Ask the Author: B.M.B. Johnson
Answered Questions (22)
B.M.B. Johnson
I am currently writing about said mysteries, and getting them out of my system.
B.M.B. Johnson
Hi Cynthia,
On the group page, (near the bottom) just to the right of the list of members, there's an invite link:
Or you can use this direct link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...
Thanks so much for your interest, and hope to chat with you and Trish soon.
BMB
On the group page, (near the bottom) just to the right of the list of members, there's an invite link:
Or you can use this direct link: https://www.goodreads.com/group/invit...
Thanks so much for your interest, and hope to chat with you and Trish soon.
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Hi Linda,
That's totally fine. Generally, I think I'd prefer you to list your books individually (and feel free to do so), but really the "rules" are played loose and fast right now since we're in start up mode.
Thanks for joining and participating.
BMB
That's totally fine. Generally, I think I'd prefer you to list your books individually (and feel free to do so), but really the "rules" are played loose and fast right now since we're in start up mode.
Thanks for joining and participating.
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
There's totally a topic category for Romance novels (there's actually a topic category for all genres). You'll fit right in.
BMB
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Sure. It sounds interesting.
B.M.B. Johnson
Sorry for the late reply. I was hoping to get some inspiration or maybe find some strategy for getting reviews of my books to give you a hopeful answer.
Plainly, I suck at it. I would be a horrible person to ask for advice in this arena. Hopefully you have found someone else to give you a better answer than this in your travels through the writer-sphere, in which case I hope you'll pass on to me your secrets.
I can say for certain, though, that begging people to read your book, and harassing them on social media, is NOT the way to go about it.
Yours in lack of reviews,
BMB
Plainly, I suck at it. I would be a horrible person to ask for advice in this arena. Hopefully you have found someone else to give you a better answer than this in your travels through the writer-sphere, in which case I hope you'll pass on to me your secrets.
I can say for certain, though, that begging people to read your book, and harassing them on social media, is NOT the way to go about it.
Yours in lack of reviews,
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
I guess my facetious answer is: to finish!
More seriously, but still to that same end, noted above, is for my work to evolve. I've never had a great idea end up exactly the way I imagined it. In fact, most of the time, the story comes out completely different. So really, my goat when I start my work is just keep clacking on the keys until the words come out -- or like squeezing a large juicy orange, until a nice pulpy finished book appears in the world.
More seriously, but still to that same end, noted above, is for my work to evolve. I've never had a great idea end up exactly the way I imagined it. In fact, most of the time, the story comes out completely different. So really, my goat when I start my work is just keep clacking on the keys until the words come out -- or like squeezing a large juicy orange, until a nice pulpy finished book appears in the world.
B.M.B. Johnson
Nick and Nora Charles. Great boozy couple, with a wife who is just as quick witted and smart as her husband --in the '30s. Way ahead of their time.
B.M.B. Johnson
That's totally fine. You can still read the book of the month and participate, and maybe that will inspire to write a YA book of your own.
B.M.B. Johnson
Hi Jeannie.
Ah, the burning question all writers must face. The real answer is "I have no idea where the ideas come from."
In the case of the Melody Jackson books, I was writing about my childhood. I'm trying to fulfill a nostalgic need. So the ideas come from life, and are spiced up a bit.
Formula: Real Life + dump in some monsters + add some jokes = stories sort of write themselves.
BMB
Ah, the burning question all writers must face. The real answer is "I have no idea where the ideas come from."
In the case of the Melody Jackson books, I was writing about my childhood. I'm trying to fulfill a nostalgic need. So the ideas come from life, and are spiced up a bit.
Formula: Real Life + dump in some monsters + add some jokes = stories sort of write themselves.
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Hi Thomas. Sounds great!
However, I'm no expert when it comes to promotion (as evidenced by my sheer lack of success!)
My advice is to post this question to our group of writers, and someone (or a couple of someones) will probably have a great answer. [I will like to hear this answer as well, so I'll be on the lookout.]
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
BMB
However, I'm no expert when it comes to promotion (as evidenced by my sheer lack of success!)
My advice is to post this question to our group of writers, and someone (or a couple of someones) will probably have a great answer. [I will like to hear this answer as well, so I'll be on the lookout.]
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Hi Julian.
Since many of these categories were created by group members themselves, I don't think we've ever broke genres into specific categories in a way that would make sense to people.
I think alot of the offerings are in Discussion > Books Looking for Readers
(https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...) and there's one for Science Fiction specifically. However, I didn't see one for Horror/paranormal (which is a shame because that's one of my favorite genres.
BMB
Since many of these categories were created by group members themselves, I don't think we've ever broke genres into specific categories in a way that would make sense to people.
I think alot of the offerings are in Discussion > Books Looking for Readers
(https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...) and there's one for Science Fiction specifically. However, I didn't see one for Horror/paranormal (which is a shame because that's one of my favorite genres.
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Hi Louise. What group did you get invited to? There's currently three of them. I can send another request if that didn't work, or I can give you link. It should just be a link that says "Join" or something.
BMB
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Well, this was intended to be a group to support all Indy, and new writers regardless of what stage their books are at in the publishing world. However, this was not a group intended to seek out "fake reviews". This is a practice I despise (which is why it personally takes me a long time to review a shared book -- because I actually read the book.)
If you see this happening, I would appreciate if you would let me know, and I'll remove any such post/requests.
Thanks Kell.
BMB
If you see this happening, I would appreciate if you would let me know, and I'll remove any such post/requests.
Thanks Kell.
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
Oh sorry. I did the bulk request thing with Goodreads. It's suppose to request friends on twitter who AREN'T already Goodreads friends. The service, however, timed out the first time, but I had hoped that it would be able to keep track if we were already friends.
I guess not.
Sorry for the duplicate request.
BMB
I guess not.
Sorry for the duplicate request.
BMB
B.M.B. Johnson
it doesn't really matter. While the woman in white takes place prior to House on Lafayette street, it's an independent series. There's no proper reading order.
B.M.B. Johnson
Never having to say you're sorry. As a writer, I can do this now by typing on a keyboard instead of using my voice.
B.M.B. Johnson
From my life. Everything in the book is essentially true from a certain point of view. Well, maybe except the part about the aliens and Bigfoot....
B.M.B. Johnson
No idea. Ideas are everywhere. Start writing about (and I can't believe I'm going to say this) what you know. (There I said it.) Once you start writing the inspiration doesn't usually stop. It's the finger cramping that will get you in the end.
B.M.B. Johnson
Write at least a 1000 words every day, even if it's drivel. Tell yourself it doesn't matter if it makes sense at the moment, tell yourself it's wonderful -- (heck, tell yourself it's going to be used as toilet paper if you like), but just write it.
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