highlights the company’s ignorance and over reliance on algorithms when it comes to determining what is an acceptable review.
The book I read was The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck. Don’t @ me. That's the title. It was a NY Times bestseller, and the title admittedly intrigued me. So I bought it on a whim, and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t earth shattering, revolutionary advice for me, but it resonated when it came to some points that I believe to be true. So I rated it and wrote a review. Here it is, posted on BookBub.
It's the exact same review that I tried to post on Amazon, except that Amazon had the option of including a title. I referenced the title of the book in my title of the review (asterisk* included), and the review got declined because of policy issues. The policy? Profanity...
Seriously. Amazon bots "carefully reviewed" my review and found a swear word (asterisk* included) that deemed it inappropriate for people who might have checked out this book. Seriously. Of all the things I could give a f*ck about, this one inspired me to write this blog. Even funnier is that they allowed a one star review from a reader who goes by the name Scumbag... Don’t believe me? Here it is.
Algorithms are incredibly flawed. Bezos, if there's the slimmest chance that you might read this post (humor me here) fix this. Your review policies are flawed and overreaching. And I'm telling you this as a reviewer, not an author!
Okay, rant over. Time for me to leave the past behind and find something better to give a f*ck about.
Here's something that might interest you if you stayed with me to the end of this post. A book giveaway! You can enter a Goodreads giveaway between February 15th and February 28th, 2021 for a free hard copy of my latest, Prophet Reborn, the thrilling sequel to Perfect Prophet. The first book is hard to come by in paperback, but you can purchase it here. It’s widely available at the online retailer of your choice as an ebook. Good luck if you choose to enter, and thanks for your support!
GIVEAWAY LINK
January 13, 2021
Writing As A Chore
I'll be honest. I'm starting off the new year spinning my wheels on the writing front. maybe it's the arm still being in a sling, the daily ache left from surgery, the one and a half handed hunt and peck across the keyboard. It's a bit of a chore.
Oh, I'm still committed to the write something, anything, every day mantra. I've been working on book thre of the Prophet series, and I've come up with a fun way to antagonize the book one protagonist. I've really committed my focus to it. But it doesn't propel the story forward. There's little traction from it. Spinning wheels.
And that's the problem. I haven't hooked into where I want to go with book three. I've got characters that I want to expand on, whose journeys need to continue. I've got a title! But I've got no goal, no theme. Therefore, writing it has become a chore. I need an outline -- and outlines are chores. A list of things to get done before you can enjoy the getting done part.
I'm also thinking about setting the book three idea aside and returning to the script series. But again, I would need to revisit the old, outline the new and research research research. A list of chores.
Don't get me wrong. I look forward to that spark of achievement that comes with getting the work done. But I believe that it's okay to recognize that the process can be a chore. No one likes chores, but we all know they need to get done. Daily.
So if you too are stuck in your writing endeavors, make a list -- You need to define your main characters, their flaws, their fears. You need to define your ending before you define your beginning. You need to commit to a singular theme and tape it to the top of your computer screen so you don't forget it. You need to stop at the store and buy some whiskey, because whiskey is key to your writing process... You get the idea.
Whatever your process, remember. If it feels like it's missing something, or becoming a chore, it probably is. Embrace the chores. It's part of the process.
Also, forgive any typos. My shoulder is feeling it. But I got the January blog entry done! A tick off on my list of chores.
December 20, 2020
Year End Blog Update 2020
Has it been over a year since I last added to the blog? It has. In my defense, 2020.
You would think that 2020 would be the kind of year to give more time for the writer to write. While this is probably true for many, it's certainly not true for all. You have the writers who happen to be parents, who may be working remotely from home, or who may have been laid off from the "real job" that pays the bills. Plenty of time to write during a quarantine lockdown, you muse. But then there's the kids. Remote learning means Mom and Dad have become--at minimum--teacher's aides. so, less time writing, more time relearning the things we forgot about from Kindergarten to 12th grade.
Then there's the rest of the family. I have kids at home, and while they're college age, they still have needs. There's online classes and chats that prove our bedroom doors aren't that soundproof. There are spouses who don't write, who don't understand what the big deal is when they see you in front of your computer and they decide to start conversation. I miss my opportunities to hang out in coffee shops to work uninterrupted.
That having been said, my family was fortunate enough to stay employed throughout 2020. With jobs that technically fell under the categories of essential businesses, my spouse and I generally worked a standard workweek from beginning to end. Don't call us heroes. That title is reserved for the medical professionals and frontline grocery store workers. The company I work for cleans boats under water. My husband's job is affiliated with communications and aerospace technology: important services, but not front line essential. I want to thank every front line worker who might be reading this for their service. Also, COVID-19 is no joke. We have lost friends and family, as many others have. I am sorry for your losses.
Which also makes writing harder. Depression, worry, having no time because you're the caregiver of others are all reasons for you writers out there to have had a fruitless year in pursuing the craft. Don't beat yourself up over it. Life happens, and it's messy. Especially in the year 2020.
Which is coming to an end with new hope on the horizon!
I personally did manage to keep writing--slowly, day after day. I am currently typing this update one handed because of recent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. My mantra throughout the year has been, "One sentence a day at minimum is success." And so comes the shameless plug: The latest book is out, Prophet Reborn, a sequel to Perfect Prophet.
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Perfect-Prophet
If you haven't read it, Perfect Prophet is the story about a death metal atheist with a tortured religious past who becomes the target of his Satan worshipping fans when a religious prophecy written by his father is revealed.
https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Prophet-Reborn
Prophet Reborn continues the story and focuses on the Satanic cult leader antagonist who now seeks redemption for his sins in a Christian commune led by a megalomaniac preacher.
These are both horror, dark fiction titles and available as ebooks wherever ebooks are sold for $1.99 -- a great price! Feel free to check them out, and please please leave a review. I'm working on a book three slowly--sentence by sentence!
Finally, I wish everyone a better 2021 now that 2020 is almost behind us. There will be challenges, I'm sure, but after this year, we're bound to have learned how to handle them! Thank you all for your support!
August 9, 2020
Prophet Reborn giveaway update
I thank everyone who expressed interest in receiving the book. If you didn't win, take heart! The ebook is still available as a Kindle Unlimited title!
As always, I encourage reviews, and thank you for your support.
August 1, 2020
Prophet Reborn Giveaway Update
For everyone else, you can still check out Prophet Reborn for a limited time on Kindle Unlimited: Prophet Reborn
Thanks for your support and don't be afraid to leave reviews!
July 8, 2020
Free Access to Newest Book
Prophet Reborn is a sequel to Perfect Prophet, and is about failed satanic cult leader Lucas, who seeks redemption for his sins against his atheist brother by joining a Christian commune.
"But I'm low on cash, and what if I didn't read the first book that isn't on KU," you ask. I have good news for you too! If you are a NetGalley member, you can download and read both Perfect Prophet and Prophet Reborn for free for a limited time. Check those options out here:
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
and here:
https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
And thank you for your support!
March 4, 2020
Free eBook #8
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/gif...
Congratulations to the lucky person who claims it!
January 16, 2020
Free ebook #7
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/gif...
