Have you ever heard an author say, “My first draft is my worst.” It’s true for me. And this is what it looks like. Can you kind of see where I was going with that first draft?
Author: JAB
Author
I live on a farm with Farmer Man, two great dogs: TJ and Toby, and a dozen sassy chickens. I write thriller, mystery, and post-apocalyptic science fiction novels. All my books are series because even though each book solves a crime and stops a murdering criminal, there's always something more to life, isn't there? My exciting books with unusual main characters that are now readers' favorite people are for sale by your favorite bookseller for your reading pleasure!
Thou shalt not plagiarize. (See Commandment #8) But it's okay to share!
Keep In Touch
What’s your favorite way to read an online newsletter? Are you a computer reader or a phone or tablet reader?
According to the latest stats for my monthly newsletter, 57.3% of my faithful subscribers read the Judith A. Barrett enewsletter on a desktop – click. The other 42.7%, on a mobile device – tap.
When I first started blogging in 2005, no one thought about the differences between reading on a desktop screen and a mobile device screen. If you don’t remember, reading a newsletter or any text was UGLY when smartphones were first available.
So back to my original question – what do you prefer? Do you click or do you tap? And are you receiving my monthly newsletter? Because February is almost here, and newsletters are GORGEOUS these days.
Subscribe to my FREE newsletter! Click or Tap!
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Danger In The Clouds
MAJOR DAVE ELLIOTT is a widowed farmer retired from the Florida State Highway Patrol who lives with his dog, Shadow. His lonely days on his Florida farm abruptly change when his 17-year-old granddaughter with autism, AIMEE LOUISE, comes to live with him.
Aimee Louise doesn’t see facial expressions; she sees “clouds” that reveal a person’s true feelings and intentions. After a cyberattack, the nation’s electrical grid collapses, and the sheriff’s family and others take refuge at the Major’s farm.
When Aimee Louise sees danger in the clouds, her gift thwarts the criminal masterminds who intend to control the US government. When she becomes their target, Major goes on the attack to stop the criminals. Can he succeed where others have tragically failed?
DANGER IN THE CLOUDS on AMAZON
If the description of DANGER IN THE CLOUDS sounds familiar to you, it’s because it’s the story from THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS. Except it is more focused on Major Dave Elliott and the other adults. You’ll also notice Aimee Louise and Rosalie are 17 and 16, respectively. The point was to get the book off the “Middle Grade” bookshelf because of the adult situations of murder and conspiracy. If you read THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS, you’ll love DANGER IN THE CLOUDS because you already know the basic story, now you can look for all the twists.
DANGER IN THE CLOUDS IS FREE on KINDLE UNLIMITED.
Book Expo at The Villages
My books are ready for the hordes of readers who are expected to bust down the doors at the Book Fair/Expo at The Villages in Florida. The Villages is a huge retirement community in Central Florida lovingly referred to “Land of the Blue Hairs” by people who are old enough to remember ladies with blue hair before it was fashionable to have pasteled and multi-color hair. After yesterday when I was almost run down three times in the parking lot, I call it the “Land of the Zooming Maniac Golf Cart Drivers.”
So how was it? I chatted with new friends, sold books, enjoyed seeing old friends, laughed a lot, and will definitely go back next year.
My favorite:
Man <Flips through book>: How much is Pink Baby Alligator?
Me: Ten dollars.
Man: Will you take eight?
Me: No.
Man: <reads back cover>: How much is it normally?
Me: Ten dollars.
Man: I really want it for my grandson.
Me: ….
Man: What would you say if I told you I have only five dollars?
Me: Go make a friend.
Man <cracks up>: I’ll pay your ten dollars if you’ll sign it to my grandson and let me take a picture of you with the book.
Me: You drive a hard bargain.
Man: <laughs harder. Buys book, asks wife to take a picture of him and me with the book, takes a picture of me with the book, and walks away still laughing.>
Now You Know!
Did you ever think about when Santa Claus takes a vacation and where does he go?
While everyone else is busy thinking about Christmas and getting ready for a nice Christmas break, Santa Claus takes his holiday where it’s warm.
Rose and Landy found Santa Claus in Portugal, of course. Isn’t that where you’d go for a week’s vacation if you lived in the brisk, cold North Pole?
Santa sees you! But you already knew that, didn’t you?
Traveling to the Iberian Peninsula
FlatRose is at the Orlando Airport and is ready for her next travel adventure! L., E., and Rose are going to Portugal and Spain. First stop – Lisbon!
Pink Baby Alligator is waving to her fans as they stroll by. Or maybe she’s bidding everyone happy travels.
Two Authors
She stopped by the local writers’ tent at the Newberry Fall Festival, and her grandmother bought her an early Christmas present. She’s an aspiring writer. Watch for her in about ten years. Remember, you met her here first.
I Always Wanted To Be A Spy – Description
By the time MAGGIE SLOAN is four years old, she is a focused, self-trained spy. In the second grade, she expands her remarkable talents for observation and data analysis by programming her first computer tracking system. After college, Maggie’s diverse job searches are futile until she is hired by the county library.
When Maggie’s brilliant observational talents and her potential to expose complex criminal activity draw the attention of an international ring, she becomes their target. However, a senseless murder changes her life forever, and MAGGIE transforms from prey to predator.
Will the librarian with the soul of a spy and the unusual security team stop the desperate kingpins or will she become the latest victim? It all comes down to kill or be killed.
Author, Subspecies Independent
I’m an Independent Author, a businesswoman, and an entrepreneur. I’m surprised when I tell people, even other writers, that I’m an Indie Author their response is “What’s that?”
I want to say, “I write for Indiana Jones.” Wouldn’t that be the coolest answer ever? But instead, I stick with the mundane. “A free-agent author.” Then I worry I might appear on some fantasy football draft.
Their response, “Oh. Self-published.” Do they even realize how much disdain drips out of their mouths and onto their shirts? Ewwww.
My answer: I flip the book over and point at the publisher logo. And give them the dreaded Mom Stink Eye.
My publishers are indie businesses, not traditional publishers. More entrepreneurship. No advances, no agents, no on-staff editors, no hundreds of books published a month. And I have complete control over the creative compositions, my novels, from start to finish.
My readers love what I write and read my books. And even review my books! I adore my readers.
Oh. If you see Indie, tell him I said Hi. Better yet, tell him to drop by the farm for a homemade brownie.
THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS Featured on Amazon
THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS will be featured in an Amazon Countdown promotion November 5-13.
On November 5 at 11:00 AM EDT, the Kindle edition will be $3.99.
The Amazon Countdown promotion raises the price by a $1.00 every other day until November 13 at 3:00 AM when it reaches the regular Kindle edition price for THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS of $8.99.
And because THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS also does well in the UK, there is a similar promotion at the same time for my Over the Pond readers. I still think Amazon should have named it the Count Up promotion,
A reminder: If you have purchased the Kindle Unlimited subscription, you can borrow THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS for free as one of your ten books. If you buy a Kindle edition, it doesn’t count as one of your borrowed books.
THE GIRL WHO SAW CLOUDS on AMAZON
Judith A. Barrett - Author 