Hart Johnson's Blog, page 26
July 30, 2014
What's Ten Years?
So the past few weeks, in addition to working full time and theoretically writing full time, I also volunteered for a piece of planning my class reunion. I am confirming emails and finding people. Facebook makes this a little easier, but it is by no means the no-brainer I somehow thought it would be.
But it has gotten me to thinking about how different things were when we did this ten years ago... 2004... I was at a different job—one coming to an end because a grant was running out, so life was up in the air a bit. But you know what I was NOT doing in 2004? Writing.
I had NEVER finished a book. (I'd started several, though the last time I'd tried had been 1993—the summer between my first and second year of graduate school when I managed half a novel.
Since that time I've written fifteen novels (plus three novel length fan fiction works—they were my start). I have two more significantly started and an idea file so deep I may NEVER get them all written.
In 2004 I'd NEVER made a friend online.
All you amazing mind-meldy people that help make my life so rich were SCARY to me (con artists and dirty old men in basements trying to lure in innocents, though I suppose I had no worry in that realm).
I've not only written, I've published. A mystery series and a serial book (all but the very last one—coming next week, I hope). I've published traditionally and self-published...
While the writing life has been good—a whirlwind of crazy wonderfulness... there have been repercussions... I'm significantly heavier... My house is a DISASTER. We've lost some family... But overall I think the triumphs outweigh...
In Other News
My writing has stalled a bit... I am trying to revise What Ales Me and decided I needed to put in a little time READING some things that hit the tone I want. I've talked about this, yes? Not COZY, more SASSY? I want to keep the humor and quirk, but want darker plots and and boost in the spice. It is good timing, as vacation looms.
ALSO
I am LEAVING next Wednesday for a two week trip, so this is my last post until at least August 21. But by THEN I should have been rejuvenated and ready to dive back in...
July 21, 2014
Consumption: An Interview and review with Allison Dickson
Halo, fine friends! I have a special treat today... Allison Dickson is one of those authors I got to be friends with on Facebook, though common friends. We just kept finding ourselves in the same conversations, usually the non-writing sort, and I found myself agreeing with her often and entertained by her even more. It is ALSO fun to find out one of your writer friends you've made this way writes the dark twisty stuff that I like to read, so when she picked her publication day for her latest book and asked for interested readers, I about pulled a muscle throwing my arm I the air.
Consumption is actually a trilogy of related novellas, all about really distorted love (I will give a bit of a review after the interview). So after I read, I offered to interview Allison, and here we are!
Tart: So I just have to say, this is one twisted tale. Where did the seeds of this one sprout?
Allison: I’m fascinated by lovesickness, that giddy preoccupation with someone when you feel that unmistakable attraction and you wonder if they feel it for you, and that knife-in-the-pit-of-the-stomach feeling that happens when it doesn’t go as you’d hoped. It’s when the chemistry between two people feels most like an illicit drug of some sort, and it has an element of danger to it, like if I have too much more I may lose myself. I’ve been on that precipice a few times in my life, and I wanted to explore it. A lot of times, I like toying with the idea of strong emotions manifesting themselves in some physical way. The part where Marah talks about how her feelings were taking up actual space inside her was probably one of the truest expressions I’ve made as an author. It makes your chest hurt, like it quite literally is a matter of the heart.
Tart: So in spite of the R rating I would give this, there was something about it that reminded me very much of the X-Files. And I KNOW you have some pop culture LOVES. Do you have pop culture references you feel like have influenced your writing?
Allison: Interestingly enough, I didn’t really make myself part of many pop culture fandoms until only a few years ago, which was when such things really started taking off on the Internet. I was a Harry Potter freak back when it was most popular, but that was before Tumblr and memes in general ruled the day. It was my daughter who got me into Doctor Who, for instance. Now I’m a total Whovian and Sherlock fangirl, and it’s been fun exploring that side of myself and being a part of that cultural conversation. It’s made me feel like a kid again. Breaking Bad is also a more recent influence, but honestly there is SO much great material to draw from these days that I think just the fact of it being there at all is an inspiration, even if I don’t draw directly from it. But I guess if I could throw out two of my favorite cult hits I’ve loved quoting and referencing for most of my adult life, it would be Fight Club and The Big Lebowski. And the polarity of those two things pretty much demonstrates what I deal with inside my head on a daily basis, and what more or less gets splattered onto the page.
Tart: Follow-up—what about more traditional influences—authors or genre classics?
Allison: I know it’s probably cliché, but Stephen King is my biggest literary hero. He’s the reason I wanted to become a writer from a very early age, and reading The Dark Tower series as a teenager was particularly life changing. Before then, I read a lot of epic fantasy, but the Tower showed me that rules could be broken, that genres could be expertly bent and woven into something completely wondrous and original. Classics that rate very high with me include Orwell’s 1984, and a lot of things by Robert Heinlein that showed me how fiction can teach valuable lessons about people and societies. But I’m acquiring new heroes and influences every day. Cormac McCarthy, Margaret Atwood, and Gillian Flynn to name a few.
Tart: So this set I would classify as horror, and I know you write some thriller—tell me about the various genres you write in and why.
Allison: Yeah, these Consumption stories really call to my horror side. I’ve always dabbled in the darkness, whether that took the form of traditional horror, science fiction, or mainstream/commercial suspense stuff. I love speculating on future scenarios or presenting the reader with something fantastical when I can, (my upcoming novel THE LAST SUPPER deals heavily in those elements) but I don’t like limiting myself to that. What I’ve learned is that there is plenty of darkness and horror in the real world without really having to go there (though it’s often more fun when you do). Themes about secrets – whether in individuals, marriages, or families – really attract me. I feel like we all live behind a façade of some sort, and my goal as a writer is to get behind those facades and show the ugly along with the good, and force the reader to really question their sympathies and natural tendencies to side with a “white hat” style of hero. I think that kind of exploration tends to happen in darker stories, be they psychological horror tales like my novel STRINGS, or my darkly humorous short stories like “George’s Tonic” or “A Concealed Hand.” At the end of it all, I want to make you feel uncomfortable, like I changed one particular ingredient in your favorite dish, and you have to try and figure out what it is and whether or not you like it (I hope you do).
Tart: And I ALSO know you've recently acquired an agent... You blogged about the process, yes? So maybe share that link? But also tell us a little bit about the book that earned you the agent...
Allison: Oh absolutely! People can read all about the whole agent-getting experience here: http://www.allisonmdickson.com/2014/07/the-obligatory-how-i-got-agent-blog-post.html. KUDZU is a southern suspense novel that centers on the lives of three cousins from rural Georgia and what happened to their lives after the accidental murder of a little girl that they all covered up. Tonya committed the act, Amanda helped her hide the body, and Abel confessed and went away to prison. But there is so much more to it than that. We learn the circumstances behind the murder and really nasty secrets (again with the secrets) this family has been keeping for so long, and the detrimental effects they have had on all involved. The story turns the tables on the reader several times throughout as you jump from one POV to another. I received a lot of agent attention from this one, but Stephanie Kip Rostan at LGR Literary really loved it, and it worked out perfectly because she was the first agent I wanted to query, due to its similar feel to her client Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects. That it all worked out according to my deepest hopes and wishes is still unreal very to me right now. Anyone who works in publishing knows things almost never work out like you hope they will, and though I know we’re really just at the beginning of the process and that this book might not sell, I feel like I have good reason to hope now.
Tart: And finally... what would you say keeps you going as a writer—the dream or inspiration, or relief, or support... whatever it is... what keeps you working hard and striving?
Allison: About eight years ago, my husband and I were going through a trial separation while I worked out some personal demons, but after two years, I decided enough was enough, and I needed to get my head screwed back on straight. The demon I most struggled with was not having a creative passion to fuel me. I’d abandoned my writing, and I had no direction, but I knew if I started nurturing that talent again, I might have a real future. My husband has supported me all the way, and we’ve sacrificed a lot to make it work. I’ve taken jobs outside the house over the years and have also run a freelance editing business to help bring in money in addition to any meager writing income. After seven years, I could have earned a Master’s degree in a field that provides a steady paycheck, but I set out to make myself an expert of sorts in this craft and this business, because I love it so much. Every year has brought me closer and closer to where I want to be, and I’ve also done my best to help others along the way, which has made it especially rewarding. I go through periods of doubt and uncertainty, but I’m too damn stubborn to give up. There is no way I can quit now. It’s who I am. It’s in my DNA.
Review: I really enjoyed (in a twisted way) this story—one of the clever things about it is you get two versions of the same tale, and get a view of where people think they are being clever or tricky, but the other person knows what's going on. It's a nice study in human nature that way. The first part is told in mostly dialog—the MC telling her story to a friend, and I enjoyed it, but my entertainment really increased when I got the second version of the tale. The last third however, is the best—a true, chilling view of the wake of destruction set in motion. It reminded me (as I mentioned) of a rated-R version of an X-Files episode, so if that appeals to you, I think you'll like it.
Consumption is actually a trilogy of related novellas, all about really distorted love (I will give a bit of a review after the interview). So after I read, I offered to interview Allison, and here we are!
Tart: So I just have to say, this is one twisted tale. Where did the seeds of this one sprout?
Allison: I’m fascinated by lovesickness, that giddy preoccupation with someone when you feel that unmistakable attraction and you wonder if they feel it for you, and that knife-in-the-pit-of-the-stomach feeling that happens when it doesn’t go as you’d hoped. It’s when the chemistry between two people feels most like an illicit drug of some sort, and it has an element of danger to it, like if I have too much more I may lose myself. I’ve been on that precipice a few times in my life, and I wanted to explore it. A lot of times, I like toying with the idea of strong emotions manifesting themselves in some physical way. The part where Marah talks about how her feelings were taking up actual space inside her was probably one of the truest expressions I’ve made as an author. It makes your chest hurt, like it quite literally is a matter of the heart.
Tart: So in spite of the R rating I would give this, there was something about it that reminded me very much of the X-Files. And I KNOW you have some pop culture LOVES. Do you have pop culture references you feel like have influenced your writing?
Allison: Interestingly enough, I didn’t really make myself part of many pop culture fandoms until only a few years ago, which was when such things really started taking off on the Internet. I was a Harry Potter freak back when it was most popular, but that was before Tumblr and memes in general ruled the day. It was my daughter who got me into Doctor Who, for instance. Now I’m a total Whovian and Sherlock fangirl, and it’s been fun exploring that side of myself and being a part of that cultural conversation. It’s made me feel like a kid again. Breaking Bad is also a more recent influence, but honestly there is SO much great material to draw from these days that I think just the fact of it being there at all is an inspiration, even if I don’t draw directly from it. But I guess if I could throw out two of my favorite cult hits I’ve loved quoting and referencing for most of my adult life, it would be Fight Club and The Big Lebowski. And the polarity of those two things pretty much demonstrates what I deal with inside my head on a daily basis, and what more or less gets splattered onto the page.
Tart: Follow-up—what about more traditional influences—authors or genre classics?
Allison: I know it’s probably cliché, but Stephen King is my biggest literary hero. He’s the reason I wanted to become a writer from a very early age, and reading The Dark Tower series as a teenager was particularly life changing. Before then, I read a lot of epic fantasy, but the Tower showed me that rules could be broken, that genres could be expertly bent and woven into something completely wondrous and original. Classics that rate very high with me include Orwell’s 1984, and a lot of things by Robert Heinlein that showed me how fiction can teach valuable lessons about people and societies. But I’m acquiring new heroes and influences every day. Cormac McCarthy, Margaret Atwood, and Gillian Flynn to name a few.
Tart: So this set I would classify as horror, and I know you write some thriller—tell me about the various genres you write in and why.
Allison: Yeah, these Consumption stories really call to my horror side. I’ve always dabbled in the darkness, whether that took the form of traditional horror, science fiction, or mainstream/commercial suspense stuff. I love speculating on future scenarios or presenting the reader with something fantastical when I can, (my upcoming novel THE LAST SUPPER deals heavily in those elements) but I don’t like limiting myself to that. What I’ve learned is that there is plenty of darkness and horror in the real world without really having to go there (though it’s often more fun when you do). Themes about secrets – whether in individuals, marriages, or families – really attract me. I feel like we all live behind a façade of some sort, and my goal as a writer is to get behind those facades and show the ugly along with the good, and force the reader to really question their sympathies and natural tendencies to side with a “white hat” style of hero. I think that kind of exploration tends to happen in darker stories, be they psychological horror tales like my novel STRINGS, or my darkly humorous short stories like “George’s Tonic” or “A Concealed Hand.” At the end of it all, I want to make you feel uncomfortable, like I changed one particular ingredient in your favorite dish, and you have to try and figure out what it is and whether or not you like it (I hope you do).
Tart: And I ALSO know you've recently acquired an agent... You blogged about the process, yes? So maybe share that link? But also tell us a little bit about the book that earned you the agent...
Allison: Oh absolutely! People can read all about the whole agent-getting experience here: http://www.allisonmdickson.com/2014/07/the-obligatory-how-i-got-agent-blog-post.html. KUDZU is a southern suspense novel that centers on the lives of three cousins from rural Georgia and what happened to their lives after the accidental murder of a little girl that they all covered up. Tonya committed the act, Amanda helped her hide the body, and Abel confessed and went away to prison. But there is so much more to it than that. We learn the circumstances behind the murder and really nasty secrets (again with the secrets) this family has been keeping for so long, and the detrimental effects they have had on all involved. The story turns the tables on the reader several times throughout as you jump from one POV to another. I received a lot of agent attention from this one, but Stephanie Kip Rostan at LGR Literary really loved it, and it worked out perfectly because she was the first agent I wanted to query, due to its similar feel to her client Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects. That it all worked out according to my deepest hopes and wishes is still unreal very to me right now. Anyone who works in publishing knows things almost never work out like you hope they will, and though I know we’re really just at the beginning of the process and that this book might not sell, I feel like I have good reason to hope now.
Tart: And finally... what would you say keeps you going as a writer—the dream or inspiration, or relief, or support... whatever it is... what keeps you working hard and striving?
Allison: About eight years ago, my husband and I were going through a trial separation while I worked out some personal demons, but after two years, I decided enough was enough, and I needed to get my head screwed back on straight. The demon I most struggled with was not having a creative passion to fuel me. I’d abandoned my writing, and I had no direction, but I knew if I started nurturing that talent again, I might have a real future. My husband has supported me all the way, and we’ve sacrificed a lot to make it work. I’ve taken jobs outside the house over the years and have also run a freelance editing business to help bring in money in addition to any meager writing income. After seven years, I could have earned a Master’s degree in a field that provides a steady paycheck, but I set out to make myself an expert of sorts in this craft and this business, because I love it so much. Every year has brought me closer and closer to where I want to be, and I’ve also done my best to help others along the way, which has made it especially rewarding. I go through periods of doubt and uncertainty, but I’m too damn stubborn to give up. There is no way I can quit now. It’s who I am. It’s in my DNA.Review: I really enjoyed (in a twisted way) this story—one of the clever things about it is you get two versions of the same tale, and get a view of where people think they are being clever or tricky, but the other person knows what's going on. It's a nice study in human nature that way. The first part is told in mostly dialog—the MC telling her story to a friend, and I enjoyed it, but my entertainment really increased when I got the second version of the tale. The last third however, is the best—a true, chilling view of the wake of destruction set in motion. It reminded me (as I mentioned) of a rated-R version of an X-Files episode, so if that appeals to you, I think you'll like it.
July 16, 2014
SHE: Jessica Bell and a Chance to Give Back
Halo, fine friends! Today I'm featuring someone you all know and love (or at least should). Jess has written a book in prose about abuse and is donating proceeds... but I should probably let HER tell you about it...
Did you know that in the U.S., 16,787
people have said that they were abused as children by priests between
1950 and 2012? (Read more about this here .)
That’s a shocking statistic.
In light of this, author and poet,
Jessica Bell, has written and published SHE
(a short story in verse), and has
decided to donate 100% of the profits made on SHE , until
the end of 2014, to ISPCAN .org. SHE is
only $0.99 cents on Kindle. The cost of a few sips of coffee.
If you don't have a Kindle, you can
download the Kindle
Reader App onto your computer or your
Android phone, tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows 8 PC or tablet,
BlackBerry, or Windows Phone.
I hope you consider purchasing
and spreading the word.
EASY TWEET:
SHE by @MsBessieBell —an
exploration of religious institutions & #ChildAbuse —100%
profits go 2 @ISPCAN .
$0.99 #poetry http://ow.ly/z1YWz
About SHE:
Note: This short story is an
experimental work of fiction written in verse. Page count: 30. Word
count: 1500.
A girl’s brief encounter in limbo,
following a suicide attempt, after being sexually abused by a priest.
God in limbo is represented by She. She has been
misinformed about how faith is advocated on Earth, and sends the girl
back for another chance at life, in the belief that she must repent
for her sin.
*Disclaimer: This story is not in any way a
direct criticism of religion, or a representation of the author’s
beliefs, but simply a creative exploration of the concept.
BIO:
Jessica
Bell , a thirty-something Australian-native
contemporary fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter/ guitarist,
is a the Publishing Editor of Vine
Leaves Literary Journal and the
director of the Homeric
Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek
island of Ithaca. She makes a living as a writer/editor for English
Language Teaching Publishers worldwide, such as Pearson Education,
HarperCollins, MacMillan Education, Education First and Cengage
Learning.
Connect with Jessica online:
Website | Retreat
& workshop | Blog | Vine
Leaves Literary Journal | F acebook | Twitter
So isn't a book for a good cause a good idea?
Did you know that in the U.S., 16,787
people have said that they were abused as children by priests between
1950 and 2012? (Read more about this here .)
That’s a shocking statistic.
In light of this, author and poet,
Jessica Bell, has written and published SHE
(a short story in verse), and has
decided to donate 100% of the profits made on SHE , until
the end of 2014, to ISPCAN .org. SHE is
only $0.99 cents on Kindle. The cost of a few sips of coffee.
If you don't have a Kindle, you can
download the Kindle
Reader App onto your computer or your
Android phone, tablet, iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows 8 PC or tablet,
BlackBerry, or Windows Phone.
I hope you consider purchasing
and spreading the word.
EASY TWEET:
SHE by @MsBessieBell —an
exploration of religious institutions & #ChildAbuse —100%
profits go 2 @ISPCAN .
$0.99 #poetry http://ow.ly/z1YWz
About SHE:
Note: This short story is an
experimental work of fiction written in verse. Page count: 30. Word
count: 1500.
A girl’s brief encounter in limbo,
following a suicide attempt, after being sexually abused by a priest.
God in limbo is represented by She. She has been
misinformed about how faith is advocated on Earth, and sends the girl
back for another chance at life, in the belief that she must repent
for her sin.
*Disclaimer: This story is not in any way a
direct criticism of religion, or a representation of the author’s
beliefs, but simply a creative exploration of the concept.
BIO:
Jessica
Bell , a thirty-something Australian-native
contemporary fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter/ guitarist,
is a the Publishing Editor of Vine
Leaves Literary Journal and the
director of the Homeric
Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek
island of Ithaca. She makes a living as a writer/editor for English
Language Teaching Publishers worldwide, such as Pearson Education,
HarperCollins, MacMillan Education, Education First and Cengage
Learning.
Connect with Jessica online:
Website | Retreat
& workshop | Blog | Vine
Leaves Literary Journal | F acebook | Twitter
So isn't a book for a good cause a good idea?
July 11, 2014
Ann Arbor Area Authors!!!
An opportunity for Ann Arbor Area authors!!! Want your first 20 pages critiqued by a published author?
This is for a face to face critique on Sunday, September 7, so you need to be able to be here and there are limited slots, so first come first serve (they are asking for a donation to the Kerrytown BookFest, but whatever amount you feel you can donate), but it's a great opportunity.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE
TIM O’MARA
Writer Tim O’Mara, author of two novels published by Minotaur books, with a
forthcoming title in 2015, will evaluate manuscripts the day of the bookfest, Sunday,
September 7.
Mr. O’Mara requests an advance submission of your first 20 pages, and he will offer a
twenty minute one-on-one critique. Contact Robin Agnew, 734-769-1114 or at
wengas@aol.com, to schedule an appointment and submit your pages.
This is a unique opportunity to talk with a published author and see what advice he has
to offer from the real world of publishing. The cost is sliding scale; free to those who
cannot afford to pay, or a donation in any amount to the Kerrytown BookFest.
Tim O'Mara, our writer in residence,
has been teaching math and special education in New York City public
schools since 1987. He has written several short stories and his
second Raymond Donne mystery, Crooked Numbers (Minotaur Books/St.
Martin's Press), hit bookstores October 15, 2013. O'Mara's
top-selling debut mystery, Sacrifice Fly (Minotaur, October 16,
2012), was nominated for the 2013 “Best First Novel: Barry Award.
For the past 13 years, he has hosted and co-produced a bi-weekly
reading series of poetry and prose in New York's East Village with We
Three Productions. He lives with his family in Manhattan, where he
currently teaches in a public middle school and is a proud member of
Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of America, International
Thriller Writers, and several teacher unions. O'Mara's third Raymond
Donne Mystery, Dead Red, will be released by St. Martin's/Minotaur
Books in early 2015.
The Kerrytown BookFest takes place at
the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market Sunday September 7, from 11 – 5.
www.kerrytownbookfest.org
This is for a face to face critique on Sunday, September 7, so you need to be able to be here and there are limited slots, so first come first serve (they are asking for a donation to the Kerrytown BookFest, but whatever amount you feel you can donate), but it's a great opportunity.
WRITER IN RESIDENCE
TIM O’MARA
Writer Tim O’Mara, author of two novels published by Minotaur books, with a
forthcoming title in 2015, will evaluate manuscripts the day of the bookfest, Sunday,
September 7.
Mr. O’Mara requests an advance submission of your first 20 pages, and he will offer a
twenty minute one-on-one critique. Contact Robin Agnew, 734-769-1114 or at
wengas@aol.com, to schedule an appointment and submit your pages.
This is a unique opportunity to talk with a published author and see what advice he has
to offer from the real world of publishing. The cost is sliding scale; free to those who
cannot afford to pay, or a donation in any amount to the Kerrytown BookFest.
Tim O'Mara, our writer in residence,
has been teaching math and special education in New York City public
schools since 1987. He has written several short stories and his
second Raymond Donne mystery, Crooked Numbers (Minotaur Books/St.
Martin's Press), hit bookstores October 15, 2013. O'Mara's
top-selling debut mystery, Sacrifice Fly (Minotaur, October 16,
2012), was nominated for the 2013 “Best First Novel: Barry Award.
For the past 13 years, he has hosted and co-produced a bi-weekly
reading series of poetry and prose in New York's East Village with We
Three Productions. He lives with his family in Manhattan, where he
currently teaches in a public middle school and is a proud member of
Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of America, International
Thriller Writers, and several teacher unions. O'Mara's third Raymond
Donne Mystery, Dead Red, will be released by St. Martin's/Minotaur
Books in early 2015.
The Kerrytown BookFest takes place at
the Ann Arbor Farmer's Market Sunday September 7, from 11 – 5.
www.kerrytownbookfest.org
July 9, 2014
2nd Quarter Report Card
So we are into July, and while I'm wondering where the heck the year has gone, it is ALSO time to hold myself accountable. But first... a piece of current events news:
No Finals For Me
They announced finalists in the Amazon contest yesterday. I wasn't one of them. I knew, or at least was pretty sure, last week when no call came, but I kept mum, all in the spirit of the contest. The Mystery/Thriller finalist is called The Dead Key and is fabulous (the excerpt available for the contest, anyway, and I assume the whole thing, since it won the category and all.) The others are I'm sure excellent, as well. I encourage you to go read them all and vote: Amazon Finalists
And Now for the Stuff More in my Control
Only not.
I mean it is to the degree life doesn't throw me a wrench...
What I was MEANT to do 2nd Quarter (and whether I did it):
Finish Writing 10, 11, and 12 for A Shot int the Light, but keep in mind this REALLY was meant to happen 1st quarter. DONE
Polish same, plus 9. DONE (though 12 needs a tiny bit more)
Publish all of the above. Mostly (11 published 7/2 and 12 is coming)
Revise What Ales Me: Yeahno...
Revise one of my YA books: Um. No.
Write something in June: HA! Yes!
My analysis is A Shot in the Light took a lot LONGER and MORE WORK than I expected. I will probably always be a person who overestimates what I can get done, but life really can get in the way with these huge projects, and it seems much more noticeable than with 'just a book'.
As for my PLANS for A Shot in the Light... When I am done, I am going to query Amazon's serial arm... I think they may be willing to take it. I have proved quality in their own arena and I think with their promotion, it might do well. We'll see.
I published 11 last week, by the way. Did I tell you that? 12 is with 2nd readers.
So what are my 3rd Quarter Plans?
1) Revise What Ales Me
2) Finish first Undoing Book
3) POLISH Kaholotus and Medium Wrong
4) QUERY Kahlotus OR Medium Wrong
5) Amazon Query Shot (publish in other venues if rejected)
6) Finish publishing Shot and format 3rd paperback portion
July 1, 2014
On Tenterhooks
First—it is the first Wednesday of July and Alex has dared to include me as one of this months Insecure Writer’s Support Group Hosts, so WELCOME to this fabulous supportive monthly event. Nothing makes us insecure like writing, sharing our writing with others or trying to sell our books, but it helps a lot to have this supportive group to remind us we aren’t alone.
My co-hosts this month are:
Our Fearless Ninja Warrior Leader Alex Cavanaugh
Krista McLaughlin
Kim Van Sickler
Heather Gardner
(Go see them)
But FIRST!!!
We are also trying to get the IWSG on the Writers Digest Best 101 Websites list!
Please email them at writersdigest@fwmedia.com, subject line 101 Websites, and suggest the IWSG - http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/
And then, at the BOTTOM is the list of other IWSG participants, so be sure to go help a couple people feel less insecure!!!
You're saving me from this...
So for MY Insecure Topic Today: WAITING...
Becoming a writer involves a LOT of waiting. We share with beta readers. And we wait. We query agents. And we wait. Our agents query publishers. And we wait. We enter contests... And we wait.
And in that quiet space between submitting it to whomever is looking our imaginations become giant DEMONS that devour our confidence. We are SURE they must HATE IT or they would have gotten back to us sooner. Maybe we read a good book and think Holy PANTS, what was I thinking? (pants is a swearword if you are wondering—about the worst thing there is, so avoid pants) Or maybe you read a BAD book and think, “I'm going to humiliate myself like this, aren't I?”
And I'm here to say... Probably. Not because YOU in particular are so horrible but because we ALL send out something too soon at some point. It can take a while to be able to distance ourselves enough from our own work to be objective. But isn't the fact that WE ALL do this at some point a little reassuring? It is part of the growth curve.
It took me about five practice books before I sort of GOT IT. Now I may be slower than most, probably am. But the persistence has paid off pretty well.
But here I find myself WAITING again...
You see... next Monday they announce the finalists to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. And what's MORE... in the wee fine print there is a line that says they will be calling the FINALISTS toDAY... So my phone is leering at me doing NOTHING and there is NO WAY I will be concentrating any time soon, so thank HEAVENS I have YOU PEOPLE to keep me distracted!
Because otherwise (in fact maybe ANYWAY) I am sitting here, a puddle of insecurity. In any case, I am Schrodinger's cat... alive or dead, and by the end of today, I will know, and you won't. Sorry.
PS: If I hear, I'm not allowed to say. If I DON'T hear, I'm not allowed to say. It is my way of sharing the anxiety... You're welcome.
Now be sure to go visit my fellow hosts and several more insecure friends!
In side news for regulars: I succeeded in BuNoWriMo, though for the trilogy, it is only 2 acts of 9. In July and August I intend to write act 3, edit What Ales Me, Polish (again) Kahlous, and Polish Mediums Wrong, so I can jump out STRONG in September with READY stuff.
June 23, 2014
Super Summer Reading Bargains!!!
HALO, fine friends!!! So it is well and truly summer, yeah? So a bunch of friends and I thought we'd put together a collection of BARGAINS to add to your summer reading pile!!! The idea originated with Thomas Knight, one of my ABNA buddies, and Lynnette joined in... then I remembered my friend Jade has HER stuff all on sale until her next one is released at the end of the week, so here I am to share BARGAINS with YOU!!! Load up your Kindle for the beaches!!!
From Thomas Knight—All 99 cents this week!
His author pages has links to all of them: Thomas A Knight
From Lynnette Ferreira (her Vampire books are 99 cents)
Her books are linked HERE: Lynette Ferreira
Jade Jamison has a full sexy COLLECTION for cheap leading up to her release of Finger Bang.
Jade's links are all here: Jade C Jamison
My buddy and birthday twin (mine today, hers tomorrow), Leigh T Moore has a release coming for Mosaic, so is offering the first in the series, Dragonfly, for FREE!!!
And then know how I've had A Shot in the Light I-IV offered at 99 cents for the Amazon contest? Well THIS WEEK ONLY, I am ALSO offering A Shot in the Light V-VIII for 99 cents. AND, to light a fire under it... on the off chance I am a finalist, I may have to PULL all these until Amazon releases them (July 8 at the earliest--maybe not at all, but the price goes back to $2.99 then). (If I am not done publishing, I will get the last one to anyone who has read—no fear there—I would never leave people who've been so supportive high and dry)--BUT just in case they disappear for a while... gotta get em now, yeah?
All my links are in the right sidebar, but you can also find them here: Hart Johnson
And in OTHER news... Fresh Fiction posted a nice review of Keeping Mum yesterday, if anyone is curious...
So what are you waiting for!? Go get your summer reading in order!!!
June 16, 2014
The Gratitude Post
I had something AMAZING happen to me on Friday. I will confess I had some hint it might be coming, as there was some 'just I case' paperwork involved, but it still really sent me into orbit. I've been on a high all weekend.
You see... Friday they announced the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi-finalists.
People who have been around a few years know I made this list once before, but this stage is different from what it was then. In 2011 I was a semi-finalist with Kahlotus Disposal Site, and was one of 50 young adult novels to make my list (another 50 made the general fiction list—100 altogether).
Last year Amazon broke the contest into FIVE categories instead of two. Mostly it just meant a different split of people passed on—made it more competitive to keep going in YA, as they were 20% rather than 50... But the semi-finalist stage cut winners from 100 to 25—that means only 5 in each category.
Friday I learned A Shot in the Light was ONE of those FIVE for the Mystery/Thriller category—there are 25 total semi-finalists... 25 of 10,000. I am AMAZED, and proud and intimidated and all that good stuff...
(in celebration, the price stays 99 cents as long as I am in the contest)
But the real gratitude came after. On the ABNA boards I had a ton of congrats—me by name... I had a ton of support from my various Facebook groups and friends. It is one of those times you realize just the daily showing up and making friends has a HUGE impact. I have a dozen little groups I am a part of and it can feel a little schizophrenic. They all have their different quirks and personalities
When you get mad at yourself for screwing around online, be assured, screwing around online can pay off... erm... but seriously. I feel a commitment to playing much of the time when I'm online and I think it really does help people feel like they know me, so when good stuff happens, then I end up a teary, sniveling mess because everybody is so nice to me. But that's GOOD.
In Other News...
I was clearly distracted Friday, but managed to pass the halfway point on Mere Mortals this weekend, so I am on track with my WriMo.
I learned my friend Lisa Koosis landed an agent, so congrats to Lisa!
Game of Thrones Finale... as of this writing, I haven't seen it yet but it HAS TO have been AMAZING...
Watched season 2 of Orange is the New Black in three days because that is sort of how I roll...
And I hope all you dads out there had a GREAT Father's Day!
Finally, a QUESTION: On #NALitChat Thursday night people were talking about Wattpad. What is Wattpad?
June 11, 2014
A Wee Reminisce
So five years ago today was my first ever blog...
I thought I'd stroll down memory lane a bit... If you are curious, here is my first blog, Python and Princess Bride references in tact. I'm proud to not be embarrassed by the thing... Because MAN, did I not know what I was doing. I'd never even really READ any blogs. I know. That's embarrassing. It is sort of my way... jump first, research to see if I did it right after...
Where I was in my Writing Life (or why I started blogging)
I finished my first MS in October 2008. I was still writing a little fan fiction, but I jumped into revisions of that right away—it was a book that had pestered me for years. I actually tried to query it that May, only to be given a kindly reality check from a second degree friend “Um, I hate to tell you this, but at 204,000 words, agents aren't going to read that.” (confirmed by my first rejection sent fifteen minutes after submission...)
THAT—realizing there was a whole bunch I didn't know about this writing thing (because I am too cocky to have learned that without being told) spurred me into blogging and opening my Hart Johnson Facebook profile. I was in the midst of a second book (one I never finished—I had two ideas but started THAT one and then I got a prequel idea for the OTHER and wrote THAT (fast).
Since then I've finished 14 more first drafts, published (almost) 4 books, I'm writing in my 10th WriMo, I've entered ABNA 5 times... But blogging was sort of my first outing as a writer. It was also my first real outing to people I KNOW.
So I want to thank my first COMMENTERS.
We all crave these, yes? They keep us going, when we might just whither into the void otherwise.
First commenters were:
Pinecone Girl (a friend of mine from high school)
Chary —Part of the Burrow, which is my writing group
GA Endless, who seems to have been caught up in a fraudulent publisher scam. I feel very bad for her, and the fact that I didn't know until now...
Siv Maria , who I'm still friends with AND
Christopher Allen , who I am ALSO still friends with...
So two people who knew me previously, one blip on the radar, and two new lasting friendships. I will call that a success.
So I offer a HUGE thank you to those early friends and a toast to all who have joined since. Thank you!
June 9, 2014
Writing Lessons from Maleficent
So I went to a movie with my daughter yesterday. Sleeping Beauty was my FAVORITE Disney movie, so when my daughter was little, she got a giant dose of it, too. Now she is 19 and a few weeks ago when we went to Divergent they played a Maleficent preview. My son was unmoved, but Thing One and I thought it looked AWESOME.
And it was. But in addition to just being an excellent movie, is seems to me there are some excellent writing lessons in it. So here we go.
The Bad Guy is not the Bad Guy to the Bad Guy
Seems simple enough, right? But I think it is easy to draw them as just rotten. This movie did and excellent job of showing what BROUGHT to villain to that point—making that point of evil act not just understandable, but TRAGIC. Without getting too spoilery, Maleficent was a GOOD fairy... who was BADLY betrayed.
The Good Guy doesn't necessarily STAY the Good Guy
People can have more than one primary motivation and it can cause them to behave in ways that break our hearts. THAT is good story telling.
Where you Start the Story MATTERS
Sleeping Beauty, as we've all heard it told, begins when this story is maybe 40% DONE already... and HOLY HELL is that some excellent backstory.
Any tricks you know to help the reader really get your villains?
Also, FYI: Thursday is my 5-year Blogiversary, so I will be posting in spite of my slower pace this month.
